Last Updated on July 30, 2020 by astrologerbydefault

The 12th house does not link to the material life but to the inner growth. It is the house of material limitations but conversely inner limitless-ness. It shows how intricately we are bound by our past lives. Its energies are also linked to liberation either from the physical body or from the manifested creation and attainment of the final enlightenment Moksh.

Of the 12 signs, generally Aries, Taurus, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, Aquarius do not fare well in the 12^th house. Then Gemini, Cancer, Virgo and Pisces do face negative situations but with time and patience can come out as an average placement in the 12^th house. However Leo and Sagittarius can fare reasonably well in the 12th house.

Of the planets placed in the 12^th house, in very brief. Sun can indicate power over enemies but internal fire is weak. Mercury can indicate friends often being hidden enemies, dislike for the seniors. Venus can indicate deviant or too many material desires, often multiple mindless intimate relationships. Moon can indicate secret enemies but generally can overcome them, there is danger to the mental/emotional stability. Mars can indicate bondage, confinement, sadism, suppressed rage, illness, enemies, over-expenditures. Jupiter can indicate deep knowledge, turbulence in family and a spiritual bent of mind. Saturn can indicate internal grief, guilt, fear, sorrow, defeat, obstacles. Rahu is then a deep desire for all things foreign or the  occult. Ketu generates intense desire for spiritual practice and Moksh in the 12th house.

The 12th house is used for determining travel or residence in foreign lands. There is an attraction among young men/ women to settle abroad. In astrological terms having to move away from the birthplace, for whatever reason, is considered an inauspicious result. But in the craze for foreign jobs and green cards, perhaps this generation wants to go through this karma. ‘Foreign’ land means some place different from the place of birth or ancestral land. How far will someone relocate will depend on the power of the 12^th house, eg someone may be born in a family in Tawang but live, work and ultimately settle in Mumbai. Or someone born in Chennai will settle in Moscow. To analyse all this, we need a heavy, powerful 12^th house capable of giving auspicious results. A significant percentage of the person’s energy must be diverted into the 12^th house. First and foremost a strong 12th house and its lord is a must.

• Earnings from foreign lands. For this, check if the 2^nd house or 7^th house is in any way connected to the 12^th house/ruler. Such placements can also give professions like import/export.
• But if the 10^th house/ruler is also linked here, it can indicate actual work and a life in foreign lands.
• Relocation and residence to foreign places. Check if the 4^th or 9^th house/ruler planet are linked to the 12^th house/ruler. This will indicate that the residence is away from the place of birth.
• If especially Rahu is placed in the 12^th house or linked with its ruler, he will be attracted to other towns or even other dimensions. Travel or residence to these foreign lands is always indicated. Even if Rahu crosses your 12^th house in transit he can give this result of temporarily shifting to a foreign land. Just remember that Rahu is insatiable, so keep his energies directed with your will-power.
• If there are at least 2-3 of these patters in the chart, the life in foreign lands will be successful.  In this connection, Rahu’s aspect on the 12th house can also act as a catalyst.

Now the 12^th house also indicates our repressed passions. But because it is the 12^th there will not be a conscious attachment to these comforts. The need is on the sub-conscious or spiritual levels, possibly that is why it is said to represent ‘secret pleasures’. But be careful about interpreting charts like this because this is a comment on the most personal aspects of someone’s life. These aspects are his secrets perhaps secret even from his conscious self.

Sexual matters and intimacy are seen from the 8^th and 12^th houses together. 8^th is the reproductive organs and 12^th is the pleasures that drive us on our inner sub-conscious levels. If the 12^th house is more powerful in giving results in this regard the person may not be emotionally linked to the act of physical intimacy. This is a tricky analysis and can either indicate mindless disinterest or mindless over-indulgence. Especially if the 5^th lord or the 7^th lord get involved here or if the 12^th lord gets placed in the 5^th or 7^th houses do read the charts with due care. In fact if there are malefics associated with them then it can lead to deviant behaviour. So do not jump to conclusions, check the birth moon chart, the navamsha also to get a more balanced judgement. Now physical intimacy with someone else is the lower energy version of a person’s spiritual connection with his own higher self. So such a placement with benefics can grant significant spiritual growth too. A strong 12th house and benefic powerful 12th ruler planet can indicate a strong personality who can leave his personal ego, personal desires and personal satisfaction and grow spiritually. So to judge the spectrum from several mindless intimate relationships without much emotional involvement, to disinterest to spiritual growth, you should read more charts and practice more.

Ketu in the 12^th grants detachment from the manifested created on the innermost levels so is conducive for Moksh if the rest of the horoscope allows it. He is apathy in the house of losses so somehow works quite well. However can cause non-interest in physical relationships and loved ones and cause unexpected losses in money etc. Both Rahu and Ketu are very subtle and are considered malefic. If not directed with firm intention these two forces are quite capable of causing havoc in your life so analyse them properly and use their energies as you want to.

Finally some not so good combinations related to the 12^th house. A damaged 12th house often indicates a cruel mindset. Malefics in the 12th house almost always indicate eye troubles, with the left eye suffering more. If the 7^th house ruler is placed in a damaged 12^th house, problems from spouse always. Ascendant lord in the 12^th house, weak body prone to hidden diseases which might erupt suddenly. Similarly lord of 12^th in the 12^th house can indicate hidden weakness of the body. If the 12^th house is damaged, pay particular attention to Rahu’s transits over it as it can trigger the weakness.

New students in astrology will now read the worst possible meanings in their 12^th house placements. But do not judge yourself so harshly, you chose this placement at your birth, trust your higher self. Every placement brings you more firmly on your spiritual path, especially the 12^th house. These lessons are from your own past lives. There is always some unfinished lesson or some unfinished duty which you have chosen in this 12^th house pattern. So remain calm and dispassionate, look for the good in every event, there is always something positive.