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The Houses, Temples of the Sky - by Deborah Houlding  
   


The Eighth House




Main Rulerships:
All matters relating to death, decay, fear, anxiety and loss. The quality and nature of death. Who shall be heir to the deceased. Unexpected inheritance, wills, legacies and testaments of the deceased (note that paternity - wealth from the parents - is also shown by the 4th house).
Money belonging to a partner, spouse or other party. Financial obligations, debts, taxes, loans, losses, money owed to others. (In seeking a good time for a loan, make sure that the ruler of the 2nd house is dignified and strong - a strong 8th house ruler is more likely to indicate favour for the lender).
Transits through this house often show a need to consolidate and accept the loss of elements of life that are no longer fruitful or have served their purpose; the nature of the planet will indicate how the loss is accepted.
Traditional astrology relates the eighth house to crisis, hidden matters, anguish of mind, poison and deadly fears; yet psychological astrology often refers to it as a house of inner transformation and growth. It should be remembered that true transformation follows the burst of creativity that occurs after the lessons of this house have been properly digested. Only by facing our innermost fears are we able to overcome them and move on with the strength of experience and wisdom. But this house is not relevant to the period of growth, its concern is the inhibiting factors that stand in our way. It is a house of personal vulnerability, albeit perhaps a necessary vulnerability from which we may eventually gain. It is wise to avoid any financial gambles or high-risk activities during periods when this house is heavily emphasised.


In Horary Astrology:
As above. Death, loss, or issues relating to these for the querent. Financial affairs of the wife or lover. Issues that bring us fear, anxiety or loss.


In Mundane Astrology:
The national debt; the collector of taxes; danger to the people through war or national disasters; the resources of the enemy.
Financial relations with foreign countries. The privy council.
Public mortality, the death rate, death duties and the kinds of people who die; Raphael notes, for example, that Mars in the 8th house shows "many sudden and terrible deaths by fire, accidents and crime. It denotes deaths of military, naval and medical men, notable people in the iron and steel industry, and those connected with trades to do with fire." ([MAR], p.39)


In lawsuits or conflicts:
The allies of the opponent; in lawsuits the friends and assistants of the defendant.


In Events:
Watters suggests that in events concerning crimes the 8th rules the detectives, but in cases of murder, the victim ([JoE], p.66). She also notes that if the significator of the initiator of an event is placed in the 8th, they may not live to see the conclusion of the business.


In Medical Matters:
Sex organs (genitals); haemorrhoids, gall-stones, strangury (painful excretion of urine), bladder, groin, piles, and poisons generally.


In Commerce:
The finances of the seller or the person you trade with.


Colours
Dark green.


Qualities:
Succeedent, feminine, nocturnal. This is a 'dark' house which is denied the light of the ascendant by traditional aspect. Although it succeeds to an angle, its decline towards the descendant is symbolic of loss of personal strength.


Direction:
West-south-west.


Associated Planets:
No planet is said to rejoice in this house although Firmicus claims that the Moon is dignified here in nocturnal charts, because of the emphasis on nocturnal qualities, (it is worth considering that classical astrology often attached sinister qualities to the Moon).
Cosignificators are Scorpio and Saturn.


Names:
Epicataphora ('casting down'), the House of Death.


DIRECTIONS BY HOUSES
12 ESE 3 NNE 6 WNW 9 SSW
1 EAST 4 NORTH 7 WEST 10 SOUTH
2 ENE 5 NNW 8 WSW 11 SSE


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© Deborah Houlding, 1996; Extracted from the 1st edition of The Houses: Temples of the Sky - now available in a revised, expanded edition




House Rulerships

House 1 House 2 House 3 House 4
House 5 House 6 House 7 House 8
House 9 House 10 House 11 House 12