The Sixth and Twelfth Houses – Double Dangers

Our final pair of houses is once again calculated using a mathematical formula that is derived from the position of the Ascendant/Descendant line.
The final division astrology offers us again is not so much a division at all.  Both of these houses are considered unfortunate, perhaps the only difference is the Sixth house relates to things that happen to us and the Twelfth governs that which we do to ourselves as well as things we are unaware of.

The Sixth House Dissected
While the First house operates as the house of health, the Sixth house is the house of sickness, accidents, and diseases.  This Sixth house is often thought of as the ‘house of health’ which is technically incorrect, but giving it this epithet allows us to look at it as the house that generally relates to health concerns that those that work to help correct these problems, such as doctors, dentists, and anyone of that sort.  Also, this house governs our sub-ordinates, people who work for us or those doing us a service.  Employees and helpers are found here, as well as waiters, plumbers, workers, or anyone of that sort; basically, anyone who serves you.  This house also includes all manner of small house pets (dogs, cats, lizards, fish, rabbits, etc) and small cattle (goats, hogs, sheep, etc).  In this manner, the Sixth house also has some relevance to the agricultural industry, but agriculture is mainly a Fourth house object.

The Sign Virgo and the planet Mercury are the co-significators of this house.  Both of these objects have strong connections to sickness and health matters, so they seem obvious choices for co-significators.  The planet Mars finds joy in this house.  Modernly, Mercury rules this house as the ruler of Virgo.

The Twelfth House Dissected
The Twelfth house relates to all matters that are hidden or cannot be fully understood.  However, what can be understood about this house is that it is not a good place to be.  Being associated with misfortune, sorrow, anguish, isolation, secrets, self-undoing, addictions, and imprisonment this house boasts as being the most unfortunate of all the Twelve houses of heaven.  This house is also known as the house of unseen enemies, people we don’t know who are against us or who operate in secret such as spies and witches.  Also, this house is the house of large cattle as opposite the Sixth of small cattle.  In this light it is seen to rule horses, oxen, elephants, and other such large creatures.

The Twelfth house has the co-significators Pisces and Venus.  Pisces is often associated with such Twelfth house objects as sorrow, anguish, and secrets, while Venus’ role cannot be understood without a reference to her hold over the Fifth house.  Venus’ ruling of both of these houses is perhaps a warning for moderation; showing us how thin the line between pleasure and addiction really is.  Saturn finds joy in the Twelfth house, as he is capable of working up much malicious power in his solitude.  Modernly, Neptune rules the Twelfth house as the ruler of Pisces.