Houses in Vedic Astrology and Their Significations

There are 12 houses in astrology

Houses are a way of dividing up the birth chart into 12 segments. Each house represents an area of life’s activity.

There are various house systems used by astrologers: Equal houses, un-equal houses, Placidus, Koch etc.

In your chart the houses are counted counter clockwise. So the first house, represents the sign of the zodiac that is rising at the time of your birth. All planets rise in the east and set in the west.

The midheaven is the zenith of the chart- the Sun at midday set for the place of the chart. The descendant is the Sun at sunset. The IC (short for Imum Coeli) is the base of the chart and would be the Sun at midnight.It takes 24 hours for the houses to move through all 12 signs.

The significations of the houses:-

House	Meaning in Vedic Astrology	Ruling Planet	Sign
First	Body, self-image, appearance, persona, vitality, how you dawn on others, your charisma, physical stature, constitution, limbs of the body, head	Mars	Aries
Second	Money, self-esteem, self-worth, movable possessions, how you value yourself, oral traditions, early family life, voice, speech, adornments, drinking habits, face, mouth, teeth, neck, vision in general-right eye in particular,	Venus	Taurus
Third	Younger siblings, correspondence, communication, neighbours, local network, acquaintances, short travel, courage, performing arts, manual activities, hearing in general, hands, shoulders, arms and lungs, cervical vertebrae, helping hands (maids, cooks, nannies, drivers etc.)	Mercury	Gemini
Fourth	Mother, home, family, mother land and masses, emotional defences, EQ, immovable assets, roots, foundations, ancestors, trusted friends, land, agriculture, happiness, vehicles, fixed assets, breast and heart, education till graduation, respect in society due to personality or knowledge	Moon	Cancer
Fifth	Children, speculation, gambling, play, self expression, true intelligence, wisdom discernment, counsel, past life, good karma, romance, heart, Ishta Dev, management, mental creativity, performance creativity, students, subordinates, consultation, uturus, sabbatical (suspension from  work), awards and decorations, recognition and fame	Sun	Leo
Sixth	3Ds (debts, diseases and difficulties), health, conflict, anxiety, health workers, debt, sport, intestines, lumbar, servants (24x7), power, position and prosperity, theft, accidents, work environs, work, service, job, co-workers, loans, litigation	Mercury	Virgo
Seventh	Sexual appetite (natural and un-natural), self- employment, brokers, spouse, residence in foreign lands (immigration), kidneys, reproductive organs, marriage, spouse, business partner, clients, adversaries-open enemies, day-to-day transactions	Venus	Libra
Eighth	Longevity and death, psychotherapy, transformation, occult, para-psychology, sex, other people’s money, inheritance, chronic illness, losses, grief, scandals, obstacles, secrets, bankruptcy, psychic abilities, research, external reproductive organs, fatal accidents, prostate, piles, sudden happenings, govt. taxes, hidden sciences, NGO work, spirituality, fear of unknown, chronic addictions, terminal diseases, conspiracy, sea voyages	Mars	Scorpio
Ninth	Biological Father, long distance travel, religion, beliefs, higher education, law, philosophy, intuitive knowing, dharma, spirituality, teachers, mentors, seniors, luck, good fortune, hips and thighs, marital happiness, nature of profession, extended family, nature of profession	Jupiter	Sagittarius
Tenth	Father-the-provider, success in career, achievement, status, professional expression, social position, status, fame, honours, bosses, government, authority figures, knees, structural power and position, professional competence and growth	Saturn	Capricorn
Eleventh	Professional contacts and friends, groups, hopes, mass media, social affinities, easy money, older siblings, gains from profession, left ear, ankles, gizmos, items of luxury, luxury cars, expensive antiques, ambition and fulfilment, recurring income	Saturn	Aquarius
Twelfth	Hidden strengths and weaknesses, hidden enemies, suffering, loss, withdrawal, inner worlds, the divine, sexual joys, comforts of the bed, expenses, sleep, endings, confinement (hospital), foreigners and foreign countries, charities, enlightenment, feet, left eye, addictions, miserliness, illegitimate relations	Jupiter	Pisces

Derived Relations

This is a technique that enables astrologers to locate your relatives in your birth chart.

As your mother is the 4th house, then her mother is four houses from it, counting the 4th house as the first. So her mother- your maternal grandmother is in the 7th house.

Working with the Vedic system of astrology which recognises the 9th house as father and uses whole signs as a house, this is how it works:-

House	Relatives in your chart
First House
Second House
Third House	Younger siblings, Father-in-law
Fourth House	Mother
Fifth House	Children, Paternal grandfather
Sixth House	Mother’s younger siblings
Seventh House	Spouse, Maternal grandmother,
Eighth House
Ninth House	Father
Tenth House	Mother- in- law
Eleventh House	Older siblings
Twelfth House	Paternal grandmother, Maternal grandfather

This information may well be useful when recognising where Saturn is in your chart and which ancestor may have a story that you are encountering as karma in this lifetime.

For example, if  Saturn is in the 12th house clues may be found with two of your grandparents. Were they immigrants? Did they spend time in a hospital or felt outside of society?