The astrological chart is divided into twelve sectors called houses; the houses contain the planets. There are many different systems of house division. They are based on different mathematical calculations. House division is based either on the division of space or time.
If we use different systems of house division for the same chart, sometimes certain planets “jump over” to the neighbouring house. This means that two astrologers, who use different house divisions in their work, can interpret the position of the same planet in your chart in different ways but this doesn’t mean that only one of them is right. Every astrologer uses the system that works best for them, meaning it gives them consistently good results in chart readings. No one system is better or worse than the others, nor more correct or incorrect. The only thing that matters is that astrologers always use the same system and that they perfect the art of chart interpretation, which is in large part intuitive, anyway.
In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the most widely used systems of house division. Next to each description is an example of a chart using that particular house division. The same natal chart is used every time, the only difference is the house division that has been applied to the chart. In this manner, we can easily compare different systems and see how the same chart changes using different systems. To see the charts, click on the images.
Division of space
WHOLE SIGN HOUSE SYSTEM
One of the oldest systems of house division, in which each sign (consisting of 30°) takes one house. If the Ascendant is at 11° Capricorn, this means that the First house is in the sign of Capricorn (the exact Ascendant degree is marked within the First house), the Second house is in Aquarius, the Third in Pisces etc. In this system, the exact degree of the Ascendant doesn’t match with the cusp of the First house, instead, it is marked within the First house. The Midheaven can be anywhere in the upper half of the chart (houses 7-12).
EQUAL HOUSE SYSTEM
A system of house division, in which every house consists of 30°. If the Ascendant is at 11° Capricorn, this means that the cusp of the Second house is at 11° Aquarius, the cusp of the Third house is at 11° Pisces etc. In this system, the exact degree of the Ascendant is also the cusp of the First house. The Midheaven can be anywhere in the upper half of the chart.
PORPHYRY HOUSE SYSTEM
This system has been named after Porphyry of Tyre. This is the oldest of the quadrant house systems. When we establish the Ascendant – Descendant and Midheaven – Nadir axes, we get four quadrants. The angles represent cusps of the angular houses. The rest of the cusps are determined by simply dividing each quadrant into three equal parts.
CAMPANUS HOUSE SYSTEM
This system divides the primary meridian into twelve sections, which are then projected on the ecliptic. The system was named after Italian astronomer and astrologer Johannes Campanus.
REGIOMONTANUS HOUSE SYSTEM
In this system, the celestial equator is divided into twelve sectors, which are projected on the ecliptic. It is named after German astronomer Regiomontanus, who established it. This system has been largely replaced by the Placidus house system.
Division of time
PLACIDUS HOUSE SYSTEM
The most widely used house system in Western astrology, named after Placidus de Titis. Each point of the ecliptic (in other words, each degree of the zodiac) has a specific daily path it travels between sunrise (marked by the Ascendant) and sunset (marked by the Descendant). The point where one sixth of the daily path has been travelled, becomes the cusp of the Twelfth house; the point where two sixths (or one third) of the daily path have been travelled marks the Eleventh house cusp; the point where half of the daily path has been travelled, becomes the Tenth house cusp (the so-called Midheaven) etc. In this way, we define the cusps of houses 8-12. The cusps of the opposite houses (houses 2-6) are located exactly opposite.
KOCH HOUSE SYSTEM
The Koch system is a modern version of the Placidus house system. It was established in the 1960s by Walter Koch.
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