Harry Potter and Ophiucus
Here is a tale of two books written about 2000 years apart.
All the hooha about the intruder constellation Ophiucus sent me to my well-thumbed copy of Manilius’ Astronomica, the Roman astrology manual dating from around the second century. I knew there’d be a tit-bit in there.
It just so happens that I am also in the midst of reading the Harry Potter books to my children. I scared myself senseless reading the part of Voldemort recently. His voice tends to take possession of whoever reads – yikes.
The baddy Lord Voldemort and the goody Harry Potter are both gifted with parseltongue, the ability to speak to snakes. This is associated with “Dark Magic” and only wizards of exceptional power have the gift.
Here’s how Manilius describes people born with Ophiucus rising: “When Ophiucus, encircled by the serpent’s great coils, rises beside the figure of Capricorn, he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and suffer no harm.”
Well, we know Harry’s a Leo Sun and Voldy’s a Capricorn but I guess they must both have the old Serpent -bearer rising.
For more of Manilius on Ophiucus look here.
Sounds like Ophiucus renders people superhuman, able to face all kinds of monsters with grace and style. I’m interested to know more. Is there anyone famous with Ophiucus in their chart? (I’m not an astrologer, so I realise that might be a very stupid question.)
Well – here’s the thing O runs from what is currently around 7 Sag to 23 Sag, so anyone with those degrees rising would – theoretically – be influenced by the big O.
I’d better tell you that I don’t subscribe to this 13 signs of the Zodiac stuff. There are many reasons that there are 12, almost none of which are to do with exact constellations. BUT…
…taking into account any (major) stars that are at important points in a natal chart is really helpful and important when you interpret a chart, so therefore you ought to pay attention to Ophiucus if he’s highlighted in your chart – and especially if he’s on your ascendant. So I’ve looked to see if I can find any slebs with these degrees rising.
My biggest celebrity with O rising is the good old US of A, using the most popular chart, which comes in at 12 Sag.
Here are some more: Elvis, Princess Diana, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Jude Law, Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela, Sean Penn, Elizabeth Taylor, Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, Winona Ryder, Elton John, Angela Merkel and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Do you see any patterns in there?
Interestingly,Sister Emmanuelle, the nun who lived among the poor in Egypt and Mother Theresa have 6 Sag and 24 Sag rising respectively, so they put Ophiucus in a saint sandwich.
Makes me think of St Patrick too.
good point.