Ophiuchus Personality Traits: A Scorpio, Sagittarius Hybrid?

The debate on Ophiuchus personality traits has become the latest craze after news on January 13^th, 2011, that new Zodiac Sign dates-and a 13^th Zodiac Sign, Ophiuchus-and been endorsed by Astronomers at the Minnesota Planetarium Society. The news went viral, causing media frenzy and a world-wide debate over these timeless Astrology arguments, even though the theory of a 13^th Zodiac Sign, and whether Ophiuchus or another constellation, is nothing new to Astrologers; in fact, neither is the argument for an adjustment and new Zodiac Sign dates.

With the debate over Ophiuchus as the 13^th Zodiac Sign heating up, guides to Ophiuchus personality traits are springing up all over the Web. Ophiuchus is a constellation visible on the horizon between the times of Scorpio and Sagittarius, and the traits being attributed to this "13^th Zodiac Sign" seem to be a convenient, and somewhat uninspired, hybrid of Scorpio and Sagittarius personality traits. The new Zodiac Sign dates are as follows:

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
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.

For people suddenly categorized as the 13^th Zodiac Sign, Ophiuchus, the immediate and understandable response has often been confusion over what that means, exactly. Ophiuchus personality traits are likely to never be endorsed by Astrologers as a legitimate part of Western Astrology, which I discussed in my article New Zodiac Sign Dates, Ophiuchus the 13th Sign: Not so Fast, Astronomers, and so the following information is offered simply for entertainment value; I do not subscribe to this not-nearly-breaking-news announcement of new Zodiac Sign dates and Ophiuchus as the 13^th Zodiac Sign.

Ophiuchus Personality Traits: The Scorpio-Inspired

Scorpio is a Water Sign, which has now been reduced to a mere 6 days by the new Zodiac Sign dates, and supposedly Ophiuchus will be joining those numbers to make a terribly imbalanced 4 Water Signs instead of the original 3/12. Ophiuchus is also the only Zodiac Sign supposedly based on an actual person, namely the healer Imhotep who lived in Ancient Egypt.

Ophiuchus is said to be a natural healer, with vivid dreams and premonitions, who seeks wisdom and peace at a core level-all personality traits commonly attributed to Water Signs. To compound the Scorpio-Ophiuchus overlap, Ophiuchus personality traits include struggling with jealousy or being the target of jealousy, desire to succeed and be envied, success in an authority role, and a quest for knowledge often of the occult, unusual or mysterious kind.

In Astrology, Scorpios are practically the Patron Saint of jealousy, whether wielding it or triggering it in others. They make fantastic investigators and scholars due to their innate affinity for knowledge and their capacity to understand and uncover the unknown; obscure medicine is often a field Scorpios are drawn to.

Ophiuchus Personality Traits: The Sagittarius-Inspired

Sagittarius is a philosophical sign, which continuously seeks further knowledge and greater understanding. They typically love a good discussion and insist on thinking for themselves to the point of disservice when it comes to friendly debates. Ophiuchus personality traits are being listed to include this nearly obsessive thirst for knowledge, which is both a boon and a bane for many born under the Zodiac Sign of Sagittarius. The Ophiuchus affinity for bright colors and flamboyant dress is also common among Sagittarius, who often patrons of unusual styles, Bohemian patterns, or the most obscure cutting-edge fashion trends.

Further cross-over between Sagittarius and Ophiuchus personality traits include an interest in holistic and natural medicine, potential as an educator or teacher, a separation from family due to a wandering nature, and frequently being misunderstood.

While I have not yet read a definitive argument over whether or not Ophiuchus will be a Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable Zodiac Sign, given the hybrid quality of Scorpio and Sagittarius my guess is that it will settle under Sagittarius' group of Mutable, along with Scorpio's Water Sign associations.

Ophiuchus Personality Traits: In Conclusion

Astrology has many overlaps between the twelve Zodiac Signs personality traits, plus multiple signs being designated as Water Signs, Mutable Signs, etc. However, the Ophiuchus personality traits being discussed on the Web don't lend any real credibility to the argument for the 13^th Zodiac Sign, considering there is nothing which makes Ophiuchus stand-out from the crowd. An affinity for healing is nothing new, nor is being the target of jealousy and envy.

In the end, the media frenzy and viral status of the reported Ophiuchus personality traits, and these supposed new Zodiac Sign dates, will fade with very little change to modern Astrology. This is the Age of Aquarius, so headlines breaking with challenge the fundamental attributes of this faith-science hybrid are to be expected. The overwhelming response by everyday people who do not actively study Astrology has been wonderful; anything which makes us examine ourselves, read an article about Astrology, and learn about our true Zodiac Signs is a worthwhile trend, indeed.