By Patricia Darrow, Astrologer

If you are feeling under the weather and need a little T.L.C, open the door of the fourth house! This house is nostalgic, like the fleeting scent of grandma’s home-baked bread. Paint the 4^th house the color of eggshell. Accessorize it with silver and add some old antiques.

The fourth house is associated with the zodiac sign of Cancer and is ruled by the Moon. (See my article "Pocket Full of Moonbeams"). It rules the stomach and breast. The fourth house resonates to the High Priestess Card, the six of cups and the Chariot Card in the Tarot. In Numerology, it corresponds to the number of two.

The cusp of the fourth house is also known as the Imum Coeli which is an angular house meaning activity. It describes our psychological foundations and tells us a good deal about our instinctual patterns of behavior. It also describes our roots.

Some things that come under the ruler ship of the 4^th house are:

-beginnings and endings

-the mother

-the home

-land, family property, real estate

-water supply

-foundations

-buried treasures

-minerals and natural resources of the earth

-agriculture

-childhood years and old age

Some key phrases for the different planets in the 4^th house are:

-a lot of emphasis on domestic matters

-powerful family ties

-close to mom

-household creativity

-nurturing in the home environment

-overly-protective mother

-craves a home with a pool and/or fountain

-thoughts are on domestic affairs

-always calling home

-much writing goes on with the home

-a home library

-likes a beautiful and comfortable home

-the end of life is peaceful

-mom could be lazy

-gains from real estate

-possible fire in the home

-a lot of activity in the home

-mother could be testy

-unresolved anger issues

-lucky in domestic affairs

-profit from real estate

-likes a large, roomy living quarters

-secure in the last half of their lives

-mom could have big breasts

-respect for family traditions

-cold relationship with mother

-spartan-like home décor

-emotionally stable

-could have been raised by grandparents

-unconventional home life

-mother is like a friend

-home computer is a must!

-the "black sheep" of the family

-a lot of family secrets

-a self sacrificing mother

-home could be a spiritual sanctuary

-could become senile in old age

-deep family roots

-someone who likes to keep renovating the home

-intense attachment to mother

-possessive and smothering mother

-interested in studying psychology

I have not, to date, seen any books written solely on the fourth house, but there are some books out there to help you glean the energies of the this house are they are as follows:

"Queen of the Night" by Haydn Paul

"Moon Signs" by Sasha Fenton

"Your Man is the Moon" by Elbert Wade

"Moon Wise" by Daniel Pharr

"Moon Signs" by Sybil Leek

"Moon Signs: The Key to Your Inner Life" by Donna Cunningham

"Being a Lunar Type in a Solar World" by Donna Cunningham

So the next time you feel like you need some nurturing and you want to feel comforted -- enter the silver doors of this mysterious house. You can chant the sound of OM and then ruminate on places like a wOMb à hOMe à and visualize a little dOMe for safety and protection.

The fourth house is truly our home; a place to which to retreat and retire to at the end of the day. It will always remain our small corner of peace and calm in the world. It’s fascination and allure is both instinctual and charming, and reminds us of those most comforting words …"There’s no place like home." It’s all in the fourth house. Come visit and stay for a while. The welcome mat is always out!

Patricia is available for private sessions at: darrowmp@gte.net