The Houses of Foreign Travel
The 9th house (long journeys) and the 12th house (foreign lands and living away from home) show a person’s connection with other countries. Travel abroad is indicated when these houses, or their lords, are ruled by the movable signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) or by the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces). The planets placed in these houses show the nature and success of the travel.
Why You May Travel
- For education – when the 4th house lord (primary education) is placed in the 9th house in a movable or water sign.
- To settle abroad – when the 4th lord is placed in the 12th house in a movable or water sign; life abroad is then often more peaceful and rewarding.
- For work – when the 5th lord is placed in the 9th or 12th house, a person may travel abroad for professional reasons based on their skills.
Rahu, the Moon and Travel
Rahu is the planet of foreign lands and unconventional paths, so a strong Rahu connected with the 9th or 12th house is one of the clearest signs of life abroad. The Moon, the planet of movement and the mind, adds a love of travel and change, while a well-placed Jupiter in the 9th house often brings travel for study, pilgrimage or higher learning.
Foreign travel is not always pleasant. When the 12th house is afflicted by malefic planets, time abroad can bring loneliness, heavy expenses or difficulties with visas and paperwork. When benefic planets support these houses, travel tends to be smooth and rewarding.
When Travel Is Likely: The Dashas
Besides the placement of the planets, the dashas (planetary periods) show whether travel will be short or long term. Foreign travel is indicated during:
- the dasha of the 9th lord or the 12th lord
- the dasha of a planet associated with the Moon
- the dasha of Venus, the Moon or Rahu, when placed in the 12th house of the birth chart
- the dasha of any exalted or debilitated planet
- the sub-period of Rahu or Ketu within the main period of Rahu
- the sub-period of Jupiter within the dasha of Saturn, when Jupiter is the 12th lord
- the dasha of any planet associated with the 9th lord, or the start of Sade Sati
Frequently Asked Questions
Which house shows foreign travel?
The 9th house shows long journeys and the 12th house shows foreign lands and settling abroad.
Will I settle abroad?
A 4th lord in the 12th house, in a movable or water sign, is a classic sign of a settled life abroad.
When will I travel abroad?
Travel usually happens in the dasha of the 9th or 12th lord, or of Rahu, the Moon or Venus when they are connected with the 12th house.