ASTROLOGY, THE HANDBOOK OF YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY

The birth chart wheel, or natal chart is formed by two circles overlapping, each divided into 12 spaces.

The zodiac wheel (the outer circle), shows the 12 zodiac signs and it is based on the Sun's "apparent" yearly rotation around Earth. Each zodiac sign has 30 degrees, and they are organized counterclockwise.

The Wheel of Houses  is based on our Earth's 24-hour rotation around its own axis. There are also 12 houses, organized counterclockwise, that are shaped like a pizza slices, inside the wheel.   The Wheel of Houses must always be laid out with the first house starting under the horizontal line (the horizon), that divides the wheel into two, the first house starting on the left side. 

The zodiac signs, planets and aspects between the planets are arranged on the wheel according to their actual astronomical position in the sky, the moment we are born.  

The dividing line before each house is called “Cusp". The cusp of the first house is the horizontal line that divides the chart in two,  and it extends directly to the left. The cusp of the second house is the next line moving counterclockwise, and so forth.  Houses 1 to 6 are below the horizon and houses 7 to 12 are above the horizon. 

The zodiac sign on the cusp of each house indicates the energy carried in the aspect of life designated by that house. The planets in a house will define what happen in that area; the zodiac signs where the planets are in, will adjust how the planets manifest themselves.

Ascendant, AC - The cusp or starting point of the 1st house. The point which is exactly on the horizon, on the east, the moment you were born.

Medium Coeli,  MC - The point which is exactly over-head, and is always the starting point, or the cusp of the 10th house (Medium Coeli, Mid Heaven, or just MC).

Descendant, DC - The point, which is exactly on the horizon, on the west, is always the cusp or starting point of the 7th house.

Imum Coeli,  IC - The point which is exactly opposite to the over-head, is the cusp of the 4th house. 

The 12 houses are the areas of your life where things happen to you. 

The planets in the houses will tell you what is happening in that area, and the zodiac signs will tell you how it is happening.  

The houses are not energies like the zodiac signs or planets, nor do they add meanings to the energies like the zodiac signs do; they are rather "where" these energies are destined to act and influence you. They are simply the areas of life, not the experience of it.  

The first six houses in the natal chart (the lower six) are “personal houses” concerned with self-image, values, perception, ancestry, self-expression, health, and daily habits. 

Houses seven through twelve (the upper six) are the "interpersonal houses,” and they relate to partnerships, connection with others, communities, career, and public image. 

Everything in your life happens in one of these twelve houses.