2nd house meanings: childhood, family (specially the parents), food and drinks, storage of anything. Money and finances. Knowledge. Things that you ingest. Voice, speech, face, mouth, teeth, nose, eyes (specially the right one). Self-worth and self esteem.
The second house in astrology deals mostly with energy and sustenance, the things that feed us and provide us with what we need to grow. The most commonly known meaning of this house is money and finances, as this is what is needed to sustain ourselves in the modern world. In reality, this isn’t the house of money, it is the house of energy and storage. In ancient times, and astrological books, it was associated with the storage of grains; as storing crops was the wealth of the past.
Dealing with sustenance, it represents the family we are born into, representing mostly our parents and those around them. The second house represents the state of the family, as well as your relationship to them. A well placed 2nd lord tends to show a prosperous and noble family, that supports the native. Planets placed in the second house tend to color and alter the relationship with the relatives. Malefics here could hinder the relationship, with obstacles and conflict. Benefics will show smooth relationships, with friendship reigning in the family.
Through the second house we can also infer and analyze much about the native’s childhood. Again, remember that the first house shows the birth conditions, and the second house builds on this by showing the sustaining conditions after birth. So we see here the food, the people, the environment, the money, the moral, the knowledge passed and everything related to the childhood.
The second house also deals with knowledge, specially oral education. Again, oral education deals a lot with ancient cultures, that had oral traditions passed exclusively in this manner. But it also deals with childhood, as a lot of what we learn comes from listening to our parents, rather than reading books.
Food wise, it relates to the food that we tend to eat and the things we ingest. Malefics here could show bad foods, things like fast food and ultraprocessed foods. It could also show addictions like alcoholism.
Physically, the second house covers the face of a native. This can deal with beauty, but it also deals with most of the sensory organs in the face. We see the mouth, the nose and eyes through here. Representing the things we digest through these three senses.
Through the mouth, we derive other meanings, such as speech, voice and teeth. Planets placed here, as well as the nature of the 2nd lord, tend to alter the speech of the native. This shows whether a person speaks in a calm and contended manner, or if they are prone to profanity or aggression. It shows how the voice is, how smooth or squeaky it is. For the teeth, it can show misaligned or malformed teeth, with bad placements. But with modern dentistry, a lot of times this is healed and not easily noticeable.
Another meaning I have to highlight deals with collections. The meaning of this house, as the house of money, stems from the collection of goods. Actually, the second house represents the collection of anything valuable, which is a very relative concept. As such, it can represent all kinds of collections: books, coins, dolls, dresses, knowledge, etc.
A funny, but factual, statement that I usually make is that the charts of bankers and the charts of librarians are almost the same. Dealing with money is a second house matter. But storing and keeping books is similarly a second house subject. A strong second house emphasis in a chart is seen on the charts of bankers, as well as librarians. With the difference that a banker’s chart will have money factors, and wealth pointers, along with the second house emphasis.
A final meaning deals with self-esteem and your self-worth. It shows how valuable you consider yourself, or if you are “good enough” in your own perspective. This can deal with identity matters, as well as shadows of not thinking you are “good enough” because of some concern. Things like thinking you are not pretty enough to deserve love, or that you are unworthy because you don’t have enough money, are some examples of inner blockages that might appear.
Planets in the 2nd House
The descriptions below try to convey a general picture of the second house. I didn’t focus too much on the emotional aspects and ramifications of childhood, as that could be a very long subject on its own. Instead I’ve focused on material matters and a general picture of other subjects.
- Sun in the 2nd house: The Sun can “burn” the finances, making the native spend too much. Even if a native earns well, he will tend to spend excessively, spending above his paygrade. As with any Sun placement, a strong focus towards 2nd house matters comes into the chart. The native might be very focused on achieving a high financial status, or keeping some type of collection. The native will have a strong and commanding voice. Some issues in childhood are possible.
- Moon in the 2nd house: The Moon here promotes wealth, comforts and a very good childhood. The native probably had everything he needed and more. A soothing and pleasant voice is seen with this placement. As the Moon is a planet that waxed and wanes, some highs and lows are possible in second house matters. Maybe the native moved frequently during childhood, or constant changes happened. In adult life, similarly, wealth could fluctuate at times.
- Mars in the 2nd house: Mars here is not great, as it promotes conflict with the family. Some differences between the native and the family tend to create conflict. Brash or aggressive speech could be seen, alienating others at times. Impulsive action might be indicated. The native is prone to eating wrongly (too fast, too much, etc.) which causes stomach issues. Financially, they could achieve good results later in life, as they are driven and ambitious towards money.
- Mercury in the 2nd house: Great oratory skills are indicated by this placement, an excellent voice, and a charming way of speaking. Communication will easily raise the native up in life. A good academic life can be similarly seen, the native will be a good student, he might achieve a lot and get scholarships. The native might have an easy time learning foreign languages. The native also tends to earn well. A good childhood.
- Jupiter in the 2nd house: Jupiter in the 2nd promotes wealth and good life conditions. The native enjoys all comforts, he has a good childhood, access to good food and education, as well as other growth promoting things. A good voice and speaking skills are also indicated. Money wise, this placement tends to make the native a good saver. Jupiter is the planet of discernment, so the native always acts with caution when spending.
- Venus in the 2nd house: Venus here promotes all comforts, being an excellent placement. A great childhood, with a lot of support and love is seen with this placement. Venus here will indicate a very soft, charming and alluring voice. The native will be intelligent and eloquent. Luck in finances is indicated. Overall, an excellent position for Venus. A issue here could be excess with food, specially sugary items.
- Saturn in the 2nd house: Saturn will give difficulties in early life and childhood. Maybe the native has some kind of disease, that impedes him from enjoying his childhood. Maybe a parent could be missing or distant. Maybe there is conflict and issues relating to them. Something will tend to create trouble, and some degree of unhappiness, in childhood. The native might have issues with the throat, the teeth or he might need speech therapy at times. Self-esteem could be low, a big remedy for these natives is learning and striving to express themselves. A big block from childhood is a fear of speaking, getting over that can do wonders for them. The native will tend to worry or be concerned about money. However, a lot of times, this placement tends to make the native earn well. Saturn rewards hard work, and the native will tend to earn well through his efforts.
- Rahu in the 2nd house: Rahu causes many disruptions in the 2nd house. For one thing, the childhood will have something odd in the air. Some secret or trouble in the family could create blockages for the native, specially on an emotional level. Chaotic family situations could arise in the worst cases, maybe the parents are constantly fighting. On a material level, usually, the native tends to have comfort in childhood, and things tend to be good on this regard. The family tends to improve their financial conditions after the native’s birth. Disruptions in education are possible, with the native taking breaks or abandoning the studies. The native will tend to be interested in occult or unconventional studies. Physically, crooked or troubled teeth are frequent with this placement, as well as dryness in the lips. However, an attractive and alluring face is usually indicated, with the native being considered beautiful. Throat issues or infections could be frequent through life. There is a tendency toward lying or exaggerating here, as well as aggressive or shocking speech. They could also behave in a disrespectful manner. The native can be prone to overeating, which could cause digestive issues, as well as indulgence in alcohol or drugs. Money will be a central thing in life, for good and bad. Ups and downs tend to happen, even though the native tends to live comfortably. But key conflicts or troubles in life will deal with finances and independence.
- Ketu in the 2nd house: Ketu creates breaks or distance in life. Losses in childhood will color the natives emotions. The parents divorcing or separating could similarly be an issue. Alternatively to the issues of loss and separation in childhood, the native could feel as an outsider, feeling distant from the society he lives in. This could deal with being of a different race, religion or culture, but not necessarily. A lot of times the native will simply feel like an alien or a stranger, othering himself and projecting that into the world. The native could have food allergies or a sensitive stomach, with frequent troubles. This could lead to alternative diets, like veganism, gluten-free or other unusual eating habits. In some cases, issues like bulimia could occur here. The native could have sensitive eyes, that can’t tolerate too much light. The native tends to find progress in life, earning money as he grows old. But he will always tend to feel insecure in regards to money.
Of all the planets, the best ones in the second house are Venus, Mercury and Jupiter. They tend to promote all the matters of this house and support all of the indications. Moon is similarly benevolent, but as the nature of the planet deals with fluctuations, some highs and lows will tend to happen as well.
Sun and Mars can burn a hole in the house. Excessive aggression, specially verbal, could create trouble in life. Both tend to show ambition, so the native’s situation usually improves throughout life. Mars can give trouble in education, as the native might feel a rush to end things as quickly as possible.
Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are the trifecta of trouble. They will each create some degree of issues in childhood, with emotional troubles or blockages that will be carried through life. All three tend to improve later in life, specially the nodes. Saturn will improve a lot with hard work. Emotionally:
→ Saturn’s big issue is self-esteem, a fear of expressing oneself, that blocks the native. Arts could be very helpful towards improving this placement.
→ Rahu’s big issue is trust. Something in early childhood will lead the native to not trust others, creating a tendency to lie, exaggerate or hide things. The native’s life could be artificial, in some degree, as he learned to make things appear good rather than making them actually good. Finding truth and trust is key here.
→ Ketu’s big issue is distance. The native feels distant from the world, from society and even his family. As such, he might act without thinking or in a fanatic/vicious manner. Learning to bridge this gap, and find common ground with others, is key here.
Financially, Rahu and Ketu tend to be good placements, generally showing a prosperous life for the native. Rahu could deal, however, with being dependent or reliant on others. Think of someone that lives off of their parents wealth, for instance. Ketu could deal with fighting for money, a lot of times, with their own family. Saturn tends to show finances improving through hard work, later in life.
Education:
- Mars, Rahu and Ketu tend to bring breaks into education. With the native taking extended leaves, seeking alternatives or abandoning it all together.
- Sun is good for it, but it could make the native argue with teachers/gurus, as he will feel the need to command.
- Saturn could show a lack of opportunity, as well as delays. The native will be diligent, but something could force him to stop, like a lack of money for tuition or taking care of a sick relative.
- Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Moon are all good for education.
- Rahu, Mercury and Ketu could have an easy time learning foreign languages.
Ruler of the 2nd in different houses
- Lord of the 2nd in the 1st: The person tends to have good wealth, although they could be prone towards overspending. They tend to be somewhat selfish and self-centered.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 2nd: All second house matters are strengthened. A good financial life, family life and education can all be seen. The native will be very protective of his family, to the point of acting in a sort of tribal manner. The native’s childhood is good and he grows into a very confident person.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 3rd: Great wealth could be earned with this placement, the native’s own efforts will tend to bring him prosperity. The native could earn through sales, marketing, communication or technology.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 4th: A great placement for finances and enjoyment, usually the family is very wealthy. The native will live a very comfortable life. Great benefits tend to come from the mother and her family. Early childhood tends to be great.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 5th: The native will tend to be wealthy, intelligent and he will have great knowledge of mantras and other religious acts. Creativity and arts could be a source of earning. The native will have luck with speculation, such as bets or the stock market.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 6th: The native could earn well. He could work with food, maybe he is a chef or a nutritionist. Any service, or hospitality work, could be a good source of earning with this placement. The native could also have a talent towards earning through his enemies or critics, earning through trouble or scandal. At times, this placement could make a native dishonest, earning by selfish or deceptive means. Another shadow issue could deal with debt. Harsh speech could also be indicated.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 7th: Good for wealth, also excellent for public speaking or communication. The native will have a great gift towards expressing himself and convincing others. Money will be central to the marriage, for good and bad.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 8th: The native could earn through speculation, the stock market, managing other people’s assets, etc. The native could work with insurance or banking. He will have great future planning skills, having a good vision of what is ahead and how to deal with it. A shadow issue here deals with deception, the native could keep secrets or lie.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 9th: The native will tend to be wealthy, intelligent and he will have great knowledge of mantras and other religious acts. Similarly to Jupiter in the 2nd, the native will be wise with money, saving it rather than overspending. The father might be wealthy and very important for the native. Earning through education, lecturing or giving advice is possible. Any profession or position that requires giving authoritative ideas/opinions will be prosperous with this placement. The native could have been sick constantly in childhood, but he grows healthy later on.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 10th: Excellent placement for career and financial success, the native will rise in life through his own efforts. These natives could be great leaders or key figures in their work.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 11th: One of the best placements for finances. The native will have an easy time profiting and finding avenues for increasing his wealth. On the negative side, he might be unscrupulous and prone to dishonest earnings.
- Lord of the 2nd in the 12th: Excessive spending or losses are indicated. Even if the native earns high sums, he will spend overboard and end up with no savings. These tend to be very generous and giving natives.
The second lord tends to do well in almost every house of a chart, with the only exception being the twelfth house of losses.
The 12th house placement will usually show a native that overspends, or tends to see money slip through his fingers like water. One native I met with this placement earned a six-figure income, top of his profession. Yet he spent as if he was an arab prince, which made even a high income not enough. This person was constantly in debt, spending a lot on luxurious items, designer clothes and travels. After years and years of high earning, he still lived on a rented (luxurious yet rented) condo, he had his BMW impounded by lack of payment and a huge amount of debt to his name, with multiple creditors.
Life can still be enjoyable with this placement. But the native will hardly be able to retire or slow down later in life, as he won’t be able to keep enough money to properly set himself for retirement. This placement, a lot of times, shows people working well into their old years, as their spending never diminishes and they have to keep a big influx of money coming in.
The other two dusthana placements actually tend to do pretty well. The 6th house placement will usually show a hard worker, that builds himself up. It could, at times, deal with debt. But not always. And even when it occurs, the debt is usually taken to build something, as a stepping stone. The native builds himself up, pays the debt off, and leads a normal life going forward.
The 8th house placement is excellent financially, usually showing a native that earns well and knows how to manage money. The big issue here are emotional problems, and blockages, somewhat akin to Rahu and Ketu in the 2nd house. These blockages could make the native prone to keeping secrets or lying.
Looking at the dusthanas from the 2nd house itself, we have the 1st (ascendant) being 12th from the 2nd. At times, overspending could happen, they might have felt somewhat ignored or neglected in childhood. But overall, this is a good placement that improves in life.
The 7th house is 6th from the 2nd. The big issue there tends to be quarrels in the marriage over money. Maybe the spouse spends too much, maybe they try to control the partner through money, etc.
The 9th house is 8th from the 2nd. The problems here usually deal with early life, and improvement later on. Maybe the native was sick in childhood, maybe the family was constantly moving, something changed and made the native somewhat uprooted. However, the native finds wisdom and security in his knowledge, and that brings him happiness and prosperity. Life improves as he ages, and this grows into a great placement.