Each of the 12 houses have different significance, or we can say that there are various themes of life which are shown by these houses. For reading of the chart, the houses can be clubbed together in various categories as follows:

Dharma – 1st, 5th and 9th Houses are called the houses of Dharma or Righteousness or moral values. Such placements are very common in the horoscopes of activists and social reformers, or those who spend their life performing duties to their loved ones leaving aside their own desires. 

Artha – 2nd, 6th, and 10th Houses are called the houses of Artha or Prosperity or economic values. Individually, 2nd house is of financial assets, 6th is of daily routine or service and 10th is of profession. Together these houses shows the ability of service, potential of job/business and converting the earnings into material gains. 

Kama – 3rd, 7th, and 11th Houses are called the houses of Kama (desires or psychological values). These houses together showcase hunger for achieving desires. Rahu plays a key role in these houses, and unless controlled it can make native indulge in unfair means to achieve their desires. Since Rahu is illusion, it is seen in the charts of actors in 11th house, as it shows hunger or desire to achieve fame.

Moksha – 4th, 8th and 12th houses are the houses of Moksha or liberation or spiritual Values. These houses are to do with giving up your own self for others and achieve moksha at the end. Ketu plays a key role here as Ketu is the planet of detachment or spirituality.

Trikona Houses - These 3 houses are of great importance as they form the triangle of Present (1st House), Future (5th House) and Past (9th House). These houses together with Kendra houses forms the primary set which gives picture of previous, current and future karmas. Any planet which is lord of a Kona and a Kendra house is called Yogakaraka planet for that native and becomes the most important planet in the chart, it gives favourable results in current lifetime. 

Kendra Houses - Four houses with-in the diamond shaped figure in the centre of the Natal Chart are called Kendra Houses. These houses are of prime importance, individually it covers Self, Happiness, Spouse/partnership and Profession. The Zodiacs, placement of planets and Aspect on these houses determines the personality, status, popularity, and support available to the native. In a sense, stronger these houses, high the status of the native. These houses are doors to your life, and hence Zodiacs having malefic lords are considered good here, as the gate keeper should be strong to protect.

Dushsthana Houses - These houses are considered malefic houses as the negative aspect of life is been depicted from these houses. Basically, these houses are responsible to give pain or suffering, it is said that by going through these sufferings, the soul evolves. Malefic planets in these houses are considered good, as negative of negative becomes positive. If the lord of 6th, 8th or 12th are placed in either of 6th, 8th or 12th houses, then it forms Vipreet Raj Yoga, which is considered good for the native. 

Upachaya Houses - Upachaya houses are called self-improving houses or the houses of growth. The affairs connected with these houses are based on the exercise of free will of the individual and cannot be dictated or imposed upon by the destiny. Which means that the planets placed in these houses improves their own signification with time with the effort of the individual. Point to note here is that it involves 6th and 10th house which are the houses of daily activities, services and profession or simply put the house of karma, so depending on your act or karma these houses give growth and good results. Since these are 4 houses out of 12, we can say that at least about 33% is Free Will each individual have and rest is destined to happen based on past and current life karma this number can change based on the karmic baggage one has to clear in this life.