Aries 6th House 🏡

relationship between the house & sign

A Healthy Self-Interest Reflected in Daily Living

Of course, many things come to mind when I consider my natal Aries 6th house (6H). Firstly, it’s ruler (which is also my chart ruler in traditional astrology), Mars who is located in my Capricorn 3H. Secondly, I’m considering the current transits through the sign and how I fully to benefit from them, come hell or high water (like an Aries😏). Additionally, this is also where I find the natal North Node and Eris. Even more intense is the conundrum of combining these energies in a way that keeps me healthy (6th house) and authentic (an Aries/Scorpio theme).

Traditionally, the 6th house is ruled by the sign of Virgo. So, it’s associated with health and healing modalities, the practical side of daily life, details, mundane activities and pragmatic communications. It’s also related to what we require to feel fulfilled or secure day-to-day. One obvious example of this is our day job. It’s also associated with our pets, diets and our overall physical bodies.

In some cases, this house can symbolize those who come in our lives to support our growth. Having an Aries on the 6th house cusp suggests an innovative, unique, self-directed or self-oriented approach to this area of life. It speaks of a lifestyle that is decidedly not routine, boring, or orderly. In other words, not much like Virgo at all… After much reflection on this combination of house and sign, I’ve come up with the following:

Mars in the 3rd 🏡

Relating to the Traditional house & Sign Ruler

Asserting Oneself: Painful Power Dynamics and the Quest for Self-Realization

Considering all of this brings to mind all the ways my life is or isn’t aligned with that description. As someone who considers themselves a Mercury dominant with extra Virgo ♍ spice (Venus ♀ & Midheaven-MC), you’d think 6th house issues are easy feats. However, as great as I am at organizing and even leading, I don’t do well at all with routine. Without consciously focusing on aligning my days with how I see myself, I’ve still managed to end up in office or warehouse work, both of which are repetitive, unimaginative, and often physically restrictive. I blame this on the planetary ruler of this house (and my chart), Mars ♂.

Accordingly, Mars in my chart is important, but very much put upon. Ruling both my Scorpio Ascendant and natal 6th house, it is luckily exalted in the sign of Capricorn. However, it’s retrograde and influenced heavily by Neptune, who’s in the same house 🏠 and sign. The only aspect it’s receiving is a quincunx from my Leo Sun 🌞. This suggests difficulty every time I try to assert my will or express my desire nature.

Unfortunately, I often notice my competence is what activates others’ egoic behaviors and vice versa, creating negativity and competitive dynamics in social situations. There is also a tendency to underestimate my impact on others. It’s not an easy placement. But, because of my competence and seeming humility, I also attract people who want to support me as I face challenges. That is especially true of those I bonded with during childhood. Also, I tend to get in well in work environments where there is a physical aspect or lots of independent activity (6H & 3H 🏠).  The last few longer Aries transits kind of put a cramp in it, though.

2022-2024 Aries Transits

Chiron in Aries

wounded healer mythology and the 6th house

Facing the Pains of Self-Definition Supports Self-Actualization

Sadly, not every transit through cardinal fire has been easy or pleasant. This specifically applies to Chiron ⚷, the wounded healer’s journey through the sign. Chiron in Aries 6th house indicates an identity crisis, a wound to the core self, and pains connected to our efforts to assert ourselves, achieve goals, or express desire & sexuality. Obviously, these are areas of our life that are dealt with on frequent basis. In the 6th house, this is problems with the physical health (especially surrounding the head and eyes), workplaces (co-workers), and daily living. Because of it’s opposition to the 12th house, this includes mental illness that may require physical activity along with other practices to resolve.

Regardless of how it shows up, Chiron ⚷ brings with it a pain that facilitates learning life lessons. So too, it activates the student-teacher dynamic within all of us. Combined with Arian energy, this is about reconciling daily activity with my need for self-assertion, initiative, and refining the identity. Moving away from the South Node, as we’re meant to do, suggests that in order to feel content with my mundane life, I must forego habits like people pleasing and shutting down or stonewalling conflict. These learned behaviors must be replaced with direct communication and self-focused routines. Additionally, this transit is calling for me to address any lingering trauma related to expressing myself to the world in the way that I define it. Woo!

personal experiences with Chiron in Aries

Initially, the asteroid made a trine to my natal moon and Saturn, but Covid-19 shutdowns also began. Consequently, despite feeling uncharacteristically motivated to stand up and step out, I was unable to do so. The frustration this created also stimulated some conflict♈ with others ♎as I took this break as time to learn about entrepreneurship and work on creative projects (6H 🐏). There was also a square to Neptune in Capricorn to contend with. Fortunately my natal Neptune is retrograde. Later, my 6H ruler Mars’ transit through Leo created a square to my ascendant and resulted in multiple injuries to my face during the Summer of 2023. This is when I really accepted my need to work through the issues of this house.

Ultimately the tension was clarifying how my actions conflict with my personal values, financial needs and sense of self-worth. Not because they were out of line with what I was supposed to be doing, but because the outlet was not available for me to express Aries energy. It was simply bad timing. I now had to content with the way my desired lifestyle and motivation levels aligned up with the present reality of the world. I did love being able to go outside and not have my personal space repeatedly invaded. 😏

As this transit continues, I’m consciously committing to incorporating a creative element into my work and a pioneering spirit into my mundane responsibilities. Right now, transiting Chiron is sextile my natal Chiron and Lilith placements at 17° and 19° Gemini ♊ respectively. There is discomfort, but the sextile makes it feel purposeful. There is ease in facing the pain and imparting the lessons. My saving grace is likely to be this recent solar eclipse, which creates the same aspects. Shedding the fear of standing in my power is a theme all over my chart, but this transit in particular is bringing the heat.

The Nodal Return ☊☌☊ 23°39″

Activating the natal promise

Realigning Actions, Routines, & Identity with Personal Potentials

According to astrologer, Chani Nicholas, having the natal North Node ☊ in Aries ♈ (South Node ☋ in Libra ♎) puts me “on the path to finding equilibrium between individual drives and interpersonal relationships.” (Read article) However, I would go as far as saying that because of the houses in question, these are conscious drives and relationship behaviors rooted in subconscious programming (12H). For example, Chiron’s ingress into Aries activated some anxiety symptoms. For the most part, they were related to my day job, co-workers, hidden enemies and my own shadow expressions. Basically all 6H/12H issues gradually began intensifying right up until the present (1 day after the Aries total Solar Eclipse).

Acting autonomously in the moment

So far, I’ve noticed an increased desire for aligned routine. Because it’s cardinal fire energy, this is certainly not about repetitive daily activities or working in a subservient position, but quite the opposite. This is habitually following impulses that address health, fitness, and work life as they occur. It means my service to others should also benefit me personally, especially financially and professionally. Another aspect of this combo is investing in finding and sustaining work I am passionate about and personally challenged by.

My confidence level is being boosted by every action that I take that is aligned with my own health and work-life balance. Little things like not applying for jobs I don’t see myself working long-term, allowing myself to stand out amongst a group or adopt positions of leadership has also been eye-opening. Too, acting whenever I have the inclination to perform necessary practical tasks mitigates the resistance I feel from doing it when someone else thinks I should. Adopting the me first attitude Aries is known for and taking actions that support independence has been transformative. But, there’s still work to do. Nevertheless, it finally feels like I’m moving ever closer to my own ideals and that is reward enough alone.