A foundational element in astrology that is often overlooked by beginning learners is the concept of astrological houses. The houses are the structural system that divide the birth chart wheel into 12 different parts. The 12 houses represent distinct areas of life, and the signs that fall into them offer context for how that area of life is playing out. The houses form the container that the sign expresses itself within. The astrological houses are essential in forming an accurate birth chart interpretation, and can be easily understood with a fundamental knowledge of astrological archetypes.