THE HERO’S JOURNEY: Through the 12 Astrological Houses
Exploring the fascinating link between mythology and astrology.
As a student of myth and astrology, I am fascinated with how they overlap and create one another. Today I’ll be analysing the 12 houses of astrology in relation to the mythic hero’s journey.
In astrology, the 12 houses represent 12 domains of life experience. They have a corresponding zodiac sign that encompasses a similar archetype.
In mythology, the hero journeys through 12 stages of life experience. I found these archetypes of the hero’s journey map on almost perfectly to the archetypes of astrology.
Since astrology was developed side-by-side with mythology, I can only assume this correlation is somewhat on-purpose.
Below is my analysis of how the 12 astrological houses relate to the 12 stages of the mythic hero’s journey. These are not the formal definitions of the astrological houses, rather, they are how I think they relate to the mythic hero’s journey.
1st House | The Ordinary World
The 1st house is our ordinary consciousness. The 1st house is the house of our birth. The 1st house is a launching pad for the rest of our journey. The planets and signs here may represent what we go on the journey to actualise in this life.
The 1st House is linked with Aries, the zodiac of moving outward from the comfort zone into something new.
2nd House | Call to Adventure
The 2nd House is where we receive the call for our journey. The 2nd House deals with understanding our values, desires, and purpose for moving forward. The planets and signs here can help us get a sense of what we value and are called to do in the physical world.
The 2nd House is linked with Taurus, the zodiac of stabilizing our resources and understanding our internal worth.
3rd House | Refusal of the Call
The 3rd House is where we refuse the initial call. In other words, this is where we seek more information before moving forward on the journey. The planets and signs here inform what kinds of bigger questions we’re asking and what we may need to develop as we move forward on our journey.
The 3rd House is linked with Gemini, the zodiac of left-brain communication and education.
4th House | Meeting with the Mentor
The 4th House is where we meet our mentor. The 4th house in astrology is the house of the family, the home, and our emotional imprinting. Our families are often our first mentors, but as we get older, we will seek mentors akin to our families to guide us. The planets and signs here can inform what kinds of mentors we seek and what kinds of support we need.
The 4th House is linked with Cancer, the zodiac of family, home, and emotion.
5th House | Crossing the Threshold
The 5th House is where we cross the threshold. The 5th house is where we become brave enough to embark on our purpose or calling. The 5th house may be where we develop confidence, resilience, and pride. It can be what we are remembered for or leave behind as a legacy.
The 5th House is linked with Leo, the zodiac of creativity, bravery, fame, and generosity.
6th House | Tests, Allies, and Enemies
The 6th House is where we experience tests, allies, and enemies. This is where we actually implement our purpose. This is what kind of work we have to do and the kinds of people we partner with to make it happen. This can also be where we make mistakes and learn self-improvement.
The 6th House is linked with Virgo, the zodiac of service, work, and self-improvement.
7th House | The Approach to the Inmost Cave
The 7th House is the house where we approach the innermost cave, or more risky aspects of our journey. It is the point on the journey where we re-evaluate what we’ve learned so far to prepare us for the great ordeal. It is where we remember where we come from and why we went on this journey in the first place.
The 7th House is linked with Libra, the zodiac of relationships, harmony, and justice.
8th House | The Great Ordeal
The 8th House marks the hero’s most challenging point on his journey, his greatest ordeal. In astrology it is known as the house of death and rebirth. It is the house where we must face our greatest fears, inner and outer, and develop a resilient core. It is where we are reborn.
The 8th House is linked with Scorpio, the zodiac of death, sex, rebirth, and transformation.
9th House | The Reward (Seizing the Sword)
The 9th House is where the hero is rewarded for his journey thus far. The reward is the wisdom the hero retains. The hero may also be left at a point of existential dread, having achieved his journey, he begins the search for higher wisdom, intuition, and deeper meaning.
The 9th House is linked with Sagittarius, the zodiac of right-brain communication, intuition, and philosophy.
10th House | The Road Back
The 10th House is where we take the road back home, sharing everything we’ve learned. The 10th house can be linked to profession, public image, and fame for this reason. It is where heroes are celebrated. Simultaneously, it is where the hero realizes a purpose bigger than his own and grows the desire to serve the collective.
The 10th House is linked with Capricorn, the zodiac of profession, diplomacy, and authority.
11th House | Resurrection
The 11th House is our resurrection. This is the climax of the hero’s journey. This is where the hero fights on the behalf of himself and his whole community, using all the wisdom he’s learned to make a world anew. Here, the hero is pressured to seal the fate of his community: either defeat the enemy or let everyone suffer the consequences.
The 11th House is linked with Aquarius, the zodiac of humanitarianism, technology, collectives, and actualisation of our purpose.
12th House | The Return Home
The 12th House is the return home. It is where we experience ourselves as totally transformed. It is where we reflect on our life experiences, newfound wisdom, and become a mentor or sage to the journeys of others. In astrology, the 12th house is connected with transcending our past and awakening new perspectives.
The 12th House is linked with Pisces, the zodiac of spirituality, higher meaning, intuition, and a connection with the great beyond.
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Keep in mind, no house or sign is more or less ‘evolved’. The chart is like a spiral staircase, and the planets, like us, circle through all 12 signs and houses constantly, opening new doors for evolution to occur.
The birth chart is simply an overview of where evolution might be taking place in this lifetime. A lot of planets in a particular house can emphasize evolution on that stage of the journey.
If you’re new to astrology, you can visit astro.com, type in your birth info, and cast a chart for yourself.