THE TWELVE HOUSES

The houses describe the places of life in which planetary events unfold. They organize the chart into twelve areas, beginning with the sign rising on the eastern horizon. Cosmic Dust uses Whole Sign houses: the entire rising sign becomes the first house, the next sign becomes the second, and the sequence continues around the chart.

THE HOUSES AT A GLANCE

The first house concerns the body, identity, temperament, vitality, and the direction of the life. The second concerns livelihood, income, possessions, and personal resources. The third concerns siblings, relatives, local travel, messages, learning, and the immediate environment.

The fourth house concerns home, family, ancestry, land, private life, and foundations. The fifth concerns children, pleasure, creativity, fertility, and what we bring forth. The sixth concerns illness, labor, obligation, service, and the conditions that require daily effort.

The seventh house concerns partners, marriage, contracts, clients, and open adversaries. The eighth concerns shared resources, debts, inheritances, fear, loss, and matters connected with another person's assets. The ninth concerns religion, divination, philosophy, higher learning, dreams, publishing, and long journeys.

The tenth house concerns vocation, action, reputation, public standing, and what becomes visible through our work. The eleventh concerns friends, allies, groups, hopes, benefactors, and support. The twelfth concerns isolation, hidden difficulties, confinement, self-undoing, and experiences that take place beyond ordinary visibility.

ANGULAR, SUCCEDENT AND CADENT HOUSES

The houses also differ in their capacity to bring matters forward. Angular houses are closely connected with action and visibility. Succedent houses tend to stabilize, support, or develop what has begun. Cadent houses often describe transition, preparation, dispersion, or circumstances that operate at some distance from direct control.

House meaning and house strength are related, yet they are not identical. A difficult topic can become prominent, and a quieter house can still contain an important planet. The full judgment depends on the planet involved, the house ruler, sect, dignity, and aspects.