Natalie Stargazer
Natalie Stargazer
Sidereal astrologer

16 years ago

The presence of Ophiuchus on the ecliptic circle is a well-known fact. It's located between Sagittarius and Scorpio, and, according to the established opinion, is either completely or partially absorbed by Scorpio constellation. However, if you look closely at the map of the celestial sphere, you may be surprised to find that Ophiuchus covers the ecliptic much more than Scorpio. This means that the Sun stays in this constellation for a long time - in fact, 18 days a year. And, given the astrological principle that the energy of the constellations affects the inhabitants of the Earth, we can conclude that Ophiuchus persons are born much more often than Scorpios ones. But how can we adapt the astrological knowledge accumulated over the centuries to interpret the new constellation of the Zodiac? Maybe we can fill in the missing gaps with the help of Ophiuchus? Let's figure it out.

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Regarding Scorpio, I recall many interesting and ambiguous statements, for example:

«Scorpio is the most difficult zodiac sign. People born under his patronage are divided into two types: an eagle and a spider»
«The Scorpio personality — is a volatile combination of antagonistic forces»
«The duality of nature makes Scorpio mysterious…»
«Children of Pluto are choleric by nature with a touch of phlegmatic»

Here's another saying:

«The symbol of Scorpio was understood and depicted differently in the early epochs — mainly as a scorpion and snake; less often as a dragon (in this case, it correlated with the eagle). In the current era, its symbol is depicted as a scorpion who has a tail with a sting»

It seems that this apparent complexity and duality of Scorpio is explained by the erroneous merging of its features with the characteristics of Ophiuchus.

 

What is Ophiuchus like? And which element does it belong to?

Take a look at the starry sky map: the zodiac constellations are colored according to their elements:

  • red — fire (creativity, initiative),
  • green — earth (solidity, tranquility),
  • yellow — air (variability, mobility),
  • blue — water (excitement, adaptability).

 

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4 elements alternate 3 times in the represented zodiac signs and are strictly ordered: fire is always followed by earth, then air and water. There is a certain qualitative development hidden in this cyclical series - from a young and hot Aries to kind and understanding Pisces.

Wedged between Scorpio and Sagittarius, Ophiuchus, of course, breaks visible harmony: 12 signs, 4 elements, 4 squares, 3 crosses, 3 zones... But how can we ignore it now? It occupies its place on the ecliptic and appears in all astronomical maps and calculations.

On the other hand, this breakdown is characterized by the essence of Ophiuchus - to depart from stereotypes for the sake of truth, to break outdated views, to build a new system instead of the old one. Let's try to build it without breaking the dialectic of the Zodiac.

 

Why Fire instead of Water?

So, we have 2 constellations - Scorpio and Sagittarius: the first belongs to the element of Water, the second belongs to the element of Fire. There is no point in wedging another element between them, because the elements are global categories of astrology, and Fire must follow Water. So, let's assume that Ophiuchus must be either a follower of the philosophy of the water Scorpio, or the initiator of the philosophy of the fiery Sagittarius. It must be the Fire element, because Ophiuchus is easier to imagine as an active (male) sign than a passive (female) one. The image of a thunderer or a man with a gun has nothing to do with a water Scorpio, which is prone to static, depth, thoughtfulness, and reflection. Ophiuchus doesn't tolerate or resist, he just leaves and does it his own way (he's an energetic person who is not used to getting attached to something).

Let's go back to the beginning of the Zodiac: the first fiery sign is Aries, the symbol of birth and the formation of life. Every astrologer knows that without creative energy (which are personified by the element of Fire), a person cannot declare himself and fight for his life to take a worthy place under the sun among other people. Isn't this the life-giving energy needed by Ophiuchus to be able to overcome the decadent tendencies of a dying and disappointed Scorpio?

Many astrologers are used to putting both death and rebirth into Scorpio, but the zodiac sign cannot represent both! It's impossible to be a pessimist and an optimist at the same time, - this isa state of some kind of rushing and hopeless paralysisnot, not a state of movement. According to the zodiacal dialectic, the energy of Scorpio should have its logical continuation in the constellation, which will bring it back to life in a new capacity, and then relay the message to the following signs.

Scorpio seems to represent death, but it's not at the end of the Zodiac... Therefore, his despair seems unnatural and premature: this is not a physiological death, but just fatigue caused by his own skepticism and pessimism; a midlife crisis. A person shouldn't run out of steam halfway through, especially since his inner potential allows him to move on, to build a new life in order to overcome the accumulated problems. In order to find the necessary strength, he needs Fire - selfish, ardent and impetuous, burning all bridges, - not Water with its patience and doom; not the Earth with its static and coldness; and not the Air with its loyalty and superficiality.

Thus, the fiery energy of Aries is projected into a completely opposite area of the Zodiac, endowing Ophiuchus with similar fighting skills. The only difference is that Aries represents a new life created from nothing, while Ophiuchus represents a qualitative rebirth of the same personality. Aries is a young warrior, while Ophiuchus is experienced one, - he has been through a lot, and has something to lose. The first is ruled by Mars - the god of aggression and war; the secondis ruled by Proserpine, the symbol of transformation and transfiguration (it's also a planet with a fiery nature).

 

Ophiuchus and Sagittarius

Well, let's say we understand Scorpio and Ophiuchus well. But how to link Ophiuchus and Sagittarius, because they are also elements of the same thread?

It's even simpler: Scorpio is known as the main skeptic and pessimist of the Zodiac, while Sagittarius, on the contrary, is an optimist and well-wisher. It's not so easy to turn from a pessimist to an optimist, - a break is required, a change in his usual opinion, the courage to overcome his skepticism and suspicion, the desire to draw a line and start a new life. The Ophiuchus will be most welcome here. Because Scorpio represents impasse, hopelessness and lack of faith; but Sagittarius is a symbol of expansion and promotion. If Sagittarius had followed Scorpio, he would spread the negative around him, which is the main thing that Scorpio can give. But in the case of Ophiuchus, he has already destroyed and devastated everything that has become obsolete, and Sagittarius naturally has a space that can be mastered. His consciousness is unlimited, so he can begin to expand in any direction. It would be much more difficult to do this from Scorpio's dead-end and crisis-like mindset. Ophiuchus is here to overcome the crisis and introduce risky changes that he's not afraid of.

 

Why not Ether?

During the discussion, the question arises: what if Ophiuchus (an outcast and impostor of the Zodiac) is not of this world and doesn't belong to any of the elements in the "harmonious" zodiac circle? Besides Fire, Earth, Air and Water, there is also Ether.

The answer: it's unlikely, because during the moving of the Solar System planets through the Ophiuchus region, the ordinary people are born. Their destiny, like everyone else's, is to follow the karmic path of retribution and purification during their incarnation. But Ether, according to esoteric astrology, is an element unrelated to human development.

 

Ophiuchus symbols

If we divide the dual Scorpio symbols between him and Ophiuchus, then it would be logical to keep the spider for Scorpio, and to give the eagle for Ophiuchus, - the Phoenix bird, reborn from the ashes, and just very suitable for him in terms of philosophy and behavior.

The infinity sign is one of the astrological symbols of Ophiuchus; it also eloquently describes the meaning of this zodiac sign, - the ability to survive, to continue, not to die, but to rise again.

Well, the planetary ruler of Ophiuchus is Proserpine, which is a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

In my opinion, everything fell into place.

If we talk about total break, then one of the Western sidereal astrology even use the 13-house system, which is correlated with the 13-sign Zodiac. But I haven't used it yet, I need to study it first.

 

 

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