From Lesson #5: The Essential Meaning of the Houses (Bhavas)
By Vaughn Paul Manley, 2004.
All Rights Reserved.
The Houses – The Twelve Locations in the Sky
A house is a place of residence
From Lesson #5: The Essential Meaning of the Houses (Bhavas)
By Vaughn Paul Manley, 2004.
All Rights Reserved.
The Houses – The Twelve Locations in the Sky
A house is a place of residence. In astrology, the houses, also called the “Bhavas” in Sanskrit, are the locations in the sky where the planets reside. The sky is divided into 12 houses consisting of 30 degrees each, that encircle the earth: 30 degrees x 12 houses = 360 degrees. In the Vedic system each house is equivalent to one sign.
The 1st house is located at the Eastern horizon and the rest of the twelve houses follow counter clockwise as shown. The 1st house is also called the “Ascendant” or “Rising Sign” because just as the Sun ascends or rises on the eastern horizon so do all the planets and signs as they follow their path in the sky along the zodiac belt. Each house represents a different domain of activity in our lives. A planets’ placement in a house will therefore energize that house with the qualities of that planet.
The Powerful Angles (Kendras)
The Angular houses, also called the “Kendras” in Sanskrit, are the houses 1, 4, 7, 10 in the chart. They take up the prominent regions in the sky – the eastern and western horizons, overhead, and down below. If you understand these 4 houses then it will be much easier to understand the other 8 houses.
The first principle that will help you to understand the Angular houses is that they are the four “Pillars” of the chart. They give strength, protection, and power, for better or for worse, depending on whether there are benefic or malefic planets located there. If a chart has natural benefic planets in the Angular houses, like Jupiter or Venus, then it will give overall protection to the chart.
This alone will help to minimize the negative effects that may be indicated in the chart, while maximizing the positive effects. The person will generally be protected against ill health, have positive character traits, progress well in his or her lives, be influential etc.
If there are malefics on angles then the person will generally experience ill health, have negative character traits, misuse his or her power by dominating others, thereby provoking conflict and opposition.
How can the power of Angular houses be explained?
First of all, the 1st house represents “The Self” or “You” in your natal chart. From the 1st house, the 4th house and the 10th house form 90-degree angles and are squared to “You.” [These] represent power in relation to “You.” That power can either be used to protect or harm.
The 7th house also becomes powerful in relation to the 1st house or “the self” because it’s exactly 180 degrees in opposition. Think of two magnets held exactly opposite one another. They are either attracted or repelled when they are in exact alignment. This forms a very powerful polarity of opposites.
Consider also how the angular houses form a cross, which is a universal symbol of protection and power that pre-dates Christianity. The diagram [to the right] resembles a Maltese cross, used by the military order of the Knights of Malta. This further illustrates the concept that the Angular houses are places of power and protection.
The North Indian chart style displays the Angular houses clearly with large squares in the center of the chart as shown in the diagram below.
Two Sets of Polarities
The Angular houses represent two sets of polarities:
1st house “The Self” – 7th house “The Other”
10th house “Outer Public Life” – 4th house “Inner Private Life”
We can learn a lot about the Angular houses and their polarities by considering the movement of the Sun throughout the day. Here are some descriptions of the Angular houses and their polarities based on this concept:
1st house: When the Sun enters the 1st house at sunrise it’s the beginning of the day. We generally take personal time and attend to our physical body needs. The 1st house therefore represents the beginning of life for “The Self,” our physical bodies, appearance, and character traits. It sets the tone for our entire lifetime.
7th house: When the Sun enters the 7th houses at sunset it represents a social or romantic time with “The Other.” Watching a sunset is generally considered a time to be with friends or your romantic partner. The 7th house is therefore a social house that represents relationships and particularly intimate relationships and marriage.
10th house: When the Sun enters the 10th house it is directly overhead at midday. It’s a time when most people are in full swing with their active lives. The 10th house therefore represents our “Outer Public Life,” and is an active, career oriented house.
4th house: When the Sun enters the 4th house it is below the horizon at midnight and represents our “Inner Private Life.” It’s generally the time when we’re the least active and the most internal. Most 