How to Interpret Your Own First House in Ascendant Birth

Chart through Vedic Astrology

What is the 1st House?
There are two types of 1st Houses. The natural 1st House and ones own personal 1st House. We
will begin by covering the natural 1st House in Astrology, i.e. Aries, and also what areas the 1st
House controls. Ones own personal 1st House is selected based either upon your rising sign or
your moon sign.
The natural 1st House in astrology is the Sign of Aries, which is associated in the sky with the
constellation known as Orions Belt.
Characteristics of the 1st House
The First House is known as the House of the Body. It signifies your physical self and basic
personality or disposition. Whether your First House is Aries or Taurus or any other sign, it is
always a signifier of ones own personal self. Should you want to know the general behavior,
attitude and physical appearance of someone, you look to their 1st house. It also controls the
physical head and general health and well-being.
Each sign has its own unique flavor when it is the 1st House and sets the background of an
individuals demeanor. Further, a planet in the 1st House or aspecting the first house will
greatly alter ones physical appearance and personality
Moon Sign vs Ascendant to Judge your First House
The sign of the first house in Vedic Astrology is very important. The first house sets the karma
for your personality and body and also determines the signs of all the other houses. In Southern
India, Vedic Astrologers accept that the first house can be determined as either the sign that is on
the eastern horizon at the moment of birth or the sign of the Moon.
In India, your family astrologer would determine whether your Eastern ascendant sign or the
Moons sign should be used. Your family astrologer would have a long-term relationship with
you and your family and would be consulted on any major occasion. He would base his decision
on whether the Eastern ascendant sign or the Moons sign seemed to have a stronger influence on
your development. In the west, we do not have family astrologers to make these decisions for us
as we are growing up. An astrologer can make this determination for you after looking at your
chart and asking you about your experiences in life. With some education in Vedic Astrology,
you yourself can make this decision after assessing which chart suits your life experience better.
In order to determine which first house to use we will take a look at the influence the first house
has on your looks, personality and health. This will tell us whether your Ascendant or Moon sign
is operating more strongly in your life. If your Moon turns out to be the greater influence in your
life, you should analyze your chart as if the Sign that the Moon is in was your 1st House.
In Summary we are going to take you step by step in helping you decide which should be your
1st house, your Ascendant or your Moon sign. Then you will look at how different planets in
your chart have influence over your physical appearance and personality.
STEP 1First, you need to know what your Ascendant sign and Moon sign are. You can contact
me to cast your charts for free of cost at any time
STEP 2
Now that you know your Ascendant and Moon signs, read the descriptions for both of these
signs. Based on these descriptions, choose the one that more accurately reflects your appearance
and personality. Please note that on occasion, a persons physical appearance will reflect a
combination of both their Ascendant and Moon signs.
First House: Aries
Ruling Planet: Mars
Positive Trait: Dynamic
Negative Trait: Domineering
Body Description: Strong, medium build and athletic
Personality Description: You are likely to be quick and aggressive and will not take the
backseat in life, being independent, self -directed and goal seeking. You have intensity like
warriors and will take on the struggles of life. You are likely to be competitive.
First House: Taurus
Ruling Planet: Venus
Positive Trait: Patient
Negative Trait: Stubborn
Body Description: A heavy appearance and lovely large eyes
Personality Description: You are likely to be comfort loving and stubborn. Like your symbol,
the bull, Taureans are determined and dangerous when riled. You are heavily influenced by
Venus, the planet of love and beauty, and love and beauty will be major themes in their lives.
The Taurus first house gives a kingly Leo fourth house granting you with a regal home and
luck in acquiring real estate.
First House: Gemini
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Positive Trait: Adaptable
Negative Trait: Restless
Body Description: Long and lean, perpetually youthful
Personality Description: You are likely to be mentally sharp and are of a dual nature and love
variety. You are known to be talkative, love to start things but do not always finish them, and
have an eternal curiosity. The Gemini first house gives an eighth and ninth house of Capricorn
and Aquarius, both Saturn-ruled signs. You will therefore feel the effects of Saturn in giving
delays or restrictions in your activities and are likely to have a conservative or traditional guru or
father.
First House: Cancer
Ruling Planet: Moon
Positive Trait: Nurturing
Negative Trait: Moody
Body Description: Short with a thick neck and stout body
Personality Description: You are likely to be sensitive and caring of others. Like the ruler of
Cancer, the Moon, you are expressive, romantic, family oriented and have a deep sense of
empathy for others. The Cancer first house gives a Saturn-ruled Capricorn in the seventh house
of relationships, thus are known to have disappointments in marriage and may experience their
partners as overly controlling.


First House: Leo
Ruling Planet: Sun
Positive Trait: Dramatic
Negative Trait: Proud
Body Description: Majestic appearance with a large frame, broad shoulders, tall height and have
a thoughtful countenance
Personality Description: You are likely to be a leader and a lover of the spotlight. You are bold,
cheerful and generous; when angered, you are not easy to cool down. You are ambitious. The
Leo first house gives a Scorpio fourth house Leos will seek independence from mother and
home early in life.
First House: Virgo
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Positive Trait: Exacting
Negative Trait: Critical
Body Description: Medium height, with big cheeks and a bright face. Soft body, a gentle nature
and attractive appearance.
Personality Description: You are likely to be impulsive, curious and like to talk. You are likely
skillful with your hands and a love of the arts. You are sensitive and creative, with an innocent or
nave nature. With the Suns influence in their twelfth house, Virgo first house people are likely
to be long-lived.
First House: Libra
Ruling Planet: Venus
Positive Trait: Diplomatic
Negative Trait: Indecisive
Body Description: Tall, thin and fair with a smiling face
Personality Description: You are likely to be philosophical, skilled in business, intelligent and
frank, and able to communicate their opinions forcefully. You are by nature charitable and
skilled as a judge or arbitrator. The Libra first house gives a Scorpio second house, so this person
will have to work energetically to accumulate wealth. You can experience windfalls and
opportunities by their popularity in their social circles.
First House: Scorpio
Ruling Planet: Mars
Positive Trait: Intense and Secretive
Negative Trait: Perverse
Body Description: Handsome and youthful appearance, with medium height and a fierce look in
the eyes
Personality Description: You love excitement and seek adventure and are competitive and
independent. You are known to be secretive and love occult studies. You can lash out when
wronged or threatened. Good luck follows your from your deeds in past lives. The Scorpio first
house gives a Taurus seventh house of partnerships, attracting you to a stable and romantic
partner.
First House: Saggitarius
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Positive Trait: Direct
Negative Trait: Hot-headed and Excessive
Body Description: Full figure (inclined to eating a lot) and happy demeanor
Personality Description: You are likely to be straightforward, noble and a supporter of good
causes. You are robust, healthy, interested in spiritual matters and are unlikely to abuse your
power when you gain positions of authority. You encounter delays or restrictions in their
accumulation of wealth, and difficulties with siblings. You are drawn to refined or elegant
occupations or careers working with women.
First House: Capricorn
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Positive Trait: Businesslike
Negative Trait: Inhibited
Body Description: Thin with handsome features
Personality Description: You are likely to be ambitious and persevering. You have an air of
pessimism and feel under appreciated. Your successes are often delayed until later in life. You
often have to pick yourself up and start over again, but ultimately succeed in having a
widespread reputation. You are known to have emotional and romantic partners.
First House: Aquarius
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Positive Trait: Independant
Negative Trait: Opinionated
Body Description: Darkish hair, pretty eyes and can be either tall and thin or short and pudgy
Personality Description: You are likely to be creative and inventive, perhaps a bit eccentric.
You love philosophy and like to do good for others. You are a leader and a lover of the spotlight,
but serve others and can tolerate hard work. You like to wander and will explore history and
tradition. You tend to have a stable, loving and comfortable home life. You are likely to be
granted prosperity and good cash flow throughout life.
First House: Pisces
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Positive Trait: Introspective
Negative Trait: Ungrounded
Body Description: Attractive large mouths and a strong physique
Personality Description: ou are kind, sensitive and devotional. You are likely to be intuitive and
superstitious. You are sweet but also stubborn. You have the star power to make them a
successful actor or actress. You attract intelligent business partners and draw to yourself mates
who are primarily clever rather than attractive.
If after reading the above descriptions you are still uncertain as to which 1st House sign to use,
follow this method:
1. If your birth time is known, and you cannot decide between Moon and Ascendant, go
with your Ascendant as your first House.
2. If your birth time is unknown, and you cannot decide which of the above best reflects
you, go with your Moon Sign as your first House.
STEP 3
Once you have identified which sign is your first house, either by the Ascendant or the Moon
sign, the next step in controlling aspects of your first house is to know which planets most
directly influence it and modify its nature. Examine your 1st House (either Moon sign or
Ascendant) and note any planets in that sign, then read the descriptions for each planet that you
have in your 1st House to see how they affect your physical self and personality:
Planet in the 1st House: Sun
General Effect: Driven, Proud, a little Irritable
Negative Effect: If Sun is in Libra (debilitated), lack of self-confidence or self-acceptance and
problems with health.
Planet in the 1st House: Moon
General Effect: Gentleness and beauty to the Face and Inner Radiance. Emotionally, intuitive
and temperamental.
Negative Effect: If Moon is in Scorpio (debilitated), emotional turbulence, health problems and
sexual impediments.
Planet in the 1st House: Mars
General Effect: Youthful appearance, ruddy complexion, Passionate, Direct, Warrior,
Polygamy.
Negative Effect: If Mars in Cancer, accident and injury prone, injuries to the head or facial
rashes.
Planet in the 1st House: Mercury
General Effect: Communicative, Quick Wit, Talkative.
Negative Effect: If Mercury in Pisces, problems with communication and speech, and mental
unsteadiness.
Planet in the 1st House: Jupiter
General Effect: Heavy, Big-boned build. Great luck and fortune and tremendous opportunities
come your way. Could become lazy or eat more foods leading to weight gain.
Negative Effect: If Jupiter in Capricorn, not recognized for your work, overly optimistic and
overextending of yourself.
Planet in the 1st House: Venus
General Effect: Great physical beauty, refinement, charm and sensuality.
Negative Effect: If Venus in Virgo, your love interests will never be fulfilling to you.
Planet in the 1st House: Saturn
General Effect: Excellent for humanitarian service. Gives duration and discipline to your
position (whether a good or bad role).
Negative Effect: If Saturn in Aries, personal progress will be slow and encumbered. You will
meet with delays, obstacles and restrictions.
Planet in the 1st House: Rahu
General Effect: Aggressive nature and worldly success. May marry multiple times.
Negative Effect: A problematic Rahu can cause health and confidence problems.
Planet in the 1st House: Ketu
General Effect: Mystical nature and highly sensitive nervous system, unhappy marriages.
Negative Effect: Ketu at its worst can make you deceptive and a victim to other peoples energy.
Each planet that you have in your 1st house will affect your personality and appearance as
described above. If you have no planets in your 1st House, then you will more closely match the
description of the sign listed in Step 2!
STEP 4
The final step in understanding your personal 1st house is to examine where your 1st houses
planetary ruler is placed in your chart and what that means for you. The following table lists
which planet rules your first house:
Sign of the 1st House Planetary Ruler
Aries Mars
Taurus Venus
Gemini Mercury
Cancer Moon
Leo Sun
Virgo Mercury
Libra Venus
Scorpio Mars
Sagittarius Jupiter
Capricorn Saturn
Aquarius Saturn
Pisces Jupiter
If your 1st house is Taurus, then your planetary ruler is Venus.Now, look again at your Chart
Report. What sign is your planetary ruler of the 1st House placed? Remember, the planetary ruler
can be found in the chart above. For instance, you may find that you have a Taurus 1st House.
Taurus ruling planet is Venus. The Chart Report would show you which sign your Venus is
placed. Perhaps your Venus is in Leo.
Leo is the 4th House for a Taurus Ascendant/Moon Sign. The Houses are numbered 1 to 12 in a
clockwise direction. Taurus is the 1st House. Gemini is the 2nd House. Cancer is the 3rd House
and Leo is the 4th House.
The placement of your 1st House planetary ruler will tell you how your karma will be
experienced by you in this lifetime. So, in our example, if your ruling 1st House planet is Venus
and placed in your 4th House of Leo, you will spend much of your life focused on issues relating
to your mother, property, home and cars. Below are the indications of each House:
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 1st House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Character, Life Purpose
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 2nd House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Wealth through Career, Childhood
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 3rd House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Hobbies, Creativity, Courage,
Younger Sibling


Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 4th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Mother, Property, Home, Cars
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 5th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Children, Higher Education,
Grace from God
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 6th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Healing, Health, Enemies, and
Debts
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 7th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Partnerships, Relationships,
Marriage, Opponents
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 8th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Obstacles, Longevity, Sensuality,
Mysticism, Inheritance
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 9th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Father, Luck, Spirituality, Travel
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 10th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Career, Fame
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 11th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Opportunity, Profit, Older Sibling,
Friends
Plant that rules the 1st House is in your: 12th House
How your Character and Purpose in Life will be Directed: Enlightenment, Liberation,
Foreign Travel, Loss, Confinement
By means of another example, if your first House is Gemini, then your planetary ruler is
Mercury. When you look at your chart, you see that Mercury is placed in your 12th House of
Taurus. Therefore, in this lifetime, you will experience much work involving enlightenment,
liberation, foreign travel, losses and/or confinement.
Summary:

At this point, you now have an understanding of:
1. What sign your 1st House is;
2. What planets, if any, are in your 1st house;
3. What planet rules your 1st house; and
4. In which house your ruling 1st house planet is placed in your chart.
This will give you a good basic comprehension of why you look and behave the way you do. If
you are beautiful, you may very well have Venus in your 1st house. If you are heavy and jovial,
Jupiter may be in your 1st house. If you have 2 or more planets in your 1st House, look to which
of the planets are weak and causing you difficulties based on the descriptions of the planets
above. Then remedy that planet!
1st House Remedies:
What Can I do About my 1st House Afflictions? There are several options to remedy ill effects
of the planets affecting your first house.
Mantras:
There are secretive mantras to help appease a planet that is destined to cause you problems.
There are also planetary remedies you can do based upon your new found analysis. First, to
strengthen your first house, you can chant the mantra of the planet that rules your first house.
(discussed for each planet in a seperate article in my notes section)
Alternative Ways to Propriety a Planet
You can propitiate a planet on the day of your 1st house ruler. For instance if Mars is the ruler of
your 1st House (i.e. Aries or Scorpio), then on Tuesday, the day ruled by Mars, you can try
fasting during daylight hours, but eat before sunrise and after sundown or remain vegetarian the
entire day.
Rituals:
Depending upon the level of the affliction that planet is causing you, you can perform a fire
ritual (called a homa or yagna) or pooja.