The first of the social houses, the seventh house is opposed to the first house literally and in emphasis: in the first house we put our energies into the world; in the seventh the world puts energy back into us. The purpose of the seventh house is to bring about greater self-awareness through relating to what we experience as being outside of ourselves. This may in fact be energy within us that we have rejected out of fear or the need to experience it more objectively or externally. This is called projection, and we seek projected parts of ourselves in our intimate relationships.

Thus the seventh house rules intimate one-to-one relationships of all kinds (including marriage, business and counseling relationships), open enemies and conflicts, lawsuits and the lower courts. Planets in the seventh house indicate areas in our lives that need relationships to bring them out, and the houses ruled by seventh house planets are those "areas." Many planets here indicate many needs that we are looking for others to fill. In this case many relationships (or more than one marriage) is probable, as it’s unlikely that one individual would fill all those needs. Individuals with so much projected energy feel a void in their lives, and may encourage others to be dependent, or even pick fights rather than be alone.

The seventh house is that one-twelfth sector of the local sky just above the western horizon (see above picture) occupied by planets in the two hours just before they set.

With Mercury in your seventh house you're attracted to intelligence and quick wit in a partner, and may marry someone much younger than yourself. If Mercury has difficult aspects (either by birth or when by transit), be careful what you sign or write down, and try to settle your disputes out of court. You love to communicate and discuss ideas with other people: then you are at your mental best. In fact, you may feel that you need a partner to get your thoughts going or clear.

Venus in your seventh house is a very favorable position for partnerships, harmony in relationships and a happy marriage, to the extent that Venus is not weakened by sign or by aspect (see pages 76 - 78 in your personalized, fine art astrology book, "You and the Universe"). To that extent you have a loving nature and attract love to you, due to having been a loving soul in past lives. Social life and relationships of all kinds are of great value to you. You are very responsive and value this in others.

If Mercury or Venus is within 10° of the descendant (seventh house cusp), then it is conjunct the descendant and much of the foregoing is even more strongly emphasized. If either planet is in the sixth house AND within 4° or 5° of the descendant, then it is said to be on the "dark side" of the seventh house, and its influence will be felt in the seventh as well as in the sixth house. The closer a sixth house planet is to the descendant, the more it will be interpreted as though it were in the seventh house; when less than 3° from the descendant, a sixth house Mercury or Venus will express itself primarily—and eventually entirely—in the seventh house.