One of the twelve sections the sky is divided into, each tied to an area of life.
Signs say *how* a planet expresses itself; houses say *where*: the first concerns the self, the seventh relationships, the tenth work, and so on. The division depends on the time and place of birth, so two people born on the same day in different cities have the same planetary positions but different houses.
The twelve houses at a glance
Each house has a traditional domain. The first concerns you, your body and the way you begin things; the second money, resources and what you value; the third siblings, neighbours, communication and short journeys; the fourth family and roots. The fifth is pleasure, creativity, children and romance; the sixth daily work, routines and health.
The second half turns towards other people: the seventh is partners, in love and in business; the eighth what is shared, inheritance and deep change; the ninth long journeys, higher learning and beliefs; the tenth career and reputation; the eleventh friends, groups and hopes for the future; the twelfth what stays hidden, retreat and the unconscious.
Common mistakes
The first is confusing houses with signs. The first house is not Aries, even though the two are often paired by analogy: the sign says where a planet sits in the zodiac, the house where it sits in the local sky, which depends on time and place.
The second is expecting every house to be the same size. In quadrant systems such as Placidus they vary, and far from the equator the difference can be striking.
The third is mixing charts drawn up with different systems. SideraMea uses Placidus by default, and in your profile's advanced options you can switch to Koch, Whole Sign, Equal or Regiomontanus. Pick one and stay with it.
Frequently asked questions
What does an empty house mean in astrology?
Nothing to worry about. With ten or so bodies and twelve houses, some houses are bound to be empty. An empty house is not a missing area of life: it is read from the sign on its cusp and from the planet that rules that sign, wherever it sits in the chart.
Why do different websites put my planets in different houses?
Almost always because of the house system. There are many, and each divides the sky differently, so a planet near a cusp can move from one house to the next. Other possible causes are a different birth time or an incorrect time zone. Before comparing two charts, check that they use the same data and the same system.
Which house rules love and relationships?
It depends on the kind of love. Traditionally the fifth house covers falling in love, courtship and pleasure; the seventh the committed relationship, marriage and life as a couple. To read someone's love life, astrologers look at these houses together with Venus and the Moon.
See it in your own chart
Calculating your birth chart is free: wheel, planets, houses, aspects and a first reading. All you need is your date, time and place of birth.