6th House

Have you heard of the term "all work and no play?" This phrase very precisely sums up the difference between life in the sixth house compared to the fifth. Visiting the sixth house requires a healthy appetite for discipline, putting your nose to the grindstone, and preparing for a long day's toil. Sounds like a good time, no?

In reality, the sixth house is a very important one, for not only is it the domain of a "hard day's work" but also rules caring for others, health, and being a supportive human in general. Occupations such as nursing, being an assistant, farming, and medicine all fall into the sixth house, as these are places that require a great deal of consistent effort for the good of others. And this is the heart and soul of this house: giving and being of service, or producing something that benefits humanity as a necessary function from behind the scenes.

Being of service

Ruled by Virgo, natives with a strong sixth house will also have a strong sense of duty to others. They are tireless workers, and success comes to them through working towards the benefit of their peers rather than creativity (fifth house), success (tenth house), or for their security (second or fourth houses). If you head out for a visit to house number six, be prepared for a rather austere and functional place. Everything has a purpose, and everything serves to be used for bettering the world.

But this is also a place where we give our best efforts to others to help make the world a better place. Serving a greater cause, especially one that aligns with our deepest beliefs, is the ideal use of the energy this house provides. Nothing feels better than the completion of a hard day's work. At least, that's how the parable goes. I don't know that I buy it.

The house of effort

The sixth house is not a flashy place, but it doesn't need to be in order to to have a big impact. Where would we be without our hard-working landscapers, dentists, pharmacists or teachers? These are critical occupations that keep the world running along smoothly, though they rarely ever get the fanfare they deserve. If you have a major luminary in the sixth house, you will be happiest being of service to the world in some capacity. And you may not want to hear it, but the less flashy the service, the better you may feel!

One more important note to bring up about this house: your health and physical wellbeing are strongly correlated to the health of this house in your natal chart. An afflicted sixth house can bring upon some unusual ailments and challenging illnesses throughout the lifecycle, so this is something to watch. The sixth house also rules hypochondria so, maybe don't watch this too closely!