An Empty Astrological House Doesn't Mean You're Lacking

Even if you're unfamiliar with the nuances of astrology, you might already know your zodiac sign, and that's a start. The amount of information out there on astrology — the study of how celestial bodies impact us on Earth — can be downright overwhelming. However, understanding the significance of the 12 houses commonly associated with astrology can give you more clarity on how your zodiac sign might be impacting your daily life.

To begin, it helps to understand what Western astrologers call a zodiac chart, which is sometimes also called a birth chart or natal chart. Your chart represents where the planets and other celestial bodies were positioned at the exact time of your birth. Every chart can be divided into 12 signs, and there are 12 houses. The houses represent different parts of your life, ranging from family to your career. "The houses of our chart give us context for where things will occur, and understanding and developing a relationship to the house that your sun is in will be integral to living out your life's purpose," astrologer and author Chani Nicholas told Well+Good.

Sometimes, however, people have a zodiac chart that depicts several planets in one house. On the flip side, others may have no planets in a particular house — but an empty astrological house is not necessarily a bad sign.

Although you might immediately be shocked to learn that you have an empty astrological house upon doing some digging, don't fret — this doesn't necessarily mean that you're lacking in any area of your life. As astrologer Wayne Gonzalez spoke to Astrology.com about empty houses, he noted that they could actually be welcomed more than a house with multiple planet placements. "The empty house simply means that part of your life is not as challenging as a house with one or more planets," he told the source. "The houses with planets are the houses that we have more lessons to learn or to focus on in this life."

There are, however, indications that astrologers commonly associate with certain empty houses. An empty first house — the house of self and the ego — may suggest that you have an abundance of confidence. No planets in the second house — the one that represents possessions — could mean that you won't lack in terms of your career or wealth. An empty third house, which represents communication, could suggest that you'll never have trouble finding your voice. If you're missing planets in the fourth house of family and home, you might experience fewer familial issues. If your fifth house of fun and socialization is empty, perhaps you're a natural social butterfly. An empty sixth house — often associated with health, work, and routine — could mean these all come easy to you.

If you've always been lucky when it comes to love and relationships, you may want to thank the seventh house if it happens to be empty in your chart. An empty eighth house — the house associated with all things intimate and mystical — might simply mean you're more practical than others, but nonetheless more sensual. The ninth house represents higher knowledge and travel, so if yours is empty, you may already be satisfied with what you've learned about the world. Although you might panic upon seeing an empty 10th house — the house commonly linked to career and status — you can take comfort in knowing that it likely means this is something that is natural and seamless for you. Similarly, an empty 11th house is nothing to panic over, either, as it might simply indicate that you won't have to face challenges when it comes to social situations. Finally, no planets in your 12th house could be something to celebrate — you may be in the clear in terms of the karma you've carried into this life from the past.

At the end of the day, we can only do so much about factors that aren't in our control, including where celestial bodies were at the time of our birth. However, understanding how we can make changes to improve our lives — or at least make our daily routines a bit easier — can go a long way.