A Who’s Who of your Horoscope–the Players in all 12 Houses

©2014, 2009 by Donna Cunningham, MSW

Note: the following is an excerpt from Donna’s ebook, New Insights into  the Astrology Chart, a collection of 25 essays on various chart features.  (Order at moonmavenpublications.com.)

A reader writes, “You keep saying the houses of my chart tell me who the players in my transits are. Well, those houses aren’t talking to ME, because I still don’t have a clue who you mean! Here’s what I need to know:”

• “Who should I watch my back around?”
• “Is my boss out to get me?”
• “Who’s gonna get so mad at me that we won’t ever speak again?”
• “Who can’t I count on for what I need any more?”
• “Who’s gonna have a melt down and then I’ll have to put them back together?”
• “Who’s gonna disappear from my life?”
• “Who’ll come forward to save the day?”
• “Where do I go to meet my soul mate? That’s what I REALLY want to know!!”

 Look, I don’t know from soul mates. My Neptune isn’t in Libra and neither is anything else worth mentioning. But apart from that, I can tell you who the possible players are for each house of your chart. Then you can figure out for yourself which of the people currently in your life these questions might refer to. Given your current transits, who in your life is at risk and who can you count on for support?  but today we’ll go through each of the 12 houses in turn for a possible cast of characters.

 A Who’s Who in your Chart

Starting with lists drawn from traditional astrology, I then stretched the house definitions to include newcomers that modern living, global travel, and instantaneous communication have added to our circles.

Like, what house is your computer guy in—and how about that Jenny Craig counselor you confess your culinary sins to every day? Since these modern additions aren’t time-tested, I’d be interested to hear your take on them in the comment section.

Relationships have also changed profoundly in the decades that started with1942, because all the outermost planets in turn went through the sign Libra. (There’ll be a post about that in the near future.) For instance, do you know what house your stepchildren or your mate’s former spouse belong in?

“Not in MY house, for sure,” I hear you saying.

Well, according to a classical technique called derivative houses, you can keep turning the chart wheel around to answer questions like these. For stepchildren, count 4 houses ahead of your 7^th house, which would be your 10^th House.

“Aha!” you snarl, “No wonder they’re convinced THEY get to make the rules here.”

I don’t normally use the system—it makes me dizzy—but I’ve borrowed a few of the more common relationships for the house lists that follow. (See links at the end for more on derivative houses.)

 A House-to-House Search for Suspects

Here’s your personal Who’s Who of people who may be part of the problem—or of the solution—in situations related to either your natal chart or transits.

1^st House: that would be you—at least the part of you that you want the world to see. You might also include the folks who help you keep up that façade of presentability like your hair stylist, personal trainer, dental hygienist, or cosmetic surgeon. And, yes, the Jenny Craig counselor you go to for help in getting into hotter clothes. (A dietician you see to lose weight for health reasons would belong to the 6^th.)

2^nd House:  People you get money directly from because you’ve earned it–the payroll department at work, and if you’re in business for yourself, your own customers, clients, and sales reps…accounts receivable. People you give money to—suppliers of goods, payees, dependents, and accounts payable. (People who help you manage your money are in the 8^th. Customers of your boss are in the 6^th.)

3^rd House: Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, old family friends who are like relatives, neighbors, fellow students. People you correspond with or keep in touch with by phone. Internet connections like forum members and tech support at your Internet provider. Media people like reporters and newscasters.

4^th House: Mom and Dad, mother and father figures, folks who live with you, ancestors, elderly relatives, people from your old home town. Home maintenance personnel like interior decorators, building contractors, plumbers, and landscape artists.

5^th House: Your own children, children in general, and other young people in your life.  Your Inner Child.

Lovers who think you’re their Mommy or Daddy. Other romantic interests, stars you’re gaga about. People you share creative pursuits or hobbies with. Your bookie. Beloved companion pets, as opposed to working farm animals you milk, eat or ride. (That’s the 6^th house.)

6^th House: Employees and coworkers. Health care personnel, both mainstream and alternative. I’d imagine your computer guy, that head hunter who’s promised you a much better job, and other business consultants fit here.

7^th House: Your mate, life partner, or business partner. Other committed relationships like your lifelong best friend. Your agent, therapist, life coach, counselor, or co-author. Open enemies—worthy adversaries.

8^th House: Sexual partner. Gynecologist. People you share joint finances and resources with, like a mate or business partner.  Other sources of support like investors, trust fund executors, Social Security or grant providers. Your CPA or investment counselor.

Dead people who stay in touch. People who put you in the will…then threaten to disinherit you if you don’t do what they say. Family members or sugar daddies who dole out money to you, then make you pay, pay, pay. Staff of institutions you owe money to, like banks, credit card companies, collection agencies, or the IRS. Insurance agents. (Ever wonder why the 8^th house scares astrologers so much?  Well, now you know.  I could do without most of these individuals!)

9^th House: College professors and other important teachers. Ministers, spiritual teachers, gurus, motivational speakers, writers of inspirational books. Lawyers, judges. Publishers, editors. People from foreign countries who touch your life, travel agents.

By derivative houses: grandchildren, brothers and sisters in law.

10^th House: Parents as authority figures, career mentors. Bosses, supervisors. You as a parent or boss. “The Authorities”—elected officials, board members, Popes, police system.

By derivative houses: Stepparents, mother and father in law, stepchildren, your mate’s boss. (Short version: in these situations, everybody runs the show but you!)

11^th House: Friends, associates, members of your peer group, your social circle. Respected colleagues. Members of groups and organizations you belong to.

12^th House: People in our lives we keep secret, such as extramarital affairs. Members of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs. Secret enemies, drinking buddies, and others who undermine us—including ourselves when we’re our own worst enemy. People in chronic care facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and prisons—and the staff of such places. Members of ashrams. Selfless servers like nuns, monks, and committed volunteers.

 It’s Time to Direct the Movie of your Life!

 After applying this post to your own life, you may have a clearer idea of what the roles are in your current drama. You probably know the characters involved and whether they’re villains with black hats that cause no end of trouble or heroes with white hats who show up to save the day.

But now it’s time to get this flick into production—and it’s a one-man show. YOU are the casting director and have the final say on who’s in and who’s out and how big a role each one plays. You’re the screenwriter who can edit out unnecessary scenes and—within certain limits—rewrite the ending so the worst doesn’t happen.

As producer, you also know how much money can be raised for the project and whether it’s a blockbuster costing billions or a low-budget Indie. You’re also in the starring role and need to put in months of study to decide how to play it. Are you going to try all the stunts yourself–or get a stunt double for the really risky stuff?

Since you’re all those jobs rolled up in one, you’d be wise to step up and become director as well, making sure it comes out as close as possible to the vision you have.  As they say in show biz, break a leg!

Note: This is an excerpt from Donna’s 2014 ebook, New Insights into the Astrology Chart, a collection of 25 essays. To learn more, download a sampler of its contents here: Sampler–New Insights-Cunningham  The ebook, delivered by email is $15. ((Order at moonmavenpublications.com.))