Meet the Ocean: The Twelfth House

We’ve arrived at the last stop in our journey through the astrological houses. The 12th house is the last “area of experience” we all live that make us what we are, a biological - psychological unit operating both in personal and collective realms. Starting with the 7th, the last 6 houses were collective experiences, whereas the first 6 were personal experiences (like getting our shit together to be able to function collectively later).

Every house was in a thematic relationship with its opposite house. Yes, we will talk about the 6th house (it is opposite the 12th house).

Also, every house was part of a quadrant which represented a general process made up of 3 houses (4 quarters/4 processes with 3 houses each=12). The first house of each quadrant started the process, the second sustained and gave it further form and the last one utilized and disseminated the result and prepared the ground for a new process to begin. (In incredibly rough terms).

The 6th house was the last personal house and had prepared us for the collective experiences. It was about purifying the operation of the “self” that has been in creation since the first house. In the 5th, we had executed the self that was finally established in the 4th house. But the execution of the self (via creation and play among other things) in the 5th required a final polishing in the 6th house before it could go out into the world and meet “the other” (beginning of collective experiences).

Now, the tables have turned. By the time we reach the 12th house, we are operating in the collective realm. And now the preparation is for the personal realm of experiences. In other words, this is the last step before we start the cycle again. We have to polish and purify the collective self in order for “self” to be created again. However, collective self is a paradox - so that’s why 12th house is where we un-do the self.

Everything we have worked for so far, i.e. all the ego-accumulation that has made survival, relationships, our impact on the world possible, is a burden here. Like I said, we are about to start the process of a new self. But how does one discard their ego? How does one undo themselves?

To get closer to an answer, I benefit from seeing my selfhood as a spectrum. One end of the spectrum is “a lot of me” or “I” and the other end is basically no ego, no self, and complete and full connectedness to everything else. So the more self I have, the more separate I am from the rest of existence. And the less self I have, the more I am part of everything. 

Preceding the 6th house where the preparation for collective experiences were taking place, the 5th was where the self was executed to its fullest extent. This is where creativity, play, passion was experienced. The “I” was expressing itself, and the opposite house, the 11th, which precedes the house we are talking about right now was where the collective was executing itself through group activities and shared ideals. 

In the 6th, the self that was executed was purified and prepared, and in the 12th, the collective that was executed is going to be purified and prepared. And the most perfect, pure form of collective is one where there is no separation at all. In the 11th, the collective ideal of the ocean being ocean was achieved by each of the drops coming together. In the 12th, the drops need to forget that they are even drops and realize the falsity of the separation. 

So the 12th house is where we go even further in the opposite direction in the spectrum of “self-fullness”. Therefore, any activity that moves us in this direction falls under the realm of this house. Selfless actions, giving, healing, helping are some of the easiest ways to work the connectedness muscle.

This is, by its nature, the most private house. This might sound paradoxical after talking about connectedness, but hear me out. 

The untying of all our knots can only be achieved through our own efforts. Yes, we get help, guidance and utilize opportunities for this undoing but in the end the work is up to us. Because only I know how to untie “me”. 

This is an intense field of experiences. The urge to untie oneself, to feel connected to the rest of existence is a labyrinth - and sometimes we get stuck and mistake oblivion and/or numbness with connectedness. Therefore, altered states of mind and body, drug and alcohol abuse, mental disturbances of many kinds also fall under the realm of the 12th house. 

Sometimes the separation from the collective becomes literal and the symptoms of that are experienced in the 12th house as well. Anything that separates, exiles us from the rest of the world such as prisons and mental institutions are also 12th house experiences. But at the same time, for the same reason - a temple, a retreat, a solitary journey, the room of a spiritual guide or a therapist etc. could also be a 12th house location because of their aims of finding connectedness and untying the knots that no longer serve. All of these are experienced in an aim to renew the self and prepare for a new one. 

Throughout our lives, we enter into hibernations, we seclude ourselves from the world to face the parts of us that aggravate our separateness. Hopefully we leave behind as much as possible each time and look out into the world with fresh eyes. 

Your suffering is my suffering, your joy is my joy. 

If you want to learn more about your natal twelfth 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).

Here are what some of my clients said about this reading:

Uğur interpreted my shortcomings and fears that I had always noticed but escaped from or overlooked in such a great way. Years later, he gave me the power to work on them. Plus, he helped me explore some of my intuitive abilities. Thanks wouldn’t be enough.

— Ş. T.

In our session with Uğur, I faced my qualities that I had explored or known about but weren’t able to identify. In addition to reading my birth chart, his meditative approach allowed me to stay in the session with a holistic view. I keep his realistic advice with me during the day.

— U. Y.

It was an experience that I had never had before. Most of our session was in the form of a conversation. Of course, he had such a command of his reading that I didn’t realize how the hours passed by. Thank you Uğur for helping me make sense of myself, my environment, the universe, my life and how these are interconnected; and for opening this path for me. I can’t wait for our next session.

— Y. Y. K.

I really enjoyed my reading with Uğur. He gave me so much insight into the meaning, history and different theories of astrology. It was a pleasure to discuss such an interesting topic with someone so passionate. Learning about my chart, in a way that I can understand, and without the frills of “fortune telling” was very refreshing. It definitely aligned with and supported the wellbeing practices I am using in my life. I felt energized and empowered after our session. I highly recommend Uğur if you’re looking to get an elevated astrology reading. Thank you Uğur!  

— S. Ş.

My session was excellent! Uğur was thoroughly prepared, conveyed information with precision, empathy and humor, and was responsive to questions. This was my second official reading with Uğur and I will certainly arrange a third.

— C. G.