Astrological houses

Seventh House

Direct answer

Seventh House is the house of partnership, marriage, contracts, clients, open enemies, negotiation, and the other person standing across from the self.

HousesThe Great Almanac DictionaryUpdated 2026-09-26

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At a glance

In astrology: The Seventh House is angular and begins at the Descendant in many house systems.
Found in: Houses
Related: Birth Chart, Zodiac, Transit

An engraved chart wheel of twelve divisions, ruled aspect lines drawn across it — Chart geometry · visual guide **Seventh House**
Seventh House describes partnership, contracts, marriage, clients, and open opposition.
A structural orientation; exact placements depend on the chart or technique being discussed.

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What sets Seventh House apart

The seventh house begins at the Descendant, which is always exactly 180 degrees from the Ascendant. Firmicus names it occasus, the setting, from the Greek dysis, and says it governs marriage, the wife shown by Venus and the husband by Mars. Dorotheus calls it the sign of marriage, yet ranks it only fifth among the places. Partners and open enemies share it, because it is by geometry the sign that stands facing the life.

Aspect to the first: opposition, 180 degrees
Latin and Greek: occasus, the setting; dysis
Firmicus: the wife shown by Venus, the husband by Mars
Dorotheus' ranking: fifth, after the ascendent, midheaven, eleventh and fifth
Al-Andarzaghar: reads its lords as women, contentions and union with others

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The descendant, and the sign of marriage

The seventh house is the sign opposite the ascendent. Firmicus Maternus names it occasus, the setting, with the Greek dysis, and says it governs marriage; he adds that the wife is shown by Venus and the husband by Mars. It is in opposition to the Ascendant and one of the four angles.

Al-Qabisi gives it wives and marriage, contests, opponents and partnerships, and assigns it the stretch of life toward old age. He colors it white, like the first house.

Why partners and opponents share a house

The seventh house holds both partnership and open enmity because it is, by geometry, the sign that stands facing the life. Al-Qabisi lists union with others, contention and contests together.

In al-Qabisi's chapter on the lords of angles, the lord of the seventh in the first house means business, medicine or astronomy, and the lord of the first in the seventh means fortune through partners and wives.

Where the seventh ranks

Dorotheus ranks the seventh fifth among the places: the ascendent, midheaven, eleventh and fifth come first. Firmicus puts the Ascendant above the descendant. Dorotheus warns that a square or opposition from a malefic harms, and the seventh is the house of the opposition.

The story behind Seventh House

Traditional astrology tied the Seventh House to marriage, partners, lawsuits, contracts, and open adversaries.

The spiritual meaning of Seventh House

Engraved emblem: two young lovers, a young man and a young woman, standing full length facing each other — The seventh house · The lovers

Spiritually, Seventh House asks how the self learns truth through encounter.

Why Seventh House matters

Seventh House matters because it shows where life becomes relational, negotiated, mirrored, and legally or emotionally binding.

How to read Seventh House

Seventh House speaks to committed relationships, business partners, clients, legal agreements, open conflict, and projection patterns.

Seventh House in practice: an example

Venus in the Seventh House may bring charm, attraction, relationship focus, or a need for harmony in close bonds.

Where readings of Seventh House go wrong

It is a mistake to use the Seventh House to promise marriage or doom a relationship. Choice and context matter.

Sources and editorial method

This entry summarizes the tradition in the Almanac's own words; where no source is listed, it is an editorial summary rather than a primary text, and symbolic readings are named as the tradition's, not as fact.

Source: The Great Almanac Dictionary
Category: Houses
Last updated: 2026-09-26

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Birth ChartA Birth Chart is a personal astrology map built from birth date, time, and place. ZodiacThe Zodiac is the twelve-sign wheel used as astrology's core sign language. TransitTransit means current planetary movement activating a chart.

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