In astrology, twelve houses divide a standard birth chart. Each house represents a different area of life, such as identity, money, communication, home, relationships, career, or spirituality.
The houses are projected around the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun through the sky. They are numbered counter-clockwise, beginning near the eastern horizon with the first-house cusp, also associated with the Ascendant. The seventh house lies opposite the first, and the remaining houses form corresponding pairs around the chart.
Astrologers use several house systems, including whole sign, equal house, Placidus, and Regiomontanus. These systems may place the boundaries, or cusps, differently, especially at high latitudes, but Western astrological traditions still use twelve houses. This is why two charts for the same person can show different house placements while retaining the same twelve-part framework.
A common mix-up is confusing houses with zodiac signs. There are also twelve signs, but signs describe the style or qualities associated with a placement, while houses describe the life area where that placement is interpreted. The exact birth time and location help determine the house cusps.