Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Scorpio is an emotional, fiery water sign, usually represented by a creature of the desert — the scorpion. But it’s a desert creature that resembles lots of critters that live underwater, as if the ocean dried out and the scorpion stayed behind. Note the contradictions: fiery water, ruled by a land creature. Of all the animals to have as your totem, the scorpion is by far the oddest of the lot, and we can be sure that the ancient masters of lore had a perverse sense of humor, or were keenly aware of human nature.
Scorpio is an odd hybrid, both a product — and an instigator — of evolution. In plain talk, that means growth. You tend to push the people around you. And you tend to feel pushed, both internally and by your circumstances. Your sign is associated with sex, deep commitment and death, and that’s what you remind people of, even if it’s on a subtle level (it’s probably not). This has an influence on the people around you, all of whom think you’re ‘intense’.
You probably detest that word, and likely think that you’re normal and they are missing something. Maybe you don’t have a fever; maybe their body temperature is 88 F. Speaking of fevers, you need water, literally and figuratively; as emotional as this sign is, it can be mentally fixated (usually, on the psychology of others) and can appear to have trouble grounding in the realm of feelings. That’s a kind of illusion. You might cover your feelings, you might cover your vulnerability. But when you go deep, you really go. And when Scorpios get detached from the feeling realm, that’s when they can live up to their dangerous astrological reputation.
It’s vital that you not only think before you strike, but that you feel before you speak. Other people have feelings; you need to be reminded of this and spend time listening to the ones you care about. Express empathy as a conscious choice and invite people in with your famous capacity to keep a secret. This said, the passions of Scorpio are unparalleled, and people crave you as much as you crave them. Give them the space to desire you.
Your sign is the one that rules over the sexual organs, deservedly so; it is also the sign associated with death and transformation. You love the idea and the experience of surrender perhaps a shade more than you love control. It’s healthy for you to let go; pay attention and you will figure out that jealousy is your best teacher.
Scorpio is a fixed sign, of the element water, traditionally ruled by Mars, and in modern times by the potent anti-planet Pluto. To understand yourself better, study both of these planets. These days most astrologers forget (or pretend) that Mars isn’t involved. It is — and if you’re curious about astrology, start there.
UNVEILING THE UNCONSCIOUS
Said another way, Pluto is only the honorary ruler of Scorpio; your actual planet is Mars. As the guardian of human desire, Mars is much closer to home, and under most circumstances, more practical and more humane. Pluto is always about an unconscious process being raised to the level of full awareness. You could call that the story of your life.
Any astrologer with a shred of intelligence takes his hat off and bows humbly to all people, things and ideas Scorpio. To do so is nothing more or less than to honor the biological process and the cycles of existence that are at the core of physical life. Scorpio and the associated 8th house are the central computers through which 21st-century reality is processed. Issues of life, death, power, relationships, control and vast, secret worlds of which most people are scarcely aware are all symbolized and encoded in your sign.
As one who is born with the Sun (or ascendant) aligned with Scorpio, you are endowed with a greater-than-average involvement with, and awareness of, these processes. You see and feel them moving in ways that are invisible to many. You are a catalyst for change; you are one who can reach into yourself and manifest something from (seemingly) nothing. Each of us possesses these gifts to a greater or lesser degree. But it is your particular need to maintain vigilance over your creative potency, and to remember that the power to create, when it goes to sleep or is seized by an unfriendly spirit, can become the power to destroy.
What we know for sure is that in the realm of feeling, experience and biology known as Scorpio, there are many kinds of mysterious transformations taking place, which push the question of existence to the front of awareness. Life and death weave into one story: immortality and sexuality, love and loss, control and release, pain and pleasure, self and other. Each of these is one aspect of a seeming dualism. In Scorpio we work for integration, for mixing the waters and the expressions of all that oppose: we work for integrity, bringing the seeming opposites together in one experience contained within us. This is evolution. It may seem that we release, give, receive, exchange, grow and share with others, and others may indeed help us, even in ways they did not intend. In the end, all we can truly do is surrender to ourselves. In that act is the possibility of freedom born.
Just ask any Scorpio.
CAREER/POWER/MONEY
In terms of ‘career objectives’, usually, we decide what we do based on how much money we will make. This is generally the last nail in the coffin of childhood creativity; the others include having our curiosity eviscerated; being programmed with the need to impress others; and the related need to conform. By the time most people get to first grade, the game is over.
You have it in you to see, feel and experience the world with the clarity, adventure and purity of a child, which are rare qualities to find in an adult, particularly one as worldly as you are. No matter what you strive to achieve in the material world, this sense of adventure and creativity are your real charm; they are what attracts people to you and makes you such a compelling person to work with, work for, or be involved with. I know, these are not the ordinary Scorpio traits you’ll read about in most books, but they are what you have going on now and for the foreseeable future.
Have you ever had the feeling that there was a ‘slight’ quality of chaos following you from work environment to work environment? Have you noticed that it can show up in the form of a jealous woman, who seizes power in the midst of a void of real leadership? And have you ever wondered what this has to do with you? I mean, you are the one thing that all your work environments have in common.
I realize there are assholes everywhere. Yet what the assholes you meet have in common is that they are anti-service. They resent serving others. You struggle with this, but you understand something fundamental that goes below this particular issue: something about existence.
I would propose that you consider the depth to which you find your identity and sense of vitality through the work that you do — which is why you have to get that right.
Your creative/work/professional existence may be complicated by guilt. I suggest you question this carefully. The connection to power is that guilt is often caused by the power that people (such as caregivers) have abused in the past; and this in turn creates an orientation on power in our own lives.
SEX
If anyone had a chance of making it through into adulthood with some of their self-awareness intact, I’m going to propose that you had pretty good odds. You do seem to be driven by curiosity, which we can account in part to your sexual nature. Sex and curiosity are like parallel strands of DNA, and while others may critique your focus on sex, and/or while you may be afraid to let it out into daylight where others can experience it, sexual awareness is what grounds you in feeling alive, and in your curiosity, and in your desire: more people are envious of you than you imagine.
Now, Scorpio is the sign that tends to bear the burden of sexuality in the Western world. Scorpios are presumed to be sexual, and all astrological definitions of your sign say so. I’m sure you’re familiar with these ideas, nearly all of which miss the point. The problem with sexuality in the West and in many other cultures is that it’s considered inherently inappropriate, an aspect of human nature that (despite being what creates us) we need to ignore, bypass, deny, discard, eliminate or find a substitute for. The notion ‘sin’ implies sex, sin implies hell, and so on and on till you get there. But take my word for it: this is not coming from Goddess — or Earth-based religion. Only death-cults or purity cults could come up with this kind of reasoning.
More to the point, as a Scorpio it’s obvious to you what a crock of bullshit this is, because the moment you feel your existence for about 20 seconds, the truth of your core sexuality becomes obvious. While you are basically barred by your inherent nature from going on a denial trip (unless you are genuinely willing to flirt with evil, or are in some extreme form of conflict), how you actually use your sexual energy is very much a question, and one that needs to be addressed. So, too, is how you deal with a world (including the influences of your parents, your partners and your friends) that is not necessarily as aware as you are. Indeed, you must contend with a world that is constantly projecting its shadow onto your soul.
MENTAL PROCESS: TRADITION
The set-up of your solar chart (or natal chart, if you have Scorpio rising) places Capricorn in the 3rd house. That’s the house of your mental processes. It is difficult for you to think outside the maze of tradition. Tradition fascinates you; you believe in it; you honor old people; you honor old ways; you like old things; and it’s necessary for you to apply some real energy into creating something new.
If you wonder what you struggle with in life, how about phrasing it as the need to get out of your old ways and do what is actually relevant in the moment. Adherence to the past for its own sake is as dumb as revolution for its own sake. There are many ideas from the past that need a revival, and many more that need a swift burial. We could say the same of your thought patterns.
One of the reasons that Scorpio holds onto the past so dearly, even to your own detriment, involves your thoughts being so oriented on the patterns of the past, as if they are the only thing that exists.
TRIBAL VALUES and RELATIONSHIPS
For the past few years I have been developing an idea in Scorpio annual editions, which involves your relationship to tribe or community. I’ve never read this in any astrology book, but it seems plainly obvious looking at the solar chart: you are a tribal animal.
There was an element of emotional warmth lacking in your tribe-of-origin, and one of the ways you have compensated is by becoming a passionate person. The downside of that is that you became the source of warmth for the people around you, which often stole your own heat and put it to work for them.
Here’s what happened, as a result: anytime you get into a group situation, that dynamic has the potential to show up, in spades. Anytime you get into a leadership position, you can get into this role; and you know it’s not good for you. As you change this one thing, you will change your whole leadership dynamic, which is vitally important: you are a born leader.
Scorpios are known for their controlling attitudes in relationships. Whether this is true or not, that is the reputation of your sign, and I have seen that there is at least an element of truth to this. The other side of this equation is that many Scorpios are conscious of this tendency and do whatever they can to go in the other direction, and this often results in a kind of overcompensation. You can turn into a people-pleaser.
PERSONALITY
Scorpio is one of the most complex signs in the zodiac. You have no doubt noticed this. You are extremely dynamic and energetic and at the same time one of the most deeply introverted people around.
You are an exceptionally good companion, and you are better than ever before. You are loyal, you are compassionate and you understand the need for emotional freedom. But you may doubt yourself. Indeed, you may feel like you are some kind of damaged goods. I want to encourage you to at least make a commitment to setting that notion aside; I assure you, you are anything but ‘damaged goods’ — and letting go of that misguided belief can open up a whole new world to you.