offers whole continents of information to be explored.
Taking the House Tour
Whether you’re a workaholic Virgo or a spiritually inclined Pisces, you still have to deal with money, work, health, siblings, and everything else that’s part of life. Those areas are described by the houses. The houses slice the sky into 12 parts, beginning with the Ascendant and the first house. Their meanings are described in Table 1-6.
Just as every chart includes all the planets, every horoscope has all 12 houses. Not every house will be occupied by a planet. But every house will have a sign on the cusp, or beginning of the house, that describes your approach to the concerns of that house. For instance, if Taurus is on the cusp of your sixth house of health and work, you are likely to be dependable, productive, and patient on the job, even if that house is empty. You’re a hard worker. And one more thing: you’d probably enjoy having a dog.
Now you’ve got the basics. Together, the signs, planets, and houses make up the basic vocabulary of astrology. There’s more. (There’s always more.) But for now, you have everything you need to begin the excavation of your chart. If you don’t have a copy of it, the next chapter will tell you how to remedy that situation.
TABLE 1-6 Houses and Their Significance
| House | Areas of Concern |
| First house | Appearance, surface personality, and the impression you make on others |
| Second house | Money, possessions, wealth; the things you value; your urge to acquire |
| Third house | Communication, language, short journeys, brothers and sisters, neighbors, early education, attitude toward learning |
| Fourth house | Home, roots, real estate, security, one parent (usually the mother); also, circumstances at the end of life |
| Fifth house | Romance, children, recreation, creativity, self-expression |
| Sixth house | Work, health and healing, service, habits and routines; also, pets |
| Seventh house | Relationships, partnerships, open enemies, and the general public |
| Eighth house | Sex, death, transformation, joint resources, other people’s money, mystery, magic, and occult interests |
| Ninth house | Higher education, long journeys, travel, religion, philosophy, and publishing |
| Tenth house | Career, vocation, status, reputation, one parent (usually the father) |
| Eleventh house | Friends, community, teamwork, hopes, wishes, and aspirations |
| Twelfth house | Seclusion, secrets, the subconscious, hidden enemies, spiritual interests |
Take the case of Ahmir Khalib Thompson, aka Questlove, the Grammy-winning drummer and co-founder of The Roots, the hip-hop house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He is a DJ, a record producer, an entrepreneurial foodie, an author, an adjunct professor, and more. But what’s his sign? He was born on January 20, 1971, time unknown. And therein lies the problem. Is he a goal-oriented, disciplined Capricorn, a sign known for its work ethic, or a rebellious, iconoclastic Aquarian? He can’t be both … or can he?
If he was born before 12:13 p.m., he’s a Capricorn, which would certainly explain his ambition and productivity. If he was born after 12:13, he’s a freedom-loving, highly individual Aquarian.
So which is it? The variety of his accomplishments, musical and otherwise, and his interest in collaboration argue in favor of Aquarius. Compared to Capricorn, Aquarius is quirkier and more individualistic, the sign of the maverick and the avant-garde. On paper, it sounds hipper and more creative. I suspect the man himself might prefer it.
On the other hand, he did not come to music as a form of rebellion. On the contrary, music was, in his phrase, the “family business.” (His father was a well-known doo-wop singer.) He came to it as a responsible Capricorn, not a rebellious Aquarian. An indefatigable worker, he has built his brand with care, touring relentlessly and aligning himself with established institutions such as The Tonight Show and New York University.
So what’s his sign? In the absence of a complete birth certificate, a clarifying word from his mother, or a rectification by an astrologer who specializes in that technique, only he can decide which sign sounds more like the person he knows himself to be.
If your situation is similar, the same holds true for you. Astrologers will tell you that your Sun is in one sign or the other, not both. That’s true. But there are other planets, and they also bring something to the party. Questlove has Mercury in Capricorn and the North Node of the Moon in Aquarius. Even without the Sun, he has a touch of both signs. So where is his Sun? In his heart of hearts, he probably knows.
Chapter 2
Getting Your Precise Horoscope: The Old Way, the Internet Way, and the Software
IN THIS CHAPTER
