If you’re into astrology, you’ve probably heard about Ophiuchus – the relatively new 13th sign of the zodiac. No, this is not just a bunch of blabbering: it’s actually scientifically based.
According to this theory, all of our signs are kind of mixed up, and it’s possible that you don’t actually belong to the astrological sign you spent your entire life identifying with.
Crazy, I know. But, by all odds, this is a new reality we should be getting used to.
What’s the difference? Well, the key is in the time when the sun passes through a certain zodiacal constellation.
But, before I get you all confused, let’s start from the beginning and fill you in on details regarding Ophiuchus.
What Is Ophiuchus?
Ophiuchus is a constellation, but also a horoscope sign.
Parke Kunkle, a famous astronomer, introduced the possibility of the 13th zodiac sign in 2011, and ever since, this subject has been under debate.
While some astrologers agree with Kunkle, some reject this notion and decide to stick with the 12-sign zodiac pattern.
Ophiuchus pronunciation and origin
It doesn’t matter what your native language is, Ophiuchus seems impossible to pronounce. Let me help you out: it’s Oph·i·u·chi-(oh-FEW-kuss /ɒfiˈjuːkəs/).
Not a piece of cake, I know, but I promise you: we’ll get used to it.
The name comes from ancient Greek mythology (Ὀφιοῦχος). Ophiuchus represents the healer, Asclepius, who is considered to be the first doctor in history.
According to mythology, Jupiter or Zeus killed Asclepius because he threatened to make the entire humankind immortal.
In Latin, it’s Aesculapius, and it literally means the serpent bearer or Serpentarius.
Ophiuchus Constellation
Have you heard about Kepler’s Supernova which exploded in 1604? Well, according to Johannes Kepler’s drawings, it exploded in the Ophiuchus’ foot.
That information alone is enough for us to know that this large constellation straddles the equator.
To be exact, every year, for about two weeks, the Sun is inside the boundaries of the Ophiuchus constellation, which gives it membership in the zodiac crowd.
If you need more proof, let me tell you that Bernard’s star, the second-closest star to Earth (around 6 light-years away) is a part of the Ophiuchus constellation.
The constellation of Ophiuchus is situated between Aquila, Serpens, Scorpius (the Scorpion is beneath its feet), Sagittarius, and Hercules, northwest of the center of the Milky Way.
In Babylonian astronomy, there was a constellation called Sitting Gods. Even though Babylonians called it differently, it was placed in the area of today’s Ophiuchus.
The brightest star of the constellation is Alpha Ophiuchi, also known as the Rasalhague (the head of Ophiuchus). Eta Ophiuchi and Zeta Ophiuchi are also significant stars for this constellation.
Ophiuchus Zodiac Sign
The famous astronomer, Ptolemy, listed Ophiuchus as one of the 48 constellations, and he considered it to be a zodiacal constellation.
According to NASA, the Babylonians were also familiar with it. But, they chose to have 12 astrological signs because of the 12 calendar months.
The 12-sign zodiac divides the ecliptic into 12 equal parts, and it’s not so strictly connected with the constellations of the zodiac.
Nevertheless, today, some astrologers claim that it should be the 13th sign.
You should be born between November 29 and December 17 to belong to the sign of Ophiuchus. Basically, if you have been a Sagittarius, it’s likely that your entire horoscope life was a lie until now.
Ophiuchus Traits
What are Ophiuchus’s personality traits? What makes them so special? What are their good and bad sides? Let’s find out.
Positive characteristics
I’ll start explaining things from the brighter side. But, that shouldn’t be much of a problem, having in mind all the great positive traits everyone belonging to this sign has.
Curious
The first thing that characterizes people belonging to this zodiac sign is, without a doubt, their curious nature. They adore digging under the surface, and are always exploring new things.
Creative
Also, they’re extremely creative. It’s not uncommon for them to be highly talented artists. This is something they have in common with their Pisces neighbors.
Intelligent
Ophiuchus is an incredibly smart zodiac sign. They’re sharp-minded and get everything. Frequently, they’re highly educated people who build successful careers.
Happy and optimistic
If you know someone who always has a bright smile on their face no matter what’s going on around them, it’s likely that they’re Ophiuchus. These people have an incredible ability to find a silver lining to every cloud.
People love spending time with them due to this, and that’s what makes them so popular.
No, this doesn’t mean that they’re clueless about the harsh reality – they just choose to be optimistic about everything they experience.
Honest
You know that brutally honest friend? The only one who has the guts to tell you out loud what everyone else is thinking and whispering behind your back?
Well, it seems that you’ve got yourself a Serpentarius. They despise lies and love the truth, even if it’s painful.
Negative characteristics
Nevertheless, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. The serpent bearers have their set of flaws. After all, they’re only humans.
Jealous
Let’s not forget that the Scorpion lies on the foot of the constellation of Ophiuchus. Therefore, their jealousy shouldn’t come to you as a surprise.
Serpens is a possessive sign. Not only that: they’re also extremely clingy, and that’s probably their biggest flaw.
Overly judgmental and critical
Another negative characteristic common to the Serpent Bearer is the fact that they’re overly critical. Yes, you love the fact that they tell you the truth, but you don’t want them pointing out each one of your imperfections, do you?
In fact, a lot of people consider them to be toxic because of this trait.
But, you know what? They’re not like that towards others only. They behave the same way towards themselves as well.
Inconsistent
This is the sign you can never know what to expect from. They’re not the most loyal people in the world, and some even accuse them of being inconsistent.
It’s all fun and games when you just hang out with them. Nevertheless, this becomes an issue when you’re best friends or romantic partners.
Ophiuchus Compatibility
Who is their potential soulmate? And, who is their match made in hell?
Compatible with: Pisces, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer, Aries, and Gemini
Non-compatible with: Virgo, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Aquarius
To Wrap Up:
If you still have doubts about whether Ophiuchus is a real horoscope sign, I suggest you look into all of these traits mentioned above.
Can you relate to most of them? This is especially important for those of you who could never truly identify with being a Sag.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice if you’ll believe in it or not.