Your New Star Sign – Part Two

The twelve equal zones that resulted from the Babylonian astronomers dividing the ecliptic (the path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year), are known as – the twelve star signs of the zodiac. However, over the last few years, what has come to light is that the Babylonians also deliberately omitted a thirteenth constellation, named – Ophiuchus.

The astrology world has not only had to contend with the controversy created by precession (the gradual shift in the orientation of Earth’s axis of rotation) causing star sign fans to wonder if in fact they have actually been the star sign they have thought all their lives, but apparently, ‘wait – there’s more…’!

Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer is, and has always been, the 13th constellation on the zodiac belt; but apparently nobody has ever initiated his sign as a member of the Zodiac. One possible explanation is that it would have meant that it would not have been a convenient; one constellation for each of the twelve months of the solar calendar year – although it would have fitted in the 13 month lunar year very nicely.

Another explanation has been said to be that the constellation Ophiuchus was never added to the chart because astrologers believed the Sun went straight from Scorpius (Scorpio) into Sagittarius, even though the Sun travelled through Ophiuchus for nineteen days before entering Sagittarius. Whatever, the reason for the omission, let’s focus on the information available about this long overlooked constellation and star sign.

Ophiuchus – the 13th Sign of the Zodiac:

• Prounounced : O – fee- U – cuss
• named by his relationship to the archetypal being called the Serpent
• commonly represented as a man grasping the snake that is represented by the constellation Serpens, and formerly referred to as Serpentarius
• one of the 48 constellations listed by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy,  and remaining as one of the 88 modern constellations
• the only constellation named after a real human
• honoured for bringing the art of healing to mankind

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Although the stars of this region have been seen as a serpent for thousands of years, their symbolic meaning still remains uncertain. It is believed that the Serpent and its bearer Ophiuchus are related to the Greek healer-god Asclepius. The Greeks believed that the serpents of Asclepius could cure diseases and so belong a long association between serpents and medicine that continues to our own time.

According to the Greek tale, Asclepius was given to the medicine half-man Chiron by his father to care for. He grew up learning the crafts of the medicine man. After having discovered the potency of those herbal remedies from the snakes he then went on to use it on other mortals.

Apparently this didn’t go well with Zeus, the grand master of ‘ruling overlords’. Zeus went to war with Asclepius; striking him down with a thunderbolt. Even though this is a common response from Zeus, he displays some compassion, turning over the constellation of Optics to the care of Asclepius. So humanity once again remains the servants of Zeus the grand master, and Asclepius becomes an immortal.

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The 13 Zodiac Signs

FOR PEOPLE BORN BEFORE 1990 – INLCUDES PRECESSION (Sidereal Astrology)

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The Traditional12 Zodiac Signs – PRIOR TO PRECESSION & ADDING OPHIUCHUS (Tropical Astrology)

Note: Some astrology dates vary according to whether astrologers use tropical or sidereal astrology.

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© Copyright J M Lennox. All Rights Reserved.