In Electional Astrology, the 12 houses represent the specific areas of life that will be activated and supported by your chosen start time. The goal is to identify the house(s) most relevant to your endeavor and ensure they, and their ruling planets, are strong and well-aspected.

Core Houses for Electional Work:

• 1st House (Ascendant): Represents you, your vitality, and the physical body of the endeavor itself. A strong Ascendant and its ruler are non-negotiable for any election.
• 2nd House: Your money, resources, and movable possessions. Crucial for financial elections.
• 3rd House: Communication, siblings, short trips, local environment. Key for writing, meetings, contracts.
• 4th House (IC): Home, family, property, land, the "foundation" and end of the matter. Vital for real estate.
• 5th House: Children, creativity, romance, speculation. Use for dates, artistic projects, or conceiving a child.
• 6th House: Health, daily work, employees, small animals. Important for starting a job or a health regimen.
• 7th House (Descendant): Partnerships, marriage, clients, open enemies. The cornerstone for any relational or contractual election.
• 8th House: Other people's money (loans, investments), debt, surgery, joint resources.
• 9th House: Long-distance travel, higher education, law, publishing, philosophy.
• 10th House (MC): Career, reputation, status, boss, the "goal" of the matter. The most important house for business and professional elections.
• 11th House: Friends, groups, hopes, wishes, income from career.
• 12th House: Secrets, isolation, institutions, spiritual retreats, hidden enemies. Generally avoided or handled with care.

The Process:

1. Identify the primary house for your goal (e.g., 10th for career).
2. Find the planet that rules the sign on that house's cusp.
3. Ensure that planet is strong (good dignity), well-placed (e.g., in an angular house), and making positive aspects.

Examples in Practice:

• Example: Electing to start a business (10th House matter).
  • Goal: A successful, public venture.
  • Strategy: Ensure the 10th House cusp is in a strong sign (e.g., Capricorn). Its ruler (Saturn) should be strong, direct, and ideally in the 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th house, making a trine or sextile to Jupiter or Venus.
• Example: Electing a time to apply for a mortgage (8th House matter).
  • Goal: To secure a loan (other people's money).
  • Strategy: Strengthen the 8th House and its ruler. You would want the 8th ruler to be well-aspected by benefics like Jupiter (expansion) or Venus (value), and not afflicted by Saturn (denial) or Mars (risk).
• Example: Electing a time for a first date (5th House for romance, 7th for the partner).
  • Goal: A pleasant, harmonious meeting.
  • Strategy: You would want both the 5th House ruler (the romance) and the 7th House ruler (the person) to be strong and in mutual reception or applying to a harmonious aspect with each other or with Venus.