The passion-powered fifth house picks up the baton from the family-focused fourth house and sets us free to explore our untethered desires
Do you play well with others? Okay, so how about when you’re unsupervised? Like teens hanging out at the mall without watchful parents hovering nearby, here’s where we experience that sweet, first taste of self-authorized independence.
The meaning of the 5th house in astrology
This is the realm of romance in its first blush. Picture the starry-eyed world of crushes, dreamy dates, first kisses and passionate hookups. This generates excitement, washes away common sense and fills us with a giddy sense of promise about what might be. Fertility and pregnancy live in the belly of this chart sector—a time when imagination is required to bring a seed into fruition. While the 5th house gives us butterflies, its magical qualities make it hard to deal with reality at times. Commitment on the other hand? Not so much.
Budgets also tend to fly out the window when you’re in a passionate 5th house headspace. This regal domain rules dipped-in-gold opulence and the indulgent luxury displayed on every “Real Housewives” franchise. When you’re in the 5th house zone, associated with the zodiac sign, Leo, you’re in maximizer mode and you want to make everything as big as it can possibly be.
The 5th house is the second of the four succedent houses, along with the 2nd, 8th and 11th houses. These zones 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 creative production.
5th House: Passion, creativity, self-expression
Do you long to be the star? Down the cup of courage and enter the 5th house of fame. This is the zodiac’s Broadway stage and life is colorful here. Creativity, fashion and unbridled self-expression live here. If you want to create a masterpiece, go viral or captivate the crowds with a runway debut, draw upon your 5th house for cues. Leadership is highlighted and here’s where you make your directorial debut as the boss of (fill in the blank.) This chart sector rules the heart and upper back, reminding us to rule with love and stand up with pride. Hawt!
Drama alert! Things that are “born” in the 5th house can become serious matters quickly, forcing bon vivants to grow up faster than the time it takes for that “little pink line” to show up on a pregnancy test. Game-changing as these mega-moments may be, they’re ultimately ones worth celebrating—another aspect of the festive 5th house. Bring on the diaper swans and five-layer cakes!
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 fifth 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 5th 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: Will Smith
Will Smith has a packed 5th house, occupied by Jupiter, Pluto, Uranus, the Sun and South Node!
The meaning of the planets in the fifth house
Which planets do you have in the 5th house? Here’s what each planet means in that position.
You are zodiac royalty, here to dazzle the world with show-stopping style and unparalleled creativity. Whether you’re captivating an audience with a stage performance or doing groundbreaking research in a lab, when you pour your unstoppable energy into a mission, people sit up and take notice. Even if you’ve adopted a selfless persona, inside you still have a strong sense of what is “right” and “good,” and when that’s challenged, the claws come out as you defend your fierce ideals.
Read more about the Sun in the 5th house
With the moon in the flamboyant 5th house, your feelings are big, bold and impossible to ignore. Proud and confident, you can be quite expressive! People may accuse you of being intimidating or aggressive, even if you are, at heart, a gentle soul.
Read more about the Moon in the 5th house
Fiercely protective, you effortlessly create a sense of camaraderie, and will “roar” on behalf of people you love. Just watch any tendencies to be overly self-referencing by injecting a personal story when someone else is emoting (“now, back to me…”).
Read more about Mercury in the 5th house
Naturally creative, you’re fine going “off-script,” too; in fact, some of your most heart-opening moments may be the ones that you ad-lib when you throw caution to the wind. Venus in the 5th House makes you a passionate soul.
Read more about Venus in the 5th house
A born performer, you can always be counted on to pump up the passion and fun in a social situation. Just make sure you share the stage—and the power!—from time to time, or people may see you as dominating. And check yourself when you get too thirsty for praise, too.
Read more about Mars in the 5th house
With your eternally youthful spirit, you dwell in the heart of the action—and you’re probably an epic party planner yourself. But learn your limits! Overindulging can be hazardous to your health. Of course, these very slip-ups may become the source of your spiritual evolution.
Read more about Jupiter in the 5th house
Although you hate to be ignored, too much attention makes you uncomfortable. As such, you tend to be understated in your self-expression… at least when younger. You may dodge the spotlight for years before finally surrendering to your innate starpower.
Read more about Saturn in the 5th house
You love to thrill and be thrilled, entertain and be entertained—and your wild streak can be legendary. Learning how to use all this potency effectively can take a minute. Money burns a hole in your pocket until you master the compulsive urge to splurge.
Read more about Uranus in the 5th house
In relationships, your emotional waves can be extreme, going from high highs to dramatic crashes. Without realizing it, you might take people on some emotional roller coaster rides. Gaining command of this tendency is also part of your healing journey.
Read more about Neptune in the 5th house
People look to you as a fearless leader, even if you’ve never steered the ship in your life. When you DO take charge, watch your ego. Pluto in this royal court can make you thirsty for dominance or a little too controlling for your own good.
Read more about Pluto in the 5th 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 fifth house?
If you were born with any planet in your 5th house, it will influence the following areas of life:
- Self-expression
- Passion and drama
- Creativity
- Playfulness
- Entertainment: what you do for fun
- Celebrations
- Interactions with children
- Your childlike spirit
- Stage presence
- Fertility
- Fashion and style choices
- Opulence and luxury
- Romantic Love: dating and the honeymoon phase
- Sensual and sexual exploration (with or without commitment)
- Leadership style
- Need for validation and praise
- Courage
- Ego
When a planet is transiting (orbiting) through your 5th house, these subjects will likely arise.
These areas of life are thoroughly described in the 5th place planet links above.
Another example using Will Smith’s birth chart
Will Smith was born with the Sun (personal expression), risk-taking Jupiter, powerhouse Pluto, spontaneous Uranus and the karmic South Node in his fifth house of fame. With no formal training, he leapt from rapper to actor, landing the starring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and evolving into one of Hollywood’s most popular megastars. With the Sun and South Node here, this path was clearly Smith’s calling, and he has removed barriers for Black actors with the limitless, unexpected and regenerative powers of Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto.
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 Will Smith, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto are all in diligent, studious Virgo, which surely helped him hone his craft at an accelerated speed. To wit, Smith calls his time on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air “acting school.” Smith also has the expressive Sun andthe karmic South Node in the 5th house, but in Libra, the sign of relationships. His marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith has made him a “legend” in other ways. Over the years, their non-traditional union has drawn criticism, curiosity and admiration—and he has fearlessly dissected the state of their union on Jada’s show, Red Table Talks.
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 5th 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, when the Sun beams in your 5th house, you’ll be eager to draw attention to yourself through show-stopping moves or on the strength of your work. You may fly under the radar while hardcore Saturn transits your 5th or get serious about having a baby or completing creative work.
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