O Descendant, Wherefore Art Thou Descendant? The Seventh House

It was all well and good in the houses from the 1st to the 6th where we were occupied with ourselves, trying to become a functioning individual with a specific outlook (1st), possessions and values (2nd), a logical mind (3rd), personal stability and history (4th), a creative impulse (5th) and ways of organizing life and meeting challenges (6th) – but what were all these for?

The answer to this question lies in the remaining houses, which are kicked off with the 7th house.

The beginning of the 7th house – or in other words, the cusp of it – is called the descendant. It is the exact opposite degree of our ascendant, our rising sign. This is the degree of the zodiac which was setting in the western horizon at the time of our birth.

This is a very intriguing part of one’s chart. The ascendant was the way we met the world; it is very much where “I” start and is all about “me”. Directly opposite this part of me stands the descendant – which is very much “not I”.

Okay, let’s get this straight before further delving into what I just said. All of the chart is “me”. However, “I” am realized in multiple ways and through different types of experiences. The houses - areas of experiences - that come after the 6th house require more than “me” to be experienced. The 7th house is directly opposite the house of the self (1st) – and therefore it is furthest away from me. If I am to be a fully realized individual that can function collectively as well – I need to incorporate this part of me to my being. And the way to do that is through the other. This is the 7th house. The other. The one in front of you.

Through our experiences with “the other” we incorporate this part of ourselves to our existences. If one is Virgo rising, yes that person has very much a Virgo experience, but this person’s full experience of existence requires Pisces too (Virgo’s opposite sign and therefore the descendant of the same person). Where is this Virgo person supposed to learn Pisces? In their relationships.

The relationships that the 7th house deal with are more than our romantic partners. This is any two-way relationship. Our spouses, business partners, close friendships, our therapists, astrologers, consultants, our open enemies… The 7th house/the descendant is the part of you that you know you have but can’t unearth on your own. It requires active participation in a relationship with the other – whoever this other may be and whatever form of relationship this may be. Even our enemies teach us things about ourselves.  

As much as we enter into relationships where we connect, agree, live and build with the other, we are also, at times, opposed, disagreed, limited by another. Therefore the 7th house also includes our experiences with people who are openly against us whether it is in the form of a disagreement or outright opposition. (There is also the concept of a hidden enemy, but we’ll come to that in another house.)

A look at one’s 7th house can show the part of one that can be explored through participation in a relationship with the other. It can show the qualities that attract us, our relationship experiences and the ways in which we can utilize relationships to realize our potential, achieve harmony within ourselves and with the other.

We have met the other in the 7th house. Now it’s time to be transformed by them in the 8th.

If you want to learn more about your natal seventh house and/or the rest of your chart, I recommend my Spotlight reading. I designed it as an easy to digest entry into your chart focusing on one or two areas of your life. For more information or to book a session, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at astroadco@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram (@astroadco).