(NOTE: Although this article is written for parents, the Astrological information it contains can be applied to the charts of adults as well.) Are you having trouble understanding why your child (or anyone else you know, for that matter) does not behave like a “textbook” version of their Sun Sign? Perhaps you’ve studied her sign in depth, yet you keep noticing that she does not exhibit many of the traits the books describe. Well, Astrology is a lot more complicated than simply “Hey, I’m an Aries.” This is one reason why the horoscopes in the newspapers often don’t seem to fit -- general Sun Sign horoscopes only take into account one single facet of a person’s complex Astrological blueprint and ignore all the rest. Besides the Ascendant (which is as important as the Sun Sign when it comes to basic personality traits), the HOUSE where your child’s Sun is located will have an influence on how his/her Sun Sign manifests itself. Each Astrology chart is divided into 12 sections called Houses, and each House represents a different area of life. This article will explore the influence of the House on your child’s Sun Sign (what I call the “Sun Sign House Overlay.”) Regardless of the zodiac sign it is in, the Sun can fall into any one of the 12 Houses in a child’s chart. Certain Houses can either enhance, inhibit, or alter the expression of that sign’s particular energy. For example, an outgoing Sun Sign such as Leo may be shyer and more self-conscious if the Sun is in the 6th House (the Virgo House). These are not “typical” Leo traits, but Leo’s naturally self-confident energy can become dampened by the 6th House’s analytical, self-critical tendency. On the other hand, a Capricorn with a 5th House overlay will be much more fun-loving and outgoing than the “typical” serious and reserved Capricorn personality. I know two such individuals with this Sun Sign house overlay: One owns a jewelry store (the “Leo” House’s attraction to “showy” things) and LOVES going to parties. The other man also runs a business and carries a lot of responsibilities (typical of Capricorn), yet he unwinds by writing funny songs and singing them to his friends. Taurus, who likes routine to the point where he can become very set in his ways, is likely to be much more spontaneous and adaptable if his Sun is in the 3rd House. And his basic “homebody” nature can become much more adventurous with a 9th House overlay, as this House can give him a desire to travel and see the world. Sagittarians, who are often afflicted with “foot in mouth” disease, blurting out statements that are WAY too blunt in their honesty, will likely be much more tactful and aware that their statements can cause bruised feelings if they have a 12th House overlay. It will tone down their “in your face” style of communicating and make them more sensitive and empathic. A 4th House overlay, however, could turn Sag’s outspoken style into a tendency to butt into other people’s business -- “for their own good,” of course -- as the influence of the “Cancerian” House can bring out strong mothering instincts that can cause her to endlessly nag her loved ones to do things she believes are best for them. A Scorpio child with a 2nd House overlay will be likely to channel his intense laser-beam focus into making money and accumulating material resources. This child can be quite a drain on his parents’ wallets, as he will ask for every expensive new toy on the market! However, some of that money may come back to you later in life, as this child is extremely likely to work on achieving financial wealth when he grows up. A Scorpio with an 11th House overlay, however, is likely to work tirelessly (Scorpio’s intensity) for a humanitarian (11th House) cause -- this child could grow up to be the next Gandhi. You’ll probably find him trying to fix the world even at a young age. An easygoing, mystical Pisces will likely be much more ambitious, success-oriented, and perhaps even “status-conscious” if her Sun in the 10th House. The Piscean energy will take on a different flavor if it is in a 5th House overlay, though: She may be more inclined to channel her imagination into the performing arts, such as singing or acting. Here’s an interesting real-life example of a Pisces overlay: I came across a book several years ago called “Psychic Investing,” which is all about how to invest in the stock market by reading Tarot cards and using other psychic methods to pick the stocks. The author, Marcus Goodwin, provided his birth information within the book, so just for fun I ran his chart: He has the Sun in Pisces (which tends to be naturally intuitive and psychic) in the 2nd House, which rules money. There you go. In my own chart, I have the Sun in Gemini (which rules writing, among other things) in the 6th House (perfectionist overlay) -- when I write an article, I go through at least four drafts: writing, editing, re-writing, re-editing, getting out the thesaurus to find the best possible word to use to describe something, and so forth. I am also good at editing other people’s writing, because that perfectionist overlay funneled into Gemini gives me the ability to catch every single mistake in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and organizational style. Dynamic Aries will be even more direct and aggressive with a 9th House (Sagittarius) overlay -- he will not hesitate to speak his mind and will not pull any punches. An Aries with a 7th House overlay, however, will be more cooperative and willing to compromise with others, as the 7th House rules relationships and thus makes relationships a top priority. This is also the case with an Aquarian teen I’ve counseled: Aquarian males can often be independent to the point of being considered aloof, but with his Sun in the 7th House, this young man is so concerned about others that he has trouble saying “no” to requests even if they’re inconvenient or unpleasant for him. This creates ongoing problems in his life, as he then tries to avoid certain people altogether rather than risking hurting their feelings by opposing their wishes. In the end, he winds up resenting his friends, which just alienates him from them even more. He would actually be able to have much closer relationships with others if he could learn to say “no” as easily as he says “yes.” Let’s explore the 7th House overlay further: A Taurus with a 7th House overlay will tend to be jealous and possessive of her loved ones. Leo, the sign of royalty, will treat his loved ones like kings, queens, princes, and princesses, showering them with gifts and affection. A Virgo child with this overlay will always want to be of service to those she cares about -- this child will offer to set the dinner table and help her younger siblings with their homework, for example. A Pisces with a 7th House overlay needs to be careful to set healthy boundaries within her relationships, as Pisces tends to be self-sacrificing to begin with; therefore, she is likely to adapt too much to her friends’ interests and ignore her own. In general, if your child has a 7th House overlay, make sure he learns that pleasing others at the expense of his own happiness will not win him “friends;” it will only create imbalanced relationships and possibly set up dynamics wherein his friends and acquaintances are constantly taking advantage of him. Let’s look at this from another angle, by examining the SIGN that rules relationships: Libra is the sign of partnerships, and therefore, the House placement of this child’s Sun will tell you in which area of life she is most likely to want to bond with others. If her Sun lands in the 10th House, this child will want to work with a partner on important school projects, and will probably want a business partner in adulthood rather than being self-employed, for example. If her Sun is found in the 5th House, she is likely to be quite a flirt, as the 5th House rules romance, among other things. A 3rd House placement will make this child a real chatterbox -- you’d better get a separate phone line for her, as she will want to literally spend all day on the phone with her friends and will get upset if she’s forced to be “out of the loop” for too long. An interesting real-life Libra example is Barbara Walters. She actually has both her Sun and Ascendant in this sign, with a 12th House overlay for her Sun. Her “double” Libran energy makes her extremely people-oriented, and the 12th House placement gives her great empathy and compassion for others. It also makes her want to ferret out people’s secrets and find out what makes them tick. Is it any wonder that she’s achieved great success as a television interviewer? She’s famous for getting celebrities to open up and spill their guts! (Just as a side note, in a recent appearance on a talk show, she mentioned that her biggest weakness is being indecisive -- a classic Libran trait. I did not know her sign when I first saw the interview, but after listening to her and suspecting that she is a Libra, I looked up her chart, and I was not at all surprised at what it revealed.) These are just a few examples of Sun Signs and their House Overlays. There isn’t room here to list all of the possible combinations (there are 144 of them), but here is a general rule of thumb: the Fire and Air signs’ natural tendencies will become enhanced in the Fire and Air Houses (the odd-numbered houses), and will become more inhibited, grounded, or sensitive in the Earth and Water Houses (the even-numbered houses). The Earth and Water signs’ natural qualities will be reinforced in the even-numbered houses, and will become more outgoing, dramatic, or assertive in the odd-numbered houses. NOTE: The Sun in its own sign’s natural house (Aries = 1st House, Taurus = 2nd House, Gemini = 3rd House, and so forth) will simply intensify the qualities of that sign -- in this case, there will be no “House Overlay” influencing this child’s Sun Sign. Doria Gambino is a professional Astrologer with 20 years’ experience specializing in natal and progressed charts, relationship compatibility charts, and her personal favorite, charts for children. To read more about “Astrology For Parents,” or to have your own child’s chart professionally analyzed and interpreted, please visit www.MetamorphosisMagazine.com. PARENTS: You can have a comprehensive Astrological Profile custom-prepared for your child for only $35. For more information, and to view a sample profile, please visit the website. Personal consultations by phone with Doria Gambino are also available by appointment.