The Ninth House: Introduction
Most people can’t believe their luck when they see the ninth house lit up in their chart. The house of adventure, optimism, good fortune and foreign travel sounds like a great place to be – just think of the air miles. However, is it always a good thing to have this house emphasised in your chart – or is it, in reality, likely to be too much of a good thing? As we know, ‘less is often more’ – though the problem in this house can be that more is never enough.
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 ninth house associations simply cannot be avoided as they are an intrinsic part of your astrological make up.
However, some of you who are not ninth house ‘natives’ may also experience living in this sector on a temporary basis. Planets may transit and station in your ninth 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 ninth 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 much overlooked astrological house some context.
The Ninth House: Key Qualities
Cadent
The ninth house in astrology is a cadent house. Cadent houses are the last houses in each quadrant of the astrological chart and they generally show where we need to pause and think before we act. The ninth house is where expand the scope of our lives and it’s where you work out where you want to go from here. The meaning of the ninth house as a cadent house here is to open up a world of possibilities. It’s where we learn to fly and in so doing discover the soul’s far horizons.
Fire
The ninth 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 and a forward looking nature. Associated with the sign of Sagittarius, this is a dynamic house where we seek the truth and in so doing, we begin to understand more of the world in which we live. It’s not a passive quest, however, as the archer thrusts us forward with confidence and boundless optimism. We develop our faith in this house, however, faith and optimism can be misplaced. In this house, the fire needs to be well tended to avoid going out of control.
The Ninth House: Ruler
The ninth house is ruled by expansive Jupiter the King of the Gods. Jupiter is the God of the skies and from his lofty vantage point can see all that transpires on this earth. Taking an overview, being an authority, being looked up to – these are all phrases associated with this house and there is almost an expectation that those of you with this house emphasised in your charts will be ‘Jovian’ in some way. This house is the place of lofty ideals and where we strive to live up to them. Jupiter’s influence here makes things bigger and hard to ignore. However, it’s up to us to make the best of what’s on offer.
The Ninth House: Natal Astrology
Unbridled enthusiasm, a desire to know more, a sense of adventure? All of these – and more – seem applicable to those of you who have a ninth house emphasis in your natal chart. How you express those impulses will depend on your Sun sign of course, but you will tend to be impulsive – of that there is no doubt. Ideas fire you up and that’s not exactly unexpected in the sector of your chart that represents expanding your world – be that intellectually, spiritually, emotionally or physically.
So with this house prominent in your natal chart, you can expect an emphasis on what astrologers term, ‘the higher mind’ and this umbrella term includes academia and higher education, philosophy, religion, ideologies and belief systems of all kinds, your world view, your outlook on life and a keen interest in all things ‘foreign’ to you – and that can include food, people, languages and long distance travel. Those of you who have significant placements in this house will often be keen travellers – even if it’s of the armchair variety. In the ninth house, it’s the direction of travel that’s important.
A key attribute you find associated with this house is the ability to see the big picture. With placements here you are rarely going to be accused of being ‘small minded’ as ninth house subjects take an expansive view of the world – and their place in it. So, they tend to aim high – and they tend to aim wide. By that I mean you are likely to seek opportunities far from the place of your birth as many of you may feel your immediate environment or background constrains you in some way. This may involve geographical relocation, or being the only academic high achiever in your family.
So far it seems a great placement as you may often feel that you have more than your fair share of good luck. There are a few downsides however. You can be terrible at detail, for example, and fail to see the things that are blindingly obvious to others. You can be impatient and slapdash with the mundane things in life – and a degree of arrogance is not unknown if you feel you are having to deal with matters that are ‘beneath you’. You can also overdo, over-promise and over-reach yourself here.
The Ninth House: Predictive Astrology
The ninth house in predictive astrology shares the fundamental qualities of the natal ninth 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 ninth issues in a predictive chart are not necessarily natal ninth house subjects and will not necessarily possess the characteristics associated with this house.
So, with a ninth house emphasis in a predictive chart, you’re likely to find your outlook on life changes during the year (or timespan the house is being emphasised). This may arise because you engage with education in some way – it can be formal or otherwise, but you may find your studies not only expand your knowledge but give you a greater appreciation of cultural or philosophical matters. You may also decide to make that long awaited long haul trip – travel broadens the mind, they say – and that certainly accords with the ninth house. You may discover a deeper appreciation of cultures different from your own – and perspectives different from your own too.
When this house is lit up, it’s often a good time to get a few things in perspective and that is often the core message this house carries in a predictive chart. The ability to think things through and come to a philosophical solution is often found in this house. Sometimes we need to do this to allow our lives to move forward and – as this is a house of forward motion – it’s a good place to discover more about ourselves and our place in the universe.
The Ninth House: Keywords
Academics, Adventure, Aspiration, Belief Systems, Clergy, Distant Travel, Ethics, Exploration, Foreign, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Languages, Grandchildren, Higher Consciousness, Higher Education, Higher Mind, Higher Self, Ideals, Idealism, Imports & Exports, In-Laws, Law, Laws, Luck, Multinational, Multigenerational, Overseas Trade, Philosophy, Publishing.
Next: 10th House | 11th House | 12th House | 1st House | 2nd House | 3rd House | 4th House | 5th House | 6th House | 7th House | 8th House
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© Sara Shipman 2020