Which house system should I use?

Placidus is common in Western astrology, with Whole Sign and Equal houses also used; Jyotish usually uses whole-sign houses. GenesisCore uses the common system in each tradition.

Do empty houses matter?

Yes. An empty house is read through its sign and the position of its ruling planet.

Astrology houses: the meaning of the 12 houses and house systems

Houses divide the chart into twelve areas of life. Planets show what acts and signs show how; houses show where in life it appears.

GenesisCore Premium Western result screen (example from a public figure's birth data)

Houses start from the Ascendant

The first house begins at the Ascendant, so houses require a birth time and place.

The 12 houses

House	Main areas
1st	Self, body, first impression, how you begin
2nd	Money, possessions, values, earning
3rd	Learning, communication, short trips, siblings
4th	Home, roots, emotional foundation
5th	Creativity, pleasure, romance, children
6th	Daily work, habits, health routines, service
7th	Partners, marriage, contracts
8th	Shared resources, inheritance, deep bonds, transformation
9th	Higher education, philosophy, travel abroad
10th	Career, status, achievement, public reputation
11th	Friends, networks, future goals
12th	Inner life, rest, the unseen, letting go

House systems

Placidus divides by time and space into unequal houses; Equal houses use 30 degrees from the Ascendant; Whole Sign makes each sign one house. A planet can fall in a different house depending on the system; each is a consistent rule within its tradition.

Bhavas in Jyotish

Jyotish usually uses whole-sign bhavas counted from the Lagna and groups them:

Kendra (1, 4, 7, 10): the pillars of the chart
Trikona (1, 5, 9): grace and growth
Dusthana (6, 8, 12): challenges and effort
House lords are traced to connect areas of life

Houses for career

Career reading centres on the 10th, 6th and 2nd houses, their lords and occupants; Jyotish adds the D10 chart. GenesisCore calculates houses and bhavas in each system and uses them for work, relationship and timing readings.

FAQ

Which house system should I use?: Placidus is common in Western astrology, with Whole Sign and Equal houses also used; Jyotish usually uses whole-sign houses. GenesisCore uses the common system in each tradition.
Do empty houses matter?: Yes. An empty house is read through its sign and the position of its ruling planet.

FREE TOOL · NO SIGNUPAscendant calculator: rising sign, MC and Lagna from birth time and place →

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