Just as the signs are divided into three types depending on how they act (the qualities) so are the houses. Only the names are different.
Signs numbered 1, 4, 7, and 10 (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) are the Cardinal, or Action signs. The Houses numbered 1, 4, 7, and 10 are called the Angular Houses, and they show how this particular person starts things.
Signs numbered 2, 5, 8, and 11 (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are the Fixed or Stubborn signs. Houses numbered 2, 5, 8, and 11 are called the Succedent Houses because the “succeed” or come after the Angular Houses. These are the result houses. They show the results of the actions taken by the Angular houses.
Signs numbered 3, 6, 9, and 12 (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) are the Mutable or Adaptable signs. Houses numbered 3, 6, 9, and 12 are called the Cadent Houses. They deal with communications, daily tasks, and service, things that provide the support that the angular houses need so they can take action.
3rd House
Shows how you perceive and communicate. Beyond that, it indicates how you think about utilizing those resources accumulated in the second house. Here is where you find out about a person’s communication skills and their style of communicating. It also shows how well you get along with those in your immediate environment. This is the house of brothers and sisters (parents are ruled by houses 4 and 10) as well as neighbours. Short trips are also governed here, any trip that takes less than a day. Don’t count on any deep understanding here. The Third House is only for facts. The Ninth House is where they get put together.
6th House
Fun, games, and creativity are nice, but eventually we have to get to work. The Sixth House shows how we perform work. This is no career. It is simply how we do any task, whether on the job or in our personal life. This is the house of service, both given and received. It shows the kind of service you provide, and the quality of service you get back from others. If the dry cleaner messes up your clothes or a sales clerk is rude to you, check this house. Actually, you should check it first before any trouble comes up. All the cadent houses have to do with communication of some sort. House number six shows how we deal with and communicate details, how we analyze things in detail. Conditions of health are also shown here. For instance, if Neptune swings by, don’t be surprised if that “spiritual health diet” that claims you can live on only one grain of rice a week, suddenly looks good to you.
9th House
The Ninth House is opposite the Third House. The 3rd shows your ability to learn specific skills, like reading and writing. The Ninth House indicates how you deal with generalities, the general principles behind things. The 3rd is short trips, something in your immediate neighborhood or slightly further. The Ninth House deals with things at greater distances, such as trips requiring an overnight stay. This is the house where you can find out about a person’s religion and philosophy, the general principles they believe, and also the principles they were raised with. Saturn here, for instance, shows discipline and the likelihood of a guilt trip. I have several clients with that one who were raised in strict convent schools. Uranus indicates rebellion and the total replacement of the early upbringing. The phrase these folks hear the most is “You believe WHAT!?”. While the 3rd house shows how we think about utilizing our own resources, the Ninth House tells us how we think about utilizing the resources of other people. Strong placements here can be good for business and consulting work. The horoscope of Martha Stewart is a good example. She makes her living with publishing (another Ninth House activity) and giving advice.
12th House
shows the characteristic ways that you can do yourself in. It is the dustbin of the horoscope. Whatever we don’t want to show others, we put here. But this also shows what we don’t want ourselves to see, what we don’t want to deal with. This is the house of our psychological problems. Strong placements here, if not dealt with properly, can lead to disaster, as in the horoscope of Charles Whitman Jr., the Texas Tower Killer, or Henri Landru, a serial killer. On the positive side, we can get people who try to help others overcome their problems and restrictions. When I was in the hospital years ago, I didn’t want to waste time (hey, I’m a Capricorn Sun-Sign) so I did the horoscopes of everyone on the staff. Most were born right after sunrise (and everyone on the “graveyard shift”). This put the Sun in the Twelfth House. Usually, there were other planets there as well. The 6th house shows how we can put our own creativity to use. The Twelfth House shows how we can inspire others to make best use of their own creativity. Yes, this house can be the dustbin of our horoscope. But once we learn to deal with it, this house can become our greatest strength.
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