The First House: The Unfolding of the Self or One Who Goes Forth
There is excitement at the start of any new adventure, story, or project. The potential inspires us to dream big and hope for success and a wonderful experience. Some of us come into our lives with a natural attraction to what we eventually identify with as our life path or purpose. Others struggle to find their way. The first house and its planetary ruler can provide clues to the destiny weβre meant to live.
When I first started learning about astrology and the houses, I would have told someone the first house represented their mask – or the way people interact with you and how they ‘see’ you. Or more directly, itβs how you look – your appearance. These descriptions are valid, but leave out some of the deeper, and more inspiring, meanings of the most powerful house in our chart. The representation of the moment we took our first breath, the embodiment of the Creative Force in a unique individual, and the untouched potential of our entire life, is where weβll begin our journey.
In this series, letβs explore each of the twelve houses of the natal chart with curiosity, an open-mind, and a travelerβs perspective. Iβll do my best to summarize the traditional meanings of each house as well as the symbolism and potential meanings derived from sources outside of astrology.
What’s hidden in the meaning of a number? It turns out, quite a bit. I did some research across various sources to see if there were philosophical themes or patterns of symbolism related to the number one. Here’s what I found.
I Ching: Book of Changes (c. 1000 BCE – 400 BCE)
The Unity of Heaven and Humanity: Hexagram 1: Qian or Initiating
The first hexagram of the I Ching is Qian or Initiating. Itβs comprised of six lines of pure yang energy. The Chinese ideograph, or symbolic representation of the hexagram, is a rising Sun radiating itβs light and energy (chi) to nourish the world. The Sun is depicted on the left side of the ideograph, with a sprout of grass and two tiny leaves above it. Underneath the Sun, the root of the plant penetrates deeply into the ground connecting firmly to the earth. The right side of the ideograph shows the vital energy, or chi, generating from the Sun to illuminate the sky.
βThe true spirit and the most authentic essence of the I Ching lies in the philosophical concept of the merging of Heaven and human life into an organic whole, which is the origin of Chinese cosmology.β – Taoist Master Alfred Huang
The I Ching or Book of Changes is one of China’s most sacred ancient texts. Written by the four most honored sages in China’s history – Fu Xi, King Wen, the Duke of Zhou, and Confucius, it is revered for it’s sacred wisdom, objective guidance, and timeless application. The main theme that resonates throughout the text is that everything is in a continuous process of change. We are always seeking balance and harmony in our lives. We skillfully manage work and family obligations, emotional highs and lows, health and sickness, and success and failure. Beginnings are followed by endings, death blossoms into new life, and when a circumstance in our lives is pushed beyond it’s extreme, it naturally alternates towards the opposite extreme to bring our lives back into divine balance. Life is experienced dynamically through opposition and contrast. The alternative to duality is unity – unity of Heaven and humanity as represented by the first hexagram of the I Ching – Qian – Heaven above; Heaven below. Or said in a way many of us are familiar with, βAs above, so belowβ.
As the hexagram that embodies the creative principle or the sacred Tao, the energy described by Qian is constant, persistent, and stable like the transformation of one season to the next. As each season of life gracefully yields to the next, we are encouraged to embrace the full potential of our pure, creative energy to manifest our destiny, honor our inherent nature, and align our talents and strengths with the natural order and harmony of the universe. It is said that if you gain an understanding of the principles and wisdom of the first two hexagrams of the I Ching (Qian or Initiating and Kun or Responding), you will understand the wisdom of the remaining 62 hexagrams.
Keywords: initiative; the origin or source of creation; the gate of the I Ching; union of great harmony; healthiest or purest action; yang energy; the nature and function of Heaven; the cycle of sprouting, growing, blooming, and bearing fruit; change and transformation; health and vitality; strength; integrity; destiny; steadfastness, harmony, and prosperity
Hellenistic Astrology (c. 200 BCE – 600 CE): The Actualization of the Soul
In Hellenistic astrology, the first house is often associated with the physical body, itβs form, the individualβs health and vitality, character, and the metaphorical helm of a ship. The helm of a ship is the part of a ship that acts as the rudder or steering wheel to navigate the ship to its intended destination. The ancient astrologers used this metaphor intentionally to express the importance of examining the first house to gain an understanding of an individualβs life purpose, soulβs mission, and motivation for incarnating into the physical realm. Like the helm of a ship, ancient astrologers believed the first house, and its planetary ruler, described a personβs overall life direction or the focus, topics, and dominant themes the person would be drawn to, or need to experience in life, to realize the fullest potential of their soul.
According to the classical Greek philosophers, the actualization of the soul was achieved by realizing oneβs potential through the development of intellect and reason, living virtuously, and achieving harmony within oneself. Developing these qualities was believed to lead to self-fulfillment and an orderly and harmonious life that was aligned with the personβs true nature and highest potential.
An angular house of the natal chart, the first house anchors the soul to the physical realm through the body, revealing our inborn talents, skills, and overall life direction. In Hellenistic astrology, the first house is where the planet Mercury most harmoniously expresses and fulfills its inherent nature, so it is said to have its ‘joy’ in the first house. Mercuryβs joy in the first house reflects the idea that communication and engaging the intellect are essential for expressing and realizing oneβs inner potential. The actualization of the soul is facilitated by our ability to effectively convey our thoughts and ideas, and freely express our identity.
The Ship and it’s Captain
One of the most profound metaphors used by ancient Hellenistic astrologers is that of the steersman or captain of a ship. There is some textual evidence that this metaphor was applied to understand and explain the nature and themes of the first house and it’s ruler.
A ship often symbolizes the origin or the starting point of a journey. Similarly, the first house of the natal chart represents the first breath of the chart owner, the physical body, and the point in the chart where the individual soul’s journey begins. Just as a ship is a single vessel that carries its crew and cargo, we hold within us the potential of our whole existence, decisions, actions, thoughts, feelings, and destiny when we are born into this world.
If we think of the ship as a metaphor that represents our existence, the captain of the ship (or the steersman) can be seen as the ruler of the first house, steering and directing the course of our lives. A ship’s captain is guided by a map of the course or destination. Due to the treacherous and unpredictable nature of the sea, ship’s captains relied heavily upon detailed maps to chart their course. Failure to do so would leave them marooned or worse yet, adrift at the mercies of the elements. The first house and it’s ruler represent our purpose and direction or symbolically, the map to our destination. Other houses of the natal chart represent the areas of life we navigate along the journey, each offering insights into different aspects of our experiences and challenges.
By understanding the primary themes and focal points of our lives, we can uncover our personal narratives, fully embrace and embody our authority and creative potential, and steer the helm of our ship toward itβs intended destiny.
Keywords: masculine or yang energy; beginning of all actions; creative potential; vital life force; the life of the individual; physical health, body, and appearance; character and temperament; mind, intellect, and reasoning; communication and speech (as it relates to self-expression and forming identity); helm or hour-marker (marking the hour of the individualβs birth); direction; soulβs actualization; spirit; authority
Pythagorean Numerology (c. 600 BCE – 500 BCE): The Monad or Stability
The number one held a fundamental and dynamic role in Greek philosophical thought. The Pythagoreans associated the concept of ‘one’ with the Divine or the singular, unchanging, principle from which everything in the cosmos emanates. Similar to the I Ching and the Hellenistic astrologers, the number one was associated with the intellect, creative potential, perpetual motion, identity, and life.
The symbol for the sacred number one is called the monad and is shown as an infinite circle with a point or dot in the middle. The circle represents the principles of unity, wholeness, and infinity – with no beginning and no end. The image of a circle conveys the perfection and purity of the monad and is the simplest and most fundamental shape in geometry. The dot at the center of the circle symbolizes the core or the essence of the monad. Thus it represents the focal point, the origin of all creation and existence. Viewed from an esoteric perspective, the symbol of the monad can be interpreted as a representation of the microcosm (the individual) and the macrocosm (the universe), with the central dot representing the inner self or soul and the surrounding circle representing the greater reality.
The Chariot
Among the most profound symbols associated with the monad is its metaphoric representation as a chariot. In the classical Greek period, chariots were vehicles of power and authority, associated with kings and the divine, and depicted in dynamic, purposeful, movement. Charioteers had to be skilled at guiding and controlling the powerful vehicle which required mastering coordination and the ability to unify the multiple and complex parts of the chariot (wheels, horses, reins).
The monad, like the charioteer who guides and controls the chariot, represents the guiding principle of the universe, directing the course of all creation and existence. The charioteer determines the direction and speed of the chariot, symbolizing the monad’s role in guiding the unfolding of reality and ensuring the harmony and order of the cosmos. Expanding the metaphor to our individual lives, we see great depth in the symbolism of the natal chart’s first house. As individuals, with authority and limitless potential, the reins of the chariot are in our hands. We can reflect on the zodiac sign of our first house and it’s planetary ruler to masterfully direct the course of our soul’s journey and merge with our sacred destiny.
Note: When examining an astrological natal chart, the center marks the position of the chart’s owner. This symbolism reflects the idea that the individual is at the heart of the cosmic influences and energies that surround and interact with them throughout their life.
Keywords: The One, God, or Source; the origin of all numbers and the seed of all things, stability and continuity; self-sufficient; everlasting; unchanging; Fate Atropos; the hearth and eternal flame; intellect; androgynous (both male and female at once); the sun; authoritative; limitless potential; Chaos (because Chaos gives rise to everything else); unity, wholeness, and simplicity; preservation of identity; moral wisdom; ship; chariot; life; happiness; spark of intellectual and artistic creativity
Summary
Each tradition we’ve explored celebrates the sacred essence of ‘One’βa force of dynamic creativity, perfected through simplicity, and embodying unity and balance. They share the belief that we are not alone in navigating life’s complexities. By aligning our actions and energies with the Source or guiding principles of the I Ching, astrology, or other spiritual traditions, we ensure a safe journey back to our soul’s origin or home. While I look forward to delving deeper into my research on the first house, let’s continue our journey through the remaining houses, traveling and uncovering the mysteries of houses two through twelve.
- Huang, A. (2010). The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation by Taoist Master Alfred Huang (10th Anniversary Edition). Inner Traditions.
- Wilhelm, R. (1967). The I Ching or Book of Changes (C. F. Baynes, Trans.). Princeton University Press.
- Brennan, C. (2017). Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune. Amor Fati Publications.
- George, D. (2019). Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques, Volume II: Delineating Planetary Meaning. Rubedo Press.
- Iamblichus. (1988). The Theology of Arithmetic (R. Waterfield, Trans.). Phanes Press.
- Javane, F., & Bunker, D. (1988). Numerology and the Divine Triangle. Newcastle Publishing Company.
- Fenton, S. (2020). In Focus Numerology: Your Personal Guide (Volume 9). Wellfleet Press.
- Nozedar, A. (2009). The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols. Harper Element.
- Ronnberg, A. (Ed.), & Martin, K. (Ed.). (2010). The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images. Taschen.