The House of Resources
♉ Natural sign: Taurus · Ruled by Venus
Money, possessions, values, self-worth
The second house follows naturally from the first: once you exist (first house), you need resources to sustain that existence (second house). This is the house of money, possessions, and material security — but more fundamentally, it is the house of values. What do you consider worth having? Worth keeping? Worth working for?
In traditional astrology, the second house was examined to determine the native's financial prospects. The sign on the cusp, planets within, and the condition of the second house ruler all contribute to the picture. Jupiter or Venus here traditionally indicated wealth; Saturn suggested poverty or hard-won resources; Mars could mean money earned through effort or lost through conflict.
The deeper meaning of the second house involves self-worth — the internal sense of value that underlies all financial behavior. People with challenging second house placements often struggle not just with money but with feeling deserving of abundance. Conversely, a strong second house can indicate someone who attracts resources naturally because they fundamentally believe they are worth it.
The second house also governs moveable possessions (as opposed to real estate, which belongs to the fourth house), income from personal labor, and the physical senses — the body's capacity to take in and enjoy the material world.
Planets in the 2nd House
Planets in the second house shape your relationship with money and material security. Jupiter expands resources; Saturn restricts or delays them; Uranus creates financial instability; Neptune can dissolve money through confusion or idealism.
Empty 2nd House
An empty second house does not mean poverty. It means finances are not a primary life theme. Look to the ruler of the sign on the second house cusp for more information about your financial patterns.