Objective Spirituality
Well, it’s that time of year – the beginning of a new one – when it feels like changes for the better may actually be possible. When it seems like there may be something we can do differently, some way we can improve things a little. Perhaps it’s just a convenient time to make promises to ourselves – New Year’s Resolution time. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to change anything, does it? But what if, with no huge effort on our part other than just a little shift in our point of view, we may dramatically change practically everything for the better? What if we could give ourselves a whole new orientation that would simplify and clarify our experience of life?
My best resolution may be to leave my body (again).
Self-Created Obstacles
Most of our problems, most of the things we wish we could change for ourselves, are obstacles that we’re usually creating ourselves. We all know that already. Problems that pop up again and again and prevent us from reaching what we want or being what we’d like to be. But what might those obstacles look like if they weren’t right in front of us again, blocking our view and dictating our direction? What if we saw them from across the room? Or could look down on them, like a bird looking down from above? They probably would look like nothing much because, in truth, they usually are nothing but the constructions of our human minds.
Our human minds are very insistent mechanisms. They want us to believe everything they say is true. They want us to believe that we are our thoughts. But we’re not. We’re something else. Otherwise, how could we notice how crazy our thoughts can be? How could we say to ourselves I don’t even want to think about that and then not think about that?
You Are Not Your Thoughts
In Hinduism, there is a Sanskrit word sakshi which simply means the witness and it’s a simple idea. It’s an idea that you can assume as your own, because it’s about who you really are – apart from the demands of your rambling thoughts. Sakshi can suddenly shift your perception – your perspective – because it’s the witness that pays little or no mind to your mind. It applies no labels or judgments to what it observes. It’s the simple, pure awareness that looks upon all things with a graceful acceptance, with an objective compassion, as an intuitively analytical eye. Imagine being so cool! Now imagine it a little harder…
I had the mixed (but good) fortune of surviving multiple near-death experiences, and the first was in the classic out-of body motif. I looked down on the auto wreck and witnessed my own body, unconscious and apparently lifeless. Naturally, I suggest you avoid this scenario, but it was instructive. When I think about it now, I engage my memory, but I also engage my imagination – and you can do that, too.
Accessing the Sixth Sense
Imagine yourself outside of your body, being your pure self, unencumbered by the insistent designs and definitions of your mind. From there, you can look down on the limiting definitions your mind imposes on the huge potential of life; the power that’s so easily handed over to your old fears. From that point of view as the objective spiritual entity that you actually are, the world looks much simpler, much clearer. We experience what in Latin is called sub specie aeternitatis, the actual eternal nature of our pure self. The aspect of being that you may think of as an intuitive sixth sense and as a real, spiritual quality that we all as members of the human species possess.
When you identify yourself at that level, where your inner self and the rest of the universe are unified, the problems and obstacles of your life on Earth carry much less weight and power. For example, the guy at work who’s always in your face loses the label antagonist and is observed as simply demonstrating his need to express the demands of his own experience to anyone and everyone – not just to you. In fact, much less seems like it’s happening to you. It’s only happening for you, and because it must.
Becoming a Disembodied Spirit
With this simple change in perspective, you immediately gain a tolerant and empathetic consciousness, an acceptance of people as they are – and of the world – as it is. You are freed from personal expectations because you see them as simply part of the whole, as an inconsequential expression of the moment. This allows you to bring to each moment, and to the world, what you alone can bring to improve things as they are. You no longer have a horse in the race, because you’re watching the race from above with the objectivity of a disembodied spirit. Life becomes more easily acceptable. You can see the shape of every problem, so there’s no problem too large to be overcome.
This condition is a lot like Buddha Mind or Christ Consciousness – in which experiencing a little of either puts you in pretty good company and immediately bestows upon you a whole new definition of success.
A Tourist on Earth
You needn’t be concerned that you may become too detached from your own life or lose the passion you feel you need to inspire yourself. Your new point of view allows you to see your attachments and passions in a much truer context so you may engage them more accordingly. With the spiritual objectivity of sakshi, the size, shape and even origins of your personal obstacles become more apparent so you can see how they’ve fit into your past and how they can be dealt with more effectively as they pop up now. You engage your life as a whole – past, present and future to identify what works, what doesn’t and whom you would like to become.
Imagining that you’re up in the sky witnessing your body and mind (and everyone else’s) actually plants your feet more solidly on the ground. It empowers your actions, your effectiveness and your compassionate consciousness to show up for life with a simpler, clearer presence. Any responsibility can be met. Any obstacle can be dealt with – including those potential catastrophes that may lie just ahead of us all.
In Logion 42 of The (Gnostic) Gospel of Thomas, a rather Zen-like Jesus says, Be passersby, which could certainly stand in for the compassionate spiritual objectivity I’m suggesting – the slightly detached, fully engaged kind of tourist-on-Earth quality that can change our messy struggles into our empowering purpose.
For me, it may be summed up as a New Year’s resolution: I resolve to be a responsible, open-hearted, objective, compassionate witness of – and entirely engaged participant in – the remarkable, indescribable magic of life on this beautiful Earth.
To him who holds in his hands the Great Image (of the invisible Tao), the whole world repairs. – Tao te Ching, 35
About the Author
The 12 Astrological Houses: Keys to Your Natal Chart
Astrology houses show how different areas of life are organized within your birth chart. Each one represents a specific realm, such as relationships, work, home, or personal purpose. In this article, we explore what the houses mean, how they are calculated, and why they are a key part of astrological interpretation.
Table of Contents
- What Are the Astrology Houses and How Are They Calculated?
- The 12 Zodiac Houses and Their Relationship With Your Life
- House 1: identity, appearance, and beginnings
- House 2: resources, values, and stability
- House 3: communication, environment, and learning
- House 4: home, roots, and emotional world
- House 5: creativity, romance, and self-expression
- House 6: health, routines, and service
- House 7: relationships, partnership, and projections
- House 8: transformation, sexuality, and power
- House 9: beliefs, expansion, and philosophy
- House 10: vocation, public image, and achievements
- House 11: friendships, networks, and collective vision
- House 12: unconscious, spirituality, and cycle closure
- How Do Planets Influence Each House?
- Empty Houses in the Birth Chart: Do They Have Meaning?
- How to Use the Knowledge of the Houses in Your Personal Path
What Are the Astrology Houses and How Are They Calculated?
The astrology houses are twelve symbolic divisions used to interpret different aspects of life within a birth chart. Each house represents a specific area: from identity and resources to vocation or the inner world. Together, these houses form a kind of map that shows where energies manifest in your everyday experience.
To understand how the houses are distributed, you need to know your exact birth date, time, and place. This information allows the calculation of the Ascendant, which is the zodiac sign that was rising on the horizon at the moment of your birth and marks the beginning of the first house. From there, the twelve houses are drawn counterclockwise, covering all essential life themes.
The 12 Zodiac Houses and Their Relationship With Your Life
Each of the twelve houses represents a specific realm of experience. Some are related to external aspects, such as career or relationships, while others reveal internal dynamics, such as emotions or unconscious processes. By observing which planets and signs are present in each house, you gain a detailed view of how your energy is organized across different areas of life. Below, we explore the twelve houses one by one and what each represents:
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House 1: identity, appearance, and beginnings
House 1 marks the beginning of the birth chart and is directly related to the Ascendant. It represents the way you present yourself to the world—your personal style, physical appearance, and the first impression you create on others. It also speaks to the energy with which you begin new cycles and how you face the unknown.
This house acts as a filter through which the entire chart is expressed. Its sign and the planets located there influence your attitude, your personality, and how others perceive your presence. It is a key area to understand your most visible identity and the initial drive with which you approach life.
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House 2: resources, values, and stability
House 2 is associated with the material world and your relationship with the resources that allow you to build security. It speaks of the money you generate, your possessions, and the way you manage what you consider valuable. It also reflects your personal talents and how you use them to sustain yourself.
Beyond the economic, this house also shows what gives you stability and how you build a solid foundation in your life. The sign and planets located in House 2 provide information about your value system, self-esteem, and ability to generate abundance consistently.
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House 3: communication, environment, and learning
House 3 represents the way you communicate, how you think, and how you process information. It is related to language, study, writing, and all kinds of mental exchange. It is also connected to siblings, close relationships, and daily movements.
This house describes your learning style and your ability to express yourself clearly. Its ruling sign and the planets within it show whether the mind is more analytical, intuitive, quick, or reflective. It also reveals how you interact with your immediate environment and how you construct your ideas about the world.
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House 4: home, roots, and emotional world
House 4 represents the emotional foundations upon which you build your life. It is associated with the home of origin, family, childhood, and the bonds that shaped you at the deepest level. It also speaks of your inner world and what you need to feel safe and at peace.
This house functions as a kind of energetic root, marking what provides you with emotional stability. The sign and planets located in this area reveal your relationship with the past, with ancestry, and with the space you consider “home.” It also influences how you relate to your private life and your most intimate emotions.
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House 5: creativity, romance, and self-expression
House 5 is related to pleasure, self-expression, and creative energy. This is the area where spontaneity, play, hobbies, and the need to enjoy life manifest. It also speaks of romance, flirting, and the way you express affection freely and genuinely.
Beyond playfulness, this house represents the capacity to create something of your own—from a work of art to a project or even children. The sign and planets in House 5 show how you experience desire, your connection to inspiration, and how you share what you love with the world.
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House 6: health, routines, and service
House 6 is linked to the organization of daily life. It speaks about your habits, routines, relationship with everyday work, and care of the physical body. It also shows how you manage responsibilities and your willingness to be of service to others.
This house reflects your connection with order, discipline, and processes of continuous improvement. The sign and planets located here indicate how you approach health matters, how you respond to stress, and what kinds of tasks help you find balance. It is a key area to understand how to transform small details into something meaningful.
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House 7: relationships, partnership, and projections
House 7 represents the world of conscious bonds, especially one-on-one relationships, such as partnerships, marriage, or associations. It shows the type of people you attract and those with whom you tend to form meaningful connections. It also reveals what you seek in another person to achieve balance and complementarity.
Additionally, this house acts like a mirror: what you project onto others often reflects parts of yourself that you are learning to integrate. The sign and planets that inhabit House 7 provide information about how you love, your lessons in partnership, and how you evolve through encounters with others.
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House 8: transformation, sexuality, and power
House 8 is associated with processes of deep change, crises that transform, and the ability to be reborn. It is an intense house, connected with themes such as sexuality, symbolic death, detachment, and regeneration. It is also linked to shared resources, such as inheritances or joint assets.
Here lies the energy that drives you to release what no longer serves in order to make room for a more authentic version of yourself. The sign and planets located in this house reveal how you go through transformation, how you handle personal power, and how you connect with emotional and physical intimacy.
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House 9: beliefs, expansion, and philosophy
House 9 represents the desire to go beyond what is known. It is linked to long journeys, contact with other cultures, higher studies, and spiritual exploration. It also speaks of the belief system that guides your decisions and your way of interpreting the world.
This house encourages exploration, questioning, and finding meaning. The sign and planets located in this area show how you experience deep learning, your relationship with mental freedom, and your openness to new horizons of consciousness.
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House 10: vocation, public image, and achievements
House 10 represents your place in the world, vocation, and how you wish to be recognized by others. It is related to professional projection, long-term achievements, and the path you choose to leave a mark. It also shows your relationship with authority figures and how you assume responsibilities.
This house indicates the type of structure that allows you to advance and grow socially. The sign and planets located here speak of your style in reaching goals, your way of exercising leadership, and the role you are called to play in the collective.
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House 11: friendships, networks, and collective vision
House 11 is associated with groups, social causes, and shared ideals. It reflects how you connect with communities, friends, and projects that go beyond the personal. It also shows your openness to what is new, different, and to ideas that aim to transform reality.
This house is connected with the vision of the future and your ability to collaborate with others. The ruling sign and the planets present here reveal how you build networks, the kinds of environments that stimulate your growth, and the role you play in collective spaces.
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House 12: unconscious, spirituality, and cycle closure
House 12 represents the invisible, what is not always seen but has a profound influence. It is linked to the inner world, the unconscious, memories of past lives, and the connection with spirituality. It also speaks of cycle endings, introspection, and the bond with silence.
This house invites you to look inward and connect with the most subtle dimension of being. The sign and planets located here provide clues about your internal processes, emotional sensitivity, and the spiritual tools you can integrate to heal and evolve.
How Do Planets Influence Each House?
Planets act as activating energies within the astrology houses. When a planet is located in a house, it brings its symbolism and movement to that specific area of life. Its presence intensifies certain themes and marks key experiences related to that planet.
For example, Mars in House 7 may indicate intense relationships and a direct style in partnerships, while Venus in House 2 enhances the connection with pleasure, values, and the generation of resources. The combination of planet, house, and sign creates a unique language in every birth chart.
Understanding which planets are in each house helps to identify where your energy is concentrated, what your challenges are, and which natural resources you can develop. This reading provides a more complete view of your personal map and allows you to consciously accompany your evolutionary process.
Empty Houses in the Birth Chart: Do They Have Meaning?
An empty house, meaning one without planets inside, does not mean that this area of life is blocked or unimportant. It simply indicates that the energy is not concentrated there directly. However, that house is still active through the sign that rules it and the planet governing that sign.
For example, if House 4 is empty but begins in Cancer, you can look at the position of the Moon—the ruler of Cancer—in another part of the chart to interpret how issues of home and emotional life manifest. The analysis is still possible; it just unfolds through other connections within the map.
Empty houses often represent areas of life that develop with more ease or that don’t require as much conscious attention at first. Over time, these areas may be activated through planetary transits, personal growth, or external experiences that awaken their potential.
How to Use the Knowledge of the Houses in Your Personal Path
Exploring the meaning of the astrology houses allows you to view life from a broader perspective. By understanding how your energy is organized in each area, you can make decisions more aligned with your essence and respond more clearly to what each stage of life asks of you.
This knowledge not only helps identify talents or challenges but also to recognize cycles, release conditioning, and connect with a deeper purpose. The houses provide a map that guides your inner development and helps you understand why certain themes repeat or emerge strongly at specific moments.
Integrating this information is a way of living with greater awareness, responsibility, and coherence. The houses do not predict your destiny, but they show you the terrain you are working on. With that clarity, it becomes possible to walk with more confidence toward the most authentic version of yourself.
