Meet Ophiuchus : The 13th Zodiac Sign

According to Greek mythology, the constellation Ophiuchus was once the son of Apollo, Asclepius. Asclepius was known as a healer and possessed the amazing power of bringing the dead back to life. However, when Hades, God of the Underworld and guardian of death, realized that Asclepius had this gift he was furious. Hades insisted that his brother, Zeus, kill Asclepius with his lightning bolt. Eventually Zeus was persuaded by Hades and did kill Asclepius. He then placed him amongst the stars after his death as the constellation, Ophiuchus.

The constellation, Ophiuchus, has been recognizable to astronomers in the skies since ancient times, but is also known as Serpentarius, the serpent holder. Ophiuchus is depicted as a man holding a large snake and dividing his body into two halves. It is thought that astronomers have purposefully excluded Ophiuchus from the wheel of astrological signs because of the fact that the sun only spends around 19 days in this 13th sign of the zodiac. Some believe it would be odd to acknowledge this 13th sign after so many years of conforming to the original 12, but as the heavens have changed over thousands of years so should astronomers who wish to maintain accuracy.

The signs of the Zodiac are mostly just the pathway that the sun takes each year around the heavens, as it would appear from Earth. The constellations, which are represented by the signs, occupy the space in which the Sun appears to travel in throughout the year. Many people are familiar with the original 12 signs; Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. However it is a bit of a well kept secret that there is a 13th sign, Ophiuchus. Whether or not you agree with this new way of looking at the Zodiac, Ophiuchus has made his way into the picture and therefore must be contended with.

Complying with the newest concept in astrology in thousands of years, these are the new dates associated with each sign.

ARIES – APRIL 19 – MAY 13
TAURUS – MAY 14 – JUNE 19
GEMINI – JUNE 20 – JULY 20
CANCER – JULY 21 – AUG 9
LEO – AUGUST 10 – SEPTEMBER 15
VIRGO – SEPTEMBER 16 – OCTOBER 30
LIBRA – OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 22
SCORPIO – NOVEMBER 23 – NOVEMBER 29
OPHIUCHUS – NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 17
SAGITTARIUS – DECEMBER 18 – JANUARY 18
CAPRICORN – JANUARY 19 – FEBRUARY 15
AQUARIUS – FEBRUARY 16 – MARCH 11
PISCES – MARCH 12 – APRIL 18

It seems only fitting that this new astrological sign would also have its own set of personality traits associated with it. Below I have listed a few traits that are known to be linked to Ophiuchus.

– The Ophiuchan is a seeker of wisdom and knowledge
– The Ophiuchan has a flamboyant sense of style, favoring bright colors
– Many people are envious of the Ophiuchan as she/he progresses well in life
– Authority looks well upon the Ophiuchan
– His/Her lucky number is 12
– The Ophiuchan would make a great architect or builder
– Ophiuchan people are likely to have big families, but leave home at an early age
– The Ophiuchan is also known to be an introvert or loner
– The Ophiuchan is one with a secret

Now that we all know a little bit more about Ophiuchus, perhaps he will become somewhat less outcast in the world of the Zodiac. Since time has changed the way we view the heavens, maybe we can change the way we view astrology.