Most astrology charts are made of a map of the heavens overlayed upon a circle of 12 houses (see explanation of a Chart Layout). Several methods exist for calculating the line divisions between the houses (house cusps), and not all astrologers use the same method.
It is believed that we exist in time and space. The purpose of the astrological houses is to divide our reality into sections. One method is to divide a day’s time (24 hours and 1 complete revolution of Earth about its axis) into 12 divisions. House systems that focus on this method are called “time-based” systems. Another method is to divide the space inside the Earth’s atmosphere into 12 sections, like sections of an orange.
Over the years, people have proposed many different formulas for calculating the divisions with both of these methods. That is why we have so many different house systems in astrology.
You can find many summaries of the house systems on the web, so I will only list the most popular and add a few notes below.
List of House Systems
- Placidus
- The Placidus house system is probably the most widely-used in the United States and Europe. However, here at Astrology Library, we consider the Placidus house system our second favorite, not our first choice. The Placidus house system divides time rather than space.
- Koch
- The Koch house system is probably the second most popular in the United States. It’s a relatively new system, from the 1970’s. It doesn’t work at all near the poles of Earth, but it’s still very popular.
- Campanus
- The Campanus house system is our favorite at Astrology Library. We find that it works best for psychological readings, as opposed to mundane, electional or horary readings. The Campanus house system divides space instead of time. We are not alone in our support of the Campanus house system: Dane Rudyhar also preferred it. In his book, The Astrological Houses, Dane Rudyhar says:
“…what is essential is the spatial character of the
houses – which fits the Campanus system of house division – and not the time
factor, that is, the time it takes for a zodiacal degree and for the planets to rise
from the horizon to the meridian – Placidus system. Therefore it seems to me
logical to divide the space surrounding the newborn at the surface of the globe
into equal sections. Each house represents 30 degrees of person-centered space
and the Point of Self moves through that space at an even speed from house cusp
to house cusp…” - Equal Houses
- The Equal House system was the earliest system used. The ascendant makes the first house cusp, then each successive house cusp is exactly 30 degrees after the previous one. The advantage of this house system is that it works well from any point on Earth since the houses are always 30 degrees. The houses do not grow or shrink in size near the poles, as in other house systems. A most annoying issue with this house system is that the M.C. is not the same as the 10th house cusp. In his book, The Astrological Houses, Dane Rudyhar says that any type of equal house system is incomplete because it “does not take into consideration the two axes determined by the time and place of birth.” Equal house systems, including Whole House systems, ignore the vertical axis and use only the horizon. (The Whole House system is like the Equal House system, with the only difference being that zero degrees of the ascending sign makes the first house cusp. Each successive house cusp is zero degrees of the next sign.)
Kate Giuchici
I have used both the Placidus and Equal house systems for years now. Experimenting with astrology software and applications — trying to find the best within my tight budget —
Some don’t even have Placidus as an option. For instance, Janus 4 doesn’t use Placidus (unless it’s named something else that I haven’t heard of…). Janus4 happens to be in my top 3 astrology programs. The others being a)astrowin and b)astro123, both of which are free, but only compatible with a PC.
Anyways!
The fact that you referenced Dane Rudhyar, was the last tidbit I needed to convince me. He is by far the best that I’ve read, and in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, many are just as respectable for their knowledge and experience. …Rudhyar has had the biggest influence on my journey with astrology. and I suppose, by default, Michael Meyer with his “translation” of Rudhyar’s person-centered, humanistic approach to the craft. (Michael Meyer ‘Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer’.
Basically, the name-dropping worked on me. ;)
p.s. unintentionally loooooonng-winded.
thank you for the post.
Suzanne
thanks for your post!
good info for a beginner.
Walter Pullen
Cool, another supporter of the Campanus house system! :) Campanus is the simplest and most direct space-based house system. As we know, the 12 signs of the zodiac form 12 equally sized “orange wedges” aligned with the ecliptic. The simplest and best way to visualize houses is also as 12 equally sized “orange wedges”, however aligned instead with the local horizon. Where the ecliptic intersects the 12 house wedges defines Campanus house cusps.
Note it’s possible to go a step further, and truly use the 3D Campanus model of 12 house “orange wedges” to place planets within houses. In other words, take planetary latitude into account, resulting in a true “3D houses” model: http://www.astrolog.org/astrolog/ast3d.htm
PersisRose
whoa! This is absolutely amazing! Wow! I wish I could interpret this as u would a 2D chart! Thank you! Truly beautiful!
RSM
You are of course a genius, a humble one, but you know that, too, already.
; )
mKay
Joyce Wehrman, said suggested to use the Koch H system,. especially good for timing of planetary transit cusps.. and her ‘Winning Transits’ program. I was also taught to use Campanus for proceeded Solar Returns. See: Interpreting Solar Returns by James A Eshelman. thanks!
David
Exhaustive research on the systems with many clients over years, experimenting with various models from equal to sunshine houses and being the lucky holder of a chart that has several planets that are close to cusps so move from one house to another depending on the system has led me to conclude Koch is the most accurate system. There is a reason it grew in popularity so quickly despite so many others to choose from. And is used by research astrologers. To Walter Pullen’s point, the 12 equal divisions work as constructs for the Zodiac up there. Down here, it makes deep sense that the houses are not 12 neat divisions of the sky. Earth based realities are not linear. The earth is tilted on an axis, its not perfectly round, has variations of night and day time length depending on hemisphere and season. There is variabilty. This is well reflected in our lives and individual stories by house systems which have unequal houses, interceptions, slanted axes, etc. To use a 12 equal division model as a starting point is a wistful notion. What is elegant theoretically is too often untrue in reality. In practice, looking as empirically as possible, Koch won out handily.
bry
You make excellent points why a simple house system, like Equal, doesn’t fit, but you do not explain why Koch is better than the other “calculated” systems, other than saying “research over time has shown me”.
bry
You’ve left out an important house system which has grown in use lately – I came here to look it up – forgot the name. It’s where you perfectly align the signs with the house. So the 0 degree of the ascendant sign is the first house cusp….
J'shua
This was mentioned above as the Whole House System.
Kathleen
What about whole signs?
Sam
I have chosen my house system by simply experimenting with my own chart, and the charts of a few very close friends. Most astrologers I know do this. If the Planets, Nodes, etc. are OBVIOUSLY in the wrong houses, then the house system doesn’t work. For example: I absolutely know I have a 5th -11th node configuration, there is no doubt about it. The Koch system puts my Nodes in the 4th -10th houses. Further; I know I absolutely have a Virgo Ascendant and the Koch system puts my Acs in Leo. Koch has never worked for me, and these are just two of many examples. The majority of the other house systems get this correct in my chart.
Also the techniques of reading houses come into play here. Some astrologers need a nice tidy, crisp tight house system and others have no problem reading a planet in two different houses with one house having more weight. I am of the latter group. Example: My DCS is 3 36 degrees of Pices and my Saturn is at 2 degrees Pices in the 6th house. I know for a fact I am a 7th house Saturn, I am 60 years old and can look back on my life and say with certainty that this is true. The cusp of my 6th house is Aquarius ( the power of the house) and 28 degrees away in a completely different sign (Pices) is my Saturn also in the 6th house 1.5 degrees from the 7th house cusp ( the power of the house). I have a 7th house Saturn. Are you going to believe a two dimensional picture of a chart or are you going to do your due diligence and ask yourself, or your clients, the right questions to get to the truth.
On another province are the intercepted houses, and if you use intercepted houses in your astrology. (I DO). Some house systems do not display intercepted houses like the equal house system that I use on occasion. Again its all about asking yourself or your clients the right questions to get the chart correct.
I use either the Placidus or Equal House systems, keeping a close eye on planets in close proximity of house cusps, and asking the right questions to iron it out correctly.
David
Planets near an angle in the 12th or 6th, will have qualities of the house they are in but also strongly have qualities of the angle they are near. Re the other houses and their cusps, astrology has tried too hard to make things exact and understands the cusps like angles. They are not the same thing. Planets near angles strongly express, its a measure of strength and was treated that way by the tradition. Planets near house cusps are not stronger than planets in houses. The house cusps are general and planets will show signs of being in both houses within 10 degrees before a cusp and probably a few degrees after. The house systems are different snapshots. Pics of a scene from different angles. The angles and hemispheres are the main story and they all agree there.
Sam
my last post was in March 2022 where I explained that I use equal house and placidus house with careful questioning to yourself and clients as to the validity of the house system were planets near cusps are concerned, and nodes etc.
I have since then been enlightened to the campanas house system which is remarkably accurate in my opinion and in my use.
Bonny Jackson
I have for many years at times….used the Companas house system in my identification of Soul connection….or In Synestry…with astonishing results….but I always start with Equal house first….By instinct when comparing 2 charts for connections… there are certain Aspects and especially conjunctions to be considered… when this is found to be the case… I work on the Companas chart and am stunned at the connections
David
So Campanus is speaking to you. I won’t dissuade you but will share that it always enlarges the same houses compared to other houses. It offers the most extreme house distortion of any system at even slightly elevated lattitudes above 40 degrees. The 12th and 6th and 1st and 7th are always huge and the rest are shrunk. Interestingly Porphyry and Alcabitius, the classical house system, offer the least house distortion at latitudes up to the arctic cricle. Placidus, Regiomontanus, Campanus and others distort heavily above 45. Its interesting that this point isn’t highlighted more as an argument for the classic systems.
Random
So Whole Sign would be considered a “space” based house system, am I correct? Think I am right about that.
But instead of earthy space, it’s heavenly space of an evenly divided circle which is the Ecliptic.