The second house governs the material realm in its most basic form
Our five senses—and sensuality—live here. Taste, smell, sound, touch, sight: this house brings a visceral experience much like an infant discovering the joys of being embodied for the first time.
The 2nd house is the first of the four succedent houses, along with the 5th, 8th and 11th houses. These sit in-between the initiating angular houses and the transitional cadent houses. Succedent houses are a lot like the fixed zodiac signs. Here is where we roll up our sleeves to turn the big ideas ignited in the angular houses into tangible realities—in this case through repetitive actions.
The meaning of the 2nd house in astrology
As the zone of “practical magic,” the 2nd house leads us to comfort and pleasure, from silky sheets to 90-minute massages to decadent meals prepared by a skilled chef. This is the first of the three “earth houses,” along with the 6th and 10th, which are the domains governing our material security. Earned income and money management begin here on the most basic level. Here’s where you collect a paycheck, buy groceries and pay the light bill; the fundamentals of a simple-yet-satisfying life. Where are you pragmatic and routine-driven…or where should you be?
But not so simple. The 2nd house is as sensual as it is sensible! A spoonful of sugar—and maybe a glass of Oregon Pinot, dry-aged ribeye and a slice of chocolate ganache cake—help the medicine go down. Since the 2nd house rules the neck and shoulders, we are reminded of the healing power of a chair massage and a quality neck pillow to keep us supported day and night.
2nd House: Values, possessions, income
What do you value? Look to the 2nd house for clues about your personal possessions and your ethics. The 2nd house has similar qualities to Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac. Here is where you will tenaciously stand by your beliefs and traditions, sometimes stubbornly refusing to evolve. Since the throat is governed by the 2nd house, you will discover your voice and learn how to speak up for your needs. (Or maybe compose some lyrics and change the world with a moving hit song.)
Valuing yourself is also 2nd house material. Look to this chart sector for information on building your self-esteem. On a core level, this is the zodiac zone of self-love, the kind that comes from positive self-talk and engaging in life-affirming day to day activities.
What are the houses in astrology?
The zodiac wheel is a 360-degree circle, divided into 12 segments, or houses. Each house represents a different essential aspect of our lives. In the Movie of You, the houses are like the different sets or stages where the planets (actors) play out their roles (given by the zodiac signs).
You must know your time of birth to accurately determine the houses in your chart. If it wasn’t recorded on your birth certificate, you may have to work with an approximation, as in “My mom says it was sometime right around 4:30.” Or find an astrologer who does rectified charts. This intuitive, investigative reading can suss out what your closest birth time may be.
If you use the Placidus method (which we prefer and recommend), you may notice that the houses of your chart are different sizes. This takes into account the Earth’s tilt. The further from the equator you were born, the more unequal your houses will be in size.
How do you know which planets are in your second house?
Each house is like a movie set of your life where different types of action are taking place. When a planet is in that house, it’s like an actor on that set. To find out if you were born with planets in your 2nd house, run a free birth chart here on our site. Then, look to see if there are any planet glyphs occupying that segment.
Here’s a handy guide to the planet glyphs for checking out your own chart:
Example birth chart: Kanye West
Kanye has Saturn, the planet of challenges and karma in his 2nd house.
The meaning of the planets in the second house
Which planets do you have in the 2nd house? Here’s what each planet means in that position.
Patient and practical, you move through life at a steady pace. Since you’re both sensible and sensual, you prefer to take your time and build things right the first time—ideally, so they’ll stand the test of time and bring you a comfortable life.
Read more about the Sun in the 2nd house
Dutiful and dependable, you’re the rock for the ones you love. Relationships are investments for the 2nd house moon, and the best ones for you age like a fine wine. But there IS a catch: if you get too comfortable, relationships can flatline. Alas, this moon placement can make you stubborn.
Read more about the Moon in the 2nd house
You process information with clear, step-by-step instructions, and through concrete evidence from the physical, material world. But you have a stubborn streak and can resist change or new ideas, preferring not diverging from routine.
Read more about Mercury in the 2nd house
For Venus in the 2nd house people, being relaxed is the key to being receptive to love. You’re one of Cupid’s darlings and, whether you care to admit it or not, a hopeless romantic to the core who woos at a prolonged pace. That said, you don’t wait TOO long for a home visit.
Read more about Venus in the 2nd house
You are industrious, practical and tenacious. You’ll work tirelessly to obtain financial security—mostly because you like to be comfortable. But this can limit your wealth-building goals, so it may be wise to develop a greater risk appetite in this lifetime.
Read more about Mars in the 2nd house
While this Jupiter placement whets your appetite for the finer things, it tempers some of the red-spotted planet’s proclivities to overindulge. Traditions and rituals feel anything BUT restrictive to you. You need to be anchored on solid ground before you feel safe flying.
Read more about Jupiter in the 2nd house
The practical magic of this placement casts a disciplined spell, blessing you with an unbeatable work ethic. So much so, that you may need to set some boundaries with your time. Otherwise, you could burn the midnight oil until you literally burn out.
Read more about Saturn in the 2nd house
You utilize material assets in an innovative way, making sure there is enough for everyone in the group. Outmoded objects need to be released or you wind up stuck in the past. At some point in time, you might embrace a minimalist ethos, however that won’t be easy.
Read more about Uranus in the 2nd house
When flowy, dreamy Neptune lands in the practical, structured 2nd house, things get weird. This cosmic “conflict of interest” can make it hard to anchor in any sort of daily schedule. The key lies in turning your routines into rituals.
Read more about Neptune in the 2nd house
With wealth-agent Pluto in this financially savvy position, you’re a money magnet. You intuitively understand how to turn any situation into a profitable opportunity. The challenge? Pluto here can make you cautious with a low risk appetite.
Read more about Pluto in the 2nd house
What do the planets mean in the houses?
First and foremost, there is no “right answer” to this question. In fact, you could speculate on at least ten ways a planet is influencing a house at any given moment. This impact will also evolve over time.
To get you started on reflecting, below are some key words for each planet.
- Sun: Self-expression, ego, creativity, vitality, leadership, passion, what excites you
- Moon: Needs, desires, intuition, what comforts you
- Ascendant/Rising: The first impression you make, initial instincts, appearance, attractions
- Mercury: Communication, curiosity, thought processes, what you like to talk and learn about
- Venus: Romance, seduction, fashion sense, what brings you pleasure, what you’ll spend money on
- Mars: Instincts, turn-ons, lust, drive, motivation, pursuits, what you’ll fight for (and about)
- Jupiter: Luck, inspiration, adventure, risk-taking, travel style, expansion, what you like learning about
- Saturn: Time and karma, caution, challenges and struggles, boundaries, what you learn the hard way
- Uranus: Innovation, originality, idealism, where you’re a rebel and a revolutionary
- Neptune: Dreams, the subconscious, fantasy, glamor, addiction, healing, boundless imagination
- Pluto: Secrets, wealth transformation, evolution, the unconscious, power (struggles)
- North Node: Destiny, soul evolution, dharma, the new “language” you are learning to speak
How does each planet influence my 2nd house?
If you were born with any planet in your 2nd house, it will influence the following areas of life:
- Work and money
- Daily routines and habits
- Income
- Style and taste
- Values and ethics
- Self-esteem
- Tradition
- Luxury
- Material possessions
- Stability
- Predictability
When a planet is transiting (orbiting) through your 2nd house, these subjects will likely arise.
These areas of life are thoroughly described in the 2nd place planet links above.
Kanye West’s birth chart
Another example using Kanye West’s birth chart
Kanye West has tough teacher Saturn in his 2nd house of income and luxury. Say what you will about the polarizing multi-hyphenate, but he has hustled tirelessly for his millions, true to the hardworking nature of this planet.
Planets in the Zodiac Signs
There’s one more layer to this! The zodiac sign that the planet is in directs the role that it plays in your life. For example, if motivational Mars was Lady Gaga (the “actor”), Mars in dreamy, artistic Pisces would cast her— far from the shallow—as Ally in A Star Is Born. Mars in calculating, status-hungry Capricorn could turn her into Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci.
Or in the case of Kanye “Yeezy” West, Saturn is in Leo, the sign of glamor, passion and yes, ego. The rapper turned fashion mogul is a regular front-row luminary at couture shows. And it takes a large dose of Leo energy for some of Kanye’s most outrageous moves: from naming an album Yesus to running for the U.S. presidency. But true to Saturn’s hard knocks and resilience, these expensive lessons don’t deter Kanye from making another public spectacle.
Keywords for the zodiac signs that appear in your chart
- Aries: independence, assertiveness, gutsiness, self-direction, novelty, trailblazing
- Taurus: stability, tenacity, values and ethics, routines, material comfort, sensuality, luxury, tradition
- Gemini: communication, curiosity, dynamic duos, variety, mobility, ingenuity
- Cancer: nurturing, sensitivity, emotions, home, family, roots, children, security
- Leo: passion, romance, self-expression, courage, loyalty, charisma, childlike spirit
- Virgo: wellness, efficiency, service, systems, organization, common sense, innocence, cleanliness
- Libra: commitment, partnership, equality, balance, mutuality, fairness, give and take
- Scorpio: intimacy, sex, secrecy, power, control, intensity, depth, obsessiveness, wealth, joint ventures
- Sagittarius: adventure, travel, expansion, wisdom, entrepreneurship, cross-cultural relationships
- Capricorn: ambition, structure, goals, long-term plans, achievements, prestige, status, time
- Aquarius: teamwork, originality, social justice, the future, technology, community, society, ideals
- Pisces: healing, dreams, fantasy, intuition, artistic ability, mystery, psychic abilities, compassion
What if my 2nd house is empty, has no planets in it?
Empty houses still play a role—and we think of them like blank canvases where you might even have a little more freedom to say what goes. In some ways, this might even be a relief!
But no house will ever stay empty for long. The moon transits (orbits) through all 12 houses in the span of a month. The Sun visits each throughout one year. When a planet transits through a house, it lights it up with its energy. That area of your life will feel the influence!
For example, if abundant Jupiter is in your 2nd house of finances, you could be a high earner and a big spender. Transformational Pluto there could bring a job change or reveal a hidden or spiritual approach to making bank.
Taurus daily horoscope, read yours!
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