Empty Houses in Astrological Chart

There was a request to write about how to interpret the results of empty houses in an astrological chart? This is one of the basic astrological questions asked by people and I agree that I should have written about it years ago. Anyways, it is always better to be late than never. So, here is my understanding of results of empty houses in an astrological chart –

Empty Houses – As we know that we have 12 houses in astrological chart and in Vedic System, we consider only 9 planets (besides outer planets). So, there will always be a possibility that some houses of our chart can be empty as 9 planets cannot spread over 12 houses. We can understand the houses which have planets placed there and we can say that those planets are impacting these houses and their results as per their nature and dignity. But what about those houses which are empty and have no planet there? How to understand their results?

Lal Kitaab – If I remember well then the version/edition of Lal Kitab which I read very initially in my learning days, it used to say that empty houses in our birth chart are like weak houses in chart and we need to work extra hard to get the results of those houses.

My opinion – I would like to disagree with this logic for a few reasons. These are –

• First of all, strength or weakness of a house or a planet is decided by sign based dignity of the planet involved. So, just because a house is empty, it automatically doesn’t make it a weak house for native.
• The other way around is also true that just because a house has planets placed in it, it doesn’t make the house strong for native. Can we say that Rahu-Saturn together in 7th house/Aries is making 7th house very strong for native?
• At the end of the day, it depends on the planets involved in a house and their sign based dignity to decide if the planet or house is strong or weak.
• So, if a planet present in a house doesn’t make it strong one automatically then a planet absent from a house won’t make a house weak automatically either.

House/Sign Lord – Then how to understand the strength/weakness or results of empty houses in a chart?

• A house can be empty planet-wise but it can never be empty sign-wise. As per the ascendant of person, one or the other sign would be falling in every house of chart. So, even empty houses will have a particular sign energy falling over them.
• Now, this sign will be ruled by a Planet and that Planet would be sitting somewhere in chart; i.e. in a particular house and sign. This planet will have its own basic nature of being benefic or malefic and it will also have its sign based strength.
• So, to interpret the result of an empty house, we need to first check its sign lord. Then see the basic nature of that sign lord Planet. Then look at the dignity of that sign lord Planet wherever it is placed in the chart.
• Also, person will get result of empty house from activities related with the house where empty house/sign lord is placed. The quantum of result or happiness from it will depend on basic nature and sign based dignity of planet. If it is a benefic planet in good dignity then it shows a good potential. If it is a benefic planet in bad dignity then also it can give good results but this time with little extra efforts. If it is a malefic planet in good dignity then the good results can come after hard work. The problem occurs when malefic planet is in bad dignity. This is where person may get result after immense hard work and perseverance.

Example –

• A theoretical example can be like this where suppose I have one home at Delhi and another at Bangalore and I am staying at Kolkata right now. Then I can get the results (rent from tenants) of those two homes at Delhi and Bangalore from my current place at Kolkata.

• But if we want a practical example then we can take my chart in consideration - https://www.astrosaxena.com/Astrologer.
• In my chart, we can see that 5th house/Pisces is empty. Its lord Jupiter is exalted in 9th house/Cancer. As Jupiter is the most benefic planet and it is exalted in 9th house/Cancer, we can say that results of 5th house/Pisces will be exhibited or manifested from 9th house/Cancer. So, if I act in matters of Jupiter and 9th house/Cancer then I may get results of empty 5th house/Pisces and results can be up to the expectations.
• Then there is another 12th house/Libra which is empty and its lord Venus is in 2nd house/Sagittarius. Venus is in neutral dignity here. This shows that results of 12th house/Libra can be exhibited or manifested from 2nd house/Sagittarius if I involve myself in 2nd house or Sagittarius related activities. Now, as Venus is in neutral dignity, the results may not be as good as in the last example of Jupiter exalted.
• Another good example can be Sachin Tendulkar’s chart where 12th house/Cancer lord Moon is in 5th house/Sagittarius with Rahu. This shows results of foreign lands (12th house) through sports.
• Jim Carrey’s chart can be another example where lots of houses are empty and 4th house/Capricorn has 6 planets inclusive of Saturn-Ketu. It shows that reason behind results of many of his houses in chart was disappointments with Home Life, Home Land and Mother. Also, his 5th house/Aquarius lord Rahu is in 10th house/Cancer of Career. It shows that results of creativity of 5th house got exhibited from 10th house/Cancer of career and in nourishing other people.

Conclusion – So as I see, the results of empty houses in chart can be seen from the position of that house lord and as per its benefic/malefic nature plus as per its sign based dignity.