What is the Cetus Zodiac Sign? Dates, Personality, & More

You probably know there are 12 traditional zodiac signs, but some belief systems argue that there are actually 14. Alongside the 13th sign Ophiuchus, Cetus is the “new” 14th sign, symbolized by a whale or sea monster, that is said to rule those born between May 12 and June 6. Keep reading to learn all about this mysterious zodiac sign, like its associated personality traits, compatibility with other signs, and whether or not it’s a “real” sign.

What is the Cetus zodiac sign?

Cetus is an unofficial zodiac sign that is said to fall between May 12 and June 6, when the sun passes through the constellation. It isn’t considered a “true” zodiac sign because the moon and planets do not pass through it. Cetus is symbolized by a whale or sea monster from Greek mythology.

Section 1 of 10:

Cetus Overview

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Cetus is an unofficial 14th zodiac sign occurring from May 12 to June 6. Cetus is a constellation and a proposed 14th zodiac sign (with Ophiuchus being the 13th), inspired by a Greek sea monster. It is said to occur between May 12 and June 6 when the sun crosses its path. However, it isn't recognized as one of the traditional 12 zodiac signs because the moon and planets don't pass through it.^{[1]
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- Dates: May 12 to June 6
- Symbol: Sea monster, whale
- Element: Water
- Ruling planet: None

Section 2 of 10:

Is Cetus a real zodiac sign?

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Cetus is not one of the recognized 12 signs of the zodiac. In 1970, writer Steven Schmidt proposed a system of astrology that included Cetus as the 14th zodiac sign. He suggested that, in the 2,000 years since the original zodiac cycle originated, the Earth’s axis has tilted slightly, allowing for a 13th and 14th sign. However, this system isn’t widely recognized in Western astrology, so most people do not consider Cetus a true zodiac sign.^{[2]
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- In Schmidt’s book Astrology 14: Your New Sun Sign, he also mentions a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, which is represented by a serpent slayer symbol.

Section 3 of 10:

What is Cetus?

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Cetus is a whale constellation inspired by an ancient Greek sea monster. The constellation represents the Greek mythological creature Cetus, a giant serpentine being with paws, a dog head, and a fish tail. It’s also sometimes interpreted as a whale. The constellation is located in a region of the sky referred to as “the sea,” which includes multiple constellations associated with water, like Pisces and Eridanus (a river constellation).^{[3]
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- Cetus means “whale” in Latin, though it is traditionally symbolized by a sea serpent. In Greek, “ketos” means “sea monster.”
- The Sun's ecliptic path briefly passes through Cetus yearly.^{[4]
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Section 4 of 10:

Cetus Sign Personality Traits

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Traditional zodiac signs are associated with different personality traits based on their ruling planet.^{[5]
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Section 5 of 10:

Does Cetus have a ruling planet?

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According to astrologers Tali and Ophira Edut, “Each zodiac sign is ruled by a planet with similar traits.”^{[6]
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Tali & Ophira Edut
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Expert Interview} These ruling planets are believed to affect the behaviors and personality traits of each sign. However, because Cetus isn’t accepted in the traditional system of astrology, it isn’t assigned a planet that rules over it.

Section 6 of 10:

Cetus Sign Compatibility

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Cetus is most compatible with water and fire signs. Water signs include Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio, which all share a sense of emotional depth, intuition, and empathy with Cetus. Cetus is also considered a water sign, so those born under Cetus are believed to be compatible with fire signs like Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The passion and drive of fire signs help balance out the more emotionally sensitive water sign.^{[7]
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- Compatibility with Cetus is theoretical since Cetus is not considered one of the 12 zodiac signs in traditional astrology.
Earth signs like Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are not usually compatible with Cetus because they can be too practical and grounded for water signs. Air signs like Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius can also clash with water signs due to different communication styles and ways of expressing themselves.^{[8]
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Section 7 of 10:

Cetus Zodiac Sign in Mythology

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Cetus is a sea monster killed by Perseus in Greek mythology. In the myth, the princess Andromeda was sacrificed to Cetus by her mother, Cassiopeia, the queen. The sea god Poseidon let Cetus loose to ravage the coast, and the hero Perseus saved Andromeda and killed the monster by presenting it with Medusa’s head, which turned it to stone.^{[9]
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- Cassiopeia was forced to sacrifice her daughter after boasting of Andromeda’s beauty, which angered the sea nymphs and the god Poseidon.
In the tale, Cetus was sent by Poseidon to plague Troy as a punishment for King Laomedon’s refusal to pay Poseidon for the construction of the city walls. As with Andromeda, the king attempted to sacrifice his daughter, Hesione, to Cetus by chaining her to the rocks. She was rescued by Heracles, who killed Cetus with a fish hook or by shooting it with arrows, depending on the version of the myth.^{[10]
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Section 8 of 10:

Is Cetus bad energy?

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In Greek mythology, Cetus is considered a bad omen. The mythical sea monster is said to represent bad fortune and possible disasters at sea, including shipwrecks. Sailors would name a ship “Cetus” to boast about its abilities at sea, although they would avoid saying the name for fear of misfortune while sailing.^{[11]
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- Cetus is also associated with lost cargo, pirate attacks, and getting pulled off course.
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The Cetus zodiac sign isn’t typically regarded as positive or negative. Because Cetus isn’t an official zodiac sign, it doesn’t generally have any specific positive or negative associations. However, some believe that the period of time when the Sun inches closer to the Cetus constellation brings deep emotional distress and transformation. Cetus’s symbol of the whale or sea monster is also sometimes linked to the mysterious or unknown parts of the universe.^{[12]
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- If you feel like Cetus is negatively impacting your life, manage your stress by making small lifestyle changes, like eating and sleeping well, exercising, and practicing mindfulness through meditation.

Section 9 of 10:

What is Ophiuchus?

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Ophiuchus is the unofficial 13th zodiac sign. Ophiuchus is a large constellation located near the celestial equator, represented by a serpent-bearer. The sun passes through the constellation between December 6 and December 31 (or November 29 and December 7, according to some sources). According to Steven Schmidt’s 14-month zodiac system, anyone born between these dates has Ophiuchus as their zodiac sign, though it is not recognized in traditional astrology systems.^{[13]
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- Ophiuchus originated with the Greek myth of Asclepius, the god of medicine, who learned to bring the dead back to life using skills taught to him by a snake. Asclepius was struck down by Zeus to appease Hades, god of the underworld, and then placed in the sky as the Ophiuchus constellation.
- Ophiuchus is somewhat more accepted as the 13th sign of the zodiac than Cetus is as the 14th sign because the sun, moon, and other planets actually pass through Ophiuchus; only the sun passes through Cetus.

Section 10 of 10:

14-Month Zodiac System Facts

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Steven Schmidt's zodiac system has 14 signs instead of 12. Though not accepted in traditional astrology, this system includes Ophiuchus, from December 6 to December 31, and Cetus, from May 12 to June 6. The 14-month system of zodiac signs is believed to appear as follows:^{[14]
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- Aries: April 16 – May 11
- Cetus: May 12 – June 6
- Taurus: June 7 – July 2
- Gemini: July 3 – July 28
- Cancer: July 29 – August 23
- Leo: August 24 – September 18
- Virgo: September 19 – October 14
- Libra: October 15 – November 9
- Scorpio: November 10 – December 5
- Ophiuchus: December 6 – December 31
- Sagittarius: January 1 – January 26
- Capricorn: January 27 – February 21
- Aquarius: February 22 – March 20
- Pisces: March 21 – April 15
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The Sidereal system of astrology recognizes 12 signs of the zodiac. The main difference between the traditional (also called the tropical) astrological system and the sidereal system is that the sidereal system bases its zodiac signs on the position of stars in the sky at the time of birth, vs. the seasonal position of the sun, which is a determining factor in traditional astrology.^{[15]
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- The 12 houses of astrology “are determined by birth time and location. They always start at the 9 o’clock position in the natal chart and move counterclockwise,” state the Eduts.^{[16]
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  Expert Interview} The addition of Cetus and Ophiuchus would upset that flow greatly if they were part of the original system.
- Find out what zodiac sign you are by taking our “What Zodiac Sign Am I?” quiz!