The native’s willpower is so formidable that it can almost put the other signs to shame. Yet this immense strength can easily become wilfulness and obstinacy. Scorpio lacks the flexibility and tact of Libra. He always goes straight to the heart of the matter. He never compromises, never takes a roundabout approach, and never gives up. These qualities are entirely fitting for a fixed water sign, which is often likened to an unstoppable river. This is a very selfish sign, far more so even than Capricorn. The undeveloped Scorpio is a slave to his own Will. He is utterly intolerant, insisting upon his own perspective and purpose even when he can see that this course leads to self-destruction. In judging an individual horoscope, it is therefore essential to assess the benefic aspects and planetary placements, for no other sign of the zodiac allows so wide a gulf between its higher and lower types. If Scorpio’s expansive and altruistic side is well supported, we may see this tremendous Will directed towards honourable ends. But if selfish and restrictive influences predominate, we are more likely to encounter an utter scoundrel, capable of every kind of baseness.
Scorpio’s mind is highly critical and sceptical. Once his powers are awakened, he pursues truth with fearless and relentless energy, but the lower types never reach the point at which their efforts are duly rewarded. One of this sign’s symbols is stagnant, foul water, by which the ancient adepts meant poisonous water.
This sceptical attitude seems to arise more from personal dissatisfaction than from anything else. A child born with this rising sign, for instance, will not question the religious or social views surrounding him so long as he agrees with them. But if his parents insist that he accept and conform to ideas he finds abhorrent, he will spring up like a snake and strike. He will not waste time pushing things aside and forcing his way through like Taurus, nor will he devise ways of avoiding them, as Libra would. Nothing will satisfy him so much as destroying whatever troubles him or stands in his way. His is also a vengeful nature. Similar difficulties over sexual restrictions may turn him into a lifelong libertine. He will recklessly destroy his own health to gratify his hatred of any attempt to control him; indeed, this may become one of the dominant motives of his life. Not content with destroying himself, he will leave no stone unturned in bringing others down as well. Very often he will do all this in complete sincerity, even convinced that it is the noblest and most self-sacrificing act of altruism. Some established principle has injured him, and that principle must be swept away. He sees himself as an avenging angel and has no sense of proportion—“consideration for others places no restraint upon him”. Scorpio may often be a traitor, but he is never fickle. It is very rare for him to change his views radically over the course of his life. If he does, it generally emerges that these were never truly his convictions in any deeper sense; rather, his selfishness, seeing some personal advantage in reverting to his former position, prompts him to go over to the enemy. We see this quality of mind exemplified in Judas, to whom Scorpio is symbolically assigned among the apostles.
This rigidity of mind, and its inability to weigh things against one another, produces an interesting result. Scorpio can hold two opinions that Libra, for instance, would consider utterly contradictory, and cling to both with equal tenacity. Furthermore, Scorpio has an almost superhuman capacity for facing facts. The native never shrinks from investigating something merely because it is unpleasant. On the contrary, he considers this the best way to examine a subject and penetrate its deepest recesses. Physicians may often come under this sign’s influence, but surgeons do so far more frequently. Scorpio is strongly emphasised in the horoscopes of the greatest investigators. Either the sign is on the Ascendant, or a planet associated with the mind, such as Mercury or even Saturn, is placed there or aspects its ruler. In his investigations, Scorpio brings boundless patience to bear and expends enormous energy in overcoming obstacles. His efforts suffer most from the destructive tendencies inherent in this method. One of the chief dangers of this temperament is an intense concentration upon its object, with an inability to stop or rest. Fortunately, this is accompanied by an immense capacity for work. As a rule, this sign is deeply contemptuous of emotion in any form. Scorpio does not spare himself pain, and therefore has little regard for the sensitivities of others. He expects everyone to be as strong as he is. Indeed, he is a dangerous colleague, for his magnetism is so powerful that those working alongside him are imperceptibly drawn into imitating his enthusiasm, making them very likely to overexert themselves and collapse.
Within his limitations, Scorpio is an excellent organiser. He is exceptionally thorough in his preparations, and his foresight is remarkable. Indeed, one obstacle to rapid success among the best examples of this sign is that their vision is generally too ambitious to realise within a single lifetime. Thus we find them building for posterity, perhaps suffering deeply because they refuse to stray from their chosen path to attend to the pressing needs of the moment.
In money matters, Scorpio is so sure of himself that he will turn everything to his own advantage. Complete financial honesty can therefore be expected only of the higher types, and even then there is a tendency towards excessive confidence in their own judgement of what is fair where the rights of others are concerned.
The love of power is especially pronounced in these types. Even the “worst specimens” possess tremendous personal magnetism, and somehow or other Scorpio manages to become the ringleader. Here too, however, his capacity for self-destruction comes into play. The native has no tact whatsoever. He will say what he thinks even when he wishes to conciliate the person he is addressing and knows that his words will cause offence. The result is that he ends up offending everyone around him. He is admired and feared. Consequently, he is seldom fortunate in building a career. People are powerfully attracted by his presence, only to be repelled just as strongly afterwards. Success in this world depends greatly upon the goodwill of those with whom one comes into contact, yet Scorpio almost invariably fails to make the most of opportunities in this respect. He fares well when working independently.
Scorpio has as much courage as energy, but this quality often degenerates into folly or cruelty.
From all that has been said, we may also judge how Scorpio behaves at home. So long as things go his way, all is well; oppose him, and God help you. There is no indication that the native is inclined to leave home early in life. He has no natural urge to venture into the unknown. As long as he sees some advantage in remaining somewhere, there he will stay. His vision sometimes extends no further than this small circle, and all he can do is make himself its driving force. Thus we often find the housewife who rules her household with a rod of iron. She always manages to be right and is deeply aggrieved when her meek husband opposes her or, more often, leaves her,
In love, Scorpio is certainly the most passionate type, but this passion is almost always selfish. The lower types tend towards coarseness and bestiality, along with many other forms of self-indulgence, such as drinking and overeating. He is intensely jealous and tyrannical, easily offended and, once offended, vengeful. If he forgives, it is very likely not true forgiveness; rather, his passion is so strong that he cannot do without its chosen object.
Scorpio is also prone to criminal passions and inclinations, and to abusing the “unwritten law”. It would scarcely be an exaggeration to say that wherever we find a crime of passion, insane jealousy and a complete lack of balance, Scorpio will be prominent in the perpetrator’s horoscope.
Sexual excesses of every kind, particularly the coarser forms, are often found among those born with this rising sign, for the guiding principle here is to deny oneself no opportunity to heighten pleasure.
As for children, these natives are quite fertile, but Scorpio makes a poor parent. It is practically impossible for him to appreciate a child’s views and perspective or to allow its natural character to develop. He is difficult enough with people old enough to stand up to him; towards a defenceless child, he can become truly cruel. He may often express passionate devotion, and this may indeed be sincere, but everything must be as he wishes. In marriage, the native is usually tyrannical and overbearing. He should not marry if an active or malefic planet occupies the seventh house or aspects its ruler. His only chance of finding tolerable circumstances is to meet a partner who is pliant, obedient and patient.
Everything said about Scorpio’s relations with others applies equally to friendships and business contacts. Friendship with Scorpio can be maintained only at a certain distance, for as soon as intimacy is established, the danger of a rupture becomes imminent. In business, likewise, harmonious cooperation with Scorpio is impossible. Those born under signs that naturally look up to strong personalities, like to lean on others and enjoy being told what to do because it relieves them of responsibility may prove the best partners for Scorpio. In business, Scorpio is unscrupulous and grasping. He adapts poorly to new circumstances.
Scorpio’s subconscious mind has a very wide range. His soul may be notably noble or decidedly base, but in either case it is seldom in conflict with his conscious mind.