Inherited Family Themes In Astrology
This is absolutely visible in the natal chart. And yes, the water houses (4th, 8th and 12th) will hold these issues. Natal planets, Nodes or asteroids in the:
4th House will describe family themes in the native's childhood. These are the most visible, immediate themes and if you compare the native's chart to parents/siblings you will see commonalities. For example, if the native has 4th House Saturn (restrictions, rules or denial in childhood involving the father) you should see these Saturn energies echoed in the father's chart (regarding his relationship with his father). He may have hard, Saturn aspects to his natal planets or an emphasized Saturn. The contract of repression and judgement, but also the commitment to certain traditions, will be visible across the generations.
8th House tends to involve issues inherited from the grandparents or traumas such as violations of trust or loss. The 8th is about vulnerability and lack of control. These issues are buried in the native's psyche, are hidden because they are taboo or (in some instances) are completely unknown to the native. Natal Chiron in the 8th can point to a generational wound involving 8th House themes, which was often echoed in the grandparents' life. The native may have trust issues (fear of intimacy, fear of sharing) because of this, even if he or she is not aware of what happened with the grandparents. On the other hand, beneficial planets in this house (such as Jupiter) can indicate a theme of support and optimism involving the grandparents or an inherited ability to attract good fortune through the resources of others. Inherited issues do not have to be negative.
12th House can describe family secrets or illnesses. Often there is a theme of distance/isolation. For example, if the native's natal Moon is in this house, something about their relationship with mother was impersonal. In some way, she was not totally available. She may have been absent, ill or difficult to get close to and perhaps this was not openly discussed. Nurturing and feelings are hidden, and this would also be an issue in the mother's life and her mother's life, etc. They (the mothers in the family) may not all have 12th House Moons, but they probably have 12th House planets and/or afflicted natal Moons (hard, outer planet aspects to their Moons).
Inherited psychic ability might be indicated with 12th House planets (especially personal planets) but these energies can easily be distorted into inherited addictions or delusions. Then again, perhaps the thread of delusion that runs through a family is misinterpreted or repressed psychic ability. You need to be especially careful when examining the 12th because what's real and imagined blend together.
Juno (an asteroid which refers to contracts and agreements) in any of the water houses will point to specific family contracts across the generations. The qualities will be described by the sign she is in and the aspects she receives. Juno in the 4th will refer to the marriage of the native's parents (and how the native approaches committed relationships). 8th House Juno can describe a contract involving the grandparents or an agreement between the native and someone in the family they trusted deeply or someone who violated that trust. This will also describe the native's agreements with others (as an adult) involving intimacy and money. Juno in the 12th can indicate unspoken family contracts.
For more information on the 4th, 8th and 12th, check out previous posts in this tier- I wrote a series about the meaning of each house.
