The astrological houses are twelve divisions of the sky, each governing different areas of your life. Think of them as stages where the planetary energies play out.
The First House represents your self and identity, the Second House governs money and values, the Third House rules communication, and so on. Each house has a specific theme and the planets within them show where you will experience their influence most strongly.
The houses are divided into angular (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th), succedent (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th), and cadent (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th), each with different levels of influence and importance in your chart.