The Fifth House signifies the native’s children—their character, condition, and fortune. It also pertains to pleasure and enjoyment: games, banquets, revels, amusements, and festivities. It governs messengers, ambassadors, taverns, inns, and all places of entertainment. It is also considered the substance of the father, as the second house from the fourth.
The ancient Greeks called this house Agathē Tychē, meaning Joy, Delight, and Good Fortune, for people often place their happiness in their children and take pleasure in them. This is a masculine, succedent house, following the northern angle. In the human body, it rules the heart and back, just as Leo, the fifth sign, follows Aries in the zodiac.
Planets in the Fifth House
Saturn
Saturn in this house often denies children, or else brings grief through their death or misfortune. If children do live, they are likely to be disobedient and troublesome, causing sorrow and anxiety. Saturn also spoils the native’s pleasures, stirs conflict with messengers and officials, and indicates bad luck in negotiations and delights.
Jupiter
Jupiter here blesses the native with many children, who are dutiful, intelligent, and bring honor to the family. The native will take pleasure and pride in them. This placement also brings friendships and gifts, especially through important messages or diplomatic roles, which may lead the native to high status or recognition.
Mars
When Mars is poorly placed here, the native may have few or illegitimate children, bringing sorrow, scandal, or trouble. It also shows losses through lustful behavior, gambling, and bad company. However, if Mars is well dignified, the children may be strong and influential, and may inherit well. In such cases, Mars also shows success through official duties or embassies.
Sun
The Sun here generally indicates few children, but those will be of great dignity and fame. The native will receive respect from common people and honor from influential persons. If the Sun is afflicted by Mars or Saturn, the children may die. If joined with Jupiter, the children live and enjoy great renown, and the native will be surrounded by refined pleasures.
Venus
Venus here brings great joy, and usually many children, who are fortunate and prosperous, even if the native himself is of humble origin or modest means. The native is inclined toward love, music, festivities, artistic pleasures, and all forms of merriment. This placement favors success in affairs related to beauty and enjoyment.
Mercury
Mercury gives the native clever, studious children, often talented in mathematics, writing, or the arts. The native may gain favor from the learned or noble, possibly serving as a secretary or clerk, and will excel in curious inventions and refined crafts. He delights in thoughtful, elegant pursuits.
Moon
The Moon indicates many children, and a life of frequent journeys, often on behalf of others. The native may carry messages, serve in minor offices, or represent others. He enjoys public esteem and is drawn to company, feasting, and social pleasures—sometimes to excess, especially in taverns and lively places.
North Node
The Dragon’s Head here protects the native from sorrow, grants many children, and those long-lived and fortunate. The native is likely to receive public office or appointments, and to profit through joyful pursuits and refined pleasures.
South Node
The Dragon’s Tail tends to deny children, or brings their loss through hardship or violence. Those who live may be disobedient and cause grief. This placement also deprives the native of pleasure and joy, and shows danger through excessive indulgence in sensual or worldly amusements.
Part of Fortune
If badly placed, the Part of Fortune here foretells loss through entertainment, games, or indulgence, and troubles caused by or through children. But if well placed, it brings success in all Fifth House matters, including fertility, prosperity, joyful recreation, and fortunate offspring.
Ruler of Other Houses in the Fifth House
Ruler of the First House in the Fifth House
When the ruler of the Ascendant is placed in the Fifth House and is free from affliction, it signifies that the native will take great joy in his children. He may benefit through messages, envoys, or assignments carried out by friends and companions. This placement also inclines the native toward various pleasures and amusements.
Ruler of the Second House in the Fifth House
If the ruler of the second is in the fifth, the native will be occupied with many affairs and will profit from those with whom he deals. His children will be wealthy, renowned, and bring him both honour and financial gain.
Ruler of the Third House in the Fifth House
When the third house ruler is found in the fifth, the native will travel often for feasts, merriments, and festive occasions, finding great delight in them. His siblings will be well-disposed toward his children. This placement may also indicate that some of his brothers will journey abroad and eventually settle far from their homeland.
Ruler of the Fourth House in the Fifth House
If the ruler of the fourth is in the fifth, the native will benefit from his father’s estate and pass it on to his own children. He will rejoice in their success, for they will be fortunate and a source of pride to him.
Ruler of the Fifth House in the Fifth House
When the ruler of the fifth is itself in the fifth house, it signifies many children who will be prosperous, fortunate, and attain honour. However, it may also incline the native toward excessive indulgence and idle or vain pleasures.
Ruler of the Sixth House in the Fifth House
With the ruler of the sixth in the fifth house, the native may experience illness or afflictions caused by overindulgence and pleasure-seeking. It also shows sorrow or difficulty on account of his children, who may frequently fall ill.
Ruler of the Seventh House in the Fifth House
If the ruler of the seventh is placed in the fifth, the native’s wife will be youthful, attractive, and well-mannered—especially if the planet is well dignified. However, if ill-placed, she may be prone to inappropriate or immoral behavior. This placement may also bring vexation through children or disputes involving royal messengers or envoys.
Ruler of the Eighth House in the Fifth House
When the ruler of the eighth is in the fifth, it indicates a short life for the native’s children. But if they survive early dangers, they may go on to gain fame and honour, for the fifth is the tenth from the eighth, and thus a house of dignity.
Ruler of the Ninth House in the Fifth House
If the ruler of the ninth is in the fifth, it brings both honour and wealth to the native’s children, often through foreign travel. The native himself will gain comfort, profit, and enjoyment from journeys and distant ventures.
Ruler of the Tenth House in the Fifth House
With the ruler of the tenth in the fifth, the native’s children may be drawn to military or bold pursuits. Though they may struggle with health, they will bring honour to the native through their achievements.
Ruler of the Eleventh House in the Fifth House
This placement brings the native riches, happiness, and pride through his children. It also indicates their good fortune and advancement. However, the native may also be drawn to indulgent or luxurious habits.
Ruler of the Twelfth House in the Fifth House
When the ruler of the twelfth is placed in the fifth house, it foretells misfortune regarding the native’s children. They may prove disobedient and bring reproach, leading the native to sorrow and hardship through them. Some authors even say: “If the ruler of the fifth is in the twelfth, the native may raise children who are not his own.”
From the The Doctrine of Nativites and Horary Questions, JOHN GADBURY