Alpha Ophiuchi is the brightest star in the constellationOphiuchus. It is 47 light years from Earth. It is traditionally known by it's Arabic name Ras Alhague, translated means "the head of the serpent charmer".
Ophiuchus 1s the secret 13th astrological sign. It is a zodiacal constellation which denotes that the Sun indeed passes through it during the course of every year(in 2008:Nov 30-Dec17) as with all the other 12 signs we know so personally. It is hard to ignore this large constellation that lies at the point the center of the galaxy meets the celestial equator. This exoteric sign is symbolized by a man grasping the head of a serpent in his left hand(Serpen Cadut) and the tail in the right(Serpens Cauda). The serpent's body passes between his legs and some describe it as entwined about his body - I envision the caduceus, wand of Hermes. Serpents are the symbols of wisdom and eternity as they shed their skins many times. This 13th sign lies between Scorpio to the west and Sagittarius to the east. There, in between these 2 constellations from our viewing platform here on Earth, is the dark rift of the Milky Way Galaxy. Sagittarius points his arrow right into the center of this galaxy.
For through creative interpretation of seven images in the Lost Book of Nostradamus, such scholars have deduced that when our sun rises in alignment with the center of this galaxy, the knowledge of the Tree in the garden of Eden will be revealed. Curious enough but the sun will again rise at this point on December 21, 2012. If this still hasn't peaked your interest know that has been 26,000 years since that last alignment.
In his mythological life Ophiucus under the watchful guide of the Greek Gods and there known as Asclepius was the God of Medicine. In the very short version he was the son of Apollo and Coronis, who because of her infidelity with a mortal while pregnant was shot by Apollo with an arrow and while the pyre engulfed her, he snatched the baby from the womb and brought him to Chiron. Chiron raised him as his own son with the knowledge of healing and hunting. His skills became so profoundly astute that he had learned the secret of immortality by observing one serpent compassionately bring another herbs to rejuvenate its life after an ill fated death. So to prevent the entire human race from becoming immortal under Asclepius' care, Zeus put him out with a lightening bolt but being a nice despot placed him in the heavens as a symbol of his good works and healing power for all mankind. Thanks Zeus.
The story of Ophiucus is relevant and mysterious in that in these times of war, plague, poverty, religious intolerance and ignorance that such a symbolic figure should take such universal prominence on the stage of events coming our way, particularly the winter's equinox of 2012 .
Another interesting galactic occurence is symbolized through the 8 spoked wheel and represents the alignment in space and time of the divine cross of the expanse of the galaxy above and the terrestrial mundane cross of the equinoxes below. This alignment occurs once every 13,000 years (last alignment was 11,ooo B.C.E)
