In astrology, it is not enough to know which zodiac sign a planet is in – it is just as important to know which house it is in. While the planet shows what energy is at play, and the sign shows how the energy is expressed, the house shows where in life the energy unfolds.
Imagine the planets as actors, the zodiac signs as the roles they play – and the houses as the stages where the action takes place. When you look at your birth chart, you will therefore get the most out of understanding planet + sign + house as a unified whole.
How to read planets in houses
The planets in your horoscope are distributed across the 12 houses. Which house a planet is in depends on your exact time of birth. This means that two people with the same zodiac sign can easily have completely different horoscopes – because their planets are in different houses.
Below, we go through how each planet typically influences a house – and how the house, in turn, colors the planet’s expression. This gives you a practical starting point for interpreting your own or others’ horoscopes.
☀️ The Sun
The Sun symbolizes identity, vitality, and purpose. It shows where you feel most “alive.”
- 1st house: Strong personality, leader type.
- 2nd house: Identity tied to values and finances.
- 3rd house: Expresses oneself through language and learning.
- 4th house: Focus on family and home life.
- 5th house: Creative, seeks attention.
- 6th house: Self-realization through work and service.
- 7th house: Identity shaped through relationships.
- 8th house: Intense emotional life and transformation.
- 9th house: Philosophical and open to new horizons.
- 10th house: Career and ambitions at the center.
- 11th house: Identity bound to community and visions.
- 12th house: Introverted and spiritual energy.
🌙 The Moon
The Moon is about emotions, needs, and reactions. Its placement shows where you seek security and emotional attachment.
- 1st house: Emotional appearance.
- 2nd house: Security through possessions and stability.
- 3rd house: Sensitive communication and thinking.
- 4th house: Deeply attached to home and past.
- 5th house: Creative and loving with strong emotions.
- 6th house: Emotional satisfaction through routines.
- 7th house: Emotionally dependent in relationships.
- 8th house: Emotional intensity and transformation.
- 9th house: Emotions tied to faith and meaning.
- 10th house: Need for emotional success.
- 11th house: Emotions expressed in groups and friendships.
- 12th house: Hidden or suppressed emotions.
☿ Mercury
Mercury is the planet of communication and thought. Where it is located shows where and how you think, speak, and learn.
- 1st house: Intellectual and quick to react.
- 2nd house: Thinks about finances and values.
- 3rd house: Communicative, quick to learn, and curious.
- 4th house: Thinks a lot about childhood and family.
- 5th house: Creative with words and ideas.
- 6th house: Systematic and analytical in daily life.
- 7th house: Approaches relationships logically.
- 8th house: Deeply analytical and interested in the hidden.
- 9th house: Philosophical, loves to learn and broaden horizons.
- 10th house: Conveys knowledge professionally.
- 11th house: Thoughts about community and the future.
- 12th house: Introverted thinker, intuitive thoughts.
♀ Venus
Venus represents love, values, and aesthetics. It shows where you seek harmony and pleasure.
- 1st house: Charming and attractive appearance.
- 2nd house: Enjoyment and security in material values.
- 3rd house: Speaks with grace and diplomacy.
- 4th house: Harmony in home and family life is important.
- 5th house: Romantic and artistic expression.
- 6th house: Values aesthetics and balance at work.
- 7th house: Love and partnership are central themes.
- 8th house: Deep emotional and sexual bonds.
- 9th house: Love of culture, art, and philosophy.
- 10th house: Aesthetics and harmony in career choices.
- 11th house: Harmonious relationships in communities.
- 12th house: Hidden romance and idealized love.
♂ Mars
Mars is the planet of action and willpower. It shows where you have the most energy and initiative – and where you can be confrontational.
- 1st house: Energetic, enterprising, and action-oriented.
- 2nd house: Fight for financial security.
- 3rd house: Direct and quick communication.
- 4th house: Protective and active at home.
- 5th house: Passionate and competitive in play and romance.
- 6th house: Works hard and efficiently.
- 7th house: Intense and strong-willed in relationships.
- 8th house: Powerful emotions and transformation.
- 9th house: Active in the pursuit of wisdom and travel.
- 10th house: Ambitious and goal-oriented in career.
- 11th house: Activities centered around groups and ideals.
- 12th house: Inner struggle and hidden energy.
♃ Jupiter
Jupiter is the planet of expansion and is associated with luck, wisdom, and growth. Its placement shows where you experience growth.
- 1st house: Optimistic and inspiring personality.
- 2nd house: Luck with finances and values.
- 3rd house: Positive and knowledge-seeking communication.
- 4th house: Grows through family life and roots.
- 5th house: Joy and expansion through creativity.
- 6th house: Growth through work and a healthy lifestyle.
- 7th house: Fortunate and generous partnerships.
- 8th house: Growth through shared resources and transformation.
- 9th house: Strong focus on philosophy, travel, and learning.
- 10th house: Luck and opportunities in career.
- 11th house: Visionary and optimistic in communities.
- 12th house: Inner wisdom and spiritual growth.
♄ Saturn
Saturn is about responsibility, structure, and limitations. Where it is placed shows your greatest life lessons – but also your greatest potential.
- 1st house: Responsible and mature appearance.
- 2nd house: Financial responsibility and striving for security.
- 3rd house: Serious communication style and thought process.
- 4th house: Deep commitment in family and home life.
- 5th house: Structured creativity, serious romance.
- 6th house: Dutiful and hardworking.
- 7th house: Takes relationships seriously and with responsibility.
- 8th house: Deep, controlled emotional processes.
- 9th house: Structured approach to learning and faith.
- 10th house: Ambitious and long-term in career.
- 11th house: Responsibility for social networks and groups.
- 12th house: Karmic burdens, inner responsibility, and loneliness.
♅ Uranus, ♆ Neptune and ♇ Pluto
These three planets are often called the collective or transpersonal planets. They move slowly and influence entire generations – but their placement in your horoscope can show where you are especially open to change, intuition, or deep transformation.
♅ Uranus
- 1st house: Original, unconventional, and rebellious appearance.
- 2nd house: Unpredictable financial circumstances and values.
- 3rd house: Unique communication style and ideas.
- 4th house: Unusual home or family relationships.
- 5th house: Experimental creativity and love.
- 6th house: Innovative at work and in daily routine.
- 7th house: Freedom-seeking and unconventional relationships.
- 8th house: Sudden changes and deep renewal.
- 9th house: Unusual approach to faith and philosophy.
- 10th house: Unconventional career path.
- 11th house: Rebellious and visionary in groups.
- 12th house: Intuition and sudden insights.
♆ Neptune
- 1st house: Dreamy and mystical aura.
- 2nd house: Idealistic view of money and values.
- 3rd house: Intuitive and imaginative thinking.
- 4th house: Spiritual and sensitive in home life.
- 5th house: Romantic idealism and artistic talent.
- 6th house: Sensitivity at work, risk of confusion.
- 7th house: Dreamlike relationships, risk of illusion.
- 8th house: Spiritual transformations.
- 9th house: Spiritual journeys and dreamy faith.
- 10th house: Idealistic career choice, creativity.
- 11th house: Visionary dreams for the community.
- 12th house: High spirituality and compassion.
♇ Pluto
- 1st house: Magnetic and intense personality.
- 2nd house: Transformation in relation to money and values.
- 3rd house: Deep and powerful communication.
- 4th house: Deep roots and family transformation.
- 5th house: Intense emotions in love and creativity.
- 6th house: Control and transformation through work.
- 7th house: Power struggles and intensity in relationships.
- 8th house: Deep, karmic transformation.
- 9th house: Search for truth and deep realization.
- 10th house: Power and ambition in career.
- 11th house: Transformation through social networks.
- 12th house: Psychological renewal, hidden forces.
Conclusion: A living horoscope
Understanding the planets in the houses gives a more detailed and vivid picture of the horoscope. It shows not only who you are, but also where you experience it. It can shed light on why certain areas of life feel more active, demanding, or rewarding than others.
In upcoming articles, we will dive deeper into planetary combinations, aspects, and interpretation techniques, so you can begin to read your own horoscope with greater precision and insight.
