8/7/2019 Watertown Astrologer Says Don't Believe the Hype About Zodiac Shift

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Watertown astrologer says don't believe the hype about zodiacshift

Wicked Local staff photo by David Gordon

Astrologist Dorothy Oja sits for a photo in her living room on Tuesday afternoon, January 18, 2011.

By Laura PaineWicked Local WatertownPosted Jan 20, 2011 @ 05:00 PM

WATERTOWN Watertown astrologer Dorothy Oja wonders what Professor Parke Kunkles intentionwas when he announced that a 13th zodiac sign should be added to astrological charts and why hedoesnt know the backstory.

Oja, who has been studying astrology for 39 years, said that thisinformation is not new.

Dozens books have been written about the shift of the zodiac and theomission of the sign Ophiuchus. Kunkles announcement on Jan. 13unnecessarily sent many people into a personal identity panic as theydiscovered that they might not be the sign they always believed theywere.

Every now and then people want to bring it up, Oja said. Ophiuchusis a constellation that is off the zodiac path where the rest of thezodiac [constellations] are. It wasnt used because the sun doesntshine into that constellation. The news that the sun has changed is

true this is astrology 101.In Tropical astrology, which is primarily used in the Western world,zodiac signs are defined by the season in which the sign rises in theirconstellation. Oja said that it has always started at zero degrees inAries, the spring equinox, and then moves through summer, fall andwinter.

Despite the earth shifting 23 degrees, Oja says the precession of theequinox hasnt changed and neither has anyones zodiac sign.

The fixed point has always been used, but the backdrop has shifted,

Oja said. It is a symbolic language using a symbolic starting point.The charts are the same. The way we use the charts have to be andare different than 3,000 years ago. When the environment and culturechanges, we have to change.

She said that a person born as an Aries 3,000 years ago would moreaccurately fit the signs characteristics than someone born as an Ariestoday.

8/7/2019 Watertown Astrologer Says Don't Believe the Hype About Zodiac Shift

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Weve evolved, Oja said. We as humans are not the same as wewere 3,000 years ago. If we havent evolved in the way we use ourenergies from 3,000 years ago, Id be really sad.

Oja said that there is some truth behind the theory that horoscopesfound in newspapers or online are written so they can apply toanyone.

The sun is the center and overall scope of your life, she said. Itsour most powerful star. Every now and then you can find some truth,but you can have the rest of the planets everywherewe dont knowwhat combination you are. It can be hit or miss in sun sign astrology.

An astrological chart shows where the planets, sun and moon werealigned at the exact date, time and location of a persons birth. Itsbelieved that these alignments can add characteristics to the onesdetermined by a persons zodiac sign.

Oja said people are constantly trying to debunk astrology, becausethey want measurements and proof.

Psychology is the closest profession to astrology, she said. Itmeasures some things, but not everything. You cant measure acomplex human being or how they will handle [influences].

Oja said she was not always a believer. When she learned hergrandmother had studied astrology, she thought it was unusual.

As a teen I checked out star scrolls and I remember reading it and

thinking it was very stupid, she said. I dropped it. In my early 20s, Ipicked it up again. Once I got hooked and started seeing there wastruth [behind it] that was it for me. Its a big clock. The gears keepchanging and moving. I love what I do.

Laura Paine can be reached at lpaine@cnc.com.