Case #8: Scorpio
When you hear that someone is a Scorpio, do you secretly cringe or want to hide because you are nervous about their stinger and their pinching claws? Don’t let their aesthetics scare you! Come out of your hiding spot, flip on the light switch, and see them as they are.
Trust No One: Why Scorpio Gets a Bad Rap
Scorpios are just an astrological sign with both a beautiful light side and, yes, a shadow side too. Maybe the part of them that is a bit scary is the house they rule, the 8th house, but isn’t the 12th just as scary or, dare I say, even scarier?
Maybe they are scary because their season falls during Samhain, when the wheel of the year rotates us towards the darker months. Nature goes dormant and returns to the earth until spring, then awakens again for a new 360° rotation on the Wheel of the year. This cycle, through death and transformation, is Pluto, the planet and god of the underworld, death, and transformation energy, or basically change. And you know what they say, “the only constant in life is change,” so don’t be afraid of Pluto, or at least try not to be afraid of Pluto.
So, ok, yeah, Scorpios rule over the 8th house (death, taxes, transformation, the subconscious, sex, and the taboo), which is a little intimidating, and their season is during Samhain, when the veil is thin between the living and the dead, but that is no reason to be fearful of them. After all, a sign needs to rule over these themes and areas of life. Hence Scorpio’s armor of a stinger and claws. Ruling over these areas of life, it’s no wonder they seem a little on edge.
I personally see Scorpios as big emotional (fixed water) softies who wear intimidating armor out of necessity.
Pop-Culture
Allow me to introduce you to Exhibit A and B. They are two pop culture characters from the 80s, of course (I’m a proud Gen X-er, by the way), that embody Scorpio’s “scary” image. However, in reality, they are not scary at all, but merely wearing armor for protection.
Exhibit A
Batman 🦇
He lives in a dark, remote cave and dresses like a bat for goodness sake, complete with a black mask, armor, cape, and tons of weapons to project a cold, intimidating, and scary vibe. His costume and his bat cave are used to protect him not only from physical harm but also his sensitive heart from the pain of the death of his parents
Exhibit B
John Bender from
The Breakfast Club
John embodies the typical Scorpio bad-boy image. He totally rocks the look and attitude. In detention, we learn that he comes from an abusive home. This explains why he acts out. He does it to protect himself, believing it is safer to reject the world before it has a chance to reject him. Deep down, you guessed it, he’s a big ol’ softie looking for real connection and love like the rest of us.
The brooding, sensitive side of Scorpio is only one of its characteristics. Below are some of its other traits.
Scorpio101
Ok, class is in session 🤣
Here are some quick-and-dirty facts about our dear friend and deeply misunderstood sign, Scorpio.
Scorpio is:
The 8th Sign of the Zodiac
Water element, giving it a Yin, or receptive duality
Fixed modality
Is a 2nd Decan sign, meaning they are all about one-on-one relationships
Ruled by the planets
Mars (traditional ruler)
Pluto (modern ruler)
Scorpio Season starts October 23 - November 22 and is the sign during Samhain Season
Light and Shadow Keywords
All signs have a “light” and “shadow” side. In other words, a high vibe and a not-so-high vibe- let's call it a low-energy vibe. Below are keywords to describe Scorpio's light and shadow sides.
Light |
Shadow |
|---|---|
Loyal |
Possessive |
| Perceptive | Suspicious |
| Passionate | Obsessive |
| Resilient | Vengeful |
Scorpio's Myth @MystisLibrary on YouTube
The Truth Is Out There: The Scorpion and the Hunter
Scorpio’s mascot is, of course, the scorpion, but do you know how it became its mascot? Allow me to tell you the CliffsNotes version. Ok… So.
Once upon a time, a handsome giant named Orion was super vain, oh-so full of himself. One day he decided to openly brag that he could slay any animal or creature on Earth. Gaia, the earth goddess, was like, “Oh yeah… well, we’ll see about that,” and sent a giant scorpion named Scorpious to put him in check.
⬅︎ If you want a more poetic and illustrated version, then check out the short video I found on YouTube.
Correspondences
Astrological correspondences connect us to the energy or vibe of a particular sign. Think of it sort of like a mood board. They help translate what a particular sign is about.
Below are some of Scorpio’s Correspondences
| Element | Water |
|---|---|
| Modality | Fixed |
| Planetary Ruler(s) | Pluto (modern) + Mars (traditional) |
| Crystals | Obsidian, Garnet, Topaz |
| Colors | Deep Red, Black, Plum |
| Herbs + Flowers | Chrysanthemum |
| Tarot Card | Death XIII, 5, 6, 7 of Cups |
| Moon Phase | Dark Moon |
Your Free Scorpio Card
I created a digital watercolor card for Scorpio. Feel free to download and print it (personal use only), with no email sign-up required.
Here are some clever ways to use this card, in no particular order:
Journal inside it
Give it to your favorite Scorpio as a birthday card. Write one specific thing, edgy yet sentimental.
I’ll give you one, on the house.
➡︎ If the world burned down tomorrow, you are the only one I’d look for in the ashes.
Your loyalty is unmatched, and mine is yours forever.
Happy Birthday to the one I'd ride out any storm with.
I can almost guarantee they will secretly love it and place it among their prized possessions.
Or you can simply stick it on the refrigerator to remind you to armor up and not be afraid to go deep. Transformation is not for the faint of heart.
A Journal Prompt: To you, from Scorpio
Where are you giving away your power because you are afraid of your own strength?
- Mars + Pluto domain - personal sovereignty - control -confronting fearIncoming Transmission: Want Another Card?
A Scorpio Send-Off
“- May you have the courage to look into deep places without flinching.
- May you let go of what has ended and not look back.
- May you rise from it changed, stronger, and more comfortable with yourself. ”