The 8th house
From Astrology In Depth
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The 8th house |
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| valley of death |
| 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.
Contents |
> 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. Similarly to the 4th and 12th, it is a rather shadowy house. 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 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 this interest is directed into mysticism or the occult, especially when Neptune is strong.
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> 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 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 in order 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 for 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 to 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 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 of a more curious disposition. There may be an interest in criminology, death and taboo as these subjects can indeed be quite exciting to the 8th house personality.
Of course this line of curiosity can sometimes be crossed here, especially in more immature or negativistic charts.
> 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, an orgasm has at times been called 'la petite mort' - the little death, and, of course, this house has traditionally been associated with all things relating to 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 world, as this house is strongly private. The 2nd and the 5th house may actually outrank it in this domain.
> 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° 
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> edit this Planets in this house
 embrace a struggle |  restless emotions |
 poker face | |
 dark love |  obsessive drive |
 obsession to be rich / explore the dark |  fear of destitution / protective measures |
 fearless experimentation / unresolved traumas |  meet the gutters / big bang |
 sexual bewitchment |
