The 8th house

From Astrology In Depth

The 8th house
intense experiences
Quadrant
Third quadrant: western, overhead
Classification
Succedent
Natural sign
Scorpio
Natural planet
Pluto

The eighth house, house of intense experiences and challenge, spiritual questioning. It is the natural house of the sign of Scorpio and of planet Pluto.

edit this Worldly focus and qualities

Like the other watery houses, the 8th is more of a house of experiences, and has a retentive quality to it. This also reflects the secretive nature of much of what goes on here. This is a highly restless house.

Intense experiences are sought in this house. 8-5 meaningless work doesn't usually do it here, there has to be something more. To what degree will depend on the whole chart's make up.

There tends to be a bit too many conflicts here, as spirits tend to run high, and clear, constructive communication is somewhat lacking. There's also a distrusting setting here, which is a reflection of their own secretive nature.

Often there is some interest in psychology, and indeed this house can be in itself quite an emotional quagmire. Sometimes that interest is rather directed into mysticism or the occult, especially when Neptune is strong.

Truly, this house's natives are Livin' on the Edge.

edit this Deep exploration

The 8th reflects our willingness to confront deep patterns in our personality and in life and society. It shows the willingness to push through and probe the deeper questions in a realistic manner, authentic to oneself. How we explore the full depth of experiences.

Unlike the 9th house which has more superficial dogmatic inclinations, the 8th is the full, first-hand exploration of the depths, real meanings, motivations and secrets. That said, it is may be inclined to process these things out of the limelight, unless there are more open indications.

This house is a common manifestation for psychologists and astrologers.

edit this Challenges

This house shows how we deal with challenges, how we overcome our fears to test ourselves to the limit. It shows our affinity and attraction to crisis and how we deal with it, how we go beyond the coziness of the known. It shows our willingness to embrace the transformative potentials of our lives through putting everything on the line.

8th house people tend to seek out challenge for its exciting and invigorating effect. They seek to live life on a deeper and more intensive level. They are usually not built for 8-5 office work - they have to feel life pulsing in their veins.

edit this Crisis

The 8th deals with crisis and crisis related issues. People of this house are often prepared to the worst case scenario. They can become obsessed with the things that may be in the shadows, perhaps in the making. Early experience has prepared them in that domain. It doesn't mean that they cannot be caught by surprise, but they have the best make-up for dealing with it successfully.

The challenge seeking individuals of this house may well seek out crisis situations more actively, such as in the emergency services, or even in the extreme sports.

edit this Death

This house shows how we deal with the idea of death, how we seek protect ourselves, or don't. Death of course is an edgy subject which is very emotionally intensive, and therefore holds quite an interest to many 8th house individuals.

Although the 8th house is often considered a central issue of this house, in practice it is mostly a minor matter for most of this house's people.

It is conducive to consider this house as the shadow of the valley of death - in a metaphorical sense, as it is the land where we shed our previous selves through the probing of the darkest domains.

Problematic charts may become more morbidly concerned in this domain.

edit this Dark side

There tends to be in this house a certain fascination with the dark side of society and personality, especially in charts that show a good amount of curiosity. There can be found interest in criminology, death and taboo. These can indeed be quite exciting to the 8th house personality.

Of course the line of curiosity can sometimes be crossed here, especially in charts that especially immature or negativistic.

edit this Sex

The 8th house has been symbolically associated with sex, as it is one of the more extreme experiences in human life, and therefore a delicacy of this house. Energies in this house do tend to be "lower", a type of raw emotionality. An interesting tidbit of information is that in french orgasm has been called la petite mort - the little death and of course, this house has traditionally been associated with all things death.

Its natives often have a strong sexual nature, especially when Pluto or Scorpio are strong in the chart.

Although sexuality is strong in this house, it does not appear to have an unusual rapport with the sex business, as this house is strongly private. The 2nd and the 5th house may actually outrank it in this domain.

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edit this 8th house personalities

• The United States :: Sun (within conjunction with Jupiter in the 7th) ; Mercury.
• John F. Kennedy :: Sun with Venus ; Mercury with Mars and Jupiter

• John Travolta :: Sun with Venus ; Mercury.
• Demi Moore :: Sun with Venus, Mercury and Neptune

• Marquis de Sade :: Sun with Jupiter ; Neptune.
• David Berkowitz :: Sun with Jupiter ; Mercury with Mars.

• Virginia Woolf :: SunVenus in 8th, with the Midheaven / 90° /

edit this Planets in this house

Sun in the 8th house embrace a struggle	Moon in the 8th house restless emotions
Mercury in the 8th house poker face
Venus in the 8th house dark love	Mars in the 8th house obsessive drive
Jupiter in the 8th house obsession to be rich / explore the dark	Saturn in the 8th house fear of destitution / protective measures
Uranus in the 8th house fearless experimentation / unresolved traumas	Pluto in the 8th house meet the gutters / big bang
Neptune in the 8th house sexual bewitchment