"I'VE GOT NO PLANETS IN MY SEVENTH HOUSE!" (AND OTHER DISASTERS)

Of all the questions that I'm asked, the one I hear most often is:

"I've got no planets in my seventh house. Does that mean I'm never going to marry?"

Meanwhile, no one has ever asked: 

"My second house of income is empty!  Does that mean I'm going to be poor?"

The reason no one has asked the latter question is probably because when it comes to our income, we feel we have more control.  After all, when it comes to money, there's an obvious and practical plan we can follow that is almost guaranteed to yield success; namely, acquire skills and get a job.

If only relationships were that easy.

In any event, the answer to both of the foregoing questions is:

No, in and of itself, an empty house does not mean that the life areas ruled by it will be absent or diminished in your life. 

The reality is that there are 12 houses but only 10 planets, so right from the start at least two houses will be devoid of planets in everyone's chart.  If you add in the nodes, Chiron and some of the asteroids, the empty houses may (or may not) in fact be occupied.  However, since only planets rule the houses, they carry much more weight in the astrological hierarchy.

When a house is empty, one first looks to the sign on the cusp of the house, and then to the sign, location and aspects of its planetary ruler.  The sign on the seventh house cusp describes our attitude towards committed partnerships, what we need from one, and the type of partner that attracts us.

For example, if Cancer is on the seventh house cusp, we don't take such relationships lightly.   We need to feel safe, loved and secure, which means we need loyalty and commitment from our partners.  We also need financial security.  While we don't mind contributing, we are not seeking to take on anyone's financial burdens.   Consequently, we tend to be attracted to individuals who are mature and established in a solid career.

If the Moon is in Libra, it tells us that we are attracted to individuals who make a good impression. We want a partner who is well mannered, appreciates the finer things in life, and is willing to cater to us in some way. If this Libra Moon is located in the Third House, the mental connection takes on importance.  We want someone who excels in conversation and shares some of our interests.

Next, we look to all of the aspects between the Moon and the rest of our chart and interpret each one.  For example, if the Moon is conjunct Jupiter, we are drawn to active, outgoing and optimistic individuals. If it is conjunct Pluto, we are drawn to intense relationships and may attract controlling partners.

When there are planets in the seventh house, and especially if there are three or more, it means there is a greater emphasis on committed relationships in the person's life.  Whether the "emphasis" is positive or negative depends upon the planets as well as the aspects to them from the rest of the chart. 

While having the Sun, Venus or Jupiter in the seventh house is very attractive, how about Mars, Saturn and Pluto? When these planets occupy the seventh house, the individual has to deal with relationships issues connected to conflict, delay, burdens and control.  I am not saying that such a person won't have a happy and fulfilling relationship, but I will say it's highly unlikely to occur early in life.

So to everyone out there who has an empty seventh house but still wishes they had planets in it, I have a Mars-Saturn conjunction in mine that I'd really love to unload.

Anybody want to trade?