Ophiuchus – The 13th Zodiac Sign
Did you know there is a 13th zodiac sign that was left out of the astrology wheel in the time of the Ancient Babylonians? Yep, they decided to leave out Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer, to keep their system “neat” in order to fit the 12-month calendar. Most people have never heard of Ophiuchus. That’s why I’m here to educate you and to share some questions I have as to why this powerful zodiac was left out.
Ophiuchus means serpent-bearer in ancient Greek. The sun passes in front of this constellation from roughly November 30 to December 18 each year. So if you have a Sagittarius in your life that doesn’t quite fit the Sagittarius ways, this could be the reason why. What’s also interesting is that Ophiuchus is not a traditional astrological sign belonging to fire, water, air, or Earth, though some contemporary astrologers who use a 13-sign system assign it to fire or ether.
In a poem by Marcus Manilius, he describes Ophiuchus as the one that winds in loops, "But, bending its supple neck, the serpent looks back and returns: and the other's hands slide over the loosened coils. The struggle will last forever, since they wage it on level terms with equal powers." Later in his poem, he describes the astrological influence of Ophiuchus, when the constellation is in its rising phase, as one which offers affinity with snakes and protection from poisons, saying, "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"
An anonymous 4th-century astrologer associated "the bright star of Ophiuchus" with doctors, healers, or physicians, which may have been because of the association between poisons and medicines. Later, in 1970, Steven Schmidt advocated for even a 14th sign, Cetus, alongside Ophiuchus, but that will be a blog for another day. Schmidt claimed Pluto to be the ruler of Ophiuchus instead of Scorpio and Jupiter as the ruler of Cetus. Within 20th-century sidereal astrology, the idea was taken up by Walter Berg in the form of his book, The 13 Signs of the Zodiac (1995). Berg also supported Pluto as the ruler of Ophiuchus. In January 2011, a statement by Parke Kunkle, an astronomer at the Minnesota Planetarium Society, repeated the idea of "the 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus" which made some headlines in the popular press.
With all of this information being known across numerous lifetimes, why are we still ignoring these constellations? Today I won’t speak on Cetus, but instead focus on Ophiuchus. There isn’t a ton of information out there, but if you dig deep enough, you can find it. So here’s what I know:
The personality traits of Ophiuchus:
Knowledge-seeking: Driven by a deep desire for learning, wisdom, and intellectual growth.
Natural healers: Associated with medicine, science, and the power to heal or help others.
Intuitively gifted: Highly perceptive, often possessing a strong gut instinct or "sixth sense."
Passionately ambitious: Fiercely driven to succeed, though sometimes stubborn in pursuing goals.
Magnetically charismatic: Possess a natural charm that draws people in, often making them excellent leaders.
Secretive & private: Guarded about their inner thoughts, mirroring the intensity of a Scorpio.
Rebellious nature: Dislike strict authority and prefer to forge their own path.
When I look at these traits, it becomes abundantly clear why this zodiac sign would be left out of a society that was built on control. Ophiuchus doesn’t seem to resonate with that narrative. I would assume this could cause confusion in people who are labeled as a Sagittarius instead of the correct zodiac sign, Ophiuchus.
I have also found this demonization of snakes intriguing. In the Bible, the snake is what mislead Adam and Eve. Snakes have been labeled as sneaky, cunning, and conniving. But the more I dig into it, snakes seem to be bearers of truth. The truth that people don’t like to be witness to. They aren’t trying to trick you, they are doing the opposite. They are providing you with the truth of who you are, and the truth of what societies, systems, and the universe are made up of.
It isn’t the snake that is manipulating – It is the system that has demonized the snake. In unhealthy systems, I have seen a pattern of blaming something external, when really the accountability should be shifted to the internal architecture. The system we are in now, where religion and money control the power dynamics, has collectively agreed that knowledge and truth (snakes) are bad. Why?
Well, when we are educated, we can think for ourselves. We don’t need the system to think for us, or for it to determine the outcome of our life. When we are truly educated, we decide our fate. We determine our truth. We don’t look for a savior outside of ourselves; we recognize WE are the saviors, and only we can decide the outcome of our lives. When we seek a savior outside of ourselves, we subconsciously agree that this savior is the one holding the truth; therefore, we don’t have to educate ourselves outside of the framework of this savior.
I think this way of thinking could be what ends human civilization if we continue consenting to these made-up philosophies built by people who live in and thrive on fear. The only way out is in, and this is what the snake and Ophiuchus teach us. The truth is inside of us. The truth is inside of nature. The truth is inside of our intuition. I’m not surprised Ophiuchus was cast out of the party, because it could very well be the most powerful sign of the zodiac.
I make this claim because true power comes from our intuition and our ability to heal. This power comes from education. Not just education from reading books, but education that comes from living life. Trial and error. Going through the hard thing and coming out of it on the other side. Making mistakes and admitting you were wrong, and moving forward with the knowledge and wisdom you have to create something that works better. In our society, we have become disconnected from all of that. We want the easy way out. We want someone else to give us our answer. We have lost trust in ourselves, and we put all of our trust in Gods that judge us instead of loving us unconditionally. We have created heaven and hell, a separation between shadow and light, when in reality there is no separation.
This division has driven us to become sick, shut off, and emotionally closed down. We all see it, but many feel powerless about what to do. I think a good start would be to offer your awareness to Ophiuchus. Allow the snake to look you in the eye and share the wisdom it has. Become in touch with your inner Kundalini (serpent) and see what it has for you.
I know this sounds airy-fairy, but it is a powerful practice that could open your awareness to an expanded state. One that leads to full embodiment without the bypassing. It will be uncomfortable because it’s not something you have experienced before, but the snake does not move fast in this instance. It is not here to strike. It is here to bring enlightenment, and enlightenment is not something that comes overnight. It takes years of education and integration. So do not fear. There is only good that comes from seeking the truth of who you are. Let Ophiuchus fit into your wheel.
