The Houses 1-6
Understanding the Lower Houses in Astrology
When you speak the language of astrology, you begin to unravel the story of you. Analyzing your chart not only requires understanding the planets, signs, and aspects but also the cosmic map of twelve distinct realms - the houses. The houses are like the sets, the scenes, or the stages of life that the characters (the planets) exist within. Each house governs a specific area of life, from the personal to the public, the material to the mystical.
Within the Hellenistic approach, the houses represent information that is fate-driven, grounded in angularity, planetary strength, and the divine order of things. The houses weren’t just places—they were stages upon which the drama of life unfolded, with planetary actors bringing fortune, challenge, or revelation.
So what do these houses really mean? And how does their ancient interpretation still resonate in the modern world?
Let’s journey together through the first 6 temples of the sky - the houses dealing with the “underworld” or inner world of a person. These houses primarily focus on themes revolving around the owner of the chart and their internal landscapes.
1st House - Self, Life Force, Ego, Physical Appearance
Traditional Sign Ruler: Aries
Planetary Ruler: Mars
Ruling Element: Fire
House Quality: Angular
Direction: East
The First House is where the chart begins. This is the place of the Ascendant, the point on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth from the perspective of the birth location. It’s not just the starting line of the chart; it’s the anchor of identity, vitality, and personal embodiment. It was thought through Hellenistic astrology that the marker of your ascendant was the divider of the spirit world and the underworld.
The First House represents you—your physical body, your appearance, your temperament, and the way you enter the world. In ancient terms, it was the house of life itself, and the condition of this house—and any planets within it—was seen as central to the chart’s entire narrative.
Unlike modern psychological astrology, which might associate the First House with “the self-image” or “how we present ourselves,” the Hellenistic tradition roots this house in the literal and physical: the life force, the body, the essential being. It's about presence—who you are when you first arrive, and the raw, unfiltered imprint you make on the world.
2nd House - Material World and your Relationship to it, Self Esteem, Self Worth
Traditional Sign Ruler: Taurus
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Ruling Element: Earth
House Quality: Succedent
The Second House holds dominion over one of the most fundamental aspects of earthly existence: material wealth and personal values. Moving counterclockwise on the chart, the second house is not merely about what we own—it's about how we value the world around us and what we place worth on. It’s the realm of resources, earnings, and self-sufficiency.
The Second House is linked to our physical sustenance—everything from the money we earn, to our skills and talents that help us make that money, to the possessions that make us feel secure or empower us in life. Beyond material wealth, this house also governs our self-worth, the inner sense of value we hold, and how that value influences our material reality. In the Hellenistic worldview, it was the house of substance—not just in terms of currency, but in terms of the tangible elements that help us create and sustain life.
The Second House also addresses the tension between what is gained and what is lost. It teaches us about the delicate balance between accumulating possessions and recognizing the true value of life’s non-material gifts.
3rd House - Communication, Short Form Writing, Local Neighborhood, Siblings
Traditional Sign Ruler: Gemini
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Ruling Element: Air
House Quality: Cadent
The Third House is the domain of thought, communication, and immediate surroundings. It governs the early education we receive, our siblings (people who feel like siblings, cousins, family by “extension"), and our ability to interact with the world on a daily, intellectual level. Ancient astrologers believed this house was closely linked to the mind’s agility, its capacity for curiosity, and the exchange of ideas.
This house is all about connections—how we speak, how we think, and how we share information. It reflects our ability to engage with the people closest to us, like siblings, neighbors, and acquaintances, and governs the short trips we take, or the local environment in which we exist. Think blogging, journaling, short form writing, newsletters, your local coffee shop, library, and grocery store.
4th House - Home, Roots, Family
Traditional Sign Ruler: Cancer
Planetary Ruler: Moon
Ruling Element: Water
Direction: South
House Quality: Angular
The fourth house, sitting at the direct bottom of the natal chart, represents home, roots, and parents. This house can be a metaphorical representation of foundational life and a physical manifestation. The fourth governs the concept of home and emotional security, indicating the physical and emotional space in which we seek comfort, stability, and nurturing.
Within this house we also traditionally find the Imum Coeli (latin for “bottom of the sky”), or what is more commonly referred to as the IC angle. Much like the 4th house themes overall, the IC point represents where one returns home into themself. What makes you feel “at home” or safe?
5th House - Joy, Hobbies, Pleasure, Expression
Traditional Sign Ruler: Leo
Planetary Ruler: Sun
Ruling Element: Fire
House Quality: Succedent
The 5th house is where personal creativity and self-expression come to life. The fifth rules over the themes of art, romance, children, hobbies, and the pleasures that bring joy to the human experience. This house can help us understand how we seek fun, enjoy life, and express our individuality, often through creative pursuits or romantic relationships. It’s the place of the sacral flow, where passion and intimacy thrive, and can show how we take risks for pleasure, whether through speculative ventures, hobbies, or love.
Ruling over children the fifth house was also thought to be the final house of family (the third representing the grandparents, the fourth the parents and the fifth children). Placements in this house and the quality of the house/placements can glean insight into the story of the children in your life.
Due to its inherent secretive and personal nature, the fifth house is thought to be one of the most private places of one’s life and therefore their chart.
6th House - Daily Service, Health, Pets
Traditional Sign Ruler: Virgo
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Ruling Element: Earth
House Quality: Cadent
The 6th house deals with our daily routines related to work and service for others, health, and pets. It’s domain dictates how we spend our days acting in service representing how we support others - whether through work or acts of kindness, and how we deal with the mundane tasks of life. It governs our physical health and well-being, showing the habits and practices that maintain our vitality or lead to stress.
This house also deals with responsibilities and the small, often overlooked details of daily life, such as maintaining order and discipline. In the Hellenistic context, it’s a house of practical matters, where we learn the value of hard work and personal maintenance. The sixth house is also the final house in the natal chart that is a part of the “underworld” or “inner world”.
Next time we’ll focus on the houses 7-12 - the houses of the public life and outer world.
See you then!