Every once in a while a post will make its rounds on social media with no other purpose than to freak people out about their astrology sign. Have no fear, Libra's, according to modern western astrology you're still a Libra. The sign that seems to be causing all this trouble is associated with the group of stars known as the constellation Ophiucus, or, the serpent-bearer. Modern western astrology does not recognize this constellation as a sign of the zodiac even though its leg passes into the ecliptic. The reasoning why it is not included with the other 12 is largely due to the uncleanliness of the number 13, the small amount of time the sun actually spends passing through the constellation, and that most modern astrology teaching is based in ancient astrological interpretations that exclude the constellation as well.
Just for fun, let's entertain the idea of a "13th" astrological sign. Ophiuchus would sit between Scorpio (the water sign that rules over transformational experiences, emotional depths, the occult, and sacrifice) and Sagittarius (the fire sign of adventure, expansion, optimism, politics, philosophy, religion, and foreign places.) The symbology of Ophiuchus alone might inspire fear in others; snakes have always received a bad rap due to their not so positive representations in biblical stories, but also represent transformation in their own way from immortality to mortality, and as symbols of healing. Snake charming specifically is biblically present in Acts 28, when Paul is bitten by a viper, "And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god," (Acts 28 5-6.) Snake handling has been a ritual practice in some Christian churches due to this biblical symbology. Another script in the Bible that is used for justifying this practice is Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." This scripture is somewhat analogous with the greek Ophiucus, or Asclepius the Roman God of medicine and immortality, who's staff is used today as a medical symbol on ambulances and doctor's offices. In this myth, Ophiucus is feared to have the power to give immortality to humans. He is killed by Zeus and placed among the stars as a man who bears the serpent. Ophiucus is not new by any means.
Astrologically speaking, if you find that your sun falls at the end of Scorpio or the beginning of Sagittarius, you might be an Ophiucus as well. The constellation should not be understood as a sign on it's own, but rather a part of both Scorpio and Sagittarius. What does this mean? You might have a god complex, suffer from extreme optimism, have a knack for helping others, or inspire envy, as well as hold the characteristics of Scorpio or Sagittarius (depending on the degree of the sky in which your sun falls.) This sign is most compatible with Aquarius and Capricorn.
These are just few interpretations on the mythical 13th sign. Not much can be credited to this sign as there is little traditional or modern astrological practices that even consider it.
