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For me, astrology allows us to see the process of incarnation of the Self on the material plane. The birth chart is a map that helps us understand the reality in which we were born. There we also see the tools, gifts, and purposes we have to live a satisfying Life.

The birth chart is created through the time of birth and the place of birth of an individual, which somehow reflects what it means, that is, a representation of our journey through the 3D world.  The planets, signs, and other astrological points are universal representations of cosmic energies. 

But the birth chart represents the individual construction of that Universal Ensemble. The twelve houses show how the experience of physical reality takes place. 

The 10th House

The 10th house represents the externalization of our Self, our self-realization, and what is seen of us in the community. In a sense, the 10th house is our Everest to climb. Each one of us has a call. We want to achieve something. We want to fulfill our destiny. We want to know what the purpose of our life is. This is what the 10th house represents. A quest for self-realization. Our North. 

I do believe that our 10th house is intimately related to the 4th house, its opposite in the house wheel. The 4th house is the lowest point of our birth chart, the nadir. This is our inner world. Here we establish our roots and they are as deep as we can go. In the 4th House, we integrate our sense of Self, we realize we are someone. We feel that we belong. This is our home, our family, and our ancestors.  Nobody but ourselves knows what means “home” to us. Regardless of what we experience there, feel safe in this familiar world.

We can see the 4th house as the seed of our Being. At one point, it begins to germinate and seeks light. The strongest light appears at noon. In the natal chart, noon is our 10th House.

In a certain way, we externalize from our unconscious what we need to enrich our inner world and vice versa. If we look at it in a shamanic way, we could say that when we reach our 10th House, our roots become deeper and stronger. In this way, we also benefit our ancestral lineage, and by deepening our roots, we access qualities that are more distant.

The Sign of the 10th House Cusp

The sign that falls on the 10th House cusp describes the way we understand what “community” is. The 10th house is also said to describe how we are viewed by those who do not know us well. As I mentioned earlier, the sign on the 10th house cusp is intrinsically related to the sign on the 4th house cusp. Does it mean that we are one person on the inside and another person on the outside? Not really. The 10th House is “the top of the tree”. The 4th House is the roots. Our social reality has a lot to do with the quality of our roots. Knowing our inner world is essential to manifest what we really seek in life. In the 4th House, we find qualities that we can use and behavioral attachments that we need to investigate, which we have inherited from our ancestral lineage.

We are the seed that wants to grow towards the sun. And this is the impulse that takes us from the 4th House to the 10th. Although the signs found there are opposite, in reality, in astrology we see them as complementary. Between them, there is a magnetism that keeps them facing each other as if each one were a mirror that allows them to recognize themselves.

In traditional astrology, the 10th House speaks about our goals and career. It makes sense. But, why do we have certain goals? Or follow a certain career?

As I said before, for me, the 10th house describes a path that marks our particular destiny and that nourishes (and is nourished by) our ancestral lineage. A specific achievement, a certain quality. And especially, it is something that we offer to the community of the present. Our legacy to the world. At the same time, what we instinctively seek to achieve has been “fertilized” by our family line, our ancestors, our country, by previous generations. In the 4th House, we are the continuation of hundreds of previous generations and in the 10th House, we are the ones who create a reality (spiritual, material, mental, or emotional) for those who follow.

Connecting to the 4th house makes us feel that we are not alone, but that we are part of a pyramid of which, from our perspective, we are the apex. We are supported by our ancestors, who made it possible for us to be here now. In addition to our ancestors, in the 4th House, we also integrate our town, city, and country into our inner world… in this sense, we are multidimensional… we are part of pasts and presents that connect to us from various directions.

Of course, this goes for everything. Both constructive and destructive qualities are part of our ancestral heritage. In any case, we are not here to complete perfection but to expand certain qualities and transform what does not work according to our personal aspirations. Basically, we came here to be ourselves. That’s our main goal. 

So, as we can see, it is the goals and the motivations that allow us to go beyond what we could imagine, both internally and externally. Our social goals and ambitions are intrinsically linked to our internal development. And vice versa. As work, it sounds hard, because expanding our reality requires leaving our comfort zone for a while. Then, upon regaining comfort, a new goal arises, and this is how the path of personal growth continues. It is not a static reality but in perpetual change and expansion. From my point of view, this is what the 4th-10th axis describes.

However, despite everything I will say from now on, I firmly believe that the birth chart is a whole and that the 10th House, as our North, is just one of the components of a totality. The reason why our 10th House is in Aries or Taurus must be looked at along with the other components of the chart to have a full view of its meaning at a personal level.

So, I will talk about what our ambition is according to the 10th House sign, but we cannot know why and for what without looking at the natal chart in its entirety.

Many astrologers have equated the tenth house with climbing a mountain. I totally agree with this. For me, the 10th House is our personal Everest, which we are climbing thanks to force and also despite the strength of our ancestral lineage.

I will speak about the potential and soul’s work. Of course, this is a subject for deeper elaboration, but I will cover it in my courses and my upcoming book, as it requires much more time.

So now, let’s look at all the signs: 

The 10th house in Aries / the 4th House in Libra

For Aries in the 10th House, our gift to the community is the capacity to open a new path. Our role in society is that of pioneers in any field we choose. Taking action is paramount. We are known for our bravery and courage. From a shamanic point of view, our achievement is to show a new path of consciousness, a new reality for ourselves. We are initiators. We have come to take risks. The strength we get from our 4th House in Libra: is a deep desire for balance and fairness, seasoned with grace and diplomacy.  

The 10th house in Taurus / 4th House in Scorpio

For Taurus in the 10th House, our gift to the community is the capacity to build solid foundations. We look for creating tangible results for all our efforts, especially with the use of our talents. We are known for our values and crafts. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to show that we have a body, that we can enjoy being alive, look for simplicity, and connect with the natural world. The strength we get from our 4th House in Scorpio: is the knowledge of what truly matters, the capacity to go to the heart of the matter, and regeneration. Total commitment is based on an indomitable will and honesty.

The 10th house in Gemini / 4th House in Sagittarius

For Gemini in the 10th House, our gift to the community is the capacity to adapt easily. Using our witts and cleverness to create exchanges, bring information, becoming storytellers of reality. We can detach from what we see and bring humor to our community. From a shamanic point of you, our achievement is to show what we perceive, to communicate our ideas. We are the journalist, the teacher, the witness, and the storyteller. The strength we get from our 4th House in Sagittarius: we have inherited wisdom and have the core of the visionary. We are capable to look at the future with optimism and look for expanding our horizons. 

The 10th house in Cancer / 4th House in Capricorn

For Cancer in the 10th House,  our gift to the community is the capacity to care for others. We have come to show our deep and powerful emotions, becoming nurturers to all, and creating emotional atmospheres that make our community a safe and secure environment, where everyone feels needed and protected. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to display emotions to the outside and to care for our community. The strength we get from our 4th House in Capricorn: we understand the structure of time. Our capacity to confront difficulties and conquer them. Our ambition and strong goals. 

The 10th house in Leo / the 4th House in Aquarius

For Leo in the 10th House, our gift to the community is the capacity to become beacons of light. We share our creativity and joy with society. We are here to display self-expression to others and serve by giving generously our hearts. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to show our creativity and let our souls shine in the open. We have come here to lead with our hearts, at the service of all. The strength we get from our 4th House in Aquarius: is our capacity to know that we are all unique and have the right to be ourselves. We know that personal freedom is the key to progress. 

The 10th house in Virgo / the 4th House in Pisces

For Virgo in the 10th House, our gift to the community is the ability and willingness to help and improve our capacities for it. We are here to display what is to discern and organize, what is to be practical, and take care of what is important. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to show what is self-improvement. The strength we get from our 4th House in Pisces: we have the inner power to look at ourselves with compassion and a strong sense of being part of a whole. We can see the beauty in everything and because of this, we know that everything and everyone is worthy. 

The 10th house in Libra  / the 4th House in Aries

For Libra in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to bring beauty and fairness. We have come here as peacemakers. We want to create balance and unite the opposites. We are the diplomats of our community. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to become the harmonizer of our community, creating bridges for understanding. The strength we get from our 4th House in Aries: we are pioneers, starters of a new path. Our assertiveness pushes us to conquer peace. We follow our impulses to take action. 

The 10th house in Scorpio / the 4th House in Taurus

For Scorpio in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to bring our critical perception and substance. We have come here to regenerate what is rotten and to create deep connections. We are the detectives of our community, the shamans, the ones that know how to rise from the ashes. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to become the alchemists of Life, to show our true nature, and to display the power of self-honesty. The strength we get from our 4th House in Taurus: a peaceful inner stability that understands the rhythms of life. Our capacity to focus on simplicity and allow comfort as a part of life.

The 10th house in Sagittarius / the 4th House in Gemini

For Saggitarius in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to become the adventurer of the tribe. We display our optimism because we have a vision of what is to come. We are the ones that look for expansion, new goals, and new horizons. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to expand our community and bring meaning. The strength we get from our 4th House in Gemini: our versatility and adaptability. Our capacity to connect with others easily. 

The 10th house in Capricorn / the 4th House in Cancer

For Capricorn in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to encourage the pursuit of goals and ambitions. We have come here to display what is to work hard and achieve goals. For our community, we exemplify endurance, permanence, caution, and persistence. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to build a permanent structure, a legacy. The strength we get from our 4th House in Cancer: our capacity to nurture what we love.

The 10th house in Aquarius / the 4th House in Leo

For Aquarius in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to represent the new. We have come here to display uniqueness, what’s different, and the future. We push for progress, we revolutionize our community. We are the scientists. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement is to create change, to break with the status quo. The strength we get from our 4th House in Leo: a keen sense of kingship and creative expression. 

The 10th house in Pisces / the 4th House in Virgo

For Piscis in the 10th House, our gift to the community is to take them into the realms of imagination and compassion. We have come here to display sensitivity and sympathy. We are the mystics, the dreamers, and the poets of our community. From the shamanic point of view, our achievement to universalize our inner world, to include everything and everyone as our goal. The strength we get from our 4th House in Virgo: the capacity to discern and discriminate what is worthy. A keen sense to detail.

The Planets in the 10th House

The planets show what part of our Self is seen by the community. It is often said that planets in the 10th house can signify other people who have more capacities than us and who in some way subdue us or make us feel “under” them. However, we can also see the people represented by the planets as examples that display the qualities that we have the ability to unravel, out in the open. Because the 10th House is our community, planets in the 10th house are externalized there. Depending on the planet we can encounter individuals that represent qualities signified by the sign and planet. They are, anyway, a mirror of ourselves. 

The Sun in the 10th House indicates that we shine in the community. We are here to externalize our spirit, to show it in the community. 

The Moon in the 10th House indicates that we feel comfortable and safe in the community. We are here to externalize our caring and nurturing souls.

Mercury in the 10th House indicates that we perceive through our interaction with the community. We are here to externalize our ideas.

Venus in the 10th House indicates that we value community. We are here to externalize our sense of beauty and personal preferences.

Mars in the 10th House indicates that we want to be part of our community. We are here to externalize our will.

Jupiter in the 10th House indicates that we find meaning in the community. We are here to externalize our philosophy and beliefs.

Saturn in the 10th House indicates that we learn in the community. We are here to externalize our wisdom.

Uranus in the 10th House indicates that we find our uniqueness in the community. We are here to externalize our genius.

Neptune in the 10th House indicates that we get inspired by the community. We are here to externalize our sensitivity and compassion.

Pluto in the 10th House indicates that we transform with the community. We are here to externalize our regeneration power.

Chiron in the 10th House indicates that we heal with the community. We are here to externalize our self-healing power.

Lastly, for those who asked: what system of houses do I use? I prefer Placidus because it is the one that resonates the most and it is the first I learned. I sometimes use Equal Houses or Koch, but I end up always with Placidus. The best is to use a house system that resonates the most for you.