The 6th and 12th house Axis in the birth chart

For people who have 6th and 12th house placements or who transits with opposite house placements here it is essential to understand how this axis represents what we have to do versus what we do not want/have to do. In astrology, the houses across from each other represent what can appear like opposing themes. At its core, we hold to balance the themes of each house, use the energy to our benefit, and be conscious if we are overcompensating too much in one house. All planets are not considered equal. Depending on your chart ruler, sub-ruling planet, or other energy in a house, one of the houses may actually be more important to an individual than another.

Let's start with what these houses are considered.

The 6th and 12th houses are cadent houses. Cadent houses (3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th) are the last of their quadrant and are not considered houses where major activity occurs (note: in an individual birth chart a person could have a very busy cadent house). These houses are often focused on "thought" and consideration.

No major angle rests on the cusp like on the angular houses (IC/MC, Ascendant/Descendant). The succedent houses do not contain the angles either (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th), but represent what we possess and what we are holding onto.

The 6th and 12th axis represents the extreme opposite of where we spend "time". Traditionally, the 6th house was associated with illness, servitude, and slavery. It was a house that was arduous and hard. It was assigned to you and did not leave room for much choice. People did not control their "time" but were bound to it. The 12th house was a place of mental hospitals, confinement, and solitude. There was less demand on someone's "time" with the 12th house but it was difficult to be motivated here.

Today, we can apply some level of modern examples to see how people nowadays experience these houses differently. For example, most people today do not feel like "servants" if they have 6th house placements. Rather, they may feel obligated to their daily work or be a workaholic. The 6th house still can give indicators of health but health conditions are less deadly due to medical advancements and technology compared to centuries ago. Instead of the house meaning illness it can indicate a person who is very health conscious or a yoga instructor, for example.

Today, we are much more aware of mental health than people of the past. Confining a person due to suspicions or lack of knowledge is less likely. In the past, people with intellectual disabilities or women accused of hysterics could be thrown into a mental institution without proper care the 12th still represents solitude to some degree. However, today it speaks more to people who may "feel alone" or who have to learn who they are aware from people to understand their gifts or spiritual power. Creative energy and spiritual awareness of the divine are areas that can be experienced in reverence to the 12th house.

This is original content. None of this text is permitted to be copied and pasted on any other site or social media page, or in any print materials that are not managed by AmethystVirgo with the intention of misrepresenting the content as belonging to another individual, entity, or media outlet/social media page. Direct links posted that refer back to this site are permitted. None of this text should be recited via video or any media outlet without credit to the content creator. If you enjoyed this post and believe someone else should read it, please support the original content and share the link. For collaborations or clarity with supporting my work, send an email.