What does following your bliss look like? Maybe you find joy in the sun’s warmth on your skin. Or, you may find joy in the discipline required in the long, often grueling creative process. Whatever fuels your heart with passion, the fifth house in astrology is a great place to better understand the source of that joy. That’s because, in astrology, the fifth house is basically your pleasure circuit in which you draw creative inspiration. It also dictates how you express that creativity.

The fifth house governs how you create, find joy, and express yourself.  It can tell you if you lean more surrealist or realist, whether your creative expression feels like channeling your inner child, or if it’s a profound, almost religious experience. When you understand the energies at play in your fifth house, you can get better acquainted with your inner artist and play into your creative strengths. Keep reading to learn what the fifth house is and where you can find the most enjoyment in your life.

What is the fifth house in astrology?

If you look at your birth chart, you’ll notice it’s broken up into 12 sections called houses in astrology. The 12 divisions correspond to a certain area of life, from how you communicate with others to your professional desires. “By exploring the houses, you can better understand where your strengths naturally shine, where challenges might arise, and how different aspects of your life interact,” says astrologer and tarot reader Amy Filbin.

The fifth house in astrology discerns the things that fuel your passion and where you find the most enjoyment in life. “It governs art, romance, playfulness, and even the children we nurture—literal or metaphorical,” explains Filbin. For many reasons, you can consider the fifth house to be where your inner child lives.

The first six houses in your birth chart dictate your personal houses, ruling things like your identity, emotional temperament, and communication and thought processes. The fifth house rules matters of the heart (thoughts, romance, and love) and shows where our passions lie, including how we generate that devotion.

According to Filbin, the fifth house shows how we allow ourselves to shine authentically. How you express yourself—whether you’re a natural sculptor, a performer, or a writer—is dictated by this house. Do you find joy surrounded by forested trees and mountain views, or are you drawn to luxury and fashion? You can find all of this information by looking at the energies in your fifth house.

How do you learn more about your fifth house?

You’ll need to know your birth time to find your fifth house (or any houses, for that matter). You can book a birth chart reading with a professional astrologer, or use an online birth chart generator like Cafe Astrology. Plug in your birth time, birth date, and birthplace, and “look to the sign on the cusp of the fifth house in your natal chart—it’s the fifth section moving counterclockwise from your ascendant,” explains Filbin.

If you’re looking for deeper insight, you can also see what sign (or signs) are in your fifth house, as well as how the planets are distributed across these houses. These energies paint a larger picture of your creative expression, and the direction your heart is pulled.

What the zodiac signs mean in the fifth house

Aries in the fifth house

Aries is a fearless and impulsive sign. If Aries is in your fifth house, you’re quick to follow your heart and find pleasure in new, exciting experiences. “Your creativity is spontaneous, fiery, and passionate. You seek adventure in play and romance,” Filbin says. You’re not afraid to make mistakes and don’t follow a rubric when expressing yourself creatively.

As a fire sign, Aries is quick to find pleasure in romance. If Aries is in your fifth house, you’re eager to show affection and often take initiative in romance. You’re not intimidated by the opinions of others or rejection, and that confidence is explicit in how you operate in matters of the heart.

Taurus in the fifth house

Practical Taurus is all about finding pockets of peace in the material world. In other words, if Taurus is in your fifth house, you gravitate towards simple pleasures and find joy in moments of solitude. “Beauty and comfort drive your expression,” explains Filbin. “Creativity flows steadily, rooted in tangible, sensual pleasures.”

In romance, Taurus is all about stability and practicality. When Taurus is in the fifth house, you approach romance at a steady pace. You’re more likely to cultivate a slow-burn passion rather than full-throttle relationships.

Gemini in the fifth house

Gemini is an inquisitive and intellectual sign. If Gemini is in your fifth house, learning new things fills your heart with immense pleasure. “Playfulness and versatility define your art. Joy comes through learning, conversation, and curiosity,” says Filbin. You find pleasure in diversifying your skills and knowledge.

Because Gemini is a cerebral air sign, romance is often rooted in conversation and curiosity. If Gemini is in the fifth house, you’ll likely find pleasure with a partner who can pick your brain and vice versa. You may find it hard to feel connected to someone else if the relationship lacks communication.

Cancer in the fifth house

Cancer is an intuitive water sign that seeks pleasure in caring for others. When Cancer is in the fifth house, it means you create in ways that feed the souls of other people. “Creative expression flows from emotion and nostalgia. Your art nurtures and heals,” says Filbin. For example, you might take up ceramics and pottery to make useful gifts for people you care about.

Romantically, Cancer is a nurturing sign known for affectionate behavior toward romantic prospects. If Cancer is in your fifth house, you express your affection through homecooked meals, drawing a bath, and making others feel at home.

Leo in the fifth house

Leo is associated with the fifth house, so creativity, pleasure, and joy come naturally to those with this sign in the fifth house. “Joy and creativity are inseparable; you express yourself with bold flair and magnetic authenticity,” says Filbin. Meaning, you tend to find it easy to express yourself through your artistic endeavors.

When it comes to romance, Leo in the fifth house shows affection easily. Through grandiosity and big gestures, Leo can woo their romantic prospects. That’s because Leo is generous and loves to show off their gratitude in massive ways.

Virgo in the fifth house

Virgo is practical and grounded. If Virgo is in your fifth house, you prefer structure in your artistic endeavors. Following a guide is crucial for you to feel connected to a project. “Creativity is precise and refined. You find joy in perfecting details and sharing thoughtful expressions,” says Filbin. Pleasure feels most authentic when you believe in your worthiness; if you put in enough work, you’ll feel more inclined to indulge in simple pleasures.

In romance, boundaries are essential. You have a practical approach to romance, meaning you tend to opt for acts of service or useful gifts to show your affection.

Libra in the fifth house

Libra is associated with partnerships, fairness, and the finer things in life. When Libra is in the fifth house, beauty is seen through the creative expressions of others. “Artistry comes through balance, beauty, and harmony,” says Filbin. “Romance and joy thrive in connection.” You enjoy hosting parties and gatherings that allow others to connect on a deep level.

In romance, Libra in the fifth house tends to be deep in their connection with other people. If this is you, you aim to make others feel comfortable and heard, tending to seek fairness in your approach to romance. You can be self-sacrificial in that way, putting the pleasure and joy of other people above your own at times.

Scorpio in the fifth house

Scorpio is an intense sign, so it’s all about passion. “Your art is powerful and transformative, often exploring themes of depth, passion, and rebirth,” says Filbin. In other words, you prefer your art to be an expression of your soul; superficiality is not your style.

Regarding romance, Scorpio in the fifth house is about deep emotional ties. If this is your placement, you avoid surface-level interactions and prefer your pleasure to be intensely intimate. You’re a hedonist of sorts, seeking pleasure in romance constantly.

Sagittarius in the fifth house

Curious Sagittarius is all about seeking wisdom. If Sagittarius is in the fifth house, there’s a sense of purpose in your creative pursuits, and it requires that your expression reflects something bigger than yourself. “Creativity is expansive and adventurous,” explains Filbin. “Joy comes through exploration, humor, and freedom.” You tend to revel in the pleasures of the unknown but are always looking for the next big thing.

In romance, Sagittarius tends to be indulgent, searching for joy in the company of other people who can help them grow as individuals. They’re drawn to spiritual people and find joy in the company of those who are as independent and inquisitive as they are.

Capricorn in the fifth house

Capricorn is a practical Earth sign. When Capricorn is in the fifth house, you tend to be more pragmatic than creative. “You approach creativity with ambition and structure, building joy through discipline and mastery,” says Filbin. You feel a sense of responsibility in their creative endeavors rather than having fun in the artistic process.

In romance, Capricorn is objective and realistic. If Capricorn is in your fifth house, you’re not likely to warm up to affection right away. Instead, you likely believe that pleasure and romance are something that should be earned through hard work and devotion.

Aquarius in the fifth house

Intellectual and off-beat, Aquarius is a sign focused on progress and social change. If Aquarius is in the fifth house, you likely have a unique sense of creative expression and aren’t afraid to stand out. “Innovation fuels your art; you express yourself in ways that are bold, unique, and future-oriented,” says Filbin.

In romance, you’re not affectionate in the conventional sense, but you show your love in other ways. For example, you show you care through community work and friendship—you come to the defense of others and put effort into uplifting voices that often go unheard.

Pisces in the fifth house

Pisces is a deeply imaginative sign that seamlessly blends reality and fantasy. If Pisces is in your fifth house, you’re naturally creative and romantic. You seek ways to express yourself through artistic avenues, such as painting, poetry, and music. “Creativity flows through imagination and intuition,” says Filbin. “Your expressions carry spiritual and emotional depth.”

Because Pisces is a water sign, you find fulfillment in expressing your emotional state through your art. You can transform your emotions into creative endeavors and translate complex concepts through this creative expression.