13 or 14 Zodiacal Constellations

Many people can easily name the 12 traditional signs of the zodiac. This is the parlance of contemporary western astrological description. There are however, two constellations that impinge upon the zodiacal ecliptic, one of them very significantly. These are Orion and Ophiuchus. Further, all of the signs are not 30 degrees wide uniformly. The uniformity is a largely unspoken consensus at this juncture that most people have come to accept without question. Yet, when we look at a sky map of the constellations and the boundaries now agreed upon for them, we find some interesting discrepancies. Some overlap but off the ecliptic. For the measure of each sign, many take the ecliptic as it cuts through the starry dynamo. This is one of two axes in the sky and for this particular chapter, we look at the ecliptic.

The ecliptic is universal around the world for defining seasons and the passage of the sun, moon and planets. Each culture has different seasons and different stories for the zodiac, but they are universal in the position of the ecliptic. For our western purposes, we define the four seasons and the twelve constellations of the zodiac. In some more ancient systems, there are thirteen signs, but this was reduced to twelve. The Maya for example, have thirteen signs, but they are laid out completely differently than ours. They also have a zodiac and what they call the celestial tree that is defined by the galactic plane. Thus they have three different systems working all at once. We have one, but this needs some examination. Looking at the real layout of the star patterns that make up the zodiac and the boundaries thereof, we find in the argument of the ecliptic the following:

Zodiac sign width along the ecliptic

Constellation = Width in deg - Comments

Aries = 23 degrees

Taurus = 37 degrees

Orion = 3 degrees - Summer solstice (2010-12) part <1 degree south of ecliptic (Heart-of-Sky)

Gemini = 30 degrees

Cancer = 18 degrees

Leo = 41 degrees

Virgo = 42 degrees

Libra = 25 degrees

Scorpio = 5 degrees - Lies mostly S of ecliptic & is almost 30 degrees overlapping Sag & Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus = 20 degrees

Sagittarius = 36 degrees

Capricorn = 28 degrees

Aquarius = 20 degrees - Overlaps Capricorn by 20 degrees N. Of ecliptic

Pisces = 35 degrees

For the sake of argument, the three degrees of Orion's upper part can be said to be not contained in the ecliptic, but the north most boundary lies a mere degree below the ecliptic. Orion marks the point of the summer solstice and also the important “Heart of Sky” in Mayan cosmology. Also important is the position of Ophiuchus near the winter solstice, which itself lies in the constellation of Sagittarius. We may be able to dismiss Orion, but we cannot dismiss Ophiuchus between the arrow of Sagittarius and the tail of Scorpio that occupies a full 20 degrees of the ecliptic, whereas Scorpio's tail occupies only 5 degrees. There is one other consideration for the “Heart of Sky” and that has to do with the orbital inclinations of the planets and moon. Though it is true that the Sun never passes through Orion, it does graze the part closest to the ecliptic. The moon however, has an orbital inclination to the ecliptic of about 5 degrees. It does pass through the “Heart of Sky” on a cyclical basis. When the moon is “below the ecliptic” in its orbit as far as us northerners are concerned and it is lined up with the summer half of the ecliptic, then it will pass directly through Orion. The moons nodes have an 18.6 year cycle, which means that when the moon passes through the descending node on its way to the “Heart of Sky”, it will be in that 9.8 year part of the cycle where it will do so during most of that length of time. The cycle where the moon passes through Orion began on December 21^st 2010 and will do so over the next 9.8 years. When the moon appears above the ecliptic when near the “Heart of Sky”, then the moon never enters Orion and that too has a 9.8 year period. The same is true of all the other planets that have orbital inclinations in relation to the sun-earth ecliptic. Thus, all the planets will pass through the “Heart of Sky” when the orbital alignment and their “season” is in place for that to occur. We will examine all of this in other pages and give a range of dates for each.

When we thus depart form convention, there are other considerations that enter into the picture. This is perhaps one major reason why the equal division of twelve signs was adopted. When looking at the more complex picture, the length of zodiacal ages change, few being equal in extent. The dates for the start of one zodiacal period also differ from what is commonly stated regardless of whether we consider the tropical or sidereal points of view. For the current epoch, the summer solstice lies almost exactly over the boundary between Orion and Gemini, or as more popularly accepted, Gemini and Taurus just on the Taurus (Orion) side. We can thus divide the dates from that location, with Gemini marking the 22^nd day of June in the Sidereal consideration. The Heart-of-Sky location in Orion marks the 21^st day of June. If Gemini thus begins on the 22^nd day of June, it ends on the 21^st day of July. Cancer commences according to this, on the 22^nd of July and ends on August 7^th. Leo follows on the 8^th of August and runs through to September 19^th. On the 20^th of September, Virgo commences and continues through to Octobe4r 31^st. Libra commences on November the 1^st and ends on the 26^th. Scorpio runs from November 27^th through to the December 1^st. Ophiuchus commences on December 2^nd and runs to December 21^st. Sagittarius commences on December 22^nd and ends on January 28^th. Capricorn starts on January 29^th and ends on February 26^th. From there, Aquarius marks the position of the sun from February 27^th through to March 15^th. Pisces starts on March 16^th and runs through to April 20^th. Aries begins on April 21^st to May 14^th. Finally, Taurus commences on May 15^th and carries through to June 21^st, right over the heart of sky.

As the orbit of the earth changes year to year, there are variables such as year to day variables and the precession of the equinox over the long run. No two years will have the same boundary days and generally speaking, the ages precess backward by a day every 72 years, which is why we specify the current epoch of 2010-11 as the mark for this discourse. That being said, we now have to consider the role of Ophiuchus in the context of the Zodiac as there are many who are born under the influence of Ophiuchus, as we all are to a greater or lesser extent.

Ophiuchus; the serpent bearer is wrestling with the serpent in the myth and is the inspiration behind the caduceus of modern medicine where two serpents are entwined around a pole or cross. But as a sign of consideration for a horoscope for those born between December 2^nd to 21^st, astrologers have gathered together a series of traits that would match such a person that include:

• Seeker of peace and wisdom

• Attractor of good luck and jealousy as a consequence

• Interpreter of dreams and has vivid premonitions

• One who reaches for the stars in mind and action

• Wearer of plaid, which is a strange piece of interpretation from a now obscure source

• Has lofty ideals such as religious or social

• Seeks peace and harmony

• Doctor of medicine or science, naturopath, aspirations of healing the ills of man

• Adds, increases, joins, or gathers together

• Poetical, inventive nature

• Seeks higher education and wisdom and may be self educated

• Overseer, lead-hand or supervisor of work

• Fame – infamy

• Tax assessor, or actuary

• Astrological talents, intuitive arts

• May be from or have a large family, but apt to be separated from them when young

• Foresight and good fortune to benefit from hard times

• Secret enemies in family or among close associations

• high position possible in life expected depending on planetary aspects

• Highest fame and legend comes after death

• Wise, genius mentality

• Likes to wear vibrant colours

• Receives the attention of those in authority

All other astrological considerations would still hold. The Heart-of-Sky for June 21^st and from the 20^th through to the 22^nd, hold special significance, especially for the Mayan mindset. From here we can explore what influence various world paradigms have to offer by way of location and time.