Astronomically speaking, your first house is that one-12th sector of the local sky (see above picture) just below the eastern horizon occupied by planets two hours before they rise. Astrologically it symbolizes early childhood conditioning, and describes self-awareness and the experiences most necessary for its development. The first house is the mask you wear in relating to and projecting yourself into the world. It rules physical appearance, body type, conscious self-image, and how others see and experience you. It’s the window through which you view the world, and through which others receive their first impressions of you.

The sign on the cusp of your first house—your Rising or ascendant sign—is like the tint on the glass of the window to your soul. It therefore colors and modifies all of the energy that passes into and out of your being. In fact, all of your personality functions (planetary energies) must eventually emerge through and be colored by your first house cusp if they are to emerge at all. Planets in the first house are parts of your self-expression. The more planets here (except for Saturn and Neptune), the more you are involved with putting out your own energy rather than experiencing that of others, hence the greater your subjectivity. Thus the sign on your first house cusp conditions the way you look and how you express yourself, and how all of your planetary energies are expressed.

This First House of Astrology Houses page and much of this 550-page resource website are taken from You and the Universe.