This week we return to the three highest houses in the chart. Two of these elevated houses describe our public contribution to the society in which we live. They are often connected to one another but they work in very different ways. In the Whole Sign chart system the tenth house is ten signs from the Ascendant’s sign, and as such it shows the destiny we might aspire to (10^th) if we are prepared to take the necessary action at the right time (1^st), and with the right planetary involvement.  

The square between the two signs shows the frustration that naturally exists between masculine and feminine signs as there will be a mismatch in the gender of the Ascendant’s sign and the 10^th house’s sign. Regardless of whether the masculine sign (either fire or air) is on the Ascendant or on the tenth house,  it will want to strive forward and make its mark on the world whilst the feminine sign (either earth or water) will hold back and want to wait for the appropriate time or ‘feeling it is right’.

It’s always nice if there is an agreeable aspect between the rulers of the two signs, or at least some connection through dispositorship, as then the two planets work together to achieve a rise in status or an actualization of our public esteem. But this is not always possible and when they have their own agenda or are blind to each other, our fortunes – be it in career, public acknowledgement, aspirations, or successes – rise and fall and rise again at alarming rates as often we are the instigators of our own problems in these areas.

The other elevated house, that is, the eleventh house, will share the same gender as the Ascendant’s sign and the friendly sextile between them makes the eleventh a house of good fortune, lucky chances, ease and personal enjoyment. It too is a social house and the eleventh house shows the type of people we are socially or professionally drawn towards, or who find us to be a benefit in their lives. Our social groups will change constantly throughout our lives as our interests change, and our personality develops over time.

The third of these houses is not so elevated, and not so public in its expression. The twelfth house does have a connection to society, but it is a highly uncomfortable connection as the twelfth is the shadow side of society where we separate, isolate, fear and punish those who differ from us in any way that we find threatening. Differences in race or creed, physical, sexual, political or religious differences, or simply, through their own traumatic life experiences which we do not share with them.

Twelfth house is the house of imprisonment and unfortunately society ‘imprisons’ different factions they don’t understand, or they fear will destroy the fabric of their society’s comfortable existence. Whenever we talk about the ‘disenfranchised’ that is, those who have been deprived of a basic human right, either the privilege of a voice in society, or an entitlement to society’s protection, then we are talking about the invisibility of the twelfth house.

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Profections: Moving Forward Through the Houses

33 years old : TENTH HOUSE

At thirty three years of age the adult world expects that you should have some vague ideas on how you can be useful to the infrastructure that holds up your own society. The broader community expects that you will by now have some sort of title for easy identification, or at the very least be working towards a particular goal, aim, or ambition. It will value your good contributions and reward them with advancements in career, positive social media feedbacks, good references as to reputation and reliability, and possible monetary increases.  However, it also judges any inconsistencies, hesitations, perceived personal or social weaknesses, and looks poorly on aimless meanderings through jobs and a lack of direction, purpose, or willingness to contribute to the good of the greater population.

This seems a very unfair assumption at this age as you have barely worked out who you are, let alone what you are supposed to be doing with your life. These tenth-house judgements belong to later in life, say in twelve years time at 45 when you revisit this house, or better still in twenty-four years at 57 when you can truly measure your contributions for yourself, rather than being told what they should or should not be by an external  force.

34 years old : ELEVENTH HOUSE

Your social groups may have changed greatly since you last visited this house twelve years ago. Our evolution as an adult means we often out-grown the friends, activities, conversations and behaviour of those with whom we spent our early twenties.

Your closest friends may still remain, but they are described by the seventh house, not the eleventh, especially when the eleventh lies alongside your public status house. As we change jobs (and relationships) we connect and disconnect and although we have good intentions to ‘stay in touch’, a lack of time, opportunity, or shared experiences, means that sadly we often leave behind our eleventh house friendships. 

35 years old : TWELFTH HOUSE

A twelfth house year is often one in which we withdraw a little from friends and society because we know change is coming and we need to clear space in our lives for new beginnings in the following year.

 In traditional astrology the twelfth is considered to be a ‘dark’ house which receives no light from the Ascendant, and often there are varying shades of ‘darkness’ involved in this year. This can be a range of happenings which are totally unexpected and unplanned for, and although they can lead to your release from a commitment so you can move into a new life, there can be a sense of loss, abandonment or grief attached to the ‘how it happened’ rather than ‘why it happened’.

Twelfth house years can bring suffering, but they also bring with it an awareness and compassion for others’ suffering. Lessons on humility, kindness, acceptance, and resilience abound in this year if you are willing to see this as a year of opportunity to explore the unseen depths of human nature. Age and experience often helps with these twelfth house years and later returns at 47, 59 and 71 years are all about your own attitude and philosophy to adversity – what happens to you is outside of your control, but how you choose to deal with it is entirely up to you.

At 35 years you are still learning the truth of John Lennon’s line from his song Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy):  

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”   and that twelfth house years are often about just that – accepting what works in our lives, and letting go of the plans that can no longer come to fruition.

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Profections Summary for 33: 34: 35 years of age

Firdaria: Time Portions Belonging to the Planets

Day-timers are continuing their journey through the Moon’s nine year Firdaria period and three of the planets are active as short-term rulers of the Moon’s fifteen month divisions. Saturn will hand over to Jupiter during the year you turn 33, and Jupiter will hand over to Mars later in the following year.    

Daytime births are for those born between the twelve hours when the sun has risen and before it sets, that is, approximately 6 am to 6 pm (no daylight saving).

Night-timers have Mars as their major Firdaria lord between the ages of 32 and 39 years and at the celebration of each of the three birthdays, a new short-term lord will step forward to cover the twelve month term.  Sun, Venus and Mercury will conduct the affairs of your life during these three years and each one will add their own flavour to the year when they are in charge. If you are familiar with your natal chart you will know where to look for their influence from 33 to 35 years of age.       

Night births are after the sun has set and before it rises in the east, approximately 6 pm to 6 am.

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Daytime Births 33 – 35 years of age

DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 33 years

Major Long-term Lord: MOON        (Years)

Minor Short-term Lord: SATURN    (Months)

The first seven months of this year still belong to Saturn. If you are career-focused it may mean that you are working long hours and ill health or exhaustion may be a by-product of your extended efforts. Family issues may also be prominent as the Moon rules mother and Saturn signifies father so disputes and arguments may be wearing you down at the moment. Feeling isolated, unappreciated or unsupported are possible emotions especially if the disputes have gone public and others are adding in their opinion on how you should solve your home situation.

33 years and 7 months

Short-term Lord Changes from SATURN to JUPITER

Long-term Lord: MOON

NEW Short-term Lord: JUPITER

Just over halfway through this year Saturn will make way for Jupiter who becomes your new short-term ruler. Jupiter has a much better relationship with the Moon and some of the bumps in your life may start to smooth over as you resolve the career or family issues which have plagued you earlier in the year.

You may find yourself being interviewed for a new position, or being offered a new job that has greater entitlements or is more interesting for you. Jupiter often signifies a benefactor, so if you were working hard under Saturn’s rein in the previous fifteen months, you may get your just rewards in the next fifteen months under Jupiter’s supervision.

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DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 34 years

Long-term Lord: MOON         

Short-term Lord: JUPITER

Jupiter will be in charge for most of this year when friends, groups and good fortune are to be had from the eleventh house. One cautionary note: Jupiter is a planet of excess and whilst the combination of Jupiter under the Moon’s direction is usually a sign of robust health and a quick recovery from illness, too much burning the candle at both ends will push your body to its limits.

Long hours at work followed by socializing until the wee hours is something every thirty four year old thinks is totally within their right, but the Moon will put up with only so much before you get messy, both emotionally and physically. Just because you’ve left Saturn behind doesn’t mean your body is now invincible. Keep time aside to rest and recover before Mars, and the twelfth house, hit home and lay you low.

34 years and 10 months

Short-term Lord Changes from JUPITER to MARS

Long-term Lord: MOON

NEW Short-term Lord: MARS

Two months before you turn thirty five Mars will take over from Jupiter if you were born during the daylight hours. Now it really is time to slow down. Mars and the Moon are both nocturnal planets and these two together are not always good news for day-timers. Every emotional nook and cranny gets dissected and pulled out for a good old ‘spring cleaning’ of your life. There are some here you haven’t seen for years, lurking in corners and hiding from the light of day. What better time for an honest appraisal on how you’re faring in life especially when you are poised on the threshold of a twelfth house year?

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DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 35 years

Long-term Lord: MOON

Short-term Lord: MARS

There is no change in short-term rulers in this year – it’s all going to be about Mars. The placement, sign and aspects of Mars in your natal chart will speak volumes about how you approach (and survive) this year. If Mars is strong in the chart, and not too destructive, you may see this year as one chock-a-block full of challenges or adventures and rather than being exhausting, it becomes a year where you feel you achieve an enormous amount in a relatively small space in time.

Twelfth house may be hidden from view, but if any factions of society’s marginalized population is a world where you thrive, or feel you have meaning or purpose, then a Mars year can show your passion and drive to change the status quo in this arena. A similar warning of possible burnout (emotionally and physically) goes out for this year too as Mars can run the Moon ragged if it is too focused on doing a hundred things at once.

If your natal Mars is not so strong by sign, house, or aspect, remember to go slow, be patient with yourself and others, and to be kind and courageous in all your lettings-go as well as being optimistic on your plans for the future.

To be honest, for all of us Mars lies somewhere in the middle and the year ahead is likely to swing back and forwards from one extreme to the other.   

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Night Births 33 – 35 years of age

NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 33 years

33 years

Short-term Lord Changes from MARS to SUN

Major Long-term Lord: MARS         (Years)  

NEW Minor Short-term Lord: SUN           (Months)

There are no mid-year changes when Mars is the Firdaria lord of its long-term seven year reign. At each new birthday from the ages of thirty two to thirty nine years a new short-term ruler will take its place as a representative for Mars. At 33 years the Sun becomes the director of a night-time birth and this is a fine opportunity to look at the accolades and success of your career or life direction. The Sun is the opposite luminary to your Moon and it can be uncomfortable for some to have the light shine directly on them, sometimes for the first time in their career.

Together Mars and the Sun are fabulous at making new plans so be careful not to get too carried away by these two schemers. For all its shine and bravado, the Sun has to follow Mars’ directions, and often Mars is pure bedlam when it comes to chopping and changing your mind. What it loves one day about the job, it hates the next and whatever ambitions the Sun may foster, Mars’ underlying desire to break bonds, agreements, contracts, etc can mean you are burning bridges faster than the Sun can build new ones to take their place.

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NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 34 years

34 years

Short-term Lord Changes from SUN to VENUS

Long-term Lord: MARS  

NEW Short-term Lord: VENUS

At this birthday Venus takes over from the Sun and you may be able to smooth over some of the hurt feelings that the previous year has created through the instigation of the Sun’s bold plans. If extreme restlessness, and comparisons between your life and others’, was plaguing you last year, then this is the year to chill, relax, and appreciate your life and all its social benefits.

Eleventh house years are for planning ahead too, but the drive and urgency has passed a little. There is less immediate focus on your career as the old combination of  tenth house + Sun has made way for the house of hopes and dreams (11^th house) plus Venus, the ruler of pleasure, love, and entertainments. This is a ‘gap year’ in life, so if you are going through it right now, for goodness sake, lighten up and enjoy it. You’ll have plenty of time to stress about the future in the coming year.

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NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 35 years

35 years

Short-term Lord Changes from VENUS to MERCURY

Long-term Lord: MARS

NEW Short-term Lord: MERCURY

Mercury, the planet of communication, thought, expression, speech and networking is your new best friend. But a bit of a cranky friend who can get obstreperous at the drop of a hat. Mercury under Mars’ guidance is noisy and quick to take offence so wherever Mercury sits in your natal chart, you are likely to get loud, defensive, and disorderly.

Any grievances will be aired at great length during this year and you may find yourself with some hidden enemies if you’re not careful. Other people may not be so forgiving of your opinions or your long discussions over where you have been wronged if life.

If a twelfth house focus is a year recommended for withdrawal and quiet contemplation, then an undisciplined Mercury can definitely provide the enforced removal from society’s eye, but will struggle with the concept of peace, meditation and inner reflection.

Worry, stress, anxiety and depression can take hold if you don’t discipline your mind and channel your thoughts towards more positive or productive uses. These two planets together can be hugely creative, but you have to keep their wanderings (and destructive capabilities) in check.

Use your Saturn to funnel their energies into making good decisions for the future, and curb your temper. Mercury let loose under Mars’ direction can be cruel, judgemental, and down-right nasty if you don’t take it in control. It may be the ideal time for telling truths, but be tactful and kind when you deliver them. Going out of your way to hurt others is simply not good karma.