What is the relationship between the Tarot's House Spread and the zodiac signs?

Hello, that's a great question! Many friends new to Tarot often get a bit confused, feeling like these concepts are all jumbled together. Let me explain it to you with an easy-to-understand analogy.

You can imagine the Twelve-House Tarot Spread as the "floor plan" of your life's apartment. This apartment has 12 rooms, and each room represents a specific area of your life.

And the blueprint for this "apartment floor plan" is "borrowed" from the astrological zodiac signs.

Let's break down the relationship between these three:

1. The 12 Houses: The Stage and Scene

In astrology, the twelve houses (also known as the mundane houses) represent the 12 fundamental areas of our lives. For example:

First House (Ascendant/House of Self): This is the "my" room, about my image, personality, and others' first impressions of me.
Seventh House (Descendant/House of Partnership): This is the "our" room, about my partner, important collaborators, and one-on-one relationships.
Tenth House (Midheaven/House of Career): This is the "office," about my career, social status, and life goals.
...And so on, there are 11 other "rooms" covering wealth, family, health, friends, etc.

So, when you lay out a Twelve-House spread, the card placed in the first position interprets the situation in the "yourself" area; the card in the seventh position looks at the situation in "your relationships/partnerships." The Houses determine which life area each card is interpreting.

2. The Zodiac Signs: The "Native Residents" and "Style" of the Rooms

Now, let's talk about zodiac signs. In astrology, each house has a "natural" corresponding zodiac sign, just like each room has a "native resident."

The "native resident" of the First House is Aries (representing initiation, self, drive).
The "native resident" of the Second House is Taurus (representing material possessions, values, stability).
The "native resident" of the Seventh House is Libra (representing balance, cooperation, harmony).
...And so on.

This "native resident" zodiac sign brings a basic energy and style to the "room" (House) it inhabits. For example, because the Seventh House corresponds to Libra, it naturally carries the essence of seeking "balance, harmony, and fairness."

So, the role of zodiac signs here is to help you understand the core characteristics of the life area represented by each House more deeply.

3. The Tarot Cards: The "Drama" Unfolding in the Rooms

Finally, we bring in the Tarot cards. The Tarot card you draw for each House represents "what is currently happening" in that room, what kind of drama is unfolding.

For example, let's look at the Seventh House (Relationship House):

Stage Background: This is the area concerning your partner, marriage, and partnerships.
Room Style (Zodiac Energy): It naturally seeks harmony, balance, and fairness (Libra traits).
Drama Unfolding (Tarot Card):
- If you draw "The Lovers" card here: Wow, this is a match made in heaven! In this relationship area that values balance and harmony, a card representing soulmates, deep connection, and beautiful choices appears, indicating your romantic life might be in a fantastic phase.
- But if you draw "The Tower" card here: Then you need to pay attention. In this area that should be harmonious, a card representing upheaval, sudden change, and shock appears. This might mean your relationship is facing an unexpected turn of events, and the existing balance has been shattered.

To summarize:

The Twelve-House Spread borrows its framework from astrology.

The Houses are the "stage," telling you which life area this card is interpreting.
The Zodiac Signs are the "set design and style" of the stage, helping you understand the inherent energy of this area.
The Tarot Cards are the "actors and script," telling you the specific story unfolding on this stage at this moment.

So, you see, you don't have to be an astrology master to use this spread, but understanding a little basic knowledge of zodiac signs and houses is like adding a "flavor packet" to your interpretation. It can make your readings more profound and layered, and help you better understand why the First House is about "self" and the Tenth House is about "career." I hope this explanation makes sense to you!

You can think of this relationship as borrowing the concepts of a "map" and a "scenario."

In astrology, the "Twelve Houses" are like a map of life, dividing your entire existence into 12 key areas, such as:

First House: About "yourself" – your personality, appearance, and how others perceive you.
Second House: About "your money" – your values, possessions, and how you earn.
Seventh House: About "your partner" – significant partnerships, marriage, and adversaries.
Tenth House: About "your career" – social status, reputation, and life goals.
...and so on. Each house governs a specific aspect of life.

Meanwhile, the "Twelve Zodiac Signs" in astrology (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.) imbue these 12 houses with their primal "energy" or "style." For instance, the First House naturally carries the "pioneering, self-oriented" energy of Aries, while the Second House inherently holds the "material, stable" energy of Taurus.

Now, let's bring in Tarot cards.

The Tarot "Twelve House Spread" completely borrows this astrological "map of life."

When you use this spread, you'll draw 12 (or more) cards and, in sequence, place them one by one into these 12 "houses."

The card placed in the First House provides clues for interpreting your "personal state."
The card placed in the Seventh House offers insights into your "relationship with a partner."
The card placed in the Tenth House reveals clues about your "career situation."

In simple terms: Astrology's Twelve Houses and Zodiac Signs provide a framework and a scenario (e.g., the "career" scenario). The Tarot cards you draw then represent the specific plot or characters playing out within that scenario.

Therefore, this spread is powerful and popular because it is highly systematic and comprehensive. It allows for a thorough review and examination of all aspects of a person's life at once, much like an annual check-up, giving you a clear understanding of the condition of each area.