House Sectors

1st Sector:
The first sector suggests everything about you -- what you look like, your personality, and what is important to you. It covers your ego, natural tendencies, your face to the world, your energy level, and fresh starts.

Special note: The ascendant is the sign which was rising on the horizon when you were born. It describes the first sector and can only be determined by an astrologer casting a custom chart for the exact time and place of your birth. All charts are converted to Greenwich Mean Time. If you have had your chart done and know your ascendant, you can read about both your sun sign and your ascendant sign in all forecasts and personality reviews in this column. The ascendant is the sign whose characteristics you adopted at birth and continue to express naturally. This explains why all those born under the same sun sign are not alike, since most of us are actually a combination of the sun sign and the ascendant.

The first sector is ruled by feisty, entrepreneurial, energetic Mars and by the first sign of the zodiac, Aries.

2nd Sector:
Your money -- the income you earn independently of others -- comes under the 2nd sector. Financial matters, both gains and losses, are also covered here. Your sense of security, confidence, and tangible possessions are under this particular sector, too.

This sector is ruled by Venus, the planet of love and finances, and by the sign Taurus.

3rd Sector:

The 3rd sector rules the intellect, the mind, how you analyze problems, and your overall learning and communicative process. This includes writing, speaking, thinking, and reading. Other issues covered here are contracts and agreements, proposals, and self-promotion. This sector also covers your immediate neighborhood, short-distance trips, and all transportation issues, such as buying or selling a car, booking an airline ticket, or special appointments and meetings.

The 3rd sector also governs experiences in lower education (high school and earlier) as well as relationships with close relatives, such as sisters and brothers. Finally, the 3rd sector covers your perception of childhood experiences.

This sector is ruled by the intellectual, communicative sign of Mercury and by the sign Gemini.

4th Sector:

Your residence, what it looks like, and how you feel about it fall within this sector. Your private family life comes under this sector, as would all matters of property, like the buying and selling of real estate, sectors, condos, co-operatives, or the leasing of an apartment. This sector also rules your parents, and how you will spend the later years of your own life.

The 4th sector is ruled by the nurturing Moon, and by the sign Cancer.

5th Sector:

Your love life, romance, fun, and pleasure are covered here. It also rules all creativity, new ideas, hobbies, and the most powerful evidence of creativity, your children. While all your children are cove red by this sector, individual children are also covered by various other sectors -- first child/the fifth sector, second child/the seventh sector, the third child/the ninth sector, and so forth.

Games, chance and speculation come under this sector, as does the playing of the stock market. In astrology, playing blackjack and buying blue clip stock all fall within the same sector.

This sector is ruled by the Sun, the giver of life and strength, and by the sign Leo.

6th Sector:

Daily routine, work, and tasks that need doing are covered by this sector. The cusp of this sector will describe the nature of your work and your general work environment. This sector also rules those whom you employ to serve under you, whether at home (personally) or at work. All pets and small animals also are ruled by the 6th sector.

This sector rules the conscious mind and some matters of health. However, the first sector also rules health, so both have to be considered. Diet and exercise are covered in this sector, too.

The 6th sector is ruled by intellectual, objective Mercury and by the detailed and service-oriented sign Virgo.

7th Sector:

Marriage, business partnerships, and people who represent you -- such as an agent or lawyer -- are covered by the 7th sector. Since the subject of love comes under the 5th sector, the 7th comes into play once there is a joint contract -- oral, written, or just understood -- toward some sort of common goal. Oddly enough, this sector also rules open enemies and lawsuits, if you have any. Most of the time you don't, because this sector must be virtually under siege with negative planetary action for this to happen.

For most people, the 7th sector is most strongly indicative of the marriage partner. What they need most from that person and the rapport that develops can be seen in this sector.

The 7th sector is ruled by gentle, refined Venus and by the partnering sign of Libra.

8th Sector:

Joint financial matters come under the 8th sector. Insurance claims, prizes, contests and lotteries, inheritance and other legacies, tax payments, bonuses, commissions, royalties, windfalls, mortgages, credit, loans, and venture capital all come under this sector. As you see, this involves other people's money and is generally unearned income (i.e., not your usual salary, which would be in the 2nd sector). This sector also indicates how well your partner will be doing financially.

Since gifts of all kinds are included in this sector, physical love -- sex -- is also included here. Your sexual energy, style, and needs are described in this sector. Note that in astrology, the 5th sector is love, the 7th is marriage and the 8th is sex -- all different sectors. This sector also rules surgery, new life chapters, rebirth, and regeneration. It is also one of the two sectors ruling psychic experiences, the 12th sector being the other.

This sector is co-ruled by sexy and secretive Pluto and by the sign Scorpio.

9th Sector:

Long-distance travel, international communication, foreigners, languages, and higher education (college and higher degrees) are the key areas covered by this important sector. It also rules philosophy, religion, literature, publishing, academia, and t he law. All in-depth study, the higher mind, and mental exploration are covered by the 9th sector. Your in-laws would be described by this sector as well, as are all moral and ethical issues.

The 9th sector is ruled by happy and optimistic Jupiter and by the sign Sagittarius.

10th Sector:

Fame, promotion, honors, career awards and chances, reputation, kudos from your company, and your status in the community are covered by this high-powered sector, located at the Midheaven (tip-top) point of the horoscope. Like the first sector, the sign on the cusp of this sector indicates your profession, as well as the appearance and outward image you give to the world career-wise. This sector also covers judges, high-level authority, VIPs, government officials, and how predisposed they might be to help you.

This sector is ruled by hard-working, serious Saturn and by the sign Capricorn.

11th Sector:

This is the sector of hopes and wishes, what you aspire to realize in life.

Friendships and other platonic relationships, such as contacts, associations, and networking, all come under the 11th sector. Here you'll find groups of all kinds, like clubs, professional organizations, societies, and political organizations. Oddly enough, this sector can give a current clue to the financial condition of your employer.

Humanitarian causes for the social good are governed by this sector, as are intellectual pursuits.

The 11th sector is ruled by creative and scientific Uranus and by the sign Aquarius.

12th Sector:

The 12th sector rules the subconscious mind, dreams, intuition, instinct, secrets, and all of the hidden side of life, including any behind-the-scenes or underground activity of which you are not aware or that you must keep confidential. Its rules over the subconscious extends to all psychotherapy and psychic experiences, as well.

Understanding the nature of your difficulties also falls in the 12th sector, but coming to terms with that difficulty would be the province of the 8th sector.

The 12th sector also governs rest, the finishing of a long cycle, and any and all confinement, such as in hospitals, nursing homes, or even jail. This sector also rules self-sacrifice (often as a result of another person's illness), suffering, limitations and secret enemies, if you have them -- but you probably don't. Lastly, this sector rules charity, especially on a one-on-one basis.

It's a little-known fact that all large animals come under the domain of the 12th sector.

The 12th sector is ruled by spiritual and self-sacrificing Neptune and by the sign Pisces.