Ophiuchus: What is the 13th Star Sign and How Does it Affect You?

For thousands of years, the traditional 12-sign zodiac has helped millions of people understand their traits and the traits of their loved ones. From outward presentation to your innermost feelings, the zodiac can help provide guidance on how to navigate personal troubles, find love, succeed in your career, and understand yourself. 

However, you may have heard that there is a 13th sign and that the astrological signs have changed as a result of this 13th constellation. Ophiuchus is not considered a traditional star sign, but it is an astronomical constellation that makes up part of the astrological zodiac. The constellation of Ophiuchus is an aspect of astrology that causes contention among many traditional astrology fans, but ultimately, it's up to individual astrologists to draw their own conclusion when it comes to the calendar of signs.

The Constellations and the Legend of the Ophiuchus Star Sign

Like all star signs, western astrology associates ancient stories with Ophiuchus - the serpent bearer (this is why the constellation of Ophiuchus is also sometimes known as Serpentarius).

In the 27th century BC, Imhotep Ophiuchus (also called Asclepius in Greek mythology), lived in ancient Egypt. He was the son of Apollo Ophiuchus and was a renowned surgeon. He was the surgeon onboard the ship the Argos, where he worked with the Argonauts. He was famed for his acts of courage and selflessness in order to help save the lives of patients, including the son of the King of Crete, Minos.  

What are the Traits of the Ophiuchus Star Sign?

Ophiuchus shares constellation boundaries between Scorpio and Sagittarius, and so shares traits with these more common zodiac signs. Unlike the rest of the birth signs, Ophiuchus doesn't have an associated element or modality, which can make pinning down the serpent bearer's traits a little bit more tricky.

However, Ophiuchans take many of the great qualities from Sagittarius - they are fun, magnetic people with a strong presence and an adventurous spirit. However, they also have those Scorpio traits that open them up to be a little more sensitive and guarded. These are some of Ophiuchus' key traits:

Captivating speakers

Mixing Sagittarius' natural joy and enthusiasm with the magnetic energy of Scorpio leaves Ophiuchus with an absolutely captivating combination. When Ophiuchus speaks, others listen, not through fear or intimidation, but by engaging their audience, relating to them intuitively, and taking them on a journey to places they may never have expected to go to!

Ophiuchus are great at talking their way out of a corner and can be very persuasive - if they've set their mind to something, best believe they'll be able to make it happen.

Ophiuchans also value honesty, trust and dialogue, and won't hold back on their opinions, which they love to share. If you can captivate them, they're excellent at collaboration and relish the opportunity to share and receive new ideas.

Passionate and free-spirited

Both Scorpio and Sagittarius are known for having a lot of heart and feeling their own emotions deeply. They're both passionate people who can get carried away by their passions if they're not careful, and these are all traits they pass on to Ophiuchus. So if you're looking for someone who has a lot of heart and energy, then Ophiuchus might be the sign for you!

Natural healers & in touch with their spirituality

Ophiuchus is the serpent-bearer and the healer, so it makes sense that Ophiuchans make great carers and healers. In the modern world, you might notice that Ophiuchans are drawn to the medical field, but also to support roles and other roles working with vulnerable people. Healing isn't just physical though, and you might see many counsellors and mental health professionals who are Ophiuchans.

The Greek myths also said that Imhotep could actually heal people through dreams! In a more realistic context today, Ophiuchuans are very in touch with their own spirituality. They understand the signs presented to them in dreams and can pick up small symbols of the universe's intention with ease!

Witty and adventurous

Ophiuchus are likely to be adventurous explorers who enjoy trying out new things. They're also typically outgoing and fun-loving people who are always looking for something interesting to do. These traits are shared by Sagittarius, which is one of the key similar characteristics they have.

They also have the same love for laughter and comedy as happy-go-lucky Sagittarius, but in the Scorpio style - dry, sarcastic, quick-witted and with a classic deadpan delivery! 

Emotionally intuitive

The classic Sagittarius desire to see the best in all people isn't one that Ophiuchus shares. Ophiuchus is a little more reserved than their fiery counterparts, but it also means they're much more likely to make the right calls about people, whereas the Archer is prone to being let down and getting blindsided as a result.

The water sign energy from Scorpio makes Ophiuchus (like Pisces and Cancer too) incredibly good judges of character, with all the skills they need to work people out quickly and accurately.

Has My Zodiac Sign Changed?

With Ophiuchus included in the planetary Zodiac, the signs do change a little, which may mean your zodiac sign changes. However, the world of astrology isn't an exact science, and you may find you do or don't align with the traits of your star sign.

Especially for those on the cusp of their previous star sign, you may find your traits reflect more of the previous or next sign in the cycle, or that you have a combination of both signs. When you include Ophiuchus in the zodiac, the new star sign dates look like this:

• Aries: April 18th to May 13th
• Taurus: May 13th to June 21st
• Gemini: June 21st to July 20th
• Cancer: July 20th to August 10th
• Leo: August 10th to September 16th
• Virgo: September 16th to October 30th
• Libra: October 30th to November 23rd
• Scorpio: November 23rd to November 29th
• Ophiuchus: November 29th to December 17th
• Sagittarius: December 17th to January 20th 
• Capricorn: January 20th to February 16th
• Aquarius: February 16th to March 11th
• Pisces: March 11th to April 18th

Sagittarius and Scorpio are those most likely to be affected by this change, with Scorpio becoming the rarest star sign, with only 7 days within Scorpio's ruling. Many people find the idea of just "changing" their star sign difficult to swallow, but it's worth noting that even astrologers have considerable debate about the "right" zodiac to use. Astronomically, there are 13 zodiac constellations in the sky, but the Babylonians, who originally established the zodiac we know today only incorporated 12, and based their 12-sign structure on a yearly cycle without Ophiuchus.

This means that ultimately you are the master of your own destiny. After all, some people don't believe in astrology at all, others believe in a 12-sign zodiac, and others a 13-sign zodiac - it's all about what resonates the most with you and your natural character!

To learn more about Ophiuchus, what the 13th zodiac sign means for you and whether your star sign may have changed, speak to one of our trusted psychic readers today!