The 12 houses in a Kundli explained: what each house means

A birth chart has 12 houses. Each covers an area of life. The planets that sit in a house, and the planet that rules it, show how that area of life tends to work out for you.

The 12 houses

• 1st: self, body, personality and the start of everything.
• 2nd: money you hold, family, food and speech.
• 3rd: courage, siblings, skills and short travel.
• 4th: home, mother, property and peace of mind.
• 5th: children, study, creativity and romance.
• 6th: work routine, health habits, debts and rivals.
• 7th: marriage, partners and the public.
• 8th: sudden change, hidden matters, research and inheritance.
• 9th: luck, purpose, teachers, father and long travel.
• 10th: career, status and public work.
• 11th: gains, friends and fulfilment of wishes.
• 12th: expenses, sleep, foreign lands and letting go.

The groups of houses

• Kendra (1, 4, 7, 10): the pillars. Planets here have strong effect.
• Trikona (1, 5, 9): luck and purpose. Generally the most helpful.
• Dusthana (6, 8, 12): houses of struggle and change. They teach, and also protect when used wisely.
• Upachaya (3, 6, 10, 11): houses that improve with time and effort.

How to read a house

Look at the sign on the house, the planets in it, the planet that rules it and the aspects on it. Then check where the house lord sits. A house lord in a good house usually helps that area. In the 6th, 8th or 12th, it often means extra effort.

No house is bad. Even the 8th and 12th bring depth, insight and rest. The question is how you use them.