Welcome to the Astrology Food for Thought Blog

This blog presents my interpretation of astrological symbolism as it pertains to the unfolding of individual lives and the events occurring in our world. I welcome you to present your own views and to challenge my thinking. Although I attempt to rely on accurate sources of information, I encourage you to do your own fact-checking, since any resource may at times be flawed.



Sunday, October 21, 2012

SCORPIO THE REGENERATOR





Preface 

If your birthday does not fall during the Scorpio timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Scorpio, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present. All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others.
The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image. Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy. You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.

The Sun transits the sign of Scorpio beginning October 22, 2012 at 4:15 pm PDT. 


Scorpios Speak

















“Me and my dad are the biggest promoters of an estate tax in the US. It's not a popular position.”
Bill Gates
Multibillionaire Founder of Microsoft and Philanthropist 






















“My name had gone stale, and no matter how progressive I got, it was my time to die.”

Joni Mitchell
Scorpio Singer and Songwriter

















“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.”


Pablo Picasso
Scorpio Artist
















“Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call.”

Sylvia Plath
Scorpio Writer, best known for the Bell Jar



















“There are such beings as vampires, some of us have evidence that they exist. Even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience, the teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane peoples.” 

Bram Stoker
Scorpio Writer of the novel Dracula

Source: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/bram_stoker.html#6uTYx4O3p2Ou1eQg.99

















"He always have orgasm [sic], and he doesn't wait for me to have orgasm. He's selfish."

Lorena Bobbit
Scorpio Found Not Guilty of Husband’s Castration Due to Insanity



Scorpio Symbolism

Unique among the zodiac signs, Scorpio is represented by three animals: the scorpion, the eagle, and the phoenix (or some say the dove). Each of these animals symbolizes a different aspect and a different stage of Scorpio regeneration. At the first level of Scorpio energy, symbolized by the scorpion, the raw energy is thrust forward for protection, as retaliation for some infringement. The scorpion “sting” is penetrating and deliberate. Sometimes, Scorpio is not conscious of its own power and the impact of its “stings.”
At the next level of regeneration is the eagle. In this manifestation, Scorpio harnesses power through perceptive observation, as opposed to physical force. Scorpios at the eagle stage analyze the power relationships operating in their environment.

In the third stage, Scorpio represents the energy of renewal. This stage is the firebird phoenix of mythology, which emerges from the remnants of the flames. Astrologer Caroline Casey explains the purpose of this last process: “Ideally, the transformation that occurs is one that purges them of their tendency to judge others while leaving their discernment intact. The phoenix represents the capacity for empathetic observation without judgment, and therefore the capacity for compassion.” Casey also explains that, unlike Taurus, which is concerned with personal possessions, stewardship, and personal power, Scorpio’s focus of attention is on the use and abuse of collective wealth and power. [i]



Scorpio’s glyph (shown above) resembles the letter M (similar to Virgo) with an upturned arrow. Some astrologers say the loops represent the coils of a serpent, and others say these are the intestines, which account for Scorpio’s ability to have “gut” reactions. There are also differing interpretations about the upward arrow, which some say mimics the scorpion’s stinger. Since Scorpio rules the urino-genital organs and the organs of elimination, some claim the upward arrow is a reminder of the role of sexual energy in the creation and regeneration process, similar to Mars symbolism.

In traditional astrology, Mars co-ruled Aries and Scorpio. Modern astrologers associate the planet Pluto as Scorpio’s ruler, with Mars as a sub-ruler, while others see them as co-rulers. I think the co-rulership model best explains the Scorpio personality. Since Scorpio is a fixed water sign, it does not make sense that it would be ruled solely by a planet with a very active, spontaneous type of energy. On the other hand, Mars rulership of the sign of Aries makes total sense. Scorpio’s energy is a deliberate, focused, and tenacious energy, and appears to be more reactive than proactive. However, Pluto may be too cold to be associated with the torrid passions of Scorpio. Pluto relates to that which must be purged in order for a new form of life to emerge, and this certainly meshes with Scorpio’s themes. Given the lack of a total match of the characteristics of either one of these signs, it makes sense to consider them “co-rulers” of Scorpio, where each of these planets contributes qualities to this zodiac sign.

Scorpio rules the 8th House of the astrological chart, which some astrologers summarize as being concerned with “other people’s resources.” This may mean the resources we share with someone with whom we are intimate. It can also signify the stewardship we have for managing the resources of a corporation, an organization, or the resources of individuals. Some say that having a planet in the 8th house may represent an inheritance one receives, often times because someone else has died. Keywords for the 8th House include sex, death, taxes, and transformation. Is there any doubt that Scorpio is a profound sign?

The Transition from Libra to Scorpio

While Libra begins at a time of equal day and equal night, Scorpio begins in mid-Autumn, where the dark has overtaken the light. We see clear evidence of changes in the trees and plants that grace our environments, and we humans may have already altered our day-to-day habits around the light and temperature changes. Libra represented a significant shift in the development of the personality, becoming aware of the need to develop harmonious relationships with others. In the progression of personality development, Scorpio expands upon the need for collectivism and the desire for intimate union.

In his work, The Pulse of Life, astrologer Dane Rudhyar explains that the three autumnal zodiac signs symbolize humanity’s growth in social consciousness. He says that Libra, as the initiating force, presents the concept of social interchange as an ideal, still struggling with the unstable equilibrium between conflicting individual and collective needs. Scorpio’s task is to deepen the commitment to the social forces. Rudhyar views sex as serving both a procreational purpose (as symbolized by Taurus in the Day Force) and a social role in the sign of Scorpio, representing the Night Force. Scorpio, he says, has reached a stage where separate individualism is being overwhelmed with dramatic intensity by the need to merge in self-forgetfulness and union through another in the transcendent aspect of sex.[ii]

How Scorpio Energy Manifests in the Personality

As a fixed water sign, Scorpio is not inclined to initiate an attack, but instead will wait until the most opportune time to strike in defense. The sign’s fixity allows individuals born under this sign to wait patiently, using time to strategize and calculate their next move. Astrologer Deborah Houlding says that these qualities make Scorpio excellent candidates for military leadership, boardroom politics, and the courtroom.[iii] I would add that they would do well in various forms of research, investigative work, the occult, and psychology.

The feeling mode predominates in this sign, and these are not mild feelings. Intensity characterizes Scorpio’s emotions. No other sign dares to delve into the depths of emotions or information like Scorpio. What they uncover in their examination is often not pretty. Scorpio has an adversity to superficiality and blasĆ© attitudes. This sign seeks to uncover the truth, and if it is upsetting to others, Scorpio says, “so be it.”

Water signs are adept at exploring the psyche, and in the case of Scorpio, sign natives will undertake this task with great depth. Houlding says that Scorpio’s lack of conscious direction makes it susceptible to “a life full of highs and lows, passion and pain, with the zenith and nadir of experience expanding with each successive turn. There is no doubt that that this full exposure to experience involves pain, suffering, hardship, distress, and agonized emotions.”[iv]

No other sign elicits the degree of negative reactions as Scorpio does. I recently viewed a documentary called “The Waiting Room,” which leads us through a day in the lives of patients who come for emergency and urgent care at Oakland, California’s Highland Hospital, the public health center that cares for low-income and uninsured residents of Alameda County. In this film, a patient blurts out a profanity while talking to the medical worker who is conducting the intake process. She sternly asks the patient, “Are you a Scorpio?” Clearly, this woman associates intensity with Scorpio. Should any of us need to seek services at an overcrowded, complex health system, the experience might well cause us to get in touch with the intensity in our personality.

Others may not always understand the dimensions of Scorpio’s nature. Scorpio’s panoply of life experience make this sign inclined to understand intimately the cycles of life, death, transformation, and rebirth. Their life experience may take them on the path of the forbidden and taboo. Consequently, this sign’s encounters with life’s harsh realities instill a propensity for authenticity. They have an intense dislike for pretense and superficiality, and they surround themselves with people with whom they can engage in meaningful relationships. Although their passions are strong, Scorpios may not express these feelings easily. They value their privacy, and they prefer not to be the center of attention for extended periods.

The Gift of Scorpio Energy

In astrologer Bill Herbst’s brilliant article, he explores Scorpio’s dark side. Herbst contends that Scorpio’s sensitivity to the dark side offers a path to the truth. He says that this sign “ferrets out the hidden truth that apparent good often contains seeds of evil, and gross evil may at times spark profound goodness.”[v]
Leaving Libra’s realm of idealism, Scorpio instead values pragmatism. Herbst says that because the concept of morality is subject to hypocrisy and knowing that good and evil too often morph into each other, Scorpio is more comfortable with an amoral perspective. Rather than to operate from a framework of right and wrong, Scorpio adheres to an ethic of effectiveness. Herbst observes: “Scorpio wants to gather power, conserve, and concentrate it, then use that intensified power to maximum effect. Morality has nothing to do with it.”[vi]

In Scorpio’s realm, we have the opportunity to become more honest about humanity and about ourselves. Scorpio’s process can take us on a journey of truth. Herbst observes that “Scorpio digs relentlessly to unearth whatever is buried, including conscience, reminding us finally of our commonality with others through the revelation that we are indeed capable of anything, that we contain within our psyches the entire pantheon of human potential, from profound love and respect for dignity to utter depravity and raw belligerence…We are all monsters. That is to say, we all contain within us the innate potential to become monstrous in thought, feeling, and action. That assumption is part of the core experience of Scorpio…All the levels of Scorpio know that good and evil dance together in each of us, intertwining not just as light and dark, but as infinite shades of gray.”[vii]

Endnotes


[i] Casey, Caroline. (1998). Making the Gods Work for You. New York: Harmony Books, pp.43-45.

[ii] Rudhyar, Dane. (1943). The Pulse of Life: New Dynamics in Astrology. Part Two: Twelve Phases of Human Experience. Retrieved from: w.khaldea.com/rudhyar/pofl/pofl_p2s8p1.shtml

[iii] Houlding, Deborah (October/November 2006). Scorpio the Scorpion. The Mountain Astrologer, (Issue #129), pp.37-43.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Herbst, Bill (October/November 2006). In Defense of Scorpio’s Dark Side. The Mountain Astrologer, (Issue #129), pp.29-34.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Ibid.


Profiles of Two Prominent Sun Sign Scorpios



















Hillary Rodham Clinton
Born October 26, 1947

In the public limelight for the last 20 years, Hillary Clinton is a recognizable figure for most Americans, and probably for many inhabitants of the world. Currently the Secretary of State in the Obama Administration, she appears frequently on the nightly news in stories about her diplomatic travels. She came to prominence as the outspoken wife of presidential candidate Bill Clinton, and after that, as a First Lady very involved in the issues of the day. After eight tumultuous years in the White House, Hillary Clinton set off on her own political career after her election as the junior senator from New York. She completed eight years (January 2001-January 2009) of service in this role before embarking on an unsuccessful run to attain the Democratic Party’s nomination for President in 2008.

Born in Chicago, Illinois on October 26, 1948, Hillary Clinton was the daughter of Hugh Rodham, a prosperous fabric storeowner, and his wife Dorothy. Hillary and her two younger brothers led comfortable lives in the middle-class suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois. Raised in a Republican household, Hillary was active in GOP clubs as a youth, eventually serving in the role of a “Goldwater Girl” in the presidential election of 1964. She recalled that hearing a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King at an event she attended as a youth inspired her to enter public service. By 1968, Hillary had changed her political affiliation to the Democratic Party.

After graduating from high school, Hillary Rodham attended Wellesley College, where she served as the President and Valedictorian of her class. As a Yale University Law School student, Hillary gained valuable Washington, D.C. experience when she served as a summer intern for a Senate subcommittee. The following year, she worked on the campaign of presidential candidate George McGovern. Hillary Rodham graduated with honors from Yale Law School. She attended one year of post-graduate study at the Yale Child Study Center.

It was at Yale that Hillary Rodham met Bill Clinton, a fellow law student. After working as staff for the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in activities related to the impeachment of Richard Nixon, Hillary followed Bill Clinton to his home state of Arkansas. Both taught for a short time at the University of Arkansas Law School.

While Bill Clinton ran for Attorney General of Arkansas in 1972, Hillary Clinton worked on the presidential campaign of Jimmy Carter, who later appointed her to serve on the board of the Legal Services Corporation. Although Hillary initially held off making a long-term commitment to Bill Clinton, the two eventually married in 1975. Three years later, Bill Clinton was first elected Governor of Arkansas. The following year, Hillary joined the Little Rock based Rose Law firm, its first female partner. In this capacity, the National Law Journal named her as one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in the nation. In 1980, the Clintons’ daughter Chelsea was born.

During her 12-year tenure as First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, served as Chairwoman of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, and accepted appointments to the boards of the Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Children's Defense Fund. Additionally, TCBY and Wal-Mart named her to their boards.

Scandals became frequent challenges for Hillary Clinton, beginning with Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign. She appeared on nationwide television to support her husband amid allegations that he engaged in marital infidelities. “Travelgate” became the first major ethics controversy in the White House, in which the firings of long-time travel office employees were called into question, with allegations that the Clintons wanted to control operations by replacing long-time staff with their friends. Another major event was “White Water,” an inquiry of the real estate investments of the Clintons related to the failure of a savings & loan institution, which became the subject of congressional probes and a multi-year independent counsel investigation. Finally, overshadowing these and other scandals was the Monica Lewinsky affair, which resulted in impeachment charges against Bill Clinton. During the period when the president denied sexual activity with Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton loyally defended her husband. When Bill Clinton eventually confessed to the affair, Hillary Clinton, one can speculate, must have experienced deep disappointment, embarrassment, and anger. There were reports that she considered terminating her marriage at that time.

Following the end of Bill Clinton’s presidency, Hillary Clinton has had the opportunity to build her own record of accomplishment as an elected official, and now, as a cabinet official. Although she has stated in the past few years a lack of interest in another run for the presidency, some speculate that she might reconsider, and pursue a run in 2016.

Some Observations about the Natal Chart of Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton’s natal chart from Astrodatabank appears at the end of this section.

I had two initial reactions to seeing Hillary Clinton’s natal chart. My first question was, “What are you hiding, Hillary?” My second thought was, “Hillary, as a double Scorpio, with three planets in Scorpio in the 12th House, why is it you enjoy the limelight so much?” I felt a little “blocked” at first understanding Hillary’s chart, but then information began unfolding gradually, perhaps as it does when one befriends a Scorpio.

Hillary Clinon’s natal chart shows the majority of her planets (8) above the horizon and concentrated in houses 12 and nine. The sign of Scorpio lies on the cusp of her 12th house, which contains her Sun, her Venus, and her Mercury. Leo rules her ninth house, and the planets Saturn, Mars, and Pluto call this home. There is a strong relationship between these two houses, in which we find squares between its planets. The traditional and modern rulers of Scorpio (Mars and Pluto) are located in the ninth house. This emphasis on the two houses explains to me a conflict that Hillary must have. Scorpios desire a significant amount of privacy, while Leos love attention. Although Hillary was very active in groups as a youth and later as an adult, she did play a background role to Bill Clinton when he served as Attorney General and Governor of Arkansas. Hillary was confined to serving leadership roles behind the scenes. However, both Leo and Scorpio are signs that gravitate to power.

Bill Clinton is a Sun Sign Leo, and this luminary is at 26 degrees Leo, and Hillary’s Saturn is at 21 degrees, within the span of a conjunction. Perhaps early on in his career, Bill Clinton, in being who he is, created some restrictions on Hillary’s ability to shine. For Hillary, Bill has been a struggle, i.e. a real “piece of work.” Regardless, their marriage has endured (Saturn), and she has been known to say that no one can make her laugh the way Bill does.

Some astrologers say that the Sun in Scorpio may be the most powerful sign because it is ruled by Mars and Pluto, and Uranus is exalted in Scorpio. In Hillary’s chart, Uranus trines (easy flow of energy) her Sun and sextiles (opportunity) her Saturn. With this aspect, Hillary shows a strong urge to break free from whatever traditions she is born into. True to this type, she expresses herself in a tense and forceful way. The purpose for people with this planetary relationship is to implement change.

Scorpio deals with the process of fundamental transformation on all levels. Astrologers Sakoian and Acker say that no sign can be so potent for good or evil as Scorpio. Because Scorpio is a fixed sign, these natives have tremendous staying power —they can be ardent defenders of justice. Mercury in Scorpio may use sharp language and say exactly what they feel or remain silent. They carry on many plans in secret. They have determined minds and great resourcefulness. With Mercury in the 12th house this can reflect Hillary’s ability to keep her thoughts and ideas secret. With Venus in Scorpio, she may have strong and passionate feelings. She may want to dominate or control a personal relationship. These types never lose their personal pride and emotional dignity, displaying a strong reserve. Her 12th house Venus may mirror her great capacity for compassion, since this house corresponds to Pisces, where Venus is exalted.
The Leo planets in the 9th house (higher education, the law, foreign travel) explain Hillary’s desire for attention and love. These planet placements seem to match her interest in foreign affairs, and her success as a Secretary of State.







Sources for the Hillary Clinton profile:




























LUIZ INACIO “LULA” DA SILVA
Born October 27, 1945

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva served two terms as President of Brazil, from 2003 through 2010. Elected as a populist, Lula da Silva became one of Brazil’s most popular leaders. Time Magazine named him to their list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World for 2010.”

Born in Northeastern Brazil in October 27, 1945 to a working class family, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his family migrated when he was 7 to Sao Paulo, a region with greater job opportunities. He began working at a young age, first as a shoeshine boy, then an assistant in a dry cleaning establishment, followed by stints in an office. At the age of 14, he completed training at the National Industrial Learning Service, which prepared him for the trade of lathe operator in a metalwork plant.

Lula da Silva joined the Metalworkers Union, for which he assumed various leadership positions, ultimately attaining this union’s presidency in 1975. He became the main trade union leader during a time of active opposition to the Brazilian military regime and the struggle to gain better wages and more rights for laborers. After one major strike, the courts under Brazil’s military rule determined that strikes were illegal, and they imposed a month’s jail sentence on Lula.

In 1980, Lula da Silva helped establish the Workers Party, which represented a diverse coalition of labor groups, leftist organizations, intellectuals, and populist members of the Catholic Church. In 1984 he worked in the movement to institute a direct popular vote for the presidency. Two years later, he successfully ran for the position of Federal Deputy (equivalent to a congressional representative in the U.S.), obtaining the most votes ever garnered by a member of the Constituent Assembly.

After three unsuccessful attempts to attain the presidency, Lula da Silva was elected to his country’s highest office in 2006, beginning his administration in 2007. He committed his presidency to the eradication of poverty and hunger, and to the ideals of democracy. Lula instituted a combination of social programs and a jobs program targeted to infrastructure improvements, which stimulated economic activity in the private sector. Through his economic policies, Lula guided Brazil’s growth as it achieved the status as the world’s eighth largest economy. During his eight years as Brazil’s leader, 15 million jobs were created, 35.7 million entered the middle class, and 27.9 emerged from poverty.

Lula da Silva proved to be very much the pragmatist during his presidency, dispensing with the thinking of an idealogue. His moderate policies disappointed many a leftist in his country and around the world. When many Americans and Europeans expected Brazil to default on their IMF loan repayments, instead Lula met the loan obligations. On the South American continent, Lula served as a mediator in regional conflicts. Aside from an 80% approval rating in Brazil, Lula garnered much praise from international institutions and from countries around the world. 

Some Observations about the Natal Chart of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Lula da Silva’s natal chart appears at the end of this article. We do not know the time of Lula da Silva’s birth, which limits our understanding of the house placement of his planets. Knowing the day of his birth, we know about the sign positions of the planets, and their relationships (aspects).

Lula da Silva’s planets are concentrated in six houses, or half of the natal chart. This forms a Bowl chart pattern. Individuals with this pattern, according to March and McEvers, possess the need to further some cause or fulfill a mission. From his biography, we know that Lula was deeply committed to bringing about social change to improve the economic conditions of Brazil’s low-income population and to implement a democratic form of government.

The transpersonal planets of change, (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) all form easy aspects (trines or sextiles), indicating that Lula feels comfortable with being an agent of change, alone or with others. His natal chart indicates that he may face tensions and challenges (square aspects from four planets) in fulfilling personal ego needs and his purpose. As a union leader and political activist early in his career, he undoubtedly conformed to the needs of the group. Although as head of state he received pressure from various interests, perhaps he had greater free will to set a course based on his own perspective.

Like Hillary Clinton, Lula da Silva’s Sun and Mercury are in Scorpio. This Sun position is very potent, with the native seeking power and comfortable wielding it. The fixity of this sign endows it with staying power in spades. These individuals are champion defenders of justice. With Mercury in Scorpio, you can expect this individual to express himself bluntly or to remain strategically silent. The minds of these natives are determined and resourceful. Scorpio Lula da Silva can handle the not so pretty aspects of life, but his Jupiter, Venus, and Neptune demand harmony and balance. His Scorpio energies can effectively organize labor strikes, but his Libra must have been indispensable in negotiating contracts and serving as a mediator on behalf of Latin American countries encountering regional conflicts.


Sources for the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva profile:

http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Silva,_Luiz_Inacio_da


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