If you’ve studied astrology for a while, you know that astrologers can sometimes get into serious fights with each other over house systems. So I thought I’d set the record straight here by telling you what the very best houses system is for Western astrologers.
Drumroll please…
The best house system is….
…the one that works for you!
My apologies – this article is pretty much clickbait. BUT, now that I have your attention, I want to share some serious thoughts about our approach to the house system debate at Astrology University, and wrap up by calling for respectful dialogue in the community.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
As I write this, the house system war is again raging online, with different factions claiming to have answers. If you read the social threads, you see that there are differing opinions, disagreements about theory and technique, dispute over which “facts” are really factual, and about what ancient astrologers meant in that text that is a translation of a translation of a copy of a copy. It’s no wonder we’re so easily confused and irritated trying to form our own opinion! But that’s no reason for us to resort to bullying and intimidation tactics, or trying to control the narrative by using the pull of our influence, or resorting to just plain mean or dismissive behavior. As a community, we can be better than that.
Of course, we’re just a microcosm of the greater energies at play in the world that are also tense in the same way. But that doesn’t mean we have to participate with those energies unconsciously. We can learn to feel the heat rise in our body, be present with our anger or frustration, and then choose to respond with care and respect instead. We could all use a lot of practice with this (myself included)!
So let’s cultivate respect for each other. Let’s share our knowledge with each other, and when someone points out an idea we haven’t considered, let’s have the humility to say “thanks” and digest that new bit of info we were missing out on.
The Astrology University Approach to Houses
In our Diploma Program at Astrology University, we allow our students to choose their own house system in their homework and exams. We encourage students to experiment if they haven’t settled on one, by using one for a good amount of time – like a year’s worth of studies – and then trying another one. The program itself facilitates safe experimentation along with instructor feedback and review so that you can find the techniques and approaches that “work” for you – or perhaps a better way of saying it – what “speaks” to you.
We believe that if there were one right house system, that after 2000 years of practice we’d all agree on it, and we’d all be using it. Maybe that’s an unfair statement, and someday we will find the perfect house system. But we don’t currently live in that utopia. The fact of the matter is that many wonderful astrologers use different house systems with positive results. Among our core faculty of amazing, successful, and personally helpful consulting astrologers, at least 5 different house systems are represented. Would it make sense to tell any of them that their 40 years of client work was “wrong” because of their chosen house system after they’ve received years of validation that their work has been beneficial and life enhancing?
Taking Ourselves Too Seriously
Maybe part of the problem is that we take ourselves too seriously. I read that and think, “ouch”, yep, that would be me! And then, in response, “How can I lighten up a bit?”
One thought is to remember that our main goal should be to form a healing connection with our clients that provides them a sense of personal agency and self authorship, that allows them to face life with a bit more conscious awareness, and to provide them with a kind-hearted listener to be present with them in a way is of great benefit. If we keep our eye on that prize, we’re less likely to fall into the trap of thinking our technique is more correct than the experience of our client.
Here’s a potentially controversial statement: If we get the house system “wrong” but the client feels better when they leave, feels more empowered to face their life, and more confident about the choices they’re making, DOES IT MATTER?
I’m tempted to say more, but I’m going to leave it there for now.
So my advice on finding the “right” house system is: relax. Pick a house system, any house system. Try it out. Work with it. Let it speak to you. And if it doesn’t speak to you, try another one. Then forget about it, don’t stress over it. And turn your attention back to the work of helping your client.
Remember, in order to facilitate healing astrological consultations, the most important skill you can develop has nothing to do with house systems. It has to do with forming a personal connection, from your heart to theirs.
