Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is best seen in summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. It is believed to be named after Aesculapius, a physician who was later made a god. Serpents were always associated with physicians, and this has given rise to the modern symbol for medicine. A little known fact about Ophiuchus is that it is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac. This means that the Sun passes through the constellation during the year. When the Babylonians invented the Zodiac about 300 years ago, it only contained 12 constellations. Because of the procession of the earth's axis, the Sun now passes through Ophiuchus each year in December, making it a new member of the Zodiac by definition. Astronomers define the Zodiac as those constellations through which the Sun and planets travel. This path is known as the ecliptic. Ophiuchus contains the second closest star to Earth, known as Barnard's star. It is a red dwarf star located about 6 light years away. At magnitude 9.5, it is not an easy star to find with the naked eye. Ophiuchus also contains seven Messier objects, all of which are globular star clusters.

Draco, the Dragon, used to hold special significance in the past. About 4000 years ago, it was the location of the pole star, as Ursa Minor is today. Due to the earth's precession, the pole has now shifted to Polaris. Draco was the guardian of the star that never moves, the celestial pole. In ancient times, the pole star was believed to be the doorway between the mortal world and eternity. In Greek mythology, the dragon was Laden, a monstrous beast with a hundred heads chosen by Hera to guard to golden apples of immortality. These apples grew in the garden Hesperides, beyond the River of Time in the land of death. Laden was slain by Hercules in the eleventh of his twelve labors. Draco is located very close to the celestial pole, which makes it circumpolar. It is visible throughout the night. During the course of the year, it rotates upside down and back again. Draco contains one Messier object, M102, which is an edge-on galaxy with a dark dust lane.

I think I also read that one of the shafts of the Great Pyramid is aligned to it?

William, you asked about protective icons.  I am unsure as to what that means exactly, but I do have images that I am drawn to.   Namely, a sphere within a pyramid, the triangle, the Tao symbol I use as avatar, the numbers 3 and 9 and most recently, 0.

Another dream I had as a child was of a large, transluscent pyramidol structure with a sphere enclosed - at certain points the sphere touched the sides of the pyramid and produced smaller spheres, likewise, at each apex of the structure were smaller spheres.  The structure broke apart and yet remained connected (in a way that can only happen in dreams, perhaps).  Then returned to its original form.

I read somewhere here about focusing concentration upon the pineal.  A few nights back, I did so and was amazed to see, quite vividly, a revolving sphere.  The night before last, I tried again and found the sphere enclosed by a pyramid.  Last night, when I tried to focus, there was a many-pointed star-like shape there that was...chaotic and not easy to bring into focus.  I have decided to cease this exercise until I know a little more about what it is I might be dealing with.  I have to admit - I expected nothing.

My regards to all.

xan