Polarity: Nocturnal

Element: Water

Modality: Fixed

Traditional ruler: Mars

Keywords: Mysterious and piercing

Symbol: ♏ (The scorpion)

As the  of fixed water, the mysteries of Scorpio run deep. This sign is the zodiac’s penetrating researcher, emotional detective, and enigma wrapped in a riddle. Ruled by Mars, the planet of action and combat, Scorpio is not afraid to get its pincers dirty — but its strikes are always timed with surgical precision. If you have key placements in Scorpio, you tunnel into the great unknown without breaking your poker face. The complexity of this sign is vast, which brings a probing quality to any planet or point that resides within its domain.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpio corresponds with the shedding season, when the veil is thinnest and we commune with our departed loved ones. The decay of leaves around this time of year nods to Scorpio’s underworld qualities, as well as its powers of regeneration. Ruling over autumn’s symbolic death, this sign is steeped in the decomposition stage of the growth cycle.

If you have important planets or points in Scorpio, you may prefer to work behind the scenes and keep a large part of your life private. Of course, this all adds to your magnetism, and not many can resist your charisma. But secrecy can tip into suspicion if you don’t lower your armor now and then. Scorpio types are famously self-possessed. If this is you, asking for help may feel more daunting or disagreeable than going it alone. When distorted, Scorpio can be sarcastic, secretive, controlling, and quick to sever contact when the situation calls. But as a fixed sign, Scorpio is incredibly loyal to those who have earned their trust.

They also have unparalleled focus — which can teeter on obsession — when something or someone piques their interest. The trade-off for a Scorpio’s scouring attention? Impatience with idle chit-chat. Though Scorpio’s bitters might not be for everyone’s palette, their lack of pretense cuts to the core of what it means to be vulnerable. Those who pass Scorpio’s intimacy tests will be gifted with a friend for life.

Note: Each sign has its own signature style, and every planet or point has to function through the filter of the sign it’s in. The manner in which this happens depends on all the planets, points, and signs involved. To find out which placements you have in Scorpio, download the or use our .

What does it mean to have one of your “big three” in Scorpio?

The Sun passes through Scorpio from around October 22nd to November 21st every year, though the exact dates will vary. With the Sun in Scorpio, you shine with a mysteriously alluring glow. You also harbor secrets like currency and feel most vital when you’re playing your cards close to your chest. Focused on life’s subtext and shadows, a part of your power comes from your ability to laser-focus your energy. Comfortable with the unsavory realities of life, you shine a light into the caves and gullies most of us would choose to avoid. 

In the intense and resilient sign of Scorpio, the Moon is said to be in its fall. In other words, Luna’s pursuit of comfort is at odds with Scorpio’s fascination with the extremes of life. That doesn’t mean your emotional life will be difficult, but it does hint at a need to tap your deepest wells of feeling and transform your pain into a sense of purpose. Your Moon has a primal pull toward transformative connections and possibly even possessive bonds. Learning to compost past desires and emotions is self-care for this placement. 

If your ascendant is in Scorpio, you’re known for your ability to pierce through to the truth of the matter. Mars is the planet that steers your life as a Scorpio rising, meaning you’re unafraid to tussle with the taboo. In fact, you thrive when you’re feeling the fear and diving in anyway. When distorted, however, this rising sign can win the self-sabotage Olympics. You would rather survive the harshest conditions than give even an inch. Something you’re learning is to be vulnerable before you scuttle back into your fortified bat cave. Remember: Lowering your shield now and then doesn’t take away from your inimitable stamina and grit.  

What it means to have other planets and points in Scorpio

Mercury in Scorpio does not mince words. In fact, it can be brutally honest — when it chooses to reveal its cards. If you have the messenger in this sign, you’ll have a BS radar like no other and an ability to articulate deep psychological truths. But what you chose not to disclose speaks the most volumes of all. When tasked with keeping a secret — or when it’s tactically prudent not to comment — you’re a sealed vault. 

Venus is considered to be in detriment in Scorpio, which means it’s residing in a sign contrary to its natural tendencies. Scorpio’s ruler, Mars, enjoys strife, and Venus wants harmony. But a little leather can set off Venus’ natural predilection for lace. If the relationship isn’t deep, probing, even soul-altering — Venus in Scorpio doesn’t want it. The gift of this placement is ushering in truly transformative partnerships. 

Mars in Scorpio is courageous, relentless, and fiercely determined. The planet of conflict is in this water sign, though its strategy tends to be inscrutable to those on the outside. With Mars in Scorpio, you may possess tactical talents, an indomitable will, and an extreme level of patience. Identifying a target for your all-consuming drive is crucial. 

Like the gargantuan iceberg beneath its polar cap, Jupiter in Scorpio holds endless mysteries in its depths. With this placement, your wisdom journeys take you to the edges of the human experience and beyond. Even life’s most shadowy events bear the silver lining of a teachable moment. You might even offer protection and grace to those navigating intense transitions. When it comes to long-term happiness, the freedom to experience the full complexity of life is a must.

With Saturn in Scorpio, your grit and gumption are undeniable. In fact, you can be ruthless in the pursuit of your goals, outstrategizing anything that gets in your way. Scorpio’s capacity to regenerate is put to the test with this placement. But just because you can withstand the harshest of circumstances doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Though brooding like an extreme sport comes naturally to you, it’s important to come up from your goth-cave for air. Nobody has to bear their sorrows alone. And asking for help is a true mark of maturity.

Chiron in Scorpio is not one to skim the surface. You heal yourself and others by showing up to the mess of being a human. This placement investigates the balance between your need for self-preservation with your yearning to merge with others. Your bruises include moments where you felt ready to share yourself and someone didn’t recognize the gravity of that privilege. Yet, those are the experiences that offer you the most wisdom. 

For every flash of rebellion, several whiteboards of strategy precede it. Uranus loves to disrupt business as usual. In Scorpio, it will do so by revealing the most festering injustices. By dropping an inconvenient mic. By pointing out the harrowing truth that’s been swept under the rug. When you delve underground, you find your fellow goths, muckraking journalists, and rebels.

The last time Neptune was in Scorpio was 1970, as punk music, mosh pits, and spiked collars shook up the decadence of disco. In Scorpio, Neptune brings its themes of illusion, fantasy, and idealism to the shadowy realms of subterranean art movements, occult investigations, and deep human merging. While this signature could bring communal catharsis, propaganda and hidden agendas can manipulate the masses.

Pluto was last in Scorpio between 1983 and 1995, and it won’t wade through those fixed waters again until 2240. This most recent stint of Pluto in Scorpio left its mark on the millennials, who were born during this period. This is the generation that came of age in the shadow of September 11th, the banking crash of 2008, and a seriously lackluster job market. How did they persevere? With Scorpio’s favorite guilty pleasures: serial vampire dramas, true crime podcasts, and no shortage of emo playlists. 

A North Node in Scorpio gives you an irrepressible drive to experience the extremes of life. If it’s not challenging you on a soul level, your interest has already moved on. 

With the South Node in Scorpio, your work involves learning to relinquish control. That doesn’t mean it comes easy, but opening yourself up to trust and receptivity will be more gratifying than fortifying your defenses. 

If your MC (or midheaven) is in Scorpio, you’re drawn to a career, vocation, or public role that truly challenges you. Not one to shy away from intensity, you thrive in settings where you can support others through challenging circumstances. Whether you’re a paramedic or an investigative journalist, you’re driven to probe the margins that others tend to ignore. 

An IC in Scorpio suggests that your home or family life has been a testing ground for your emotional resilience. Pull the string of your lineages and you may uncover a maze of secrets, mysterious lore, and stories of overcoming against all odds. Your caregivers modeled courage and determination, but you might still be detangling from their tendency to get jealous or to hold a mighty grudge.

With the DC in Scorpio, you bond deeply with your friends, lovers, and creative collaborators alike. Fascinated by people with depth, complexity, and relentless drive, your closest relationships are vehicles of transformation. Though your trust can be difficult to earn, your partnerships touch you to your very core. Those who get past your defenses and coax out your softer side are in your corner for keeps. 

Affirmation for Scorpio

I respect my strength by allowing myself to be vulnerable.

Want to learn more about the signs in the zodiac? Click the links below.

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