An Easy Mistake to Make: Untangling the Rulership Confusion

Johannes Hartlieb 1462

When studying astrology, a ‘natural wheel’ is often used. This wheel places Aries in the 1st house, Taurus in the 2nd, Gemini in the 3rd, and so on. However, this does not mean that Aries rules the 1st house, Taurus rules the 2nd house, Gemini rules the 3rd house, or Libra rules the 7th house. Signs do not rule houses. Only planets have rulership ability, and they rule signs, never houses. A planet is said to rule a house when it rules the sign in that house. A planet can rule another planet when it rules the sign the first planet is in.

I often see even well-established astrologers equating signs with houses in this way. Please be mindful and catch yourself if you find yourself doing the same.

The remainder of this post is for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting my work.