How To Use Your 6th House Placement in Astrology To Improve Your Everyday Rituals and Well-Being
If you're familiar with astrology, chances are, you know your sun sign or the placement of the sun at the time you were born, which is likely the zodiac sign for which you'd read a horoscope and encompasses the broadest strokes of your identity. But your birth chart doesn't just show the signs of the sun, the moon, and the planets at the time you were born; it's also divided into 12 astrological houses, which correspond to different realms of life, like career, family, and health—which is ruled by (you guessed it) the 6th house in astrology. Learning the sign placement of each of these houses in your chart (and which planet(s) they each contain, if any) can reveal how you'll experience and approach their associated realms of life.
- Alexandria Lettman, astrologer and founder of Jupiter Jewel
- Corina Crysler, transformational astrologer
By diving into the placement of your 6th house, specifically, then, you can learn how you're destined to approach health, wellness, and daily rituals and optimize your routine for your temperament.
What does the 6th house in astrology represent?
The 6th house informs your approach to and perceptions of physical health; it is the area of your birth chart concerned with the routines, habits, and rituals that dictate your wellbeing and thus "holds a powerful placement in your chart for healing," says astrologer Corina Crysler.
But it’s not simply about, say, how you prefer to work movement into your day or your relationship with sleep (although these certainly fall within its purview). “[The 6th house] relates to living and existing, our quality of life, and the things we have a responsibility to do, whether that's showing up to work every day, running errands to maintain the flow and structure of our lives, or tending to our health and well-being by attending doctor's appointments,” says astrologer Alexandria Lettman, founder of spiritual wellness platform Jupiter Jewel. Crysler adds that you might see the 6th house mentioned alongside the 10th house in astrology, which rules over work and career, because it includes your philosophy around getting things done.
Knowing your 6th house placement (aka the zodiac sign in which your 6th house falls in your birth chart) can help you figure out how you can best maintain habits and routines that support your health. By the same token, you can also use the sign of this house to identify certain patterns or behaviors that may not serve you and how you may need to work to avoid them.
"When we look to the 6th house, we can gain some insight into what our healing journey might involve, and if it also includes helping others in a similar way," says Crysler, who adds that this house may hold intel about past life energy and karma that can impact your current existence. Its association with service, nurturing, and healing may point to ways in which you've supported others (in addition to yourself) in past lifetimes or ways that you'd benefit from caring for others in this lifetime.
How do the houses in astrology impact your life?
As noted above, each person’s birth chart is divided into 12 segments, or houses, each of which governs a specific area of life and overlaps with a particular zodiac sign (which denotes how you'll experience that realm of life). For a few examples, someone might have their 11th house of friendships and community in Taurus, meaning they tend to approach such connections from a Taurean lens of seeking out security and stability; someone else might have their 10th house of career in Aries, meaning they go after work with a certain level of independence and intensity characteristic of Aries.
All of the planets in your chart are spread across the houses, but not evenly so; meaning, there may be one, multiple, or zero planets in any given house, which can also dictate how you'll experience its associated realm of life (more on this below).
At the same time, each of the 12 houses is also ruled by a particular planet and sign, and understanding the archetypal links between certain signs, planets, and houses can help you better understand their expression in your chart. (You'll note that because there are more houses than planets, certain planets rule over multiple houses.) Here, you'll find a list of each of the houses in astrology, including the area(s) of life with which they correspond and the planets and zodiac signs that rule them:
- 1st house: self-image, perception, and sense of self; Aries and Mars
- 2nd house: personal resources, talents, and values; Taurus and Venus
- 3rd house: communication and information; Gemini and Mercury
- 4th house: home, family, lineage, and foundations; Cancer and the moon
- 5th house: pleasure, creativity, and self-expression; Leo and the sun
- 6th house: health, habits, and routines; Virgo and Mercury
- 7th house: relationships and partnerships; Libra and Venus
- 8th house: regeneration, transformation, sex, and karma; Scorpio and Pluto
- 9th house: higher learning, long distance travel, and wisdom; Sagittarius and Jupiter
- 10th house: career, reputation, and public persona; Capricorn and Saturn
- 11th house: friendship and community; Aquarius and Uranus
- 12th house: the subconscious mind, including dreams and intuition; Pisces and Neptune
How to find your 6th house placement
While, again, each house has an associated sign and planetary ruler, the sign connected to each house in your birth chart will depend on when you were born. To figure out the sign placement of your 6th house, enter your birth date, time, and place into this free natal chart generator. Then, look to the sidebar on the right of your chart to see which sign rules your 6th house.
When looking at your birth chart, pay attention to any planets you might spot in your 6th house, too, because these celestial bodies can also lend their influence to the way you approach 6th house realms, like health and wellness. For example, if taskmaster Saturn is located in your 6th house, you might go about your everyday routines with a certain level of Saturnian pragmatism and discipline—which is important to consider along with the characteristics of the house's sign placement.
However, don’t fret if your 6th house doesn’t contain a planet; every person's chart will have at least one empty house (the planets and the sun and moon aren't evenly distributed across all 12 houses), and empty houses in astrology just reflect the realms of life in which your chart doesn't have a particular planetary influence. In this case, you can just look to the sign of your 6th house (as well as the ruling planet of that sign) to learn how you can best approach the 6th house realms of health, wellness, and everyday rituals.
How to use your 6th house placement to boost your health and well-being
Aries in the 6th house
Aries in the 6th house is focused on physical energy, thanks to the sign's rulership by intense Mars (which is known as the planetary placement to consider for your best fitness routine).
"Movement on all levels is important to this placement," says Crysler. "Fitness and athletics will be strong with this 6th house, but just be sure to slow down when needed."
Taurus in the 6th house
You're a hard worker who sometimes lets financial risks get in the way of forward personal progress. To replenish your energy, ground yourself in nature. "Channel the wisdom you hold by connecting to nature and the elements," says Crysler.
Taurus is also deeply connected to beauty and sensuality, so with your sixth house in Taurus, you'll want to find ways to work these into your daily routine, along with cuddling and naps. You work hard, so set up routines that'll support this without compromising how you feel when you're off the clock. "Creating a value system will be beneficial for your wellness, not only for your health routine but also in your work environment," says Crysler. "Learn to let go, and it will relieve stress that you hold in your body."
Gemini in the 6th house
A placement of Gemini in the 6th house is prone to a quick, racing mind. To stop a constant cycle of rumination, "find a ‘container’ to process all the information you hold, like writing or speaking," says Crysler. A few ways to do that? Tap into the benefits of phone calls and make journaling a regular part of your routine. "Connecting to others is important, so working from home for long periods of time may be a bit hard for you," adds Crysler. "Be mindful of worrying about things you can't control."
Cancer in the 6th house
Cancer in the 6th house can signify nurturing qualities that make for great caregiving. You may need to learn how to lead with your intuition and emotions, but you will also need a work environment that is comforting and safe to avoid being shy or insecure; finding a supportive community will be especially important.
"Be mindful of how your emotions can take over your well-being, and move away from wallowing in negative thought patterns," says Crysler. "Any practices that connect you to your subconscious will be highly beneficial, like aligning your self care with the phases of the moon."
Leo in the 6th house
Leo energy loves to play, so you will need to approach life "with lightheartedness and have fun with whatever you do," says Crysler. Leo in the 6th house can lend you a unique kind of resiliency—but beware of pushing your limits and overexerting.
If you're feeling depleted, a good project for you would be volunteering with children, which Crysler says is a Leo 6th-house strength. Maybe you can teach your niece or nephew guitar over Zoom, or find an after-school arts and crafts program where you can help kids embrace their creativity. "Lead from the heart in creative ways, and you will find joy and pleasure," she says.
Virgo in the 6th house
Virgo feels natural in the 6th house in astrology, which it rules over. This placement emphasizes healing energy, so give yourself a break and commit to practices that allow you to be present and self-compassionate.
That's especially important given that you may be plagued by Virgoan perfectionism and overthinking, which can tip into self-criticism; you'll want to work to rein this in. "Remember that things do not have to look perfect to put your abilities out there for people to see," says Chrysler. "Mindset is important for your healing journey, which is why you may also benefit from creating a daily practice of mindfulness and gratitude."
Libra in the 6th house
"Libras like to mediate and typically like to work in counseling or otherwise help others find justice," says Crysler. That especially applies if you have Libra in your 6th house. "Be mindful, however, of how people may drain your energy when you give them more attention than you do yourself." It's important for you to set boundaries around your free time and within certain relationships to protect your peace.
In terms of movement, you may also enjoy more leisurely activities. "Libra likes energy to flow, so yoga and long walks that allow you to take in the beauty of things will be helpful [to your wellness routine]," says Crysler.
Scorpio in the 6th house
Typically considered the most sexual and sensual sign of the zodiac, Scorpio in the 6th house is a placement that calls for a daily pleasure practice, says Crysler. "This will allow you to release emotions and establish a positive connection with yourself."
At the same time, be mindful of balance, and make time to enjoy the simple, frivolous parts of life; not everything has to be so deep, emotional, and serious, adds Crysler.
Sagittarius in the 6th house
Sagittarius in the 6th house applies all the adventurous spirit of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius to the realm of health and wellness. "Sagittarius in the 6th house needs freedom and flexibility in figuring out what works best for them," says Crysler. "Following someone else’s plan will not work for this placement."
This might mean creating an independent work schedule that allows you to be flexible with your time and plans, or changing up your exercise routine depending on your mood in a given month or week.
Capricorn in the 6th house
Capricorn in the 6th house could mean you thrive as a leader in some part of the wellness industry (given that Capricorn is associated with work and career), but at the same time, you might be a little out of touch with your own needs and emotions.
You have no problem creating and following a wellness routine; just be sure it's not so rigid that you wind up paradoxically neglecting things like rest and self care. "Remember that your well-being goes beyond any kind of physical results," says Crysler.
Aquarius in the 6th house
Aquarius in the 6th house may find themselves constantly wanting to be of service to others and eager to believe in the good of humanity. It might be to your benefit, then, to set hard limits on news consumption, so you don't wind up doom-scrolling into oblivion. You might even enact a digital curfew so you can find a balance between being informed and getting overwhelmed with information.
To take some of this pressure off, lean into your creativity. "This placement should be mindful of emotional detachment," says Crysler. "Their thoughts and ideas need to flow freely, and having a creative outlet will promote a sense of well-being."
Pisces in the 6th house
Pisces in the 6th house likely means you have the capacity to work with your intuition at a very deep level; you may even have a profession within the realm of holistic wellness. That said, it's important for you to be aware of the potential negative effects of being too empathetic or being empathetic without setting boundaries.
"Emotions can be extra sensitive with this placement, and you may need to discern if you take on others' energy and emotions that are not your own," says Crysler. "Find ways to clear and cleanse the energy around you, and be mindful that large crowds or late nights out may not serve your health."
FAQs About the 6th House in Astrology
Which planets are good to have in the 6th house?
There’s no bad planet to have in any astrological house (or sign, for that matter); each placement has its pros and cons. That said, there certain planets that are especially aligned with particular houses. According to Lettman, Mars, which governs action and self-defense, can be particularly helpful as a 6th house placement because it signals a strong work ethic and drive. This placement “indicates that someone has the willpower and determination to meet challenges in their day-to-day lives and combat any issues that may be threatening their wellbeing,” she says.
What is spiritual about the 6th house in astrology?
The 6th house connects to spirituality because it "represents our connection to our bodies, and as an extension, the natural world around us," says Lettman. "It also reveals what has the potential to afflict our health and stop us from becoming grounded." Relatedly, the 6th house also encompasses our ability to serve ourselves and others, which may help undo negative karma, or residual energy from deeds done in a past life.
What does the 6th house of astrology have to do with relationships?
The 6th house isn’t directly associated with relationships (that’s the 7th house in astrology), but indirectly, the ways in which you approach your wellbeing (which fall under the realm of the 6th house) can play a role in how you present yourself in your interpersonal relationships. In other words, how you do (or don't) care for yourself can certainly affect other people in your life, says Lettman.
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