Dice and Astrological Houses

Robert H Schulz (Editor)

Introduction In the past I have mainly divined using the Chinese YiJing (I Ching). I have occasionally used dice, Psy Cards and other methods as well. Recently I purchased Predicting the Future with Dice, by Sara Zed. Compared to other two and three dice divinations, it focussed on the Dozen Houses Method. She refers to the French astronumerologist, Chantal Foyer, as the originator of the system she uses. As can be seen from the diagram below, a circle is divided into twelve, hence dozen, segments.

The Dozen Houses Method

The procedure for obtaining a reading is as follows: Throw one die. The number indicates which segment to start with. Throw three dice and add the face numbers. The total indicates how many segments to count in an anti-clockwise direction from the starting point. Throw one dice. The face number and the segment number indicate the chosen reading, which is listed in the book.

Segment concerns:

1. Income 2. Financial 3. Travel 4. Home and Family 5. Personal Potential 6. Health 7. Love

8. The Establishment 9. Personal Development 10. Career / Workplace 11. Friendship 12. Problems

I thought this was a novel way of increasing the scope of a dice reading. Some books and many Internet sites have the dice thrown into an empty circle. Dice falling outside the perimeter are disregarded. The reading in these cases is based on the numbers of the dice faces, either as totals or as sequences.

I tried to find Sara Zeds source but Google found nothing. I then searched under terms like dice and circles or dice and segments. Fortunately I came across the following article:

Cleromancy with Three Dice

(from the Internet.)

12. Enemies 11. Friends 10. Career 9. Your Thoughts 8. Justice 7. Relationships 6. Heath 5. A the Moment 4. Home Life 3. Travel 2. Money 1. Coming Year

Divination with three dice. Dice representing the planets would be thrown onto an astrological diagram of the houses. The result is read as the part that luck would play in the different areas of a persons life.

To begin draw a circle 12" in diameter as show on diagram, above.

To predict the answer to a question you have in mind, silently concentrate on your question, while shaking three dice in your hand and then toss.

Any dice that fall outside the circle are discarded.

If all the dice would fall outside the circle, than throw the dice one more time.

If all the dice would fall outside the circle again, then you already know the answer.

The total amount visible on the three dice indicates the following:

3. Favourable developments will arrive.

4. Bad luck misfortune.

5. A wish may come true.

6. Monetary loss.

7. Good fortunes coming your way.

8. Caution by outsider influences.

9. Love and romance are favourable.

10. New beginnings, birth, idea or concept.

11. Misfortune in relationship.

12. Good news.

13. Distress and grief.

14. A new friend will help you.

15. Beware of temptations, beware.

16. A journey with good results.

17. Change of plans, good for business.

18. All good things are coming your way.

The meanings of the individual dice numbers, when lying in a segment.

1. Favourable, but be on the alert

2. Work on your relationship

3. Good fortunes

4. Bad luck

5. Good things on there way

6. Uncertain paths

As the article mentioned an astrological diagram of the houses I searched under astrological house and came up trumps. Perhaps others would have sussed this before I did, but I have no knowledge of astrology so houses didnt mean anything to me.

So at some stage, whether ancient or modern, astrological house information was allied to dice divination to broaden the readings into set areas, i.e. the segments. A quick search of the Internet reveals a vast amount of information about houses. I have included some below for the benefit of those who want to use their dice with the house system

Astrological Houses

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrological_houses )

These are their traditional Latin names of the twelve houses, with their translations and other associated influences. This represents the basic outline of the houses as they are still understood today.
House Sign Latin motto Translation Modern title of house Interpretation Physical appearance, traits and characteristics. First impressions. General outlook into the world. Ego. Beginnings and initiatives.

1st

Aries

Vita

Life

House of Self

2nd

Taurus

Lucrum

Wealth

House of Value

Material and immaterial things of certain value. Money. Belongings, property, acquisitions. Cultivation and growth. Substance. Self-Worth . Higher education and childhood environment.

3rd

Gemini

Fratres

Brothers

House of Communication. Happiness. Intelligence. Achievements. Communications Siblings. Neighbourhood matters. Short, local travel and transportations.

4th

Cancer

Genitor

Parent

House of Home and Family

Ancestry, heritage, roots. Early foundation and environment. Mother or mothers as figure. The caretaker of the household. Cyclic end of matters.

5th

Leo

Nati

Children

House of Pleasure

Recreational and leisure activities. Things which makes for enjoyment and entertainment. Games and gambling. Children. Love and sex. Creative self-expression.

6th

Virgo

Valetudo Health

House of Health

Routine tasks and duties. Skills or training acquired. Jobs and Employments. Health and overall well-being. Service performed for others. Caretaking. Pets and small domestic animals.

7th

Libra

Uxor

Spouse

House of Partnerships

Close, confidante-like relationships. Marriage and business partners. Agreements and treaties. Matters dealing with diplomatic relations of all kinds, including open (known) enemies. Attraction to qualities we admire from the other

partner.

8th

Scorpio

Mors

Death

House of Reincarnation

Cycles of Deaths And Rebirth. Sexual relationships and deeply committed relationships of all kinds. Joint funds, finances. Other person's resource. Occult, psychic and taboo matters. Regeneration. Self-transformation.

9th

Sagittarius Iter

Journeys

House of Philosophy

Foreign travel and foreign countries. Culture. Long distance travels and journeys. Religion. Law and ethics. Higher education. Knowledge. Experience through expansion.

10th

Capricorn Regnum

Kingdom

House of Social Status

Ambitions. Motivations. Career. Status in society. Government. Authority. Father or father figure. The breadwinner of the household. One's public appearance/impression at large (audience).

11th

Aquarius Benefacta Friendship

House of Friendships

Friends and acquaintances of like-minded attitudes. Groups, clubs and societies. Higher associations. Benefits and fortunes from career. One's hopes and wishes.

12th

Pisces

Carcer

Prison

House of SelfUndoing

Mysticism. Places of seclusion such as hospitals, prisons and institutions, including self-imposed imprisonments. Things which are not apparent to self, yet clearly seen by others. Elusive, clandestine, secretive or unbeknownst matters. Privacy, retreat, reflection, and self-sacrifice. Unconscious/subconscious. Unknown enemies.

Many modern astrologers assume that the houses relate to their corresponding signs, i.e. that the first house has a natural affinity with the first sign, Aries, and so on.

A Shorter Classification.
The 1st house, referred to as the Ascendant: the Self, demeanour, and vitality. It describes the personality, the natural demeanour of the native as he faces the outside world, and also his physical appearance. It is an essential component for the interpretation of the natal chart, and it is one of the four angles of the natal chart (the four most important houses, which are dealt with below). It is located on the left hand side of the natal chart and corresponds to the place where the sun rises. The 2nd house: money earned and material goods. It describes material goods, how they are managed, and how money is earned. In brief, it includes all financial matters but also represents greed and all sorts of possessions. The 3rd house: immediate surroundings, siblings, short trips, and studies. It deals with communication, the close environment (siblings, colleagues, schoolmates), primary and secondary education, apprenticeship. It also describes short trips, transportation, modern means of communication and all practical things. The 4th house, referred to as the Imum Coeli: family, home, origins, heredity, and the father.

It represents the native's family, ancestors, roots, and home, both the home he comes from and the one he will set up. This house also describes the real estate patrimony, childhood, and emotions. It is located at the bottom of the chart, and like the Ascendant, it is an angular house. The 5th house: love matters, pleasure, leisure, children, and creations. It describes the person's creative and recreational activities, his hobbies, as well as his love affairs, his luck in gambling, his relationships with children in general, including his own. This house covers all pleasant things in the native's life. The 6th house: everyday life, daily work and colleagues, lower-ranking co-workers, and health. It describes the native's everyday life, his behaviour at work, minor obligations, servitudes, lower-ranking coworkers, and pets. It also concerns health, medicines and minor illnesses. The 7th house, referred to as the Descendant: unions, marriage, other people, associations, and contracts. It is opposite the 1st house and thus, represents other people, the native's behaviour towards other people, his partner (spouse or associate). It concerns contracts, associations, marriage and open enemies. It is through the 7th house that the native perceives other people. It is opposite the ASC, and is located on the right hand side of the natal chart and corresponds to the place where the sun sets. The 8th house: passions and crises, transformations, death, financial investments, and sexuality. It concerns the native's birth and death. However, it does not necessarily mean actual physical death. It may be a symbolic death, and thus, it is synonymous with evolution and transformation. This house also represents inheritances, money earned by other people, but also sexuality, power, all things hidden, and interest in occultism. The 9th house: travels, abstract and higher concepts, spirituality, and foreign matters. It is the realm of spirituality and philosophy, higher ideals, faraway travels, both physical and inner ones. Contrarily to the 3rd house, this house represents higher education and universities, as well as the understanding of abstract topics. It is also related to law and legality, and religion. The 10th house, referred to as the Midheaven: social success, professional destiny, and the mother. It is opposite the 4th house and corresponds to the native's professional career, as well as his social elevation as compared to his family background. It symbolises his ambitions and his achievements in the society. It is also related to the general public, potential fame, and the mother's influence. The 10th house is in the Southern part of the natal chart and located at its top. The 11th house: friends, collective projects, supports and protections in life. It represents the native's projects, his friends, and his protectors. It describes the nature of his friends, his group activities, and the place he occupies within the group, contrarily to the more individualistic 5th house. This 11th house is related to all kinds of humanitarian topics. The 12th house: enemies, difficulties, solitude, hidden ordeals, and secrets. It corresponds to the native's inner self, ordeals underwent his whole life through, hidden enemies, and serious illnesses. It is related to places of confinement such as hospitals, prisons, convents, etc., and also includes solitude and major inner crises.

Houses: A Brief Introduction to Astrology

1st House (Ascendant) The individual personality Together with the Sun and Moon the ascendant is one of the most important single factors in a horoscope. The sign at the beginning of the first house tells us a lot about someone's personality, temperament and constitution. It typifies our immediate, instinctive reaction and shows how we present ourselves to the world. The planet ruling the ascendant sign is of particular importance for the interpretation. 2nd House Values and Possessions The second house and its occupants tell us about the material circumstances, the acquisitive urge and how we deal with possessions and material means. This includes the relationship to our own body. 3rd House Communication The third house and any planets occupying it tell us of our siblings, the manner in which we communicate on an everyday level and the relationships which determine our daily life. 4th House Roots and Origins This house describes our origins, the parental home and the circumstances influencing childhood and youth. It describes how we relate to family, our attitude towards hearth and home. The father image and the relationship to the real father are also to be found here. 5th House Pleasure and Creativity Sexuality and eroticism are at home here, along with play in general and all types of creative expression. This house also describes how we relate to children, pleasure and simple fun. 6th House Work and Routine The sixth house describes the circumstances surrounding us in our daily lives, including the work environment and daily routine. This includes our behaviour towards subordinates. Bodily hygiene and care also belong here, as well as tendencies to certain acquired illnesses. 7th House Relating The descendant sign and planets occupying the seventh house tell us about how we select our partners and describes the partnerships and relationships we seek. Often we are involuntarily attracted to people whose horoscopes carry a strong emphasis of the sign in our seventh house. 8th House Loss and Common Property The eighth house shows how we relate to communal goods and how we deal with material loss. The taxes levied on us each year are a good example for this and show how closely related these areas are. Traditional astrology maintains that this house has an affinity to death and all things metaphysical. Death would then be the ultimate material loss. Amongst other things, the study of metaphysics can be a very differentiated way of dealing with this loss, which inevitably comes to us all. 9th House Philosophies and Far Countries The ninth house describes our spiritual leaning, life philosophy and our world view. In fact, these are often influenced by journeys to foreign countries. The attitudes cultivated and formed in this house can greatly influence matters of the 10th. (see below) 10th House (MC) Occupation and Calling This house is of particular importance, since it affects not only our choice of profession and our sense of calling it also has a bearing on our general development, what we become. This continues throughout our lives. According to tradition, as well as more recent experience, this house describes the mother image and the

relationship to the real mother. 11th House Friends and Acquaintances The eleventh house describes how we relate to friends, benefactors and teachers - people who wish us well or from whom we can learn. It also shows us in these roles. This house shows how we relate to the society in which we live. 12th House Beyond the Personal This house represents those spheres of life in which the individual no longer plays a part, where we step back for a greater whole or lose ourselves in one. Traditional astrology sees hospitals, prisons and psychiatric institutions in this house. It is also associated with monasteries and any other retreats.

The following includes the signs of the Zodiac.

FIRST HOUSE (ascending or rising sign) - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF ARIES THE ARIES MOTTO IS - "I AM, THEREFORE I AM" Even though Aries naturally rules the first house cusp, this does not mean that Aries is your rising sign. Your chart would have to be completed to know which sign was coming over the horizon at the exact moment you were born. This house rules the head, face, upper lip, and upper jaw, cerebrum (brain). The First House is about identity and how others see you. This house also rules the personality, attitude, how you see the world, how you look, appearances, your worldly outlook, and selfawareness and how you respond. It describes how you see yourself and how others see you. It can also describe your physical appearance. Other keywords include: the self, ego, anima, projected image, expression of inner motivation, soul purpose, initial approach to life, the aura.

SECOND HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF TAURUS THE TAURUS MOTTO IS - "I HAVE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the throat, ears, lower lip, lower jaw, and base of brain, cerebellum, cervical spine, and neck. The Second House is about your own resources. It describes what you value ranging from physical possessions and money, to personal self esteem and talents. This house also rules your personal earnings, bankers, budgets, money that "you" make, material resources, value system, monetary gains and losses, security. Other keywords include resources, both personal and financial, values and attitudes, possessions, acquisitions and prana.

THIRD HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF GEMINI THE GEMINI MOTTO IS - "I THINK, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the vocal chords, speech, fingers, arms, hands, shoulders, lungs and nervous system. The Third House is about communication. This house also rules writing, mental abilities, lower education from 1st to 12th grade, short journeys, local travel and travel within the United States. It also refers to early learning and immediate environment. Other keywords include mental processes, active search for knowledge, telepathy and mental energy.

FOURTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF CANCER THE CANCER MOTTO IS - "I FEEL, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the uterus, digestion, breasts, stomach and womb. The Fourth House is about home and family. It describes your roots, your heritage and your private life. This house also rules father, land, property, residences, and domestic affairs. The Fourth House is about home and family. Other keywords include home life, family and relations, psychological foundations, biological inheritance, place of abode, the ashram, karma.

FIFTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF LEO THE LEO MOTTO IS - "I WILL, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the heart, spine, sides of the body, upper back.

The Fifth House is about creativity. This house also rules dating, playtime/acting, sensual emotions, pleasurable affairs, lovers, parenthood and sexuality. This can include artistic pursuits, hobbies, recreation and children. Other keywords include creative selfexpression, love affairs, procreation and children, leisure, games and sports, self-fulfilment, joy and bliss.

SIXTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF VIRGO THE VIRGO MOTTO IS - "I ANALYZE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the solar plexus (midriff), bowels, colon, intestines and abdomen. The Sixth House is about day to day life. This house also rules daily life, health, hygiene, food, work, employees, service, skills, servants, small animals, clothing and sickness. It is about the service you give and your habits. Other keywords include: daily routine, working environment, skills, pets, animals and service.

SEVENTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF LIBRA THE LIBRA MOTTO IS - "I BALANCE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the ovaries, low back, kidneys, veins, and buttocks. The Seventh House is about partnerships. This house also rules unions, lawsuits, contracts, partnerships, marriages, agreements, and open enemies with the public. This can be partnerships in business, marriage or a committed relationship. Other keywords include: business partnerships, long-term associations, open enemies, the animus (underlying passion or force), the relationship between soul and personality.

EIGHTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF SCORPIO THE SCORPIO MOTTO IS - "I CREATE/DESIRE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the bladder, genitals, sex organs, haemorrhoids, muscular system, reproductive system, hernias, rectum, prostate and anus. The Eighth House is about the support you receive from other people. This house also rules wealth of your spouse or partner, spirituality, insurance, legacies, other people's money, stocks,

bonds, taxes, inheritances, wills, surgeries and astral experiences. It is the house of regeneration, and covers death, sex, legal matters, and metaphysics. Other keywords include: transformation, resources of others, sexuality, transmutation, battles, the Path of Discipleship.

NINTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF SAGITTARIUS THE SAGITTARIUS MOTTO IS - "I PERCEIVE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the sciatic nerve, liver, hips and thighs. The Ninth House is about higher learning. This house also rules religion, college, higher education, brothers and sisters in law, philosophy, prophecy, philanthropy, foreigners, foreign travel, foreign language, intuition, long distance journeys abroad, churches, airlines, vacations, international commerce, visions and teachers. It covers academic subjects, law, religion, publishing, foreign culture, sport and overseas travel. Other keywords include: distant travel, cultural learning, the journey along the path, the Ageless Wisdom and Akashic records.

TENTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN THE CAPRICORN MOTTO IS - "I USE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the knees, bones, skin and teeth. The Tenth House is about your public life. This house also rules fame, notoriety, occupation, career, ambition, government, military, mother, chief executives, business life, goals, ranks, political position, status, standing in the public eye, position in society. It shows your standing in the community and social status. It can reflect your attitude to parenting. Other keywords include honour, authority and profession, Life direction, achievement, mastery and hierarchy.

ELEVENTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF AQUARIUS THE AQUARIUS MOTTO IS - "I KNOW, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules the arteries, ankles, and calves of the legs and shins. The Eleventh House is about your friendships and relationship with groups of people. This house also rules organizations, friends, alliances, fraternities, memberships, money from employer, finances of employer, stock exchanges. It is also about your hopes, wishes and dreams. Other keywords include: friends and social acquaintances, groups and organizations and their activities, the New Group of World Servers.

TWELFTH HOUSE - IS NATURALLY RULED BY THE SIGN OF PISCES THE PISCES MOTTO IS - "I BELIEVE, THEREFORE I AM" This house rules feet, toes and physical pain.

The Twelfth House is about endings. This house also rules jails, institutions, hospitals, karma, finances of friends, secret sorrows, fears, self-destruction, large animals, skeletons in closet, self-undoing and self-injury. It is about your hidden strengths, weaknesses and what you don't want others to see or know about you. It is also about libraries and the armed services. Other keywords include: hidden enemies, the collective unconscious, spirituality, unredeemed karma, selfless service to humanity.

Final Notes:
If you look at the various circles, you will see that the starting point is different for all three. Not being an astrologer I am not sure whether this is significant or not. Perhaps a practicing astrologer would like to comment on this, and I will include his/her comments in an edit.

The other point to note, for dice diviners, is that in these examples adding the dice face numbers to arrive at a total will not bias the end result. This is because the first die randomly selects the starting point. In standard dice divination, the use of face numbers to select a reading is entirely inappropriate because of the inherent statistical bias. Yet many Internet sites promote this error.

Face combinations 1+1 1+2 1+3, 2+2 1+4, 2+3 1+5, 2+4, 3+3 1+6, 2+5, 3+4 2+6, 3+5, 4+4 3+6, 4+5, 4+6, 5+5 5+6 6+6

Totals 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Number of occurrences 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 1 1

As can be seen, when throwing two dice the chances of obtaining a total of 7 are three times as likely as obtaining a 2 or a 12. This same bias also pertains to the use of three dice or more. Consequently if using this method, readings for 6, 7 and 8 are more likely than the other numbers which makes for a very incorrect divination. There are other systems for dice divination which are far better than this one.