The House of Creation

The fifth house is the house of creation in all its forms. Children are the most literal fifth house creation, but art, performance, romance, hobbies, and any activity where you express your unique creativity all belong here. This is the house of joy — not the quiet contentment of the fourth house, but the active, expressive joy of making something that didn't exist before.

Romance (as distinct from committed partnership, which belongs to the seventh house) is a fifth house matter. The thrill of attraction, the early stages of courtship, the experience of being desired and desiring — this is fifth house territory. The sign on the cusp and planets here describe your romantic style and what kind of lovers you attract.

Children, whether biological or creative, are the fifth house's most significant signification. Traditional astrology would examine this house to determine the number and nature of a native's children, their relationship with the parent, and whether children would bring joy or difficulty. In modern practice, the fifth house extends to your relationship with your own inner child — your capacity for play, spontaneity, and unselfconscious expression.

Gambling, speculation, and risk-taking for pleasure also belong here. The fifth house is where you put something of yourself on the line — not out of necessity (that's the second house) but for the thrill of it. A strong fifth house can indicate someone who takes creative risks that pay off; an afflicted fifth house can indicate gambling problems or creative blocks.