In a world where decisions are often made based on logic and common sense, there remains a significant portion of the population entranced by the mystique of astrology. Horoscopes, star signs, and cosmic alignments hold sway over many, shaping their beliefs, behaviours, and even life choices. However, recent revelations from the realm of astronomy have cast a celestial shadow over the traditional zodiac, challenging age-old perceptions and sparking intrigue among believers and sceptics alike.

According to NASA’s latest calculations, there’s a cosmic twist in the tale of the zodiac: there aren’t just 12, but 13 zodiac signs. Enter Ophiuchus, the thirteenth sign, pronounced “oh-FEW-kuss,” a name unfamiliar to many in the realm of Western astrology but not entirely unknown in other astrological traditions.

Ophiuchus, nestled along the ecliptic—the celestial highway where the Sun, Moon, and planets traverse—has long been omitted from the Western zodiac due to ancient superstitions surrounding the number 13. Despite its absence in mainstream astrological discourse, Ophiuchus has quietly observed the dance of celestial bodies, its significance subtly acknowledged by sidereal and Vedic astrologers.

The revelation of Ophiuchus brings into question the very foundations of astrology as we know it. Ancient Babylonians, the architects of the zodiac we adhere to today, divided the ecliptic into 12 equal parts, assigning each segment a constellation—a method akin to slicing a cosmic pizza into twelve neatly portioned pieces. However, this tidy arrangement belies the intricacies of the celestial sphere. The constellations vary in size and shape, causing the Sun to spend varying durations aligned with each sign.

As Earth’s axis gradually shifts over millennia, the alignment of the Sun with the constellations evolves, leading to a misalignment between astrological signs and their corresponding constellations. The discrepancy between astronomical reality and astrological tradition is apparent: while the zodiac comprises twelve equal segments, the constellations themselves vary in length, with the Sun spending differing amounts of time within each.

The Babylonians lived over 3,000 years ago. They divided the zodiac into 12 equal parts – like cutting a pizza into 12 equal slices. They picked 12 constellations in the zodiac, one for each of the 12 “slices.” So, as Earth orbits the sun, the sun would appear to pass through each of the 12 parts of the zodiac. Since the Babylonians already had a 12-month calendar (based on the phases of the moon), each month got a slice of the zodiac all to itself.

But even according to the Babylonians’ own ancient stories, there were 13 constellations in the zodiac. So they picked one, Ophiuchus, to leave out. Even then, some of the chosen 12 didn’t fit neatly into their assigned slice of the pie and crossed over into the next one.

When the Babylonians first invented the 12 signs of zodiac, a birthday between about July 23 and August 22 meant being born under the constellation Leo. Now, 3,000 years later, the sky has shifted because Earth’s axis (North Pole) doesn’t point in quite the same direction.

The constellations are different sizes and shapes, so the sun spends different lengths of time lined up with each one. The line from Earth through the sun points to Virgo for 45 days, but it points to Scorpius for only 7 days.  To make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar, the Babylonians ignored the fact that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations, not 12. Then they assigned each of those 12 constellations equal amounts of time.

So, where does Ophiuchus fit into the cosmic narrative? While its inclusion may disrupt the tidy symmetry of the zodiac, it’s unlikely to herald a seismic shift in astrological practice. The enduring appeal of the traditional twelve signs persists, and their symbolism is deeply ingrained in the cultural consciousness. Ophiuchus may linger at the fringes of astrological discourse, a cosmic outlier challenging established norms, but its influence remains a matter of interpretation rather than empirical certainty.

NASA, in its clarification, underscores a crucial point: astronomy and astrology are distinct disciplines. While astronomers explore the cosmos through a lens of empirical observation and scientific inquiry, astrologers interpret celestial phenomena through a lens of symbolism, myth, and subjective interpretation. The study of the heavens may reveal cosmic truths, but the practice of astrology remains rooted in belief rather than empirical evidence.

While this explanation should clear up any remaining confusion, NASA stresses one major point: Astrology is something else. It’s not science. Zodiacal signs are of equal length whereas the zodiacal constellations are not equal in length.

In the realm of astrology, belief holds sway over empirical truth, and symbolism transcends scientific rigour. Whether Ophiuchus ascends to the forefront of astrological discourse or fades into cosmic obscurity, its emergence serves as a poignant reminder: amidst the vastness of the cosmos, there’s always room for cosmic surprises, challenging our perceptions and inviting us to gaze ever deeper into the celestial unknown.

Whether or not you believe horoscopes are worthwhile, it seems Ophiuchus won’t be disrupting our astrological zodiac any time soon. 🙂