The 12 Astrological Houses(Bhavas): their Meaning

Astrological houses describe a specific field of experience in the native's real life. They indicate how the person functions, whether in his interactions with other people, his work, or his love affairs, etc. As with the 12 zodiacal signs, there are 12 astrological houses, and each house is in analogy with one of the signs. However, contrarily to signs, which spread invariably over 30 degrees of the zodiacal circle, house sizes may greatly vary from one house to the other. House calculations are based on the exact birth time.

The cutting of the chart into 12 houses, referred to as "House system", varies from one astrologer to another. There are several methods: Placidus - the most ancient one, dating back to the 17th century - equal houses (with variants), Koch, Regimentation, Campanus, Alcabitius, Topocentric, Morinus, etc.

It is important to note that most astrologers consider that whenever a planet is near a house cusp, it belongs to the said house. The threshold from a given house to the next depends on the authors' approach. It may vary from 1° to 6°, sometimes 8° or 10°. Some astrologers, quite the minority, prefer not to follow this rule. On Astrotheme, by default, we have chosen the Placidus system, and we take a classical stand, as far as the threshold is concerned. Thus, a planet found at less than 3° of the following house is considered to be in that house. We apply 2° in the case of the AS and the MC. On certain applications or on the Astrological Portrait, we offer the possibility to change these options and to select the equal houses or the Koch system. You may also decide to cancel the shift into the following house. 

Please note that such shift never involves the sign: a planet posited at 29°29'29" Taurus is in this sign, and by no means in Gemini. When it comes to signs, total change is the rule, contrary to houses.

Another important concept is “house” (Sanskrit name: bhava). In each chart, houses can be found with respect to several  reference points  and the reference points most commonly employed are lagna and special lagnas. Starting from the rashi occupied by the selected reference point and proceeding in the regular order across the zodiac, we associate  each  rasi  with a  house  (first,  second  etc).  

Always  the  rasi  containing  the reference point chosen is the 1st house. Next rasi is the 2 nd house. The rashi after that is the 3 rd house. We proceed until the 12 th house like that. Just remember that when  we encounter Pisces, we go to Aries after it. If no reference point is specified when houses are mentioned, it means that lagna is used as the reference.

The 1st house(Tanu Bhava): referred to as the Ascendant: the Self, demeanor, and vitality.

It describes the personality, the natural demeanor of the native as he faces the outside world, and also his physical appearance. It is an essential component for the interpretation of the natal chart, and it is one of the four angles of the natal chart (the four most important houses, which are dealt with below). It is located on the left hand side of the natal chart and corresponds to the place where the sun rises.

The 2nd house(Dhan Bhava): money earned and material goods.

It describes material goods, how they are managed, and how money is earned. In brief, it includes all financial matters but also represents greed and all sorts of possessions.

The 3rd house(Sahaj Bhava): immediate surroundings, siblings, short trips, and studies.

It deals with communication, the close environment (siblings, colleagues, schoolmates), primary and secondary education, apprenticeship. It also describes short trips, transportation, modern means of communication and all practical things.

The 4th house(Bandhu Bhava): referred to as the Imam Coli: family, home, origins, heredity, and the father.

It represents the native's family, ancestors, roots, and home, both the home he comes from and the one he will set up. This house also describes the real estate patrimony, childhood, and emotions. It is located at the bottom of the chart, and like the Ascendant, it is an angular house.

The 5th house(Putra Bhava): love matters, pleasure, leisure, children, and creations.

It describes the person's creative and recreational activities, his hobbies, as well as his love affairs, his luck in gambling, his relationships with children in general, including his own. This house covers all pleasant things in the native's life.

The 6th house(Ari Bhava): everyday life, daily work and colleagues, lower-ranking co-workers, and health.

It describes the native's everyday life, his behavior at work, minor obligations, servitudes, lower-ranking co-workers, and pets. It also concerns health, medicines and minor illnesses.

The 7th house(Yuvati Bhava): referred to as the Descendant: unions, marriage, other people, associations, and contracts.

It is opposite the 1st house and thus, represents other people, the native's behaviour towards other people, his partner (spouse or associate). It concerns contracts, associations, marriage and open enemies. It is through the 7th house that the native perceives other people. It is opposite the ASC, and is located on the right hand side of the natal chart and corresponds to the place where the sun sets.

The 8th house(Randhr Bhava): passions and crises, transformations, death, financial investments, and sexuality.

It concerns the native's birth and death. However, it does not necessarily mean actual physical death. It may be a symbolic death, and thus, it is synonymous with evolution and transformation. This house also represents inheritances, money earned by other people, but also sexuality, power, all things hidden, and interest in occultism.

The 9th house(Dharm Bhava): travels, abstract and higher concepts, spirituality, and foreign matters.

It is the realm of spirituality and philosophy, higher ideals, faraway travels, both physical and inner ones. Contrarily to the 3rd house, this house represents higher education and universities, as well as the understanding of abstract topics. It is also related to law and legality, and religion.

The 10th house(Karm Bhava) referred to as the Midheaven: social success, professional destiny, and the mother.

It is opposite the 4th house and corresponds to the native's professional career, as well as his social elevation as compared to his family background. It symbolises his ambitions and his achievements in the society. It is also related to the general public, potential fame, and the mother's influence. The 10th house is in the Southern part of the natal chart and located at its top.

The 11th house(Labh Bhava): friends, collective projects, supports and protections in life.

It represents the native's projects, his friends, and his protectors. It describes the nature of his friends, his group activities, and the place he occupies within the group, contrarily to the more individualistic 5th house. This 11th house is related to all kinds of humanitarian topics.

The 12th house(Vyaya): enemies, difficulties, solitude, hidden ordeals, and secrets.

It corresponds to the native's inner self, ordeals underwent his whole life through, hidden enemies, and serious illnesses. It is related to places of confinement such as hospitals, prisons, convents, etc., and also includes solitude and major inner crises.

The Tradition classifies houses because, on the one hand, their influence on an individual is not equally important, and on the other hand, they have different specificities in terms of characterology. There are three classifications. The first one deals with accentuation, and the other two, with quadrants and hemisphere emphasis.