Home, Day or Night

Definition

In traditional astrology, a planet’s “home” is a zodiac sign it rules, also called its domicile. The five visible planets each have a day home and a night home: Saturn rules Aquarius by day and Capricorn by night; Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces; Mars rules Aries and Scorpio; Venus rules Libra and Taurus; and Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo. The Sun rules Leo and the Moon rules Cancer, so the luminaries have one domicile each.

Astrological Meaning

A planet in either of its homes is traditionally considered dignified, meaning it can express its nature with relative independence and coherence. The day or night distinction further classifies the two domiciles. Day homes are sometimes associated with a more outward, visible, or active expression, while night homes may suggest a more inward, receptive, or contained expression. These descriptions are interpretive tendencies rather than fixed rules, and approaches differ among traditional schools.

Why It Matters

Recognizing a planet’s home helps an astrologer assess essential dignity and compare how the same planet operates in different signs. However, “day home” or “night home” should not be confused with sect, which depends on whether the chart is diurnal or nocturnal. House placement, aspects, retrogradation, and other conditions must also be considered before judging a planet’s overall effectiveness in a natal chart.

Related Encyclopedia Entries

• Domicile
• Essential Dignity
• Sect
• Planetary Rulership
• Traditional Astrology
• Natal Chart