The Fifth House: Introduction
Everyone loves the fifth house – and why wouldn’t they? The pleasure people feel when they discover they have a fifth house emphasis in their natal chart is a joy to behold. However, does this mean the Gods have singled you out for a life of partying and good times? As ever in astrology – the answer to that question is yes – and no. You may be one of those fortunate people who retains a child like enthusiasm for life – or you may be the world’s greatest drama queen. You may, of course, be both.
In this section, I’m going to set out all you need to know about this house in your astrological chart. If you have the Sun, Moon, Chart Ruler or a stellium of planets in this house, you will have a life where fifth house associations simply cannot be avoided as they are an intrinsic part of your astrological make up. In astrology, we work with what we have – and I suspect many of you will be delighted that fate gave you the fifth house to play in.
However, some of you who are not fifth house ‘natives’ may also experience living in this sector on a temporary basis. Planets may transit and station in your fifth house. You may experience an emphasis on this house in your solar returns and transits. Solar and lunar eclipses may take place in this house thus highlighting the affairs of the house when they do.
So, I’m also going to explain how the fifth house functions in predictive astrological charts and provide you with the essential keywords associated with this house to help you make your own chart analysis a little easier. However, I’m going to start with the basics to give this astrological house of fun some context.
The Fifth House: Key Qualities
Succedent
The succedent houses follow the angular houses in astrology and they are the places we build on our base and sustain our lives. To do this we often need to be resourceful, creative yet realistic, aware of our physical and material constraints and potentials and use them to make life worth living. We structure our lives in the succedent houses and, in the fifth house, do so to make our life a true expression of our inner self. Enjoying the benefits that accrue from this are the key attributes of the succedent houses.
Fire
This house is a fire house and fire houses are dynamic, active places to be. An emphasis on the fire houses in your natal chart is a sign of positivity. The fifth house is associated with Leo, so drama is the watchword for this house. It is the place where we express ourselves and grow in confidence from doing so. Your life would be a dull place without you being centre stage, and that’s what happens in this house. However, it’s worth bearing in mind, that this house is not the place for hard work – but it does get you noticed that’s for sure.
The Fifth House: Rulership
The fifth house is ruled by the Sun and when you have this house emphasised in your chart, you have a desire to shine. This is the house where Solar qualities such as motivation and a sense of purpose are at their most powerful here. The Sun is the most important body in your natal chart and is associated with vitality, will power and a sense of self. The fifth house is, therefore, where things ‘come naturally’ to you, and planets here can indicate interests and abilities that give you that opportunity to shine, because you’ll find those activities effortless and enjoyable. And that’s important to you too.
The Fifth House: Natal Astrology
With an emphasis on the fifth house in your natal chart, the message is about building your confidence – and you achieve this by developing your creative passions. We tend to associate creativity with artistic ability, such as drama, literature, music or fine art. There may be many people with a fifth house emphasis who have interests in the arts, however, creativity is about more than that and in the natal fifth house, it tends to suggest you have a creative response to life – and its challenges.
This is unquestionably a house where positivity is a stand-out. In this house we have a ‘can-do’ attitude because we feel happy that we’re engaging in life in a manner that allows us to be true to ourselves. So, in this house we begin to tap into our true potentials and recognise what we are capable of becoming. It’s the place where we learn what we are good at and what we enjoy. They are, of course, not necessarily the same thing so in the fifth house we also learn to recognise our limits – a key lesson in this house.
Recognising your limits implies a degree of pushing them needs to occur first – and that’s certainly true here. The fifth house wants you to lighten up and be proud of who and what you are. You may feel proud of your achievements – or of the achievements of your children – or you may develop the confidence to go one a date or join a sports club because you feel much more comfortable in your own skin. The fifth house is the place to show off your talents and stop being so self conscious, but remember, no-one loves a show-off.
So, in the fifth house you need to learn how far you can go and in many ways it is a house of risk taking and experimentation. This process is essential for personal development – hence this house’s association with children. Issues of personal development may be stressed if you have an emphasis here in your natal chart. The fifth house may where we grow up – but it’s essential we do so without losing our child-like honesty in the process.
The Fifth House: Keywords
Acting, Acting out, Artistic and creative ability, Being yourself, Chance, Childlike, Childish, Children, Creative, Drama, Entertainment, Fathers, Fatherhood, Fun, Games, Gambling, Getting your act together, Giving love, Heart, Hobbies, Leisure, Love affairs, Parenthood, Partying, Performance, Pleasure, Positivity, Pursuit of pleasure, Pursuits, Risk-taking, Romance, Self-expression, Showing off, Speculation, Sports, Teaching.
The Fifth House: Predictive Astrology
The fifth house in predictive astrology shares the fundamental qualities of the natal fifth house, However, there are essential differences you need to be aware of when analysing a predictive chart. These usually fall into two categories. First, predictive charts and the issues they raise are often temporary. Second, those who are dealing with fifth house issues in a predictive chart are not necessarily natal fifth house subjects and will not necessarily possess the traits associated with this house.
With a fifth house emphasis in a predictive chart, you may find you have to pay attention to things associated with the fifth house during the year. Issues to do with children or parenthood may dominate during the year. You may decide that this is the year to take that risk and take up a hobby or interest that has always fascinated you – or you may turn an interest into a professional endeavour. Speculation or gambling also may be issues that need to be dealt with during the year – not everything about the fifth house is positive in a predictive chart. There may be areas in your life where you need to balance fun and control.
What is likely with this house in a predictive chart, is that you should feel confident in dealing with matters that need your attention during the year. If self expression has been difficult for you in the past, this may be the time to ask yourself why and summon the courage to be yourself as you go forward. Being true to yourself is often a requirement during the period of the predictive chart and this may be because you have been curbing your own enthusiasms. If the fun has gone out of your life then it’s time to get it back.
Next: 6th House | 7th House | 8th House | 9th House | 10th House | 11th House | 12th House | 1st House | 2nd House | 3rd House | 4th House
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@ Sara Shipman
Picture Credit: Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay