Is Ophiuchus fake like the 12 other zodiac signs in astrology?

Is Ophiuchus fake like the 12 other zodiac signs in astrology? This is a question I answered on Quora. Homepage Topic 1 image

This does make me smile... When having a go at astrology, one of the arguments that astronomers and sceptics love to drag up, is the constellation of Ophiuchus. It being the 13th constellation along the ecliptic belt - thus challenging the traditional twelve constellations of astrology. And now you question if it is "fake." Get out of here! That is blasphemous. Astronomers will be on your tail for doubting their wisdom.

Ophiuchus is not fake

Ophiuchus is not fake. Unless you want to argue that all constellations are fake. They are afterall human-made patterns of stars to help us identify a piece of the night sky. The stars involved do not necessarily have any relationship with each other - and can be a huge number of light years apart.

Neither are the 12 zodiac signs

The ancient Greeks (via the astronomer, Ptolemy) listed 48 constellations in the night sky - with 12 of these being along the ecliptic, making up the zodiac signs - that you also question if fake (and no they are all real and acceptable constellations). During the 1930s the International Astronomical Union (IAU) revised up this listing to 88 constellations. See The Constellations. Constellations on the ecliptic | 600x96 image

Constellations on the ecliptic | 600x96 image

And out of this revision, it argued for Ophiuchus being the 13th constellation along the ecliptic - with the constellation jutting in at Scorpio. If you look at the illustration above you will see that Scorpius (Scorpio) in any case wraps around Ophiuchus to link up with Sagittarius - that does it for me. Ophiuchus used to be called the Serpent Bearer which seems fitting in the way it is so often used to undermine astrology.

Mad astrologers

With all the noise about Ophiuchus, one or two astrologers began fitting it into their zodiac scheme. To me this is barmy and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the basics of astrology. Astrologers in the know retain the 12 constellations (if they are using the sidereal zodiac that is, and not the tropical zodiac), as astrology is built on the number 12 (that emerges out of the signs matrix) and not how many constellations are now deemed to live along the ecliptic. ______________ Visit SomeInspiration.com to find out more about astrology - and get a Free book into the bargain. You’ve nothing to lose…

You might also like:

How do you explain the fact that most professional astronomers do not believe in astrology? Do Christians believe in astrology? What is the basis of astrology?

Question 2

Can a birth-chart predict likeabililty and popularity?

Francis O'Neill · Accepted Answer

Can a birth-chart predict likeabililty and popularity?

Can a birth-chart predict likeabililty and popularity? The original question: Is it possible for a person's birth chart to predict their likability or popularity among others? I originally answered this question on Quora.

I would put it this way: It is (of course) possible for a person's birth-chart to provide insight into their potential "likeability or popularity." Homepage Topic 1 image

One can, for example, easily take stock of their introversion/extraversion tendencies from their chart, and note how this ties in with their rising sign, Sun and Moon signs and houses. An emphasis of positive signs tends towards outgoingness and interaction with others. An emphasis of negative signs tends towards ingoingness and often less need of interaction with others. But let me try to make something (of what I believe) clear here, in context with our being human. An astrological birth-chart represents, in symbolical form, the Time situation a soul has entered into, and the potential that springs from that. What a soul does with their situation ultimately depends upon them and how self-awake they are (conscious or unconscious) to the tendencies within them, and life choices they are making. In this scenario, use of word “predict” should be handled with care.

You might also like:

Why am I facing so much financial hardship? What are the consequences of Mars and Saturn conjunction in general? In what ways can astrology be used to understand oneself and others?

Question 3

Why am I facing so much financial hardship

Francis O'Neill · Accepted Answer

Why am I facing so much financial hardship?
What are the consequences of Mars and Saturn conjunction in general?
In what ways can astrology be used to understand oneself and others?

"Why am I facing so much financial hardship along with health issues? My DOB is September 10, 1995 at 11:55 AM in Sitapur." was a question I answered on Quora.

Following your direct message request to me, and telling me about what you are going through right now; here's something to think on. I'm not doing a chart reading here but picking up on an obvious point or two. This is from a Western astrological perspective. I would have thought you'd have enough to go on from the Vedic astrologers. I hope this doesn't create more conflict for you - in your understanding. From a Western perspective, you have Sagittarius rising, with Jupiter conjunct the ascendant. This is a strongly positive and optimistic theme. You'll tend to project a person who sees the glass as half-full - rather than half-empty. I suspect you can normally draw into your life what you want and be fine. A birth-chart part image

But notice (in the illustration) you have a pretty much loaded 2nd house with Uranus and Neptune. Keynotes of Uranus are drama and change. Keynotes of Neptune are illusion and transformation. The 2nd house is all about money, possessions, security. I'm sure you have learnt to live with the potential peaks and troughs of this arrangement. Certainly, if you play the market and shares you will know what I mean by that. But there is something else that has added to this challenging concoction. Pluto has been moving through your 2nd house for some time. From around early 2019 it linked up first with Neptune and then came up to link up with Uranus - and still very present at this point. So, if you are feeling insecure, having negative thoughts, it would not surprise me, with this arrangement. This is like taking your ship into and through a storm with huge seas/swells. All in the 2nd house of what you own. This is/has been a challenging period. I hope you are learning from it. You can either sit this trend out by trusting your ship is watertight enough to get you through. Or you can take appropriate action. Pluto will want to get rid of any deadwood you are carrying - to be your more authentic self. You have to lift your spiritual health/endeavours in whatever way that means for you. You certainly need to listen to your heart for the passage through this storm/Time period. If sitting tight, consider that Pluto is going direct on the 11th Oct and then moving away from the two planets. It will still be in your 2nd house for some time but I'd anticipate the storm will be gradually passing. Odd to say, but try and make the best use of it. I hope this helps.

What is the reason for having two sun signs for each zodiacal sign? Is this accurate or not, and why are there two of them?

"What is the reason for having two sun signs for each zodiacal sign? Is this accurate or not, and why are there two of them?" is a question I answered on Quora.

Your question is confusing. You cannot have "two sun signs for each zodiacal sign."

A sun sign IS a zodiacal sign occupied by the Sun. But, what I think you are asking is why are there two zodiacs - which can provide two sun signs. Well, you see there are two. And in the words of Michael Caine, "Not a lot of people know that!" I'll come onto answering your question below but first a bit about the two zodiacs... There is the sidereal zodiac and there is the tropical zodiac. The fact that not many people know of this isn't surprising really, especially as pop astrology gets the two confused in its simplistic representation of Western astrology.

Sidereal Zodiac

The sidereal zodiac is drawn from the constellations of stars around the ecliptic belt - or the path the Earth takes around the Sun. This zodiac is mainly used in Vedic astrology. Some Western astrologers also make use of it.

Tropical Zodiac

The tropical zodiac is based upon the seasons of the Earth to the Sun. The spring equinox marks the beginning of the cycle of twelve 30 degree signs. Cancer begins at the summer solstice, Libra at autumn equinox, and the winter solstice at the beginning of Capricorn. You could say that the only star involved in this zodiac is the Sun. This zodiac is mainly used in Western astrology.

Precession of the Equinoxes

At one time there was just the one zodiac. Everything lined up. The cause of there being two zodiacs is due to precession of the equinoxes. This was discovered over two thousand years ago. What it means is that our spring equinox is gradually moving backwards against the background stars (of the sidereal zodiac) and it takes around 26k years to complete one cycle. The two zodiacs are now out of line with each other to the tune of around 24 degrees. Our spring equinox is currently passing through the sidereal sign of Pisces - and heading towards Aquarius (hence the anticipated Age of Aquarius - which some will argue we are already in) So, to answer your question: A person with their Sun at say 10 degrees of Scorpio (Scorpio Sun sign) in the tropical zodiac, will also have their Sun at 16 degrees of Libra (24 degrees back) in the sidereal zodiac. They therefore technically have two sun-signs across different systems. If the same person had their Sun at say 25 degrees of Scorpio in the tropical system, they would still have their Sun in Scorpio in the other - at 1 degree. This can all get confusing, so if you want my advice, it is stick with one system. I hope this helps.

You might also like:

Do astrologers go through an astronomical report? Why does the same natal chart play differently? Why do people believe in astrology?