When we first see a copy of our Horoscope chart, there's so much there and much of that consists of meaningless hieroglyphs.  How could anyone ever make any sense of that stuff?  Then, as we allow ourselves to recognize that astrology is just a symbolic language -- not really that different than learning a foreign language -- much of the mystery starts to melt away.  

Hmmm...maybe it's not so difficult after all.  There's the symbols for each of the eight recognized planets and the Sun and Moon (all 10 celestial bodies are called "planets" by astrologers for convenience, but we really know the Sun and Moon aren't real planets) and each of the twelve signs of the zodiac.  And WOW!  This single sheet of paper is uniquely representative of ME!

We then see the twelve houses and are told that each one has a special significance in our life.  For example, the 7th house represents relationships.  OK, fine.  We glance at that section of our horoscope that we've begun to embrace and then with horror notice...THERE'S NOTHING IN MY 7th HOUSE!  Am I doomed to a life totally devoid of relationship?  This isn't fair!

After we regain our composure and un-crumple our chart, we are determined to look at this disturbing question calmly and realistically.  There are 10 planets... and there are 12 houses.  Fair enough.  So nobody...nobody has enough planets to prevent at least two empty houses.  And that doesn't even account for when there's more than one planet in a house -- which would mean even more vacant houses!  There has to be another explanation.

Indeed there is an explanation.  Even "empty" houses have meaning.  For insight, the astrologer looks to the sign on the cusp of the empty house.  This sign is most closely associated with one of the planets (known as the ruler of the sign).  So where that planet is located -- by Sign and House placement suggests information that helps us to make more sense of these vacant houses.