In astrology, the structure of the houses has a similar structure to a clock. The zodiac is split into twelve different segments or houses.
Each sign rules one house and represents one aspect of life, such as well-being, habits, routines, security, finances, relationships, identity, emotions, or material possessions.
These houses are like a map in the sky, and the planets continuously travel from one house to another. The zodiac begins with the first house and goes counterclockwise around.
At the hour of your birth, each of them was in one of the houses. They can be discovered and identified in your natal chart.
We can read our houses by analyzing at what time we were born, including the minutes. It is essential to know the exact hour of your birth.
Otherwise, you get wrong calculations and an incompatible reading.
People usually examine the houses to predict which areas of their lives will be the focal point to direct their energy, determination, and actions.
These 12 houses are a representation of the twelve signs. However, the houses transmit regular earthly activities.
The first, fifth, and ninth houses are related to identity, while the second, sixth and tenth houses mostly represent the material realm and possessions.
On the other side, the third, seventh, and eleventh houses explain and predict our communication style and relationship habits and issues.
The fourth, eighth, and twelfth houses represent the depths and complexities of our inner beings.
Planets are said to be specific energies governed by their sign, which plays out in the aspect of your life represented by their particular house position.
What does that mean for the 12th house?
The 12th house – Unconscious, hidden afairs, dreams
The sign of Pisces and planets Jupiter and Neptune are the rulers of the 12th house.
Astrologers often see it as the house that’s potentially frightening to have in a birth chart due to the past connections with dark spirits, karma, sorrow, and misery.
However, the 12th house is not per se ominous or obscure.
The 12th house resides right beneath the horizon, meaning it’s the dark before dawn arrives. That is why many see it as the concealed part of reality that lies outside of the physical realm.
As a result, this is the house that rules secrets, mysteries, dreams, and affairs. It represents our instincts, gut feelings, untold desires, fears, and fantasies.
Plus, the 12th house stands for what hides deep within our souls, intuition, and the unconscious.
Even though that might sound scary, these elements can help us mend our wounds and achieve goals.
It encourages us to realize whether we are consciously present in our lives and confronting difficulties, or we let our unconscious-self overtake and make us bury the problems.
The subconscious level of our minds has more power than we realize. It strives to make reality smoother to handle and find sense in everything.
It is how our unconscious-self defends us from sorrow, grief, and pain. But it also implies things we hide and emotions we don’t want to acknowledge.
Thus, the 12th house confronts us with karma, and it reminds us of all the things we did wrong. The goal is to uncover how we behave concerning the consequences of our decisions, whether we face them or swipe them under a rug.
The 12th house also implies a sensation of feeling trapped, unable to move on or let go. So, it represents hospitals, asylums, and jails. It governs addictions, wilderness, and illegal actions.
Indeed, it may sound dark, but the 12th house also conveys transformations. It reminds us that we need to confront the past and our inner demons to heal and let go of the weight.
The 12th house is the ruler of the concealed, desires, unlawful activities, and unconscious. What does that mean for Pluto?
Pluto – General traits
Pluto is the god of the Underworld and Scorpio’s ruler. Hades in Greek mythology is the equivalent of Pluto. Astrology describes its energy as transformative. It is why this planet represents rebirth, renewal, and death.
In mythology, he was the ruler of wealth, as well as what lies beneath the ground. As he lived in the Underworld, he had control over every soul residing in his domain.
Those who entered would never go out again. Pluto was the son of Saturn and brother of Neptune and Jupiter. The other two brothers ruled the sky and the sea.
The Underworld’s king is known for kidnapping his niece, Proserpine. Even though Persephone initially rejected Pluto and wanted to starve herself to death, Jupiter sent his youngest son, Mercury, to negotiate the best solution.
The result of their agreement was that Persephone would spend six months in the Underworld during the winter, and another six on Earth, during the spring.
The dwarf planet known as Pluto is a tribute to the ruler of the world beneath. Pluto was discovered in 1930.
Astrology follows the principles of mythology. Hence, Pluto represents what is below the surface. It is about spiritual development, purging, birth, death, and letting go of hidden truths and secrets.
Pluto is the balance between your greatest fears and longings. It reminds you that you need to put down your guard and defense mechanisms to transform and grow.
In many cases, Pluto is responsible for heartbreaking changes in our lives. It causes these fundamental changes to force us to change and let go of old habits, principles, and beliefs. Pluto requires us to embrace our darkest parts and make them bright.
Indeed, Pluto is all about power across all levels. It shows how other people can control us by using what we love the most or turning our fears against us.
As a result, this planet points to the areas of our lives where we harbor our traumas, worries, and panic. Pluto forces us to confront what makes us terrified and what we hope will never happen.
It is why many see it as a dreadful planet that implies darkness and death. But most often, Pluto represents the other side of our terror.
As a generational planet, many people of the same age cohort share a sign. The majority of people today have Pluto in Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Capricorn. Astrologers believe that people sharing the same Pluto sign will have the same way of seeking and instilling power and changing society.
Pluto is about transformations, fundamental changes, and power. What does that mean for those born with Pluto in the 12th house?
Pluto in the 12th house – Meaning
When the most formidable planet and house unite, they either bring out the worst or the best in each other. It is a combination that resembles alpha and omega, death and birth, love and hate. Ultimately, it is all or nothing.
People born with Pluto in the 12th house typically feel that the physical realm limits them and that here is not where they belong.
These individuals are not sure what’s their place under the Sun, but they feel it should be the one that lets them merge with every soul and particle of the universe. Some might say they are trying to escape reality, but they prefer thinking that leaving it means going home.
The earthly pleasures, experiences, and domain doesn’t stimulate their senses nor their inner being. These persons want to release themselves and become one with the timeless unity that connects everything that lives and dies. They are old souls, highly emotional, spiritual, and misunderstood.
But they’re also vulnerable and hurt with ease. The world often acts like a sword cutting their fragile souls, and they believe there is something inherently wrong with it.
Living in a fantasy
Those born with Pluto in the 12th house often prefer living in fantasies, imaginary worlds, books, and movies. The physical realm can be too painful and overwhelming for their emotional defenses. Since the 12th house deals with the subconscious level, Pluto’s influence can make these people lose all their interest in the material world.
Pluto heightens awareness of suffering, injustice, and pain in this house. It is why these people tend to be highly empathetic and sensitive to other persons going through hard times, such as illnesses, death, and loss.
Moreover, they likely experienced a life-changing event in their younger years. Perhaps they saw a family member struggle with a terminal disease, addictions, or they were abused. Or, maybe they were always more sensitive than people around them, making them feel misunderstood and lonely.
These individuals have to learn to live with the awareness of ongoing suffering in the world and their lives.
However, it is how they could develop a higher comprehension of human pain and struggle. They could channel that anguish and learn how to cope with suffering by helping others.
Like the 11th, the 12th house represents collective mindset, but on a more profound, unconscious, and emotional level. It is why these individuals can be great in connecting with people and encouraging the most humane traits to come to the surface. They usually do it without using words or many actions.
People with Pluto in the 12th house have an uncanny emotional depth that makes people feel understood and found. Thanks to that, these persons can be religious leaders, politicians, and fighters for social justice.
Vulnerable and drawn to mysteries
They are often artistic and express their vulnerability, feelings, and emotional intensity through art: writing, painting, or something more abstract.
These people usually have access to the collective unconscious element. They can see and feel what most people can’t because it’s not visible, material, or easy to find.
Besides, the 12th house ingrains all the other houses as the last one. With Pluto’s influence, that means that these individuals can touch every soul and understand what they are going through. Even if other people fail to understand it, natives with Pluto in the 12th house are the ultimate passage in which all the archetypes meet and merge.
However, these individuals won’t necessarily take the path of light in which they turn pain into art and speak to every human through their creation, making them feel understood. They could also take the darker road and (self)destruction.
These individuals could also use their ability to dive into the collective unconsciousness to manipulate, divide, and destroy. That is particularly dangerous in politics because their rhetoric can be persuasive and scheming.
Whatever the scenario, Pluto wants to help us transcend and surpass our human weights and chains. Those born with Pluto in the 12th house usually do it by having an intense interest in psychology, mysteries, and examining their dreams. They are drawn to the hidden, perplexing, and concealed. These individuals want to understand others, their drives, intentions, and motives.
Those with Pluto in the 12th house can even have healing or psychic abilities. It is why they are likely to dedicate themselves to helping others, even if it means getting hurt in the process.
These individuals tend to consider other people and their reasons, allowing everyone a benefit of the doubt. They know there is a demon inside all of us. Yet, we also have a light and capacity to do incredible things.
These individuals tend to be highly secretive and mysterious. They don’t feel comfortable sharing their problems, secrets, and worries. They don’t want to overwhelm others with their issues.
It is why they usually suffer in silence. They would embrace the suffering of every human and help them. Yet, they keep their sorrow for themselves. It is what often leads to emotional and mental problems.
They often find solace in having secrets and keeping things to themselves. It is a part that belongs only to them, regardless of how much it hurts.
As that tends to impact their well-being, they often turn to illicit substances and all kinds of escapism. They spend much more time daydreaming and fantasizing than being present in the moment.
Victims and martyrs
People born with Pluto in the 12th house are usually their own greatest enemy, and they don’t care much about their bodies.
All they worry about are their souls and transcending to the ultimate reality. They can even be drawn to death and have suicidal thoughts. They are not afraid of death. Instead, they are curious and wonder when their moment will come.
However, sometimes they prefer not to wait. If Pluto is afflicted, there is a danger of committing suicide.
Sometimes they will provoke death and put themselves in threatening situations, regardless of what could happen. These individuals tend to make themselves victims or even martyrs.
That usually happens because there is an inner part that craves pain and misery. They often believe that one can connect with the higher realm through suffering.
Due to being attracted to the possibility of dying, these individuals often end up volunteering or working in hospitals, asylums, prisons, and hospices.
People with Pluto in the 12th house connect with those on the margin, sick, disadvantaged, or dangerous. They do it to help but also to learn about grief, agony, and being powerless.
That way, they gain more control over their own fears and troubles.
If Pluto is afflicted, these individuals can often feel meaningless and without power over their lives. It is what often results in detaching themselves from reality and finding it hard to go back.
Even if suicidal thoughts don’t arise from these feelings, self-harm probably will.
Finally, Pluto in the 12th house can be a combination like no other: it can cause self-destruction or allow one to connect with their humanity on a higher level.
What does that mean for relationships?
Pluto in the 10th house – Synastry
The romantic synastric analysis is the interaction of houses between two birth charts. It shapes the relationship between two persons.
When one’s Pluto is in the 12th house of their (potential) partner, that could either be a toxic relationship or two similar souls finally finding each other.
It is a combination that represents mystical connections, secrets, subconsciousness, and past lives.
When they meet, they will likely feel strong emotions, and no one will be indifferent. They can be deadly enemies, best friends, or life-long lovers.
The 12th house native will probably be a source of mystery that will compel their Pluto partner. The Pluto person will want to decode their mind and explore their hidden depths.
In the process of discovering who the 12th house native genuinely is, the Pluto native could uncover unsettling traumas and insecurities in themselves.
On the other side, the 12th house person could feel that the Pluto native can read their minds and create a sensation of being bare naked. They will break down the walls and defenses in each other, revealing their vulnerabilities.
It mostly depends on the Pluto native in which direction the relationship will go and whether they will help each other grow and overcome their inner demons.
If the Pluto person has bad intentions, they could control the 12th house person and intensify their fears.