What Is Each House Ruler in Astrology? How to Find Your House Ruler

In astrology, a house ruler is the planet that rules a house’s zodiac sign. You have a birth chart that is personalized to you, but you also have a house chart. House charts, unlike birth charts, are the same for everyone as each house always has the same position and characteristics. Each house has a planet that naturally rules it, and understanding the qualities of this natural ruler can help you interpret your horoscope.

1

1st House: Mars

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Mars is the ruler of the House of Self. This house is all about your identity inside and out. Think about how you view yourself, what you look like, act like, and how you approach life. These are all qualities and traits directly influenced by what’s in your 1st House. Basically, how you present yourself to others. As the natural ruler of this house, Mars could be a sign of selfishness and vanity.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I act.”^{[2]XResearch source}
- Zodiac sign: Aries^{[3]XExpert SourceAngel Eyedealism
  Astrologer & Performance ArtistExpert Interview. 8 December 2021.}
- Keywords: Self, life, and body^{[4]XResearch source}
- Angular house: Ascendant. This house contains your rising sign, or the sign that rose over the East when you were born.
- Angular houses represent life’s basic needs and foundations: self, partnership, career, and family. The planets in these houses are the most influential.

2

2nd House: Venus

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Venus rules the House of Possessions. The value of material things is the core of this house, making Venus its natural ruler. This house will help you recognize how and why you use money, and show you what you truly love. If Venus is in your 2nd House, you may have a high appreciation for beauty and quality.
- Planet motto: “I love.”
- Zodiac sign: Taurus
- Keywords: Possessions, money, material circumstances, and livelihood

3

3rd House: Mercury

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Mercury controls the House of Communication. How you communicate can influence your relationships, career, and even self-expression. Mercury symbolizes a child-like curiosity to learn, analyze, and reason. Chances are you’re extremely talented if Mercury is in your 3rd House.
- Planet motto: “I think.”
- Zodiac sign: Gemini
- Keywords: Local movement, short journeys, communication, school, and siblings
William W. Hewitt, Astrologer
In astrology, the 12 houses relate to life areas, each ruled by a zodiac sign. To find your house rulers, note the sign on the cusp of each house in your chart. For example, if Gemini rules your third house, its ruler, Mercury, rules that house. The planet ruling the sign on a house cusp is the house ruler. Knowing your rulers gives insight into the energies influencing different parts of your life.

4

4th House: Moon

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The Moon is the center of the House of Home and Family. Your past and present self have phases like the Moon. What you are now and what you were back then are reflected in the 4th House. The Moon represents the version of yourself only those closest to you see. If the Moon is in your 4th House, you may be the most comfortable and authentic when you’re with family.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I feel.”
- Zodiac sign: Cancer
- Keywords: Home, family, roots, and parents
- Angular house: Nadir. The signs and planets in this house often reflect your relationship with your parents.

5

5th House: Sun

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The Sun is the ruler of the House of Pleasure. This house is all about you. Think about what you believe yourself to be. How do you finish the statement “I am…”? The answer lies in your 5th House, where the Sun naturally rules. Your interests, creative self-expression, and even love affairs are wrapped up in this house. Craving a social or romantic relationship could be because the Sun is in your 5th House.
- Planet motto: “I am.”
- Zodiac sign: Leo
- Keywords: Creativity, children, romance, and entertainment

6

6th House: Mercury

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Mercury reigns over the House of Health. This house controls how you find balance in life. Your daily routine, how you help others, and the need for order are all in the 6th House. Mercury plays a part in this house as it helps you conquer daily life battles with ease. This could be interpreted as you being a multi-tasker or quick problem solver.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I think.”
- Zodiac sign: Virgo
- Keywords: Health, service, work, and routine

7

7th House: Venus

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Venus takes over the House of Partnership. How you love is the embodiment of this house. The 7th House doesn’t just affect your romantic relationship, but friendships as well. How you interact with those you love, and how you learn from your relationships all depends on your 7th House. Being the planet of beauty and love, Venus is this house’s natural ruler. This planet can be interpreted in many ways, including only being happy in relationships or being a peacemaker.
- Planet motto: “I love.”
- Zodiac sign: Libra^{[7]XExpert SourceAngel Eyedealism
  Astrologer & Performance ArtistExpert Interview. 8 December 2021.}
- Keywords: Partners, marriage, and open enemies
- Angular house: Descendant. The sign and planets in this house represent the qualities you admire in others.

8

8th House: Pluto

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Pluto rules the House of Transformation. When things get tough, the 8th House and Pluto help empower you to adapt, evolve, and take control. How you respond in moments of crisis and how those crises change you are governed by the 8th House. If Pluto is in your 8th House, you probably have a strong spiritual awareness.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I empower.”
- Zodiac sign: Scorpio^{[9]XExpert SourceAngel Eyedealism
  Astrologer & Performance ArtistExpert Interview. 8 December 2021.}
- Keywords: Sex, death, inheritances, other’s money, and loss

9

9th House: Jupiter

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Jupiter is the center of the House of Purpose. The 9th House is all about travel and learning new things—providing experiences that’ll help broaden your mind and find a sense of purpose. How you react to moments of growth is this house’s doing. Jupiter is the natural ruler of the 9th House because it symbolizes good luck, self-improvement, and success. When reading your chart, you could interpret Jupiter in your 9th House as having an optimistic outlook and natural love of knowledge.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I grow.”
- Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
- Keywords: Travel, higher education, religion, spirituality, and law

10

10th House: Saturn

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Saturn controls the House of Enterprise. Your public image, how you work, and your goals are influenced by the 10th House. Saturn plays an important part as it governs your sense of duty, responsibility, and endurance during hardships. Without this ruling planet, you wouldn’t be able to make and achieve your goals. Some might interpret Saturn in the 10th House as having a strong urge to lead and take on responsibilities.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Planet motto: “I achieve.”
- Zodiac sign: Capricorn
- Keywords: Career, social position, and dominant parent
- Angular house: Midheaven. The sign and planets in this house influence your public reputation.

11

11th House: Uranus

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Uranus is the ruler of the House of Friendship. This house encompasses your social world and governs your connections with others. Uranus is the natural ruler of this house because it represents the unconscious urge to find your individuality. It’s often interpreted as joining groups to find a sense of self.
- Planet motto: “I evolve.”
- Zodiac sign: Aquarius
- Keywords: Friendships, associations, and aspirations

12

12th House: Neptune

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Neptune reigns over the House of Unconscious. Your wildest fantasies are squeezed into this house—including the version of yourself you wish to be—making Neptune its natural ruler. Neptune is the symbol of imagination and illusion, influencing the mystical, fantastical, and often confusing experiences of life. This natural ruler could be a sign that you’re a deeply insightful person.
- Planet motto: “I dream.”
- Zodiac sign: Pisces
- Keywords: Hidden matter, the unconscious, clandestine relationships, secret enemies, and seclusion

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Your birth chart consists of your zodiac wheel and your house wheel. While the zodiac wheel is based on the sun’s position when you were born, the house wheel is the same for everyone as it’s based on the Earth’s 24-hour rotation.^{[12]XResearch source}
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The qualities of the zodiac signs aren’t exactly the same as the houses they’re associated with because houses represent experiences where signs reflect personality traits.^{[13]XResearch source}
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