the-astrology-book

Scorpio
SCORPIO
Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac, is a fixed water sign. It is a negative (in the
value-neutral sense of being negatively charged), feminine sign ruled by the planet
Pluto (in traditional astrology it was ruled by Mars). The only sign with three symbols—the
Scorpion, the Snake, and the Eagle—its symbology is complex. Its glyph is
said to represent a serpent (some astrologers say a male member). It takes its name
from the Latin word for scorpion. Scorpio is associated with the sexual organs, and
individuals with a Scorpio sun sign are susceptible to kidney infections and venereal
disease. Male Scorpios are prone to prostate problems; female Scorpios to female problems.
The key phrase for Scorpio is “I desire.”
Scorpio is associated with the myth of the goddess Artemis calling an enormous
scorpion out of the ground to slay Orion. The reasons given for this attack vary
in different versions of the tale—some say jealousy, others that she was defending herself
from rape, and yet others say that she feared Orion would kill all animals on Earth.
In any event, she rewarded the scorpion by transforming it into a constellation. In
ancient Mesopotamian mythology, scorpion men guarded the gates of the underworld,
which is the original reason Scorpio became associated with death. In European folklore,
both scorpions and snakes were associated with evil and treachery, but, outside
the Jewish and Christian traditions, snakes were more usually associated with wisdom
(they were believed to know the secret of immortality, because when they shed their
skins, it appears that they are discarding an old body for a young one). Scorpio’s eagle,
symbolizing an evolved soul that can soar aloft above earthly concerns, may also represent
the Phoenix, a mythological bird that died only to be reborn from its own
ashes. On a star map, two alternative symbols can be seen in two constellations above
Scorpio: Aesculapius, who is pictured holding a serpent, and Aquila the Eagle, a constellation
near the serpent’s tail.
All these various mythological associations enter into the sign Scorpio. The
sign can be viewed as a form of Artemis herself, and the various versions of Artemis’s
attack reflect the various ways in which the sign’s violent passion can manifest—as
intense jealousy, as enraged self-defense, or in defense of others. Scorpios can be
debauched, evil, treacherous people who always remember a slight and seek
vengeance. They can also be healers and social reformers, manifesting the best traits
of humanity. Scorpios are best known for their sexual intensity, although this intense
drive can be channeled into other activities. They are also associated with death and,
more than any other sign, have within themselves the capacity to “die” to their old
selves and be transformed into new beings.
The sign that the Sun was in at birth is usually the single most important influence
on a native’s personality. Thus, when people say they are a certain sign, they are
almost always referring to their sun sign. There is a wealth of information available on
the characteristics of the zodiacal signs—so much that one book would not be able to
contain it all. Sun-sign astrology, which is the kind of astrology found in newspaper
columns and popular magazines, has the advantage of simplicity. But this simplicity is
purchased at the price of ignoring other astrological influences, such as one’s Moon
sign, rising sign, etc. These other influences can substantially modify a person’s basic
THE ASTROLOGY BOOK
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