The Scorpio symbol: The scorpion
In Greek myth the scorpion was sent to kill the hunter Orion, and the two were set on opposite sides of the sky, so that Orion sets as Scorpius rises. Its red star Antares is named as a rival of Mars. Later traditions also give Scorpio the eagle and the phoenix, images of rising above and starting over.
Scorpio falls in the middle of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, when leaves fall and the year turns inward. It is the sign of what lies beneath the surface.
Scorpio’s traditional ruler is Mars; modern astrologers add Pluto. Together they describe intensity, desire, power and transformation: the will to go all the way in.
Scorpio strengths
- Depth
- Isn’t satisfied with the surface and finds out what is really going on.
- Loyalty
- Once committed, stays committed.
- Resilience
- Has come through hard things and knows it can again.
- Focus
- Can concentrate on one goal for a very long time.
Scorpio shadows
- Suspicion
- Tests people before trusting them, sometimes too often.
- Control
- Holds the reins tightly when it feels exposed.
- Long memory
- Finds it hard to let a betrayal go.
Scorpio in love
Scorpio loves completely and wants the same in return: honesty, privacy and a bond that goes deeper than charm. It needs a partner who doesn’t play games and who can handle real feeling without flinching. Trust is slow to give and precious once given.
Scorpio at work
Scorpio is strong in work that rewards depth: research, investigation, psychology, medicine, finance, crisis work, anything others find too intense. It prefers real responsibility to busywork. Autonomy and colleagues who keep their word bring out its best.
Scorpio and its opposite sign, Taurus
Scorpio sits opposite Taurus. Together they make the axis of what we share and what I own: Scorpio deals in trust, intimacy and change, Taurus in stability. Scorpio often grows by enjoying simple things without testing them.
Best matches for Scorpio
- Scorpio and Cancer Two water signs: protective, devoted and emotionally fluent.
- Scorpio and Pisces Water with water: intuitive and tender, with a deep understanding.
- Scorpio and Capricorn Water and earth: two serious, loyal signs who respect each other’s ambition.
Traditional matches, from how the elements and modalities sit together. Any two signs can work. Scorpio compatibility with every sign.
Scorpio rising
Scorpio rising gives a quiet, intense first impression. You tend to watch before you speak, reveal little and notice a lot, so people may find you magnetic or hard to read. The gift of this rising sign is presence; its lesson is to let people in a little earlier than feels safe.
Find your rising signMoon in Scorpio
With the Moon in Scorpio, feelings are strong and private. You need trust and time before you share them, and you may sense other people’s moods with uncomfortable accuracy. You recover through solitude and honest conversation with the few people you trust completely.
Find your moon signScorpio questions
What are the Scorpio dates?
The Sun is usually in Scorpio from October 23 to November 21. The exact start and end shift by a day or so from year to year, so if your birthday is on the edge, a birth chart calculated for your year, time and place settles it.
What element and modality is Scorpio?
Scorpio is a fixed water sign, ruled by Mars (traditionally; Pluto in modern astrology). Its opposite sign is Taurus.
Which signs are most compatible with Scorpio?
Traditionally Cancer, Pisces and Capricorn, because of how their elements and modalities sit with Scorpio’s. Any two signs can work; the pairing pages describe what each match tends to need.
What does it mean to have Scorpio rising?
Scorpio rising gives a quiet, intense first impression. Your rising sign depends on your birth time and place, not your birthday; the rising sign calculator works it out.