Scorpio is the sign in which our material ties loosen and where the kundalini, the latent power within us, resides. Both negative and positive in quality, the hidden knowledge is very potent - proper understanding of these forces can give great power but activated in an immature soul it is extremely dangerous.
The symbol of Scorpio is the Scorpion, which lives in a hole in the ground and is associated with occult power. (Vasuki, the ruler of Patal Loka who helped the gods and became Rahu and Ketu, lived in a hole too.)
Scorpio is the stage at which Vasuki's churning begins in an individual's life. All the emotions are in turmoil (the Moon is debilitated here) because the search is for the Amrita, the nectar of immortality. Scorpio is the abode of Rahu and Scorpios face a great deal of negative issues from past karma. Material life is no longer enough, its bonds have to be destroyed and the kundalini aroused. It is a very painful process. The kundalini can be only activated by the complete annihilation of the individual personality; the activation of the chakras and the search for the higher self is very dangerous and even individuals who are spiritually ready will need great self-discipline. The churning is like a death, a stripping-away of the outer layers to reveal an inner purity; the higher an individual's incarnation this time around, the more painful the churning.
Vedic astrology considers Scorpio to be one of the most difficult signs in the zodiac. It is intense, complex and difficult to comprehend. As a water sign it is psychic and very deeply emotional. However, it is a fixed sign and water needs to flow. Scorpios need to ensure their emotions do not stagnate. Scorpio is kapha, and its strength of feeling can often result in health problems. Its guna is tamasic. It has to deal with material issues but wants to move towards spirituality and purity and the struggle between these two creates great dilemmas.
Scorpio has great powers and spiritual energy but these gifts come with a great deal of psychological distress. Scorpio is the point of the death of illusions and of past ways of life, where we realise that our lives will never be the same again.
Jyotish does not make the Western connection between Scorpio and sex - it is simply part of everyday life. There is an underlying sexual energy in Scorpios which is not satisfied through just the physical expression and indicates an inner quest. When the female scorpion has mated, she kills the male: the route of the spiritual life is one we must follow alone.
Mars rules Scorpio
The courage, leadership and strength of Mars is essential for those who are on a spiritual quest. Aries is where we are born into a new cycle of life. In Scorpio an old self is destroyed so that a new one can be born. Spiritual courage is needed here to consciously choose a material death. Mars is active and has a need to conquer. In Scorpio the enemy is your own desires. Aries is bright. Scorpio is full of darkness but a journey through the darkness will lead to the final light.
Ketu is exalted and Rahu debilitated here.
The Moon is debilitated in Scorpio
The Moon represents the mind. The Moon is content with material happiness. It doesn't want emotional trauma or to recognise its own mortality.
Planets in Scorpio become very intense and do not expect or receive simple answers.
The glyph for Scorpio is often described as the sting in the tail. But is also an arrow in a powerful spiritual direction - an arrow leading into the next sign.
< Libra
Sagittarius >