appear around the outside of the wheel indicate where houses begin and end with
respect to the signs of the zodiac. Starting at the 9:00 position (which in most systems
of house division corresponds with the eastern horizon) and moving counterclock-
wise, the houses are numbered from 1 to 12. Thus, the first house begins at the 9:00
position and ends at the 8:00 position; the second house begins at 8:00 and ends at
7:00, and so forth.
The zodiac is traditionally thought of as beginning with Aries. The subsequent
order of the signs is then counterclockwise around the ecliptic. Because the signs and
houses both contain 12 members, astrologers have often noted a special relationship
between sequentially corresponding signs and houses; in other words, they have often
noted certain parallels of meaning between Aries and the first house, Taurus and the
second house, Gemini and the third house, etc. The following list, which is by no
means exhaustive, outlines some of the principal meanings of corresponding signs and
houses. It is taken from Ralph William Holden’s The Elements of House Division.Note
how sign traits indicate internal, psychological characteristics, while house traits tend
to indicate external factors, as well as how personality traits manifest themselves in
the world (houses tend to represent “signs in action,” in Holden’s words).
First sector—Aries: Energy, drive, force, heat, initiative, courage,
pugnacious, selfish; First house: The appearance, disposition, and man-
ner of the native, outlook on life, carriage, capacity for self develop-
ment, vitality, health, inherent strength and physical condition, men-
tal and emotional qualities.
Second sector—Taurus: Reliable, careful, trustworthy, hospitable, pos-
sessive, conservative, affectionate, greedy, grasping, obstinate; Second
house: Hereditary and social background, financial standing, money,
movable possessions and property, gain and loss of income, earning and
spending capacity, personal debts, manner in which money is acquired
and in which obligations are met.
Third sector—Gemini: Intelligent, lively, quick, versatile, inquisitive,
communicative, restless, unstable, not dependable, erratic, oversmart;
Third house: Power of mind, dexterity, cleverness, education, short
journey, near relatives, neighbors, writing, communications, recording,
lecturing.
Fourth sector—Cancer: Emotional, instinctive, protective, sensitive,
maternal, domestic, moody, sullen; Fourth house: The home and
domestic affairs, recollections, residence, base, end of life, private
affairs, old age, early home life, lands, houses, estates, mines, things
stored up, the hidden or unconscious, social care and concern, the sea.
Fifth sector—Leo: Proud, dignified, commanding, generous, reliable,
strong-willed, confident, leadership, creative, sincere, wholehearted,
reckless, power conscious, conceited, domineering; Fifth house: Off-
spring, creative and procreative urges, recreation, games, pleasures, artis-
tic efforts, romantic affairs, gaming, speculation, risks, acting, theater.THEASTROLOGYBOOK [337]
Houses