Lesson 2: Design Your Dream Relationship
Locating The Love
While the planets show you what you need, the houses of the zodiac show you how and where to find it. The houses are a second division of your natal chart—that "snapshot of the sky" we've been looking at—into twelve segments. Each house represents a different area of your life; in fact, you could think of them as movie sets where all the action and romance plays out.
Why are houses different sizes on each chart?
There are a number of different house "systems" (or ways of dividing up the houses) but the one that we use is the Placidus system, which is the most common. Unlike the twelve zodiac signs, which each occupy 30 equal degrees of the natal chart wheel, the houses can be all different sizes. This is based on your proximity to the Equator when you were born. If you were very close, your houses may be nearly equal. If you were far north or south, you may have a few skinny houses and others that are twice or three times the size! In charts like this, the areas of life ruled by the larger houses may be ones that get attention for longer periods of time.
Note the difference between the two charts below. Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen, who was born closer to the Equator, has fairly equal sized houses. In the case of Icelandic musician Bjork, who hails from much further north, there is a vast difference in size between most of her houses.
Do I need to know birth time to calculate houses?
Yes, you do. And if you want a chart to be 100% accurate, you need to know the minute someone was born. Most U.S. birth certificates list birth time. If you can't locate yours, a copy can be ordered from the U.S. Department of Vital Records.
What if I can't find my birth time?
Many people have to work with a close estimation. ("My dad says he remembers having to get up from the dinner table to take mom to the hospital" or "My mom says I was born between 3 and 3:30AM.")
If you're unable to find a birth time, play along with this module anyway. Use the chart of someone you know well (and who has their birth time recorded), like a best friend or your spouse. Learning how to read the houses will come in handy as you analyze the other people in your life. And let's be honest: Isn't that at least half the thrill of astrology?
Once you get the hang of the houses, you might even be able to intuit a time that feels right for yourself. This is known as a rectified chart; in fact, there are some astrologers out there who specialize in these. You might go back to Lesson 1 and read The Ascendant: Your Attraction GPS. If you find that you resonate with one of those descriptions, try plugging in different birth times to see which one gives you that particular Ascendant. Pro tip: The Ascendant will be the same zodiac sign as your Sun sign near sunrise, so if you're a Scorpio who feels like you may have a Scorpio rising, for example, try plugging in 7AM for starters. While a rectified chart won't be exact, it will give you something to work with as you continue on this soul-searching journey.