Several house systems
Show up to three additional house systems on the wheel and compare the houses of points in a table.
What it is and why it matters
House systems divide the same chart differently, so a house boundary can move by several degrees. Additional systems on the wheel and the “Houses by System” table show which conclusions about a house hold and which depend on the system.
When to use it
- When a planet stands near a cusp and its house depends on the system.
- When you compare schools or study how house systems behave at different latitudes.
Terms explained
- House and cusp
- Houses are the twelve chart sectors associated with life topics in astrological practice. A cusp marks the beginning of a house; its position depends on the time, location and house system.
- Asc and MC
- The Ascendant (Asc) is associated with the intersection of the ecliptic and the eastern horizon. The Midheaven (MC) is associated with the upper part of the local meridian. Both depend on time and location.
- Radix
- The reference chart used for comparison. It is usually a natal chart, but a radix does not have to represent a birth.
Where to find it
Above the wheel → “+ systems”; Analysis → “•••” → “Houses by System”; “Tools” → “Tables” → “All House Systems”.
How to use it
- Click “+ systems” next to the house system above the wheel. In “Additional Systems on the Wheel”, click “Add System” and choose a system; you can add up to three.
- Each system has its own color and line: the first solid, the second dashed, the third dotted. The cross removes a system. The “Overlay / Separate Rings” switch chooses how they are shown.
- Hover over a colored line or tick to see the system, the cusp number, its position and the main system’s cusp.
- Open Analysis → “•••” → “Houses by System”. A highlighted cell means a different house than in the main system; “◦” means the next cusp is no farther than the rule, 5° by default.
- To compare every house system, click the link under the table, “Tools › Tables”. In “All House Systems”, choose the columns with the buttons above the table and reorder them with the arrows in the headers.
Settings and options
Select an option to learn how it works and when to use it. The label beside its name shows whether it affects calculations, chart appearance or data.
Additional systems on the wheelAppearance
Up to three house systems over the main one. Each row has a color and line, a system choice and a “Remove” cross.
- What changes
- Added systems draw thinner colored cusps and a dot on the zodiac’s inner edge; the main system, house numbers and axes do not change.
- When to use it
- When a planet stands near a house boundary and you need to see whether another system changes its house.
Overlay / Separate RingsAppearance
“Overlay” draws the cusps across the houses; “Separate Rings” gives each system a narrow ring next to the zodiac.
- What changes
- Rings show all 12 cusps of each system separately; planet glyphs move toward the center so they do not cover the rings.
- When to use it
- Overlay suits a few systems with nearby cusps; rings help when there are too many lines.
Rule, ° (5° rule)Calculation
The “◦” mark appears when the cusp that ends the point’s house is no farther than the given number of degrees; exactly 5° still counts.
- What changes
- Changes only the marks in the tables; positions and houses are not recalculated.
- When to use it
- For the traditional 5° rule or a threshold of your own before a consultation.
Columns / All Systems / header arrowsAppearance
In “All House Systems”, the buttons above the table turn systems on, and the arrows in a header move its column.
- What changes
- The choice and order are saved on this device. The chart’s main system remains the reference for highlighting even when its column is hidden.
- When to use it
- To keep only the systems you work with, in your usual order.
The result
The additional systems’ cusps appear on the wheel next to the main ones, and the table shows where a point’s house depends on the system.
Worked example
This is a teaching example; results for your chart may differ.
- Situation
- The Sun is in the 10th house in Placidus but in the 11th in Porphyry.
- What to do
- Add Porphyry to the wheel and check the Sun’s row in the table: the cell is highlighted, with a “◦” beside it.
- How to read the result
- You see that the Sun’s house depends on the system and can decide which one to rely on.
For professional practice
Keep the two or three systems you work with on the wheel and check disputed houses in the table before interpreting; the full table gives every house system for research.
What to check for a precise comparison
At high latitudes some systems cannot be built and are replaced by Porphyry; the tooltip and legend then say “instead of…”. The 5° rule is a convention, not a limit of the calculation’s accuracy.
Keep in mind
The main system, house numbers and axes stay as they are; additional systems are drawn on the radix (the first ring) only. The choice is saved on this device and applies to every chart.
A line that coincides with a main cusp or an axis (within 0.2°) is not drawn. The legend under the wheel and in exports names every system.
The additional systems’ colors can be changed in the Wheel Style Editor, under “Additional House Systems”.