Second Operation: 12 Houses

Representing the Development of the Matter

Stage 2 of The Opening of the Key is the first part of three astrological spreads.

Once the cards have been shuffled, they are not cut. Deal out all the cards onto the twelve positions, starting at the Ascendant (ASC) and going anti-clockwise. The Golden Dawn book does not give details of the houses, as they are fairly standard, nor is there any attempt at any astrological understanding. See the 12 Houses for more details. For the more courageous, here are some divination tips.

Turn the decks over, and interpret the top cards according to EDs and astrological rules. The card in the ASC position will tell the reader the rising sign - if this card is either an Ace, a Princess, or the seven planetary Major cards or the three Elemental Major cards, then use the natural house system which is Aries. If you have assigned a Significator, search through each pile, being careful not to disturb the order of the cards. Read the pile containing the Significator by spreading out the cards in a horseshoe, and read the cards by counting the cards, and pairing as previously discussed. Take note if you have three or four of a sort.

Interpretation can be expanded if the Querent asks other pertinent questions. If the question is about love affairs, then inspect the fifth house, career in the MC or tenth house, etc. The Court cards can be precisely defined, so any in the third house, for example, will represent neighbours, siblings, or people of a similar nature, while the eleventh house would show friends, groups or societies.

Looking at the spread in purely astrological or Horary terms, the significator will be the ruling planet of the Ascendant or first house. So, for example, if the Ascendant is Taurus, then Venus would be the Significator.

To gain maximum benefit from this spread, please study the Lessons!