Scorpio Zodiac Sign: Characteristics & Associated Crystals
Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, and that shouldn’t be taken lightly – nor should Scorpios! Those born under this sign are dead serious in their mission to learn about others. There’s no fluff or chatter for Scorpios, either; these folks will zero-in on the essential questions, gleaning the secrets that lie within.
The Scorpio zodiac sign concerns itself with beginnings and endings, and is unafraid of either. They also travel in a world that is black and white and has little use for grey. The curiosity of Scorpios is immeasurable, which may be why they are such adept investigators.
The folks with a Scorpio horoscope sign love to probe and know how to get to the bottom of things. The fact that they have a keen sense of intuition certainly helps.
Scorpio Symbolism + Myth
The constellation known as Scorpio goes back to Babylonian times, where it was called “the creature with the burning sting.” Scorpio contains the red star Antares, which means “the rival of Mars,” and is also called “the heart of the Scorpion.” This potent fixed star is observed in various astrological and magical practices as having an intense Mars-like quality.
In Greek mythology, the Scorpion is associated with the death of Orion. There are many versions of this tale, but the one connected to Scorpio tells of a boastful hunter Orion, who bragged that he could kill all of the animals in the wild kingdom.
The earth goddess Gaia objected and sent a Scorpion to stop Orion. He confronted, and fought the Scorpion, but died when the great beast stung him in the head. The Scorpion was placed in the heavens as a reward from Gaia for his service, and Zeus placed Orion there as well to commend his valiant fight.
Scorpio Element, Mode, and Season
Mid-Autumn
Scorpio season in the western tropical zodiac begins on 23rd October, commencing the middle of the autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the time of year when the sun’s heat and light are beginning to wane, with the darkness of night beginning to outweigh the daylight hours.
From this point, the days continue to decrease in length toward the Winter Solstice. It is during Scorpio’s time that many world cultures observe themes of death and rebirth, in holidays like Halloween, Samhain, All Saints Day, and El Día de Los Muertos. Scorpio’s connection with inward reflection, the shadows, and transformation is mirrored in the mystery and melancholy of the Autumn season.
Fixed Mode
Scorpio is the third of the four fixed signs of the zodiac, who all hold the elemental energy of endurance and stability in the center phase of the four seasons. Scorpio begins the middle of Autumn, when the season is most “fixed” and established, lending to the deep, tenacious, and obsessive tendencies of Scorpio.
Water Element
Scorpio’s personality traits are related to its element, which is water, the second heaviest element, thought by ancient astrologers to be the fluid, adaptive, yet a tangible form of matter. Water represents the moistening and cohering principle that binds and connects all forms of nature.
Without it, nothing that takes a material form could “stick” together. Water fertilises earth so that nature and creativity can incubate and bloom. Scorpio’s creativity, intuition, imagination, and strong investigative powers are all akin to the consolidating connectivity of the water element.
Scorpio Characteristics
Personality
Scorpio’s archetypal traits are derived from its receptive, feminine, or yin qualities, making this sign oriented toward contemplation and engagement with inner awareness. Alive in both a Scorpio woman or Scorpio man, those born with the Scorpion as their rising, sun, or moon sign have a mysterious, intuitive, and power-wielding dynamic in the core of their personality, an echo of the shadowy Autumn season.
As a fixed sign, Scorpio holds the qualities of being a sustainer, being able to apply profound powers of concentration to projects, and discovering hidden truths. As a result, those with the sign of the Scorpion prominent in their charts tend to be magnetic, highly sensitive, intuitive, creative, and secretive at times.
Strengths
The primary Scorpio strengths can be found in their devoted, determined, and observant natures. They are hard workers, often artistic, and deeply committed to study and research. You can count on the Scorpion to see whatever they have committed to through to the end.
Scorpios tend to be receptive and patient, letting others play their cards and show their intentions first to better understand the emotional and psychological dynamics of their relationships. Magnetic and mysterious, Scorpio is drawn toward dark, taboo, or occult subjects, and are curious about the hidden facets of life that others may shy away from.
The Scorpion tends to be fearless in the dark, avoided, and mysterious inner depths of the psyche, and potent realities of life like death and transformation. While Scorpio is often misunderstood and feared as an archetype, those born under this sign are very sensitive, empathetic, and can be quite compassionate.
They passionately bond themselves, heart and soul, to those they care for. Once they feel they can trust, they are quite loyal to the friends and lovers that make it into their inner circle. Scorpio understands innately what it feels like to be the weirdo or the outsider, and they have a natural connection to the underdog or those who are deemed untouchable in society.
Because of this, they are uniquely poised to be of great service to those in our society that suffer the most, like the homeless, the mentally ill, and people who have been outcast for divergent spiritual beliefs or lifestyles.
Anyone with preferences that challenge conventional sexual, spiritual, and social ideas are potentially the Scorpion’s greatest allies and sources of affinity and acceptance. Scorpio can take emotional intelligence, understanding, and healing to the darkest circumstances, and may have had to overcome some healing or transformative experience of their own in their lives. Their fearless understanding of trauma, and survival, makes these folks the strongest psychic and spiritual warriors.
Weaknesses
Some potential weaknesses in the Scorpio archetype are rooted in their great strengths. Though they are determined and devoted to their work, they can become so rigid, fixated, and obsessed that it can be difficult to adapt to changes or to let go of an idea that is no longer useful.
Those born under the sign of the Scorpion are receptive and patient, but they can be suspicious and slow to trust. Others may be forthcoming about their vulnerabilities, but if Scorpios are feeling insecure, they can use what others have revealed to be emotionally manipulative and controlling. Like the other fixed signs, they can be slow to forgive, and those that cross the Scorpion may feel their vengeful sting.
Being naturally drawn to taboo and occult subjects can have the Scorpion inordinately focused on the dark side of life, giving them a pessimistic and nihilistic worldview. They may start seeking darker motives everywhere, which can lead to isolation and paranoia. It can then be hard to relax, trust, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures to stay in balance.
Naturally sensitive and passionate, those born under the sign of the Scorpion give themselves heart and soul when seeking love and sexual connection, but if this isn’t reciprocated with the same intensity, they can become needy and obsessive with their lovers.
Because of their co-relation with planet Pluto, Scorpios are often drawn to go beyond the fringes of society to seek thrill and adventure, yet this can easily lead the Scorpion into danger and self-destruction. Like a moth to a flame, they are lured toward intensity, but this may not always be in their best interest.
Like all water signs, Scorpio is vulnerable to absorbing toxic energies, so if they are offering healing or counseling work, they need to have cleansing practices. Breathing exercises, saunas, smudging, and protective aura visualizations are all ways the Scorpio native can maintain psychic health.
Scorpios may need to seek and maintain healing of their own before they engage in service work. Moon in Scorpio natives, especially, may have to work through dark moods and depression at times in their lives.
Scorpio children will be well-nurtured if they are accepted unconditionally, and not shamed for having unique interests or big life questions. Acceptance at home may help offset a teenage Scorpio’s rebellion, and challenging artistic pursuits or martial arts may keep these fearless natives positively occupied.
Scorpio Compatibility
When exploring overall astrological compatibility, it’s important to consider more than the sun sign, as the rising sign, moon and other planetary connections will tell the whole story in all kinds of relationships. That being said, Scorpio natives will tend to blend best with water signs and earth signs; and may need to work harder on relationships with fire signs and air signs.
Fire Signs
Sensitive and private Scorpio may find the volatile and impulsive fire signs the most challenging to relate to.
Although Scorpio and Aries share the Mars rulership, and therefore some affinity when it comes to power, they have such a different way of wielding it that it may be hard for these signs to relate. Aries is confrontational, while Scorpio is covert, so they may struggle for control and little ability to compromise.
Sagittarius and Scorpio share nothing when it comes to their elements or modalities, being adjacent signs. They are like neighbours that have no reason to talk to each other except for the fact that they share a fence. Sagittarius is boldly optimistic, while Scorpio sees the skeletons in everyone’s closet, making their values and beliefs too different to harmonize for the long term.
Leo and Scorpio are both fixed signs and form a challenging square angle to each other in the zodiac wheel. Both are equally as passionate and jealous as they are stubborn, which can either ignite sexual tension or devolve into power struggles. They may, however, have an interesting creative chemistry that can help their potent personalities blend.
Air Signs
Air signs are social, speedy, and swift, which could be a breath of fresh air in Scorpio’s dark and insular world, but intimately Scorpio may find the air signs a bit too breezy and changeable to truly trust long term.
Gemini and Scorpio do not share much in common, except for their shared love of button-pushing. Gemini knows how others tick, and Scorpio likes to pull the levers behind the curtain. They may appreciate each other’s mischief and mental capacities but will need to be careful to not turn this tendency on each other too often.
Libra and Scorpio are opposite in many ways. Venus-ruled Libra loves to keep the peace and wants to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Mars-ruled Scorpio is wired for confrontation and has x-ray vision when it comes to the secrets others are trying to hide. The result is a clash in world views that may be too different to reconcile.
Aquarius with Scorpio is a unique match, that has the potential to go very right, or very wrong. There will be little moderation between them. Both are stubborn fixed signs and share a love for debates and bubble bursting. Aquarius can be very abstract and conceptual, where Scorpio relies on instinct and feel, making this a tough combination when it comes to elemental nature.
Water Signs
Water signs match Scorpio’s sensitivity and emotional intelligence with the greatest affinity. There seems to be a psychic, creative, and intuitive current running between them that transcends words.
Scorpio with Cancer is a good fit, with both signs being private, sensitive, and lovers of solitude. Scorpio may open shy Cancer up to sexual expression, and they may form a deep bond of emotional trust. Cancer nurtures Scorpio, and Scorpio is protective of Cancer, so they potentially understand what the other needs.
Pisces and Scorpio share a love for the mystical and will likely explore spiritual and philosophical ideas together. This is a complementary pairing that is innately intuitive, creative, and otherworldly. They will enjoy their privacy and retreat together, with Scorpio supporting Pisces’ imaginative wanderings.
Scorpio with Scorpio can be a potent, sexually magnetic pairing. They are both fearless and enjoy exploring life’s mysteries together. They may need to watch out for being too much alike, as they may experience the same vulnerabilities and dark moods at the same time. The positive side of this is that they will have empathy for each other, which can help them bond and trust.
Earth Signs
Earth signs bring a complementary, elemental affinity to a relationship with Scorpio since practical, structured earth and emotive water blend well.
Scorpio and Capricorn work, and play well together. They are individual and powerful enough in their own right to respect one another, and neither are intimidated by the other’s power. Capricorn builds and organises, while Scorpio investigates and explores, and together, their focuses and talents merge well in love as well as business.
Virgo and Scorpio are a potentially strong match, especially when it comes to love compatibility. They will appreciate each other’s attention to detail, and love for perfection. They may have overlapping interests in health and medicine and enjoy collaborating creatively. Scorpio brings some thrill and mystery into Virgo’s orderly world, which may be refreshing and intriguing to Virgo.
Scorpio and Taurus are polar opposite signs, which can be a magnetic connection or a polarising standoff. Venus-ruled Taurus loves pleasure and comfort, while Mars-ruled Scorpio thrives on challenge and thrill. Both signs are fixed, so they are likely to be equally slow to compromise. They may either balance each other out, or be too different to last long term.
Extracts from Astrology.com
Crystals for the Libra Star Sign
Citrine | Turquoise | Obsidian | Sodalite |
Citrine complements your Scorpio tenacity with its vibrant energy that’s believed to attract prosperity and success. It is said to be able to help you manifest your goals and stay positive, even when you encounter the inevitable transformation and renewal phases in your life. | Turquoise has a soothing energy that is believed to foster honesty and clear expression of your thoughts and feelings, which can sometimes be intense and hidden under the surface. | Obsidian can be a powerful ally for you by providing grounding and protection. It’s said to help in releasing the past and shedding the old, which resonates with your ability to reinvent yourself and overcome obstacles with resilience. | Sodalite can enhance your intellect and intuition, Scorpio, which complements your natural propensity for deep, analytical thinking. It’s said to encourage rational thought, objectivity, and truth, along with verbalization of feelings, supporting your passionate nature with the clarity of expression. |