THE 11TH HOUSE
11th House
Friends, groups and allies
Your public image
Your relationship to the collective
Wishes
This house is all about the public and your social life (or lack of). If the 7th is about partnerships (one-on-one) the 11th is about friendships and group connections (although friendships which are very close and involve just the two of you can be represented by the 7th).
Natal planets in this house and the condition of its ruler describe how you will function in society, and how society will perceive you. Natal Saturn in the 11th is often seen with those who do not relate easily to peers because they feel inadequate and have to work harder to gain the trust of others. With maturity, they can earn respect and develop a few, steadfast friends. Sometimes Saturn here can create overcompensation; being hyper-social in an effort to deny the underlying fear of not fitting in. I have seen natal Chiron in the 11th in the charts of those with social anxiety, but again with time and maturity this can become the marker of someone who is a respected healer and teacher.
Natal Venus, Jupiter, the Sun or Moon in the 11th suggests someone who is popular or at least prominent with others, because much of their energy is focused on group connections. Natal Pluto can suggest someone who has a powerful public persona, for better or worse. Or, they may become embroiled in public power struggles. Anything in this house will be very exposed. Natal Moon in the 11th especially can lead to many public relationships which turn personal, whether or not the native wants this.
The 11th House ruler in the 12th or 8th House can create an interesting mix of introversion but also the ability to magnetize many people and connect with the masses on an intuitive level. 11th House ruler in the 10th would suggest that social connections are a crucial part of your career (you're not meant to go it alone) and in the 7th you would connect with the group on a personal level (often seen in the charts of counsellors or anyone who deals with many people on a one-on-one basis).
While not directly about career, any part of your work that involves dealing with the public will involve the 11th House. Many astrology sources also identity this as the house of wishes, and I'll admit I'm not so sure about this. The idea is that the 10th is about professional goals and the 11th is about personal goals (including hopes and wishes). So I would say the development of personal goals can lie in this house, but I consider wishes to be 12th House territory.
"Wishes" are odd territory- vague and difficult to prove. What's the difference between a wish, a personal goal and a spell? Are they the same? I don't have the answers to these questions, so food for thought!
If you want:
To make more friends and allies, transiting Jupiter through the 11th can expand your social circle and sometimes connect you with benefactors, and transiting Uranus will introduce you to some odd and interesting characters. But Uranus can also sever existing associations that are outdated or conservative. Transiting Venus is effective for a brief but nice surge of friendly connections (providing your natal planets support this). Transiting Mars is good for boosting your ambition to reach out to others, but be careful-Mars can be combative and trigger public disagreements.
To weed out those who don't support you, transiting Uranus will disrupt and clarify while transiting Pluto will unearth buried issues (not always pleasant). Both can have a major impact on your public reputation. Transiting Saturn will define which friends are real and which are not.
To boost your reputation or connect with more clients, transiting Jupiter or Venus, and sometimes the progressed Moon (your evolving needs will be aligned with the group). If you are struggling with a natal 11th House Saturn, sometimes your Saturn Return can bring rewards in the form of hard-earned public respect, as long as you have focused on one area and worked to develop your expertise. Again, transiting Mars will energize your efforts to connect with clients but tread carefully to avoid conflicts. Transiting Pluto is trick; certainly, there can be a surge of power and influence if handled with extreme awareness (meaning, you know exactly what you're doing and are in touch with your inner motivations and weak spots) but if misused this energy can backfire and expose you to corruption and manipulation.
To cultivate more privacy, transiting Saturn will certainly limit your contacts and help you build social boundaries (be careful you don't end up isolated). Transiting Neptune can sometimes help you create a "smokescreen" which obscures you from others, but be cautious of misunderstandings and scandals (remember, everything in this house is public).
Photo by Vinh Sydney
