Significations of the Twelve Houses of the Horoscope: 1st House
1st House:
The 360 degrees of the sky are divided by 12 zones of the zodiac. Each zodiac consists of 30 degrees, thereby completing the entire sphere. In Sanskrit, the zodiacs are called “Rashis”. Due to the earth’s rotation different Rashis ascend in the 1st house and according to their ascribed place go into 2nd, 3rd, so on and so forth. All the Rashis thus cover the entire circle of 12 houses (Bhava).
The first house is the most significant amongst other houses. It is referred to as the Lagan or Ascendant in English. Because it is Tanur (self) bhava therefore, it is not only the most important house but is also the most auspicious house. It is both a Trikona (Trine) as well as a Kendra (Angular). Without due understanding and detailed analysis of the first house it is not possible to make any astrological predictions.
In a horoscope, it represents formative years, early childhood, mental makeup or the tendencies, outlook to life, looks and the physical attributes or the appearance of the body and especially the face, demeanor and the character, temperamental behavior etc. Being the ascendant it is also considered the head of “Kaal Purush” or the one beyond time.
The sign of the first house and the placement of its planet-lord is an extremely important feature. The planets positioned and aspects planets cannot be understated. Auspicious yogas are formed (taking a person to dizzy heights of success or the opposite of it) depending upon the first house. There cannot be a more appropriate saying about the importance of the first house than an old adage “Well Begun is Half Done”.