Astro Logos
Knowledge Base
If you are a student of Astro Logos and you have a astrological question then
please email us - general questions that we feel that many students may be
interested in we will place here on these pages.
There are a few key points to understand:
All house systems are based on dividing up a circle and then placing these divisions by some method of projection back onto the ecliptic. Thus there are two factors involved with house systems :
a) What circle is being divided into twelve slices?
b) What is the method for projecting these divisions back onto the ecliptic?
A house system like Equal House simply divides up the circle of the ecliptic itself, and thus does not need to project the divisions back onto the ecliptic. The beginning of the division usually starts at the degree of the ascendant. If one starts at the MC then this is called the M-House system.
Any house system divides up the ecliptic directly, and these are: Whole Sign - division of 12 x 30 degree signs Equal House - 12 division based on the Asc; M-House – 12 divisions based on the MC; Porphyry - The four quarters defined by the Cross of Matter are divided into three equal sections.
The meaning of the ecliptic in your daily life
All of them are ultimately seeking to express the meaning of the ecliptic through or by way of a house system. A house system is the way that a a "sky-circle" is placed done on the earth, thus these house systems are talking about one’s worldly use of the meaning of the ecliptic. If we take the ecliptic to be the complete circle of life, the whole or should I say the Whole, then when we look at a chart drawn up in these house systems we are looking at your relationship to the Whole, or whole. I believe, we grow into our Equal house charts. Thus as we become more aware of what makes our life work, what brings us joy, what seems right for us, then we seem to grow into such a horoscope.
There is much that can be said here but the point that I am making is that we can use a house system like Equal House to look at what we are seeking, what we are trying to reach. Have a look at your own Equal House chart and see what you think.
Regiomontanus and Campanus - other circles
Now if we take other house systems we can apply the same type of thinking. Regiomontanus, for example, is based on the equal divisions of the equator and then projected – via longitude – back to the ecliptic. It is a system space system and a chart drawn up in Regiomontanus is talking about how one relates to the space around you, via the philosophical meaning of the equator – that great circle in the middle of the globe. For this reason one could suggest that Regiomontanus houses are a way of looking at how centred a person is, or their relationship to such centeredness - maybe, we could speculate, that a strong Regiomontanus chart person has good balance - a dancer, an athlete, etc?
Campanus is another space system but this time it is the prime vertical which is divided into twelve slices. The prime vertical is the great circle that passes over head and moves from east to west. This circle is divided into twelve and projected back onto the ecliptic. A chart drawn up in Campanus is thus talking to you about how your relate to but this time the space is a little more personal, it is the space around you that is divided up not the circle of the equator. Campanus is thus based on your relationship to the space around you. I have found this house system excellent for working with the charts of space-based people such as designers and engineers.
Time Based Systems - Placidus, Koch and Alcabitius
Placidus, Koch and Alcabitius are time-based systems. These systems divide up a length of time of rising and setting of either a single point (usually the ascendant) or many points. Once these division are made, Placidus projects this back to the ecliptic via longitude whereas Koch projects them back via the line of the local horizon. Alcabitius works directly with the degree of the ascendant through its rising and setting arc. So all of these charts will talk about how one relates to time. We live in a time based world, so indeed these house systems are, I think, are the most relevant for general client work and your own natal chart. The difference between them is the method of projection. Koch’s method I personally do not like as it uses the angle of the local horizon to project points in space back to the ecliptic. I think the horizon is most important for the forming of parans but not to be used “high in the sky” as a method of projection. Placidus uses the more established method of longitude.
Your Choice - No wrong or right house system
For any astrologer their preferred house system is a personal choice, but you should never just use a house system blindly. If you are devoted to one particular system, study it and ask yourself: “Why do I like it, what is it showing me which is different to other house systems?” If you answer is simply because it “works”, then I suggest that you do a little more exploring.
Also you can see that there is no "wrong or right" house system. You should choose your house system depending on the client's needs. I use Placidus generally (although I like Alcabitius myself) because I do predictive work (which is time based) and most people live in a time-based world. However, when the need arises I will use Campanus for looking for that lost object (space question) or working with a space-based person.
When do we study house systems at Astro Logos
In the Weft and Weave module at Diploma level we ask the students to draw up their own charts in many different house systems, take a note of the differences and then think about the meaning of these changes in relationship to the philosophy behind the actual house systems themselves.
There are of course many other house systems that I have not talked about but the concepts I have mentioned will apply to any house system.
Bernadette Brady
It is of course a problem with any astrological research based on a database - ie it reflects the quality of the database. Thus the “stars that bring fame” were researched with a database which was made up of famous people, thus is this valid then for “normal” people.
I have found, however, that these stars (just like stars that bring difficulties) will hold true for us common folk. It is scale of "fame" that is the issue. Now if a person has what in Medieval Astrology is called a strong rank of fame (Ptolemy’s measure of the power of a chart) which is basically if they also have angular planets, and good aspects to the angles (there is more but that can be another FAQ) ) then their fame could be high. But if they do not have such an empowered chart then maybe the fame will be to be just the leader of their local darts club.
The fame is added to the chart by the stars but the quality of that I think is then mixed with the power contained in the natal chart. In other words what I am saying is that a really famous chart should have both stars that bring fame as well as a powerful chart. There are of course always exceptions to this rule as astrology is not a mechanical subject but rather a living organic mix!
Bernadette Brady