House Systems

One topic that most astrologers feel strongly about is House Systems.  I'm sure each of us firmly believes that our system works the best and it probably does -- for us. Others would almost certainly differ and provide us with rather persuasive reasons for their case.  The reason it works the best for us is often that we have become familiar with it.  With experience, we come to look upon a specific system as a virtual security blanket without which we would feel lost, traumatized, or disoriented.

Since all house systems (excluding the equal house system) agree with the calculation and placement of the major angles -- the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Descendant, and the Imum Coeli (IC), the real debate boils down to the positions of the interior house cusps.  While these are also important, most astrologers would have to concede that they are certainly less crucial than the major angles, corresponding to the cusps of Houses 1, 4, 7, and 10.  

One might argue that "But if the position of a planet changes with a different house system, isn't one system necessarily wrong?"  I'd have to answer by saying that I don't believe so.  Most of us would probably agree that astrological interpretations are infrequently that precisely demarcated.  For example, when a client has Mercury in the 2nd or 3rd House depending on the House System used, most likely the individual's mental pursuits or communication focus would be tremendously important in either case.  It comes down to a matter of degree and fine-tuning how the specific planet fits into the client's reality.

Some astrologers use more than one House system.  Perhaps they use Placidus or Koch for Natal interpretations and Regiomontanus for Horary work.  Who's to say that they are wrong?  It's just that once we find something that works for us, we usually stick with it.  

Why should we argue among ourselves about which system is best?  I'm reminded of the scene in the movie "Stand by Me" where the boys are wondering who would win a fight between Superman and Mighty Mouse.  We're never going to have a clear winner in the House System discussion, either.  We all have lots more important things to think about, don't we?