Am I An Ophiuchus?
About That Pesky News Mishap…
Every two or three years it seems that some scientist will announce the “discovery” that astrologers have gotten their signs wrong and that all you Virgos have actually been Leos all along. The latest episode also involved the insertion of Ophiuchus into the mix – that some of you Sagittarians are actually Ophiucans. Now, this could be worth a little confusion – I’d love to see ten Sagittarians competing over who could best say “Ophiuchus” three times fast, all the while drinking tequila. The prize would go to the one who managed to do it without uttering a familiar expletive which begins with the letter “f.”
Here’s the truth of it: don’t worry, all you Virgos can remain Virgos and there are no Ophiucans among us at all.
There are two things going on here. The first one has to do with this notion that we have gotten our signs wrong. Western astrology is based on the seasons, not the constellations — Equinoxes and Solstices, not stars. What we call “Aries” starts with where the Sun is on the first day of Spring. That point drifts gradually along the track of the zodiacal constellations, passing through all of them every 26,000 year or so. It is true that not every “Aries” was born with the Sun in that constellation. No problem; the constellation has nothing to do with it. It did, once, many, many years ago. But then the astrologer-astronomers noticed this drift, called the Precession of the Equinoxes, and began to correct for it.
What about Ophiuchus? Well, the familiar constellations were basically folklore, without formal boundaries or definitions until fairly recently. In 1929 and 1930, the International Astronomical Union nailed it all down officially, drawing lines around the constellations, eliminating some – and adding some new territory to the old constellation Ophiuchus which now overlapped the ecliptic. Thus did Ophiucus, for the first time in history, become “the thirteenth sign.” Suffice to say that these are same idiots who more recently delivered the brilliant notion that Pluto is no longer a planet.
So Virgos are Virgos and Ophiucans are unicorns, and that’s all you need to know.
-Steven
Jupiter in Aries - Pick Your Battles!
On December 20, Jupiter returns to Aries after a little vacation in Pisces. It won’t be there long – just five short months, crossing into Taurus in mid-May 2023. The effect of that quick passage is sheer compression – opportunities will appear and disappear like tricks of the light. The phrase “seize the day” will actually work literally – make your move today because tomorrow will be too late. But what move? Doors will open, but not all of them lead to places you really want to go. Split-second decisions can shape the rest of your life, for good or for ill. You’ll need the reflexes – and the discernment – of a fighter pilot. Steven’s got an Aries Moon – and a few scars to prove it. Let him help you prepare to choose the right battles to win.Reinvention in 2011
by Tony Howard
As we leap into 2011, I can feel a buzz in the air. Dramatic news has already captured the public’s attention, people are making new starts left and right, and I’m placing my bets on Jupiter and Uranus stirring the pot quite vigorously this year as they both move into Aries.
Many of us experience the new year as a time of renewal and fresh starts, and with 2 major planets soon moving into Aries, we’ll have some extra energy at hand to push us in new directions of reinvention. It will be interesting to see what develops.
Yes, there is fear in the air. And anger. And violence. And there will likely be more of that to come. But I have my sights set on the possibilities, and I highly recommend that approach!
Steven’s teachings guide us in that direction – not to “accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative” as the classic Harold Arlen song dictates. But to take in the whole picture, the good, the bad – everything. Digest it, accept it, and then with a good dose of Aries “damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” attitude, set your sites on the changes that are in your power to make. And that’s something to be excited about.
Thanks for your support and for sharing this newsletter with friends and on Facebook.
Warm wishes,
Tony Howard
2011 Dates to remember:
- Jupiter moves into Aries January 20
- Uranus moves into Aries March 12
- Neptune moves into Pisces March 4 through August 6
Neptune in Pisces
With all the recent astrological focus on Uranus and Pluto, it is easy forget that mystical Neptune will be a major part of the mix for the next thirteen years. As the planet of dreams and visions enters the sign of its modern rulership, its impact on everyone becomes more powerful. What will Neptune’s passage through Pisces add to the current cultural mix?
Tony Howard graduated Summa Cum Laude in history and film from the University of Colorado. His degree turned out to be the perfect precursor to his career in astrology, where his focus includes historical research and chart analysis. His writing has been featured in The Mountain Astrologer and in two Flare anthologies: Astrology, the Next Generation and The Book of Music Horoscopes.
Tony has been researching declination since 2011 and specializes in “out of bounds” planets. He also loves working with and studying aspects, which forms the core of his work with clients. He is the founder of Astrology University.