Ketu in the 1st house (Tanu / Lagna, the house of self) brings the significations of Ketu, namely spirituality & moksha, detachment, past-life karma, into the area of the self, body and the lens through which the whole chart is read. The 1st house governs self & personality, physical body & appearance, health & vitality, temperament.
Results of Ketu in the 1st House
Ketu is a malefic planet, so here it tends to bring confusion, sudden losses, feeling lost, and unexplained anxieties focused on the self, body and the lens through which the whole chart is read. As an angular (kendra) house, this placement strongly shapes the overall life direction. As a trine (trikona) house of fortune, benefic influence here is especially auspicious.The exact result depends on which sign Ketu occupies here and the aspects it receives.
When It Activates
These results typically surface during the Vimshottari mahadasha or antardasha of Ketu, and when transiting planets trigger the 1st house. A well-placed Ketu here supports good health, a strong personality, confidence and a clear life direction; when afflicted it can indicate poor health, low self-image and a life that feels directionless.