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 blasé 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.
Sources for the Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva profile:
