I'll admit, I'm going to cheat a little bit since other Astrologers have already responded quite eloquently to the issue of the "13th" Sign/Constellation. I will provide links to their articles at the end of this blog entry. But first, let me try to get at the core issue. Ophiuchus is not the core issue, but it does provide, to the non-Astrologer, an opportunity for Astrologers to reveal the core issue of Astrology, and it is this:
Astrology is the interpretation of data and an approximation of information into a meaningful narrative. Essentially, it is a game. And like a game it moves beyond the data and information to make a meaningful experience. Ophiuchus is data that has been consciously ignored and the real question before us is this:
Is the ignoring of Ophiuchus a deal breaker? Is it the Holy Grail of Atheism for Astrology? Is it the arrival of intelligent life from outer space completely obliterating humanity's belief that we alone have consciousness? Not really. But it clearly makes for good press! And here's why ... the Sun moves through/in front of none of the signs/constellations for exactly 30 days. In ALL cases the Sun moves in front of the constellations for differing amounts of time and the shortest of those times is through Scorpius (just 7 days), followed by Ophiuchus (at 18 days). Basically, Scorpius and Ophiuchus got mashed together to fit the 12 month Gregorian Calendar.
Equally important is the fact the Western Astrology uses Seasons, another approximation, to mark the beginning of the signs. So even though the constellations have shifted, we still keep the start of Spring marked at March 22. Here's what Ophiuchus really reveals about Astrology and, honestly, all "mystery"/spiritual systems. They vary. Even within Tropical Astrology you have multiple ways to cast a chart based on different House Systems (over 10). In Astrology generally, you have a two competing systems - Sidereal and Tropical. You have systems that cast out the Houses (cosmobiology, as promoted by Rheinhart Ebertin) and ones that cast out the Signs (Fixed Star Astrology as promoted by Jamie and Marina Darkstar, one of the linked authors below). Maybe Astrology is not your best guide; you can choose palmistry, Runes, Tarot, psychology, or science. Or mix it all up.
In Sidereal Astrology I end up with a Pisces Sun sign and when I look at the fully cast chart, I learn something useful about myself. I bet if I decided to run a chart with Ophiuchus and all the signs/constellations with exactly their time for the Sun to cross the path, I would learn something useful that way as well. The universe is big enough to teach us something using this constellation or ignoring it. What it does not do is throw Astrology into the trash bin; it really helps bring illumination on a subject that, I think, moving into the future, we are going to need more and more help from.
As promised, here's what others have to say:
Philip Young, PhD
Equally important is the fact the Western Astrology uses Seasons, another approximation, to mark the beginning of the signs. So even though the constellations have shifted, we still keep the start of Spring marked at March 22. Here's what Ophiuchus really reveals about Astrology and, honestly, all "mystery"/spiritual systems. They vary. Even within Tropical Astrology you have multiple ways to cast a chart based on different House Systems (over 10). In Astrology generally, you have a two competing systems - Sidereal and Tropical. You have systems that cast out the Houses (cosmobiology, as promoted by Rheinhart Ebertin) and ones that cast out the Signs (Fixed Star Astrology as promoted by Jamie and Marina Darkstar, one of the linked authors below). Maybe Astrology is not your best guide; you can choose palmistry, Runes, Tarot, psychology, or science. Or mix it all up.
In Sidereal Astrology I end up with a Pisces Sun sign and when I look at the fully cast chart, I learn something useful about myself. I bet if I decided to run a chart with Ophiuchus and all the signs/constellations with exactly their time for the Sun to cross the path, I would learn something useful that way as well. The universe is big enough to teach us something using this constellation or ignoring it. What it does not do is throw Astrology into the trash bin; it really helps bring illumination on a subject that, I think, moving into the future, we are going to need more and more help from.
As promised, here's what others have to say:
Philip Young, PhD
THAT WAS TOO TECHNICAL AND DIFFICULT FOR ME.
ReplyDeleteIndian Astrology
13 moonths = 364days = 13 weeks per season with 1 festival day + 13 constellations = Circadian rhythm + repeating calendar ... We are soo out of whack! Sometimes I think everything is a lie
ReplyDeletethoroughly good read :)) thank you!
ReplyDelete