What’s your sign?

Published 12:05 am Friday, January 14, 2011

Everything you’ve ever thought about yourself, your characteristics or your place in this universe could be completely misleading.

According to an article on MSNBC.com on Wednesday, astrologers suggest your current zodiac sign may change by at least a month, depending on the position and alignment of the stars. For instance, if you’re a Libra, your sign may change into a Virgo, or an Aquarius may become a Capricorn.

Are you confused yet?

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Due to the Earth turning on its axis, and depending on your birth date, your sign may have moved a little bit or not at all. In addition, instead of 12 signs, a 13th — Ophiuchus, is added, making things even more confusing.

Yet astrologers say this concept of “changing signs” is not new, so they say there is nothing to be alarmed about.

“This issue about the 13th star Ophiuchus has been going on for years,” said Gloria Star, professional astrologer, author and columnist in Connecticut. “It’s a weird concept to think about, and it’s caused arguments among astrologers. I don’t think it’s anything of great importance though.”

Terry Nazon, celebrity astrologer whose horoscopes have been published in Cosmopolitan, agrees.

“There’s a big difference between how it (constellation) appears and how we measure astrology,” said the 25-year veteran. “Eastern astrologers look at the movement of planets with the naked eye and western astrologers look at signs through scientific calculations; they take into account planets actually moving.”

Nazon added the American Federation of Astrologers are not yet on board with the popular idea of the astrological sign Ophiuchus, and both women said the current astrological chart will still be the same.

“In theory, I do think there could be a 13th sign,” Nazon said. “We’ll just have to wait and see how things play out, because astrology changes all of the time. Also, we shouldn’t throw away our current astrological system because predictions are still going to come true.”

Star said Ophiuchus is not a part of the standard zodiac, so experts look at it as an abstract concept.

“There’s so much more to astrology than just a sign,” Star said. “All of the planets are interrelated to one another, and that determines a horoscope. Western astrologers don’t use the constellations as the reference point to measure the planets.”

So before you panic or try to change everything you ever knew about yourself, relax. Nothing is changing after all.

“This new sign is not really changing astrology,” Star added. “The signs in general won’t change.”