Eighth House
The eighth is the one unfortunate house in the succedent group. This connotation derives from the lack of relationship of the eighth house with the house of the Ascendant. Because there is no astrological aspect with the Ascendant, the eighth house cannot "see" the Ascendant from its position. For this reason it has a rather tenuous relationship with the health and power of the first house. Therefore, it was called "Idle," a term reflecting its relative lack of active power within the circle of the houses. It was from this that its traditional connection with Death was established, since the first house is the house of health and vitality. Indeed, modern astrologers—and also Lilly --often call the eighth the "House of Death." Not all connections with death are negative; the eighth is also the house of inheritances resulting from death. Also, according to Paulus Alexandrinus, it "show those who profit from deadly motives."
Some modern astrologers see elements of spirituality here, since the survival of the soul is connected with death as well. Furthermore, some make a connection of the eighth house with sex—probably from a hypothetical connection to Scorpio by "natural houses." No planet "joys" in the eighth house.
Read more about this topic: Succedent House
Famous quotes containing the words eighth and/or house:
“He seems like an average type of man. He’s not, like smart. I’m not trying to rag on him or anything. But he has the same mentality I have—and I’m in the eighth grade.”
—Vanessa Martinez (b. c. 1978)
“There are no such oysters, terrapin, or canvas-back ducks as there were in those days; the race is extinct. It is strange how things degenerate.... I passed, the other day, the deserted house of Mrs. Gerry, which I used to think so lordly. It stands alone now amid the surrounding sky-scrapers, and reminds me of Don Quixote going out to fight the windmills. It should always remain to mark the difference between the past and the present.”
—M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)