I ignored all the zodiacal theories for the past two years, the ones that questioned the long-enstated system of horoscopic interpretation. Instead, I read such books as Chart Interpretation Handbook by Stephen Arroyo, All Signs Rising by E. Wade, Esoteric Astrology by Douglas Baker, Astrological Body Types by Judith Hill, Essays on Astrology by Robert Hand, Linda Goodman’s Love Signs by Linda Goodman, Planets in Composite by Robert Hand, among so many others, all of which are based on the traditional zodiac.
In fact, though, there ought to be not 12 astrological signs, but 22. This is based on which constellations pass through the trail of the Sun according to Earth’s position. For those who doubt a geocentric perspective, it is necessary in accordance with how the stars might affect us specifically. If we were to, say, occupy a different planet within our solar system, or even one in a distant galaxy, this naturally would change our theory of the stars. With the given signs and constellations commonly asserted, I have entered the renewed dates with the semi-commonly accepted 13th sign of the zodiac Ophiuchus, also known as Serpentarius. A rough outline as to the order, though certainly written by myself, not a professional, is as follows:
1. Pisces 12 March – 18 April
2. Cetus
3. Aries 19 April – 13 May
4. Orion
5. Taurus 14 May – 19 June
6. Auriga
7. Gemini 20 June – 20 July
8. Cancer 21 July – 9 August
9. Hydra
10. Sextans
11. Crater
12. Leo 10 August – 15 September
13. Corvus
14. Virgo 16 September – 30 October
15. Libra 31 October – 22 November
16. Scorpio 23 November – 29 November
17. Ophiuchus 30 November – 17 December
18. Scutum
19. Sagittarius 18 December – 18 January
20. Capricorn 19 January – 15 February
21. Aquarius 16 February – 11 March
22. Pegasus
These are based in large upon Ptolemy’s studies, as well as the ever-reliable Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus.
While all this information confuses my previous astrological education, it is invigorating to know the changing reality of the universe. The shifting of the traditional signs’ dates concurs with the wobbling of the Earth’s axis (thanks to its gravitational attraction with the Moon), maintaining a 25,800 year cycle. The dates strictly adhere to when we currently see each constellation in the Sun’s horizon.
I am particularly intrigued by Ophiuchus, the Serpent Holder. Mythologically, this constellation can be linked to Asclepius, the god of Medicine. Orphaned early on, he learned much of what he knew from his adoptive father, Chiron (represented by Sagittarius), concocting remedies, and gained the power to revive the dead, thus outsourcing Chiron. Asclepius’ main symbol was the serpent for its shedding of skin annually, thus an image of renewal.
