I probably should’ve started this publication with this post in case anyone is new to astrology. My sincerest apologies.
Before we can trace the cosmic threads that weave through our ancestral stories, we need to learn astrology’s fundamental grammar. Think of it this way: if we’re going to understand how the planets were speaking during our grandparents’ generation—or during pivotal moments in collective history—we first need to know what they’re actually saying.
Astrology operates like a language with three essential components. The planets are the verbs—they describe the action, the energy in motion. Mars fights, Saturn restricts, Jupiter expands. The signs are the adverbs—they show us the style, the flavor, the how of that action. Is Mars fighting with Aries’ quick fury or Taurus’ stubborn persistence? And the houses? They’re the settings, the stages where these planetary dramas unfold in the specific areas of our lives.
When we begin to see these three elements working together—what is happening (planets), how it’s happening (signs), and where it’s happening (houses)—we unlock astrology’s power as a tool for understanding not just ourselves, but the inherited patterns we carry. The same planetary configurations that shaped historical moments also shaped our ancestors’ lives, their choices, their wounds, and ultimately, what they passed down to us.
Let’s start with the foundation: the twelve houses, each one a room in the mansion of human experience.
Planets describe a certain process of what is happening - eg. Mars fights, Saturn limits, Jupiter expands..
Sign in which the planet is located determines how the planet is manifesting itself, for example Mars may manifest itself in a way Aries would behave (vigorously and irritably) or in the manner of Taurus (more slowly, gradually and consistently)
Houses show special areas of everyday life, in which all this takes place. Location in a house shows whether, for example Mars manifests in relationships (7th house), employment (6th house), family (4th house) or elsewhere.
Basically:
Planets show us what is happening;
Signs show us how it is happening;
Houses show us where it is happening.
Now that we understand the framework, let's walk through each of these twelve domains…
The Houses
First House (House of Self): Associated with Aries and ruled by Mars. It represents the self, appearance, personality, and overall approach to life.
Second House (House of Value): Linked with Taurus and ruled by Venus. This house governs finances, possessions, values, and self-worth.
Third House (House of Communications): Corresponds to Gemini and is ruled by Mercury. It deals with communication, thinking patterns, early education, siblings, and local travel.
Fourth House (House of Home and Family): Associated with Cancer and ruled by the Moon. It relates to home life, family, ancestry, roots, and the private life.
Fifth House (House of Pleasure): Linked with Leo and ruled by the Sun. This house covers creativity, romance, pleasure, children, and personal expression.
Sixth House (House of Health and Service): Corresponds to Virgo and is ruled by Mercury. It focuses on health, daily routines, work environment, and service to others.
Seventh House (House of Partnerships): Associated with Libra and ruled by Venus. This house is about all forms of partnerships, including business and marriage, and dealing with others.
Eighth House (House of Transformation): Linked with Scorpio and ruled by Pluto. It governs transformation, sexuality, death, rebirth, joint resources, and inheritances.
Ninth House (House of Philosophy): Corresponds to Sagittarius and is ruled by Jupiter. It covers higher learning, philosophy, long-distance travel, foreign cultures, and ethical understanding.
Tenth House (House of Social Status): Associated with Capricorn and ruled by Saturn. This house is about career, reputation, ambitions, achievements, and authority.
Eleventh House (House of Friendships): Linked with Aquarius and ruled by Uranus. It focuses on friendships, groups, social activities, and hopes and dreams.
Twelfth House (House of the Unconscious): Corresponds to Pisces and is ruled by Neptune. This house relates to the unconscious mind, hidden matters, secrets, spirituality, and endings.
The Map to Our Inheritance
These twelve houses form the blueprint of human experience—a map that repeats across generations, across centuries, across the rise and fall of civilizations. When we understand that our great-grandmother’s Saturn in the 4th house of family wasn’t just her story but a pattern that may still echo in how we experience home and belonging today, astrology transforms from fortune-telling into a tool for genuine liberation.
Each house holds both the wounds and the wisdom of those who came before us. The 8th house doesn’t just speak to our relationship with transformation—it whispers of inheritances both material and emotional, the secrets our ancestors carried, the traumas they survived but couldn’t always heal. The 10th house shows us not only our own ambitions but the weight of family expectations, the paths that were denied to our grandparents, the dreams deferred that we might be unconsciously living out.
As you begin to familiarize yourself with these twelve domains, remember: this isn’t about memorization. It’s about recognition. You’re learning to see the architecture of experience itself, the rooms where your story—and your ancestors’ stories—have always been unfolding.
In our next exploration, we’ll begin to populate these houses with planets and signs, watching how the cosmic language comes alive in the actual charts of historical moments and family lineages. But for now, simply let these twelve houses settle into your awareness. Notice which ones call to you, which ones feel tender or charged. That recognition is already the beginning of healing.
