Evolution of Consciousness - Houses in Jyotish Astrology
- Nikita Ierisov
- Nov 16
- 12 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Jyotish Astrology is a symbolic language. And the most important elements of this language are: Houses (Bhavas) and Planets (Grahas).
Zodiac Signs are the derivatives of the Planets. Because the essence of Zodiac sign is an element, but synthesised with properties of the planet. For example, if take fire, then Martian fire - would be Aries, but Jupiterian fire would be Sagittarius and so forth. Planets are the Personalities, and the zigns are their teritories.
Then signs are also "coloured" by the nature of the House, where they are positioned in a particular natal chart.
Origin of the House System in Jyotish
The concept of houses (bhāvas) comes from ancient astronomical and ritual-cosmic frameworks that predate even classical Vedic astrology texts.The concept of houses is rooted in Vedic Cosmology (Rig Veda & Brāhmaṇas) Early Vedic texts divide space into the four directions, the zenith, and the nadir - a proto-structure of spatial orientation.
The idea that “directions correspond to life forces” is already visible in hymns describing:
Four directions → guardians (Dikpālas)
Sky divisions → solar path (Sūrya’s journey)
Time + space → ritual order (ṛta)
These concepts set the foundation for dividing the sky into meaningful sections.
The core Vedic teaching were later expanded in in the Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa. This ancient text formalizes astronomical calculations needed for rituals.
It introduces:
Rising signs
The zodiac
Measurement of the ecliptic
The importance of the eastern horizon
This is where the Ascendant (Lagna) becomes a sacred point that “awakens life at the moment of birth.”
The Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra fully establishes Classical Jyotish Tradition the 12-house system as we know it.
Parāśara gives:
Meanings of each house
Lords, significators
How planets behave in houses
Yogas formed by house relationships
Modern Jyotish is essentially built on this foundation.
The number 12 comes from:
12 months of the Sun’s cycle
12 phases of human life from birth to liberation
12 nidānas in Buddhism (parallel cosmic logic)
Houses also mirror Sun daily movement, where Ascendant or Rising Sun - it where the Sun and Constellations rise on the horizon, hence East Direction. Nadir is the place, where Sun is most powerful during midday, hence 10th House is a house of Career or Social Realisation.
Twillight represents our Alter-Ego, our Partner. And 4th House is where we don't see Sun anymore above the horizon. It is the time of Lunar Rest - a place where we can release our social persona and nurture ourselves.
Philosophical & Psychological Meaning of the Houses
Gurdjieff and His Model of Human Evolution
George Ivanovich Gurudjieff taught that an ordinary person is not born as a complete, conscious being.Humanity begins as an unfinished possibility - more asleep than awake.
He described the evolution of a human being as the transformation of a “mechanical instrument” into a fully realized consciousness.This progression can be expressed in four stages:
Man as an tool
Man as a machine
Man as a subject
Man of higher consciousness (genius)
Here is the essence of each stage.
First stage, is a sleeping stage. Where by the words of Gurdjieff the most humanity are. We can call this state of complete unawareness.
Imagine a tool, like a hammer or a cup. Every tool has it's specific function, so as a man on this stage.
At this stage man is not willing take any decisions and all decisions are made only by influence of fear.
The main motivator of this stage is to "be left alone" He lives through automatic reactions only and responds mechanically to external stimuli. He experiences a constantly shifting sense of “I” and does not who he is at his essence.
Second stage, is the expansion of consciousness where man fulfils wider social functions, he learned a bit, but still afraid to create, but only execute the algorithm he learned. He fits into social structures, may be a scientist, engineer a manager, but still there is someone on top, who directs him and explains what to do.
Gurdjieff said that man is a machine because he fits into social structure and circumstances run his life for him.
We are social creatures, and we can not survive without society. But we are also living in the age of flowing of information, which may be misleading. We are not trained to listen to ourselves in our culture.
If nobody watching you, what would you do ?
At this stage man starts observing himself. The fragmented parts of the personality become more coordinated and awareness and self-remembering begin to grow.
Third stage, described as Self-conscious man or as man as a subject, Author of own reality.
This marks the emergence of true subjectivity, will, and individuality. It is hard to be on this stage, because it is reuires awareness. We are constantly influenced by our negative emotions, patterns programmed since childhood, personal drama, external circumstances, obligations imposed by the society and so on.
This constant fight of our inner thoughs and dreams with external circumstences is represented by battle of devas and asuras in Vedic mythology. Where devas are our thoughts and asuras are the circumstances, who are always stronger. Indra is the King of the Devas represents our Consciousness. Thus only one can truly become an own king, when he faced and integrated all the inner and outer demons.
At this stage man can control and direct attention and acts from intention rather than impulse. He is capable of genuine choice and possesses a stable, integrated sense of “I”
Fourth stage is Man of Higher Consciousness (Genius)
All briliant people who we know, who lived through full acceptance of own nature will fit into this stage. Artists, Philosophers, Businessmen, Inventors, Visionaries , Sages and Saints.
At this stage man has complete awareness and inner unity and coherence, what C.Jung would call Individuation.
Dharma, Kama, Artha, Moksha
The Puruṣārtha system (पुरुषार्थ) is one of the most elegant and profound frameworks in Indian philosophy. It describes the four aims of human life - the four directions through which a person grows, matures, and aligns both material and spiritual dimensions.
It is not a rigid rulebook, but a map for living with balance and purpose.
There is no single author. It is not attributed to one rishi, philosopher, or text. Instead, the Puruṣārthas evolved over many centuries, emerging from the collective insight of the Vedic tradition (Vedas, Upanishads, Epic Literature )
The Evolution of Consciousness is represented like a spiral in Natal Chart.
Dharma ( Purpose ) - Artha (Resourses ) - Kama ( Pleasure ) - Moksha ( Liberation ) and then the cycle starts again ad infinitum.
1st House
Dharma - answers the questions:
"Who am I?", "What am I doing here?"
It is also transleted as Purpose or Duty.
Sometimes it is translated as Righteousness and I don't like this translation. Because from our Christian point of view it is read as some code of moral discipline. The problem is that different cultures have different moral codes, and these codes also change over time. And usually social codes tend to supress personality, rather to allow it expansion. It is about being aware of own impulses and desires, which are integrated consiously into whole personality. The purpose is also about understanding own value's. Through understanding and embracing own personality one can judge own decisions consciously, when taking the action.
Artha - means resources, material support, livelihood, stability, and everything that allows a person to function in the world. If Dharma answers to question "What?", then Artha is "How?"
Artha represents the essential resources that support all other aims of life, without Artha Dharma can not stand.
In Jyotish, Artha is not greed or accumulation.
It is the stable structure that allows a human being to function, grow, and fulfill their Dharma.
This structure is represented by the Artha Trikona - the 2nd, 6th, and 10th houses.
Each of these houses reveals a different layer of material intelligence:
How we earn, how we work, and how we build our contribution to society.
2nd House – Sustenance (Dhana Bhava)
Because it is the 2nd from the 1st, it supports the self.
Generally it shows how you make money.
Why it shows skills:
It represents your natural talents, especially: speech, voice, family knowledge, early skills, the tools you can monetize.
This is why many careers start from 2nd-house abilities.
6th House – Effort, Service, Skill (Shatru/Seva Bhava)
Because it is the house of daily work and overcoming obstacles.
This house is often misunderstood.It is not just enemies or illness - that is the surface.
The 6th house shows:
daily routine
service, employment
work ethic
practical intelligence
ability to manage challenges
skill development
consistency
dealing with debts and responsibilities
These are the mechanisms that keep life functioning.
Someone with a weak 6th house struggles with: daily routine ,consistency ,work pressure ,d ebts ,long-term stability
This house is where skills become habits, and habits become stability.
10th House – Karma (Karma Bhava)
Because it is the zenith, representing: career, authority, public impact, professional skills, responsibility, actions in society.
Every classical astrologer teaches that the 10th house = profession and contribution.
Artha Trikona Logic: 2 → 6 → 10
Together they form the cycle of practical success:
2nd House → Talent & Resources: “What I have.”
6th House → Effort, Training, Practice: “How I refine it.”
10th House → Output, Profession, Recognition: “What I become known for.”
In the Vedic view, every human life moves through four streams of experience: Dharma, Artha, Kāma, Moksha. Kāma is the most human of them - the desire to experience life, to enjoy, to connect, to express the uniqueness of one’s being.
Kāma is not limited to sexuality.It is the entire field of emotion, motivation, pleasure, creativity, curiosity, exploration, learning, friendship, and personal fulfillment.
In Jyotish, Kāma is represented by the 3rd, 7th, and 11th houses - the Kāma Trikona.
If Artha is the “how,”and Dharma is the “why,”then Kāma is the “what I long for.”
3rd House - Desire to Act (Icchā Shakti)
“What I want to do.”
The 3rd house shows your inner fire of desire, the urge to explore, try, learn, taste, express.
It governs:
enthusiasm
initiative
courage
self-expression
communication
curiosity
the pursuit of passions
youthful hunger for life
This is the raw, primal kāma - the desire to move into life.
7th House - Desire for Others (Rāga / Relationship)
“Who I want.”
The 7th house is the heart of partnership. It is not just marriage - it is every bond where you meet the Other.
This house governs:
relationships
marriage
business partnerships
collaborations
all 1-to-1 relationships
mirrors of the self
the search for completion through another
Here, kāma becomes relational - the desire to love, to be seen, to meet another consciousness.
The 7th house is where the soul learns compromise, devotion, and polarity.
11th House - Desire Fulfilled (Labha / Gains)
“What I want to share.”
The 11th house is the highest form of kāma - the desire that goes beyond the personal.
It governs:
recognition
social influence
ambitions
the desire to uplift others
connection with larger groups
In modern terms, the 11th house is your creative community - the people who resonate with your mission, values, your sound, your art, your path.
Then Moksha is translated as Liberation. As you can see there are three Houses of Moksha.
4th House represents the place you live. Remember, you first apartement, I bet things have change when you moved from your parents. Hence, it represents seperation from the parents and the new level of consciousness.
8th House is House of Sex. Maybe, you don't remember your first sex now, and maybe it was not as good as it is now, but the live after is not the same as it was before. Same with psychedelic experience, because the 8th House reprenests also subconsciousness and all hidden and unknown.
The 12nd House - is the last house of the natal chart. It represents isolation and transformation. The one who transformed oneself, can transform whole society.
After the transformation the cycle begings again. And Hero needs to share his gifts with the world.
Trikona, Kendra, Uppachaya, Dusthaha
KENDRA (1, 4, 7, 10) - The Pillars of Life
Kendras are the Vishnu Sthanas - houses of stability, grounding, and preservation.
They represent:
identity & vitality (1)
home & emotional foundation (4)
relationships & exchange (7)
career & societal role (10)
When strong → the person is stable, functional, balanced.
TRIKONA (1, 5, 9) - The Houses of Luck
Trikonas are the Lakshmi Sthanas - houses of purpose and luck
1st = embodiment of your Dharma
5th = creativity
9th = fortune, philosophy, teachers
These are houses of flow, not struggle. .
1st house belongs to both Kendra & Trikona → makes it extremely powerful.
When planet rules a Kendra House and Trikona House this creates a Raja Yoga ( Raja is the King, who unites the opposites- creative and practical aspects, material and spiritual )
UPACHAYA (3, 6, 10, 11) - Houses That Improve With Time
They represent:
3rd = effort, courage, initiative
6th = discipline, skill, struggle → mastery
10th = career responsibility → power
11th = gains, fame
Planets in Upachaya houses often start difficult but turn into strengths after age 28–32.
These houses are excellent for Mars, Saturn, Rahu - planets of effort and challenge.
DUSTHĀNA - Houses of Difficulty, Transformation & Letting Go
6th, 8th, 12th
“Dusthāna” means difficult places, but they are not negative - they are the gateways to liberation, maturity, and strength.
6th House - Conflict & Discipline
Enemies, work pressure, health, obstacles.
Also: healing, service, mastery through effort.
8th House - Hidden Realities
Death, rebirth, sexuality, occult, deep psychology, trauma, kundalini, secretes.
12th House - Letting Go & Transformation of Society
Isolation, meditation, foreign lands, sleep, retreat, loss of ego, moksha, sexual secretes and fantasies.
We are living in the fast paced era, when people who are used to challenges become more resilient then those who used to stability. Few examples, are Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Ilon Musk ( Tesla, Starlink ) who have 12th House packed. They both transform society through their inventions, and also compete in the outer space exploration, which is the realm of 12th House.
The one could not find better metaphor for 12th House, as exploration of outer space - it is foreign land, where you don't know what is waiting for you - you have to overcome fear and master all your knowledge in pursuit of your goal, whereas only you know what it is exactly.
General Characteristics of the Houses:
1st House - Tanu Bhava
Self • Body • Identity • Vitality • Life Path
physical body, constitution
personality
self-expression
health
overall life direction
the “lens” through which you see the world
Psychological meaning: “Who am I?
2nd House - Dhana Bhava
Wealth • Values • Food • Speech • Voice • Head • Eyes • Mouth • Teeth
accumulated wealth
finances, savings
speech & voice
food, nourishment
family upbringing and values
early education
Psychological meaning: “What sustains me?”
3rd House - Bhrātṛ Bhava
Courage • Communication • Siblings • Skills • Hands • Throat
effort, willpower
initiative
creativity
short travels
writing, media, communication
siblings
hands, manual skills
Psychological meaning: “How do I express & assert myself?”
4th House - Sukha Bhava
Home • Mother • Heart • Inner Happiness • Chest • Lungs • Diaphragm • Breasts
emotional foundation
home & property
mother
inner peace
real estate
education (early, emotional)
vehicles
pets
Psychological meaning: “Where do I find peace?”
5th House - Putra Bhava
Creativity • Children • Intelligence • Romance • Stomach • Liver • Intestines (upper)
creativity & self-expression
intelligence
children
love affairs
short distance travel
Psychological meaning: “What do I create?”
6th House - Shatru Bhava
Service • Work • Obstacles • Health • Intestines (lower) • Immune system • Digestion
daily work & routine
skill development
service & employment
health & healing
debts, obstacles
discipline, resilience
pets
Psychological meaning: “How do I deal with challenges?”
7th House - Kalatra Bhava
Relationships • Marriage • Partnerships • Kidneys
spouse
long-term relationships
agreements, contracts
business partnerships
Psychological meaning: “How do I meet the Other?”
8th House - Āyush Bhava
Unknown • Death • Mysticism • Sexual organs • Anus • Hidden, deep bodily systems
sex
unknown
sudden events
inheritance & other people’s money
tantra, occult, mysticism
subconscious
trauma & rebirth
research
speculations
secretes
9th House - Dharma Bhava
Knowledge • Luck • Teachers • Hips • Thighs
gurus, teachers
knowledge and learning
long-distance travel
father
10th House - Karma Bhava
Career • Social Realisation • Knees • Ability to Stand and Walk
profession
business
11th House - Labha Bhava
Gains •Fame • Calves • Shins • Circulatory flow
income from career
social - influence
social - recognition
social - impact
12th House - Vyaya Bhava
Isolation • Immigration • Transformation • Secretes • Feet
moksha & spiritual liberation
meditation, solitude
sleep & dreams
foreign places
expenses & letting go
secretes
secret pleasures
imagination & transcendence
transofrmation of the society
Understand Houses in Jyotish Natal Chart
There are two styles of drawing Natal Chart in Jyotish Astrology - Northern and Southern. They both serve the same practical reason, but have different UI. I will be referring only to the Northern Style in this examples.
So on the interface of Natal Chart - houses are fixed. And they are not represented by numbers. The numbers that you see are zodiac signs. The count of Houses starts from first house, which is rising sun or ascendant (lagna).
And countings goes counter-clockwise ,
as in picture you see.
The numbers for constellations are as follows:
1 = Aries
2 = Taurus
3 = Gemini
4 = Cancer
5 = Leo
6 = Virgo
7 = Libra
8 = Scorpio
9 = Sagittarius
10 = Capricorn
11 = Aquarius
12 = Pisces
This is so called natural zodiac, where number of house allings with number of constellation.
But when we built a natal chart - the particular zodiac signs arrises on the horizon at the
given time and geographical position. We call it lagna or ascendent. From Lagna, which may be any zodiac sing we start building our natal chart.
I am sharing with you picture of my natal chart, where my lagna is Virgo (6). Hence there is a Taurus(7) in my second house, then Scorpio(8) in 3rd and so forth.
Let me know in the comment if you have any questions.
(c) Nikita Ierisov
Jyotish Astrologer
Dharma Station, Vancouver Island
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