Wendy Cicchetti

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac and represents the eighth stage of human evolution. In Libra we realize that there are other individuals in the world who are just like ourselves, and we began to explore how to balance and relate to others on a one-to-one basis. In Scorpio, we begin to take this relationship to a deeper level. We realize that if these other individuals are exactly like ourselves, then they too must have the same emotions, feelings, and needs; they, too, must experience the loneliness and pain of being separated from the source of all creation. By connecting with these individuals on a deep, emotional level, Scorpio seeks to experience union once more. Scorpio is the sign where we seek to merge with another individual, to lose all sense of individuality; to die, for a moment, and to be reborn again. On a physical level, one way of experiencing this death and rebirth, this union and transformation, is of course through sex, and Scorpio is very much the "sex symbol" of the zodiac. But it is important to remember that Scorpio is not simply about sex: Scorpio is about death, rebirth, and transformation.

Scorpio is a fixed water sign. As a fixed sign, Scorpio is concerned with sustaining and maintaining, and is also concerned with self-worth. As a water sign, Scorpio operates through the realm of emotions and feelings. Scorpio is therefore concerned with our emotional and spiritual self-worth. "Fixed water" is, essentially, ice, and Scorpio at times may appear to be cold and reserved. Scorpio, however, has more to do with icebergs than with ice: there is much more going on underneath the surface than meets the eye. Scorpio operates on such a deep and unconscious level that it is not always easy to express it's feelings. Scorpio experiences emotions more intensely than any other sign of the zodiac.

Traditionally, Scorpio is ruled by the planet Mars, but most modern astrologers associate the planet Pluto with Scorpio because of the similarities between the two. Although Scorpio and Pluto certainly share a fascination with transformation and the cycles of death and rebirth, Pluto does not have the emotional component that is such a fundamental part of Scorpio's nature. Mars, however, is a planet that is very comfortable with intense emotions, and is unquestionably the ruler of Scorpio. Scorpio brings out the feminine, receptive, and unconscious energy of Mars. Scorpio energy is most frequently directed inward, always searching through the unconscious, uncovering our fears, our wounds, our hidden desires; in short, Scorpio energy is about confronting our demons, and acknowledging them. Mars is the planet that enables us to pierce the veil of illusions; Scorpio is a sign that is not at all interested in how things look on the surface. Scorpio wants to get to the heart of the matter, to bare it's soul; and more than that, Scorpio wants to share the experience of baring it's soul with another individual. Ultimately, Scorpio energy is about healing ourselves and our spiritual wounds and connecting with other individuals on a soul level.

Sex is certainly one way that we can encounter the experience of death and rebirth, and it's also a way to experience very intense and powerful emotional connections with other individuals. But Scorpio is by no means the only sign that can express itself sexually, nor is sex the primary manifestation of Scorpio's energy. Scorpio energy, being ruled by Mars, is very susceptible to the traps and pitfalls of the ego; and when Scorpio gets ego-involved, Scorpio gets dangerous. When threatened, confronted, or otherwise challenged, Scorpio energy will attack in order to defend itself; and being so fundamentally in tune with the emotional realm, Scorpio energy has an uncanny instinct for finding the most painful spot and focusing it's considerable force on that point. Scorpio, like the scorpion, will only attack when it feels threatened, but when Scorpio attacks, it's deadly. Scorpio's attacks can seem to come out of nowhere because Scorpio, like all water signs, tends to hold onto old pain and emotional issues, picking at the scabs and keeping the anger alive, although buried very deep beneath the surface. One of the most important lessons for Scorpio, the sign concerned with transformation and change, is (ironically) to learn how to let go. Scorpio energy must also learn how to relax and enjoy life; often Scorpio is so focused on change and transformation, on tearing down the old to make way for the new, that it never allows time for the new to manifest.

Planets in Scorpio gain depth and intensity, and become agents of change and transformation. Emotional planets become even more emotional, and have a tendency to focus on heavier, darker issues. Planets that rely on their communication or social skills, such as Mercury and Venus, often have a difficult time in Scorpio: Scorpio is about probing the psyche; it's not built for small talk