An astrological chart is a map of the positions of the planets as seen from earth1. The lines you see radiating from the center of the chart are the doorways, or cusps, of the astrological houses.
While the signs show you how a planet’s energy manifests, the houses show you where.
The houses represent mundane position, or the relationship of the planets to the Earth at the time of birth. As the Earth rotates, the Sun appears to rise and set, and the houses also change. Therefore, you need a pretty accurate birth time (within 10 minutes or so) to be certain of the position of your house cusps.
The thick horizontal line which runs through the middle of the chart represents the horizon, or sunrise and sunset. This line forms the cusp of the 1st house (you) on the left side of the chart, and the 7th house (others) on the right side. It divides day from night.
If you were born at night, the Sun will appear below the line in your chart. If you were born during the day, the Sun will appear above the horizon line.
The thick vertical line which runs through the middle of the chart represents the meridian, or noon and midnight. This line forms the cusps of the 10th and 4th houses, representing the “outer you” (10th house), and the “inner you” (4th house).
Run your finger around the chart, counter-clockwise. The first line your finger crosses before going into a house is called the cusp of that house. If you follow that line to the outer circle of the chart, you will probably see a glyph for a sign and a number between 0 and 29. This glyph tells you the sign on the cusp, which tells you the nature of the affairs of that house in your life. (The number tells you how many degrees into the sign you are. 0 is the beginning, and 29 is the end.)
Empty house? Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean the house is screwed up. In fact, it means that house is normal! Planets in a house tell you where the issues are in life.
To read a house, consider the following:
- any planets in the house
- the sign on the cusp of the house
- the position of the planet that rules that sign
1 Unless notated otherwise, an astrological chart is assumed to be a geocentric (earth in the middle) chart. There are techniques which incorporate heliocentric (Sun in the middle) charts as well. But those are far less common.
Molly Cliborne
1 · Jen · 23 April 2005
I'm a little confused on how to read the houses. Can you explain it to me a bit better? Thanks!2 · Molly · 23 April 2005
Hey Jen-- this article is about what they are, not how to read them. Try this article for tips on reading houses, and this article for their meanings.3 · Ale · 18 June 2006
Hi,
I loved your site and the explanations given in these tutorials…useful to me, as I’m trying to understand, slowly but with determination, the principles of astrology.
I just wondered if one can have the ascendant ON A CUSP… I mean, here you talk about the houses: but what if the 1st HOUSE is between 2 signs?
For example, I really feel cancerian, but being unsure of the exact minute of birth, I could be a gemini, and that birthtime is probably very near the cusp. I don’t feel a gemini but could BOTH SINGS influence me?
I’m asking this also cos I feel very intellectual, interested in knowing, but I don’t have a single AIRY planet in my chart! I’m a taurus with moon mercury and venus in aries, but no AIR! earth water and much fire ;)
I’m confused.
I really hope you’ll be able to tell me something about cusps in ascendants!
Thanks,
Ale
ps: also, my mercury, like my venus, is conjuncted to the sun…
4 · babita · 11 August 2006
hey i don’t understand where to start on the chart to find the cusp of the house
5 · Mary · 2 October 2006
Molly, thanks so much. I have had a bear of a time getting my head around astrology. Your explanations make it so much clearer. Thanks! Mary
6 · Darren · 19 December 2007
Didn’t you only give the meanings of 1/7 / 4/10, what happened to the other houses?
7 · rowen murphy · 21 April 2008
What if there are no planets in a house?
What does this mean in terms of-
no planets in my 7th house- house of relationships?
8 · barbara renee · 6 December 2009
I would like to know more about the North Node.
My North Node is going to be conjunct Pluto (~2-3 Capricorn)just below my Descendent for as long as it takes Pluto to move his heavy fanny off it.
It almost doesn’t feel good, it almost feels right.
Where can I get more information about this?
Ascendent and Both my Natal and progressed Moon are currently conjunct and about to oppose T-Pluto and my North Node. It feels like everything is coming up for review in my life. Esp. Purposeful change.
Thank you.
Barbara