The native’s strength of will is so formidable that it almost puts the other signs to shame. Yet this tremendous power can easily turn into wilfulness and obstinacy. These natives lack the flexibility and tact of Libra. Scorpio 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, often likened to an unstoppable river. This sign is deeply selfish, even more so than Capricorn. The undeveloped Scorpio is a slave to his own Will. Utterly intolerant, he insists upon his own outlook and purpose even when he can see that they are leading him to self-destruction. In judging an individual horoscope, it is therefore essential to assess the favourable aspects and planetary placements, for no other sign of the zodiac allows so great a gulf between its higher and lower types. If Scorpio’s expansive and altruistic side is well supported, this tremendous Will may be directed towards honourable ends. But if selfish and narrow influences predominate, we are more likely to encounter an utter scoundrel, capable of every kind of baseness.
Scorpio’s mind is intensely critical and sceptical. Once his powers are awakened, he pursues truth with fearless, relentless energy, though the lower types never reach the point at which their efforts bring a fitting reward. One of this sign’s symbols is stagnant, putrid water, by which the ancient adepts meant poisonous water.
This sceptical attitude seems to spring more from personal dissatisfaction than from anything else. A child born with Scorpio rising, for example, 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 repugnant, he will spring 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 evading them, like Libra. Nothing will satisfy him but the destruction of whatever troubles him or stands in his way. His nature is also vindictive. Similar difficulties over sexual restrictions may turn him into a lifelong libertine. He will recklessly ruin 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 absolute good faith, even convinced that it is the noblest and most self-sacrificing act of altruism. Some established principle has wounded him, and that principle must be swept away. He sees himself as an avenging angel, with no sense of proportion—“consideration for others does not restrain him”.
Scorpio may often be a traitor, but he is never fickle. It is very rare for him to make any radical change in his views throughout his life. If he does, it generally turns out that these were never truly his convictions in any deeper sense: rather, his selfishness, seeing some personal advantage in a reversal, prompts him to go over to the enemy. We see this quality of mind exemplified in Judas, the apostle to whom Scorpio is symbolically assigned.
This rigidity of mind, and its inability to weigh things in the balance, produces a curious result. Scorpio can hold two opinions that Libra, for instance, would regard as wholly 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: to probe it to its utmost depths. 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 these planets aspect its ruler. Scorpio brings inexhaustible patience to his investigations 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 its intense concentration upon its object, with an inability to stop or rest. Fortunately, this also brings 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 consequently has little concern for the sensitivities of others. He expects everyone to be as strong as he is.
Indeed, he is a dangerous person to work with, for his magnetism is so powerful that those around him are imperceptibly drawn into imitating his enthusiasm, and are therefore very likely to overtax 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 finest representatives of this sign is that their vision is generally too vast to be realised in a single lifetime. Thus we find them building for posterity, perhaps suffering deeply because they refuse to turn aside from their chosen path to attend to the pressing needs of the moment.
In money matters, Scorpio is thoroughly confident of his ability to 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 to place excessive trust in their own judgement of what is fair where the rights of others are concerned.
The love of power is especially pronounced in these natives. Even the “worst specimens” possess tremendous personal magnetism, and somehow or other Scorpio manages to become the ringleader. Here, however, his capacity for self-destruction comes into play once again. The native has no tact whatsoever. He will speak his mind even when he wishes to conciliate the person he is addressing, knowing full well that his words will cause offence. The result is that he ends up offending everyone around him. He is admired and feared. He is therefore 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 always misses the opportunity to benefit from this. He does well when working independently.
Scorpio has as much courage as energy, but this quality often degenerates into recklessness 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 nothing to suggest 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 an advantage in remaining somewhere, there he will stay. Sometimes these natives’ vision extends no further than their own small circle, and all they can do is make themselves the driving force behind it. Thus we often find the housewife who rules her household with a rod of iron. She always contrives to be right, and is deeply aggrieved when her half-hearted 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 vindictive when hurt. If he forgives, it is very likely not true forgiveness at all; 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 there is a crime of passion, insane jealousy and a total lack of balance, Scorpio will be prominent in the perpetrator’s horoscope.
Sexual excesses of many different kinds, 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 outlook, or to allow the child’s natural character to develop. He is difficult enough with people who are old enough to stand up to him; towards a defenceless child, he may become truly cruel. He may often express passionate devotion, and it 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 conditions lies in meeting 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 develops, the danger of a rupture becomes imminent. In business, likewise, harmonious cooperation with Scorpio is not to be expected. Those born under signs that naturally look up to strong personalities, like to lean on others, and enjoy being given orders 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 exceptionally noble or decidedly base, but in either case it is seldom in conflict with his conscious mind.