A Brief Astrology History- The 12 Houses

Have you ever wondered why houses carry benefic or malefic meanings?Why is the 10th house considered noble and excellent, while the 12th house is set to a bleak corner?

The benefic or malefic nature of the houses actually comes from the Ascendant.The houses that form major aspects (trine, square, sextile, and opposition) to the Ascendant are considered significant.Therefore, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th houses were assigned positive meanings,while the remaining 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 12th houses took on more negative connotations.

Planetary Joys are a concept derived from the Thema Mundi, which illustrates where each planet feels most at ease.For example, Mercury, the planet of intellect, is at its best in the 1st house, guiding the native’s mind.The Moon in the 3rd house nurtures relationships with siblings.Venus in the 5th house brings elegance and harmony to a person’s creative expression.

Houses 1 through 6 govern matters of everyday, worldly life,while houses 7 through 12 focus on themes related to the soul and spirit.Although the core topics of the houses remain similar, modern astrology interprets them through a more contemporary lens.

In the diagram, the themes noted have been infused with modern nuance. In classical astrology, the 12th house was simply the place of hidden enemies and suffering. If a planet was placed there—unless it was Saturn—it was generally considered inauspicious , not half as glorious as the 10th house of ambition and achievement.

From a modern perspective, however, the 12th house is like a reservoir of subconscious, almost like something out of Haruki Murakami’s Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.If a planet resides here, it means it has a special pathway into the subconscious—and it often enjoys solitude. Not so bad after all, is it?