Astral: (Theosophy) Consisting of, belonging to, or designating, a kind of supersensible substance alleged to be next above the tangible world in refinement; as, astral spirits; astral bodies of persons; astral current.
Where’s Ophiuchus?
As we see the Year of the Rabbit occurring in early February and with other minor current events going on these days, perhaps it has slipped under the radar, and many of us may not be aware of the current controversy of the missing Astrological Sign: Where’s Ophiuchus?
As we know, the Astrological Year is divided into the twelve lunar months. However, they are referenced to the 12 solar months, which doesn’t really reconcile if a true lunar month is approximately 28 days (28 days X 12 months = 336 days.) Thus, about 29.25 days are used as “filler” to extend the astrological zodiac over the 365.25 days in the solar year.
The Chinese calendar is based purely on the lunar phases, which is why the lunar New Year shifts each year, with an extra month added each leap year to “balance” the discrepancies. Here’s the recent pattern:
2005 Feb 9
2006 Jan 29
2007 Feb 18
2008 Feb 7
2009 Jan 26
2010 Feb 14
2011 Feb 3
2012 Jan 23
(The Moslem lunar based calendar doesn’t make such an adjustment, which is why Ramadan, the month of fasting, occurs about 11 days earlier each year and the Islamic New Year occurs Dec 7th 2010, Nov. 26th 2011, Nov 15th 2012, etc.)
The recent controversy revolves around the “missing” month of the Zodiac: Ophiuchus, referred to as the “serpent bearer,” which used to be included in the astrological charts until the Babylonians dumped it (for reasons unknown) according to a recent New York Times report. Ophiuchus should fill the time from about Nov 30th until Dec 17th. As the Times reporter, Jesse McKinley, notes, this would make it “the unofficial sign of Holiday Shoppers,” implying this may be the source of the slithering behavior in the malls and highways at that time!
In Western culture, the snake or serpent has a negative connotation, going back to the days of Adam and Eve and the problems caused in the Garden of Eden. However, in Eastern cultures, the snake or serpent is regarded as a symbol of wisdom. (Curiously enough, in the Adam and Eve story the deception on the part of the serpent is only possible because the serpent has wisdom. Unfortunately, the serpent misused the wisdom.)
Ophiuchus is associated with an historical Egyptian figure, Imhotep (mythical Asclepius to the Greeks) reputed to have had wisdom and knowledge in the field of healing and medicine. Apparently, the Babylonians didn’t agree with his bona fides.
If you’re wondering how all this might affect you and/or pick-up lines out in the ‘hood, here’s the suggested revision:
ACTUAL TRUE ZODIAC
1. ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13
2. TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19
3. GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20
4. CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9
5. LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15
6. VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30
7. LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22
8. SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29
9. OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17
10. SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18
11. CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15
12. AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11
13. PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18
Of course, the natural scientists know that the Earth tends to wobble on its pathway, with the North Pole often shifting to point at different stars, so the distinctions may be subject to adjustment.
Even so, according to Rob Brezsny, syndicated horoscope author, “Astrology is a poetic language of the soul, not a scientific method, similar to a Neruda poem, Kandinsky paintings or a Nick Cave song” (McKinley).
As Robert Frost has noted, “And that has made all the difference.”
Walter Lowe
Astral Facts is a monthly presentation of Humanities Science, produced in the bowels of the Humanities Science offices.
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