Horoscopes

Ophiuchus and the "New Zodiac" -- Busted!

Posted Jan 13th 2011 at 9:00PM by Tarot.com, Tarot.com

The current media hype about Ophiuchus as "the new 13th zodiac sign" has sent folks spinning into an astrological identity crisis. But the whole thing is untrue!

"Ophiuchus has nothing to do with western astrology," said expert astrologer Rick Levine. "It's not an astrology issue. It has to do with the stars -- it's not a sign, it's a constellation."

"There are four seasons each with a beginning, middle and end," Levine continued. "That makes 12 zodiac signs, and there's no such thing as a 13th astrological sign."

So why are people freaking out, wondering if they went to bed last night a Gemini and woke up a Taurus? Here are the answers you've been waiting for on this cosmic controversy:

What is Ophiuchus?
Ophiuchus is a large modern constellation commonly represented as a man grasping the snake represented by the constellation Serpens.

Is Ophiuchus the 13th zodiac sign?
No. Ophiuchus is just a constellation. Even the founding text for astrology (Tetrabiblos by Claudius Ptolemy, written 170 AD) mentions just 12 signs. Though a very small fraction of western astrologers who follow a different, constellation-based zodiac, or those who follow Vedic astrology, may use Ophiuchus as the 13th zodiac sign, or assign different dates to the signs used in western astrology.

How did this whole myth get started?
It began when astronomy professor Parke Kunkle of Minneapolis Community and Technical College told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about the procession of stars over time. He said "Three thousand years ago the sun was 'in' whatever it was in. Now it's about a whole constellation off from that." Kunkle's quote was picked up by FOX News and other media outlets, and the false information went viral because people mistakenly assume that astrology is based on the constellations. But that's not true at all.

So what is the truth?
Western astrology is based on the four seasons, not on constellations -- and the seasons don't change. As Levine said above, there are four seasons, each with a with a beginning, middle and end, which adds up to 12 zodiac signs. There is no 13th sign. Period.

What can we learn from this?
Listen to the experts, and don't believe everything you read until you check your facts. There are a lot of people out there who think they understand astrology -- or any other subject -- when they really don't.

What does this mean for you?
Nothing! Your zodiac sign hasn't changed, and it never will. Learn your real Sun sign based on western astrology -- your personalized Cosmic Profile shows your Sun, Moon and Rising signs -- plus so much more -- and it's FREE!

Filed Under: Astrology News