I am interested by astrology; I check my horoscope every day. I feel that astrology, like most studies, is an outgrowth of people trying to understand and explain the world. In many ways the study of astrology is the study of how different personality types (represented by the signs) interact—basic psychology.

I do not think the stars can tell my future, nor would I care if they did. Free will would still trump anything they had to say. That being said…let’s have some fun.

Last night, I went to bed a half-human Sagittarian, represented by the centaur, and woke up a half-god Ophiuchuian, represented by Asclepius. I suppose that is a step up on the evolutionary chain.

All the hoopla is because the sun actually spends 8 days in the constellation Scorpio, then moves into the constellation Ophiuchus for 19 days before entering Sagittarius for 34 days. That means there’s a lot more Sagittarians in the world and a lot fewer Scorpios. And with a birth date of December 14, I’m one of the new Ophiuchuians.

Revised Astrological Calendar:

Aries: April 18-May 13
Taurus: May 13-June 21
Gemini: June 21-July 20
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11
Pisces: March 11-April 18

There are currently two symbols associated with Ophiuchus. One is the Rod of Asclepius consisting of a serpent entwined on a staff. And the second was made popular by Walter Berg’s book 13-Sign Astrology.

Asclepius’ Story:

Asclepius was the son of Apollo (Greek god) and Coronis (lovely human)—did any of the gods every fall for a homely human? While Apollo was away, Coronis, pregnant with Asclepius, met and fell in love with Ischys (human)—guess Greek gods aren’t all they are cracked up to be.

A white crow, the blabbermouth, left by Apollo to watch Coronis told all. Apollo glared at the messenger so hard that its feathers turned black, forever making all crows black. Moral: One should only bring good news to the gods.