Scorpio and Aquarius

Stubbornness is the shared trait nobody advertises. Scorpio and Aquarius are both fixed signs, steady, determined and slow to change their minds, and they sit three signs apart in a square, the angle astrology associates with productive tension.

Scorpio is water, traditionally ruled by Mars and in modern astrology by Pluto: intense, private, emotional and loyal. Aquarius is air, traditionally ruled by Saturn and in modern astrology by Uranus: independent, cerebral, unconventional and principled. Both are drawn to the unusual and both dislike superficiality, which can make their first conversations electric. Scorpio wants emotional depth and exclusive loyalty; Aquarius wants intellectual freedom and room to belong to many groups. That difference does not have to divide them, but it does require deliberate understanding.

Communication

Conversation can be fascinating. Both enjoy ideas, mysteries and unconventional perspectives, and both hold strong opinions. Scorpio approaches topics emotionally and intuitively; Aquarius approaches them rationally and with some detachment. Scorpio may feel Aquarius is cold, and Aquarius may feel Scorpio is too intense. Because both are fixed, debates can stall. Learning to say, you might be right, let me think about it, is invaluable.

Affection

Scorpio's affection is passionate, focused and possessive; Aquarius's is friendly, loyal and freedom-loving. Scorpio may want more intimacy and exclusivity, while Aquarius may want more independence and space for friendships. Both are loyal in their own way, and both are capable of deep commitment once they have decided. Recognizing that the other's way of loving is sincere, even if different, is the key.

Friction

The friction is fixed against fixed. Scorpio's jealousy and need for emotional control can clash with Aquarius's need for freedom and detachment. Aquarius's aloofness can trigger Scorpio's fear of rejection, while Scorpio's intensity can make Aquarius withdraw further, and the cycle feeds itself. Both can hold their positions for a very long time, and both would rather go cold than give in.