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Understanding Scorpio Season
by Barry Kerr
The Sun moves into Scorpio on October 22/23
The shift from Libra to Scorpio is similar to the shift from the airy ideals of the wedding, honeymoon, and early days of marriage to the deep running currents of conflict, vulnerability and true intimacy, when love is often doubted; when self and other seem as enemies.
It is fitting that at Halloween we don our masks and show our darker, scarier sides, flirting with the spirits behind the veil of death. Scorpio is fascinated with death and birth and teaches us that all deaths are actually preludes to rebirths. In the vulnerable crucible of intimate conflicts with those closest to us, our ego fights to avoid certain death, but it’s an illusion of time and space. In reality, we are each an eternal and unique expression of spirit, infinitely larger than our little and temporary egos, and capable of surviving the worst fates our ego’s mind can imagine.
Before Pluto was discovered in 1930, Scorpio was always ruled by the planet Mars because Mars represents our power to protect the ego, to assert our individual will and right to exist into the world. Mars is our warrior and will kill to survive. So it makes sense that our Mars would be stirred to action in our Scorpio episodes of life. However, Pluto represents a part of our transpersonal self, a part that is the higher octave of Mars. It too is about power, but it draws from a collective synergy of power. We experience it as the overpowering institutions around us; political, religious, and economic, yet it is Scorpio's intention that we eventually discover we are not victims to external powers, not even to that other ego who may share our bed. In truth, all the powers we recognize outside ourselves are also available within ourselves.
To access such self-empowerment requires a transformation in our ego, and the doors to such transformation lie exactly at the center of conflicts which appear to threaten the ego’s very existence. Scorpio invites us to look past the melodramas of the moment, to let down the shield of self-preservation, and to look deeply into the other until we see our self clearly reflected back to us, not just the shallow mask of our ego, but the incredibly profound river of unconditional love and divine beauty that we call our soul. And when we see it, we know there is no separation between us and other. Our souls blend as part of a greater whole, with nothing to fear or defend.
Pluto is the part of us that seeks this transformation. Scorpio is the energy of life that resonates with that intention.
Scorpio’s spiritual intention is to strengthen our trust in spirit, to know that death, in any form, is but a rebirth of something new: that we are, as souls, immortal. Where change is demanded, Scorpio is there. Our life journey requires that we embrace our feelings and be vulnerable with others, knowing our ego will be challenged, and though it may feel like death upon us, it is actually yet another part of our soul, birthing through the fire of transformation with fuller expression into this world of time and space. We then feel spirit, know our immortality and are happy to release people and things to live freely and playfully in this world of illusions, knowing we can never really lose their essence. Scorpio’s intensity invites our passionate delight in how spirit is hidden in the changes, deaths and rebirths of this world.
In traditional astrology, Mars rules the signs of Aries and Scorpio. In Aries, our fiery Martian will learns to assert it self boldly, selfishly into the world, to claim its right to be here. In Scorpio, that same willfulness must adjust and respond to the same assertion from others, especially in our most intimate relationships. After the commitment we form with partners in Libra, in Scorpio, our personal will is now tested. Our ego is challenged. Between two egos that see the world from the illusion of separation and fear, vulnerability is dangerous. Intimacy can feel life threatening. Power struggles arise and in the illusion of winner-takes-all, emotional melodrama can run rampant.
The discovery of the outer planetary bodies of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto during the last three centuries has given astrology a modern understanding of planetary rulerships. Unlike the inner planets like Mercury, Venus and Mars, which represent different expressions of our human personalities and egos, these outer planets* represent our ego’s ability (or lack of) to connect directly to our soul consciousness. Uranus, as a higher octave of Mercury, is our mental and cognitive connection to soul. Neptune, as a higher octave of Venus, is our heart and feeling connection to soul. Pluto is our connection to the soul’s will to transform and evolve, and in this way, is a higher octave of Mars. Thus, in today’s astrology, it is Pluto that also rules the sign of Scorpio.
Why? Well, because it is in Scorpio, in the intimate and emotional power struggles between two egos, that we are invited to reach past the limiting perspective of our ego. We use the human love (Venus) that is there as a motivating force to call in the higher wisdom (Uranus) that comes from our soul, to deepen our love beyond our mortal fears (Neptune), and to invoke our soul intention to transform (Pluto) the way we experience self and other. From a higher, spiritual perspective, whatever has created discord and conflict can now be seen as opportunity for expansion, growth, and evolvement of consciousness. Each time we engage in such a battle of wills between egos and choose to reach for this higher calling from our soul, we learn how to align the limited power of our ego (Mars) with our soul’s more powerful and transformative possibilities (Pluto), which are in kind aligned with the greater power of divine intentions. This is the synergy and magic that happens when two or more people conspire to blend their ego energies with loving intentions.
This is why watery Pluto and Scorpio are often associated with birth and death and rebirth, with darkness and light, with change. As spirit, we choose to come into form for the very purpose of experiencing the phenomenon we call emotions and feelings. Emotions are the energy of our souls interface with physical form and therefore are key to our returning to full consciousness of spirit within physical form. Pluto in Scorpio, though like Halloween, dark, scary and death-like, is the crucible of initiations toward mastery, leading to the wisdoms and unlimited expansions encountered through Jupiter in the next sign of Sagittarius.
Good Scorpio questions to ask yourself
Do you routinely honor and respect your own feelings and share them with trusted loved ones? Or stay hidden? How good are you at reading other people’s feelings? What do you do with that? Are you drawn to melodrama, in yourself or others? Jealous much? What’s behind that? Do you ask directly for what you need, or do you manipulate? Do you resist cooperation? Do you lash out when feeling threatened? Have you learned the difference between interdependence and co-dependence? Are you confident about your immortality? Can you enthusiastically embrace change?
The sun is in Scorpio. What does that mean for your sign?
Scorpio is the sign of deep intimacy, with others and with our self. Our commitment to relationship in Libra invited this deepening of bonds that merge our self with others. Such merging can involve sex, money, beliefs, values, goals, or more, and creates a symbiotic dynamic with another person, as typically experienced in a marriage. Unlike in Aries, where our Martian willfulness was free to follow our own impulses, fending off the will of others, now in Scorpio, we are more sensitive to our desire to maintain loving connections to others, and therefore we are challenged to consider and incorporate their desires with our own. The more we perceive our valued interests to be entwined with the other person, the higher the stakes seem and the more vulnerable we may feel. It is in this emotional and psychological vulnerability that Scorpio invites us to transcend and transform our ego.
When our desires align in harmony with a partner, we can easily feel the synergy of mutual love and trust that reflects the reality of our souls’ divine oneness with each other. However, when our desires conflict in opposition, we are faced with a primary choice. If we limit our consciousness to our ego’s illusive perceptions of 3D separation, we are likely to revert to the Martian warrior stance of self-protection in Aries and experience the conflict as a win or lose battle with an enemy. This is the stuff of melodrama, power struggles, abuse, co-dependence, withdrawal and loss of love and trust.
However, if in this vulnerable conflict, we choose to stay consciously present to that field of love that keeps us attuned to our immortal soul, which is impervious to the illusive harms of this world, including death, we are then able to perceive our adversary as another similar soul, a divine extension of our greater self. From this higher perspective we are free to respond to the situation by revealing our ego’s fears, inviting a deeper, more intimate response from our self and others. We can invoke our intuitive and synergistic power to create solutions for us from beyond our ego’s illusion of separation. This is what the planet Pluto represents in us. This crucible of vulnerable intimacy, repeated throughout our lives, is what stretches us into spiritual consciousness, remembering that we are divine beings who are having a human experience. Sometimes we do stretch and then integrate this consciousness into our day to day lives. Sometimes we remain in fear and then retreat into limited ego perception, feeling wounded by love, fearful of vulnerability and we put on a mask of invincibility. Yet, despite our fear of intimacy, we cannot help but be drawn back to it. It’s what we came to do.
Look below for your birth sign (sun sign) to see what particular challenges/ opportunities are being brought to your awareness this month. (These can also hold true if you have your Moon, Rising sign or a number of planets in the sign.)
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19):
You are keen to take the initiative in joint projects and shared experiences, including sex. Be aware that this can be a way for you to maintain distance, protecting yourself from the feelings of vulnerability that threaten your ego and provoke unwanted battles. During this month, be aware of this and see if you can find opportunities to let down your guard, trust more, and let someone else take the lead. Revealing your fears and asserting your needs can help a partner address them with you..
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20):
You bring the qualities of comfort, stability and pleasure to your intimate relationships, Taurus. As Scorpio and Taurus are opposite each other, look for ways that a partner can influence your values, your sense of security, and your self-esteem. Remember that adapting to other people’s desires and ideas does not require you to change what you most value about your self. You’re building a life, not a fort.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20):
Your natural tendency to scatter your curious attention can at times also be a defense mechanism, protecting you from vulnerability and deeper intimacy. During Scorpio, apply your love of learning to your self-awareness while with a close relation. Listening intimately requires your heart be involved. Find ways to share vulnerably with loved ones without letting conversations turn into mere intellectual exchanges. Be curious about the heart and how it can be attended to. Emotional intelligence is an important component of your education, but you must connect your head to your heart.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22):
You are at home in the gentle and emotionally supportive pond of water that your sign represents, but Scorpio is a deep river of water, appearing calm on the surface, yet raging and dangerous deep below. So Cancer, here’s a chance to bring your deepest feelings to the fore. If you have any sense of emotional insecurities remaining in my life, now would be a good time to find a trusted loved-one or guide to help you dig deep. Find out what’s missing, what you can heal, and what you can ask for from others. Remember that “I AM LOVE” could strengthen all your relationships.
Leo (July 23 - Aug 22):
You are enthusiastic and creative in joint projects and experiences, which can be delightful at times for your partner. At other times, it could feel a bit overwhelming and demanding. During Scorpio, find a way to share the limelight with a co-star. Intimacy is a dialogue, not a monologue. Vulnerability is stepping onto the stage without a script. You needn’t hold back on your passion, rather expand your source of inspiration to include your partner’s soul, too.
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22):
This is a good time, Virgo, to bring your intention for clarity and perfection to how you handle your intimate relations. Asking a sexual partner for cleanliness is fine, but expecting emotions and feelings to be clean and orderly is not. Emotional intimacy can get messy, and sometimes everyone involved needs to get wet. So, rather than worry about cleaning up the mess, put your focus on how the mess was made. Just avoid getting too analytical. The heart has its own logic.
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22):
So Libra, if the Scorpio experience is the natural outcome of your desires for relationship, then this ought to be an easy-peasy part of the cycle, right? Well, yes, it is easy for you in one sense. You are more likely than most to stay committed in the face of conflict and adversity. At the same time, it can feel more painful for you because you have a low tolerance for disharmony. In a way, this sets you up, more than most, to succeed in the transformation of your ego. Staying committed to your “enemies”, for you, means making peace. Just make sure you aren’t capitulating to their ego. That peace will not sustain. Lasting peace will be created by conscious souls.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21):
This is your month, Scorpio. It’s a good time for self-examination. With Scorpio as a dominant theme in your birth chart, there was obviously a soul intention in this lifetime to dive deeply into the themes that Scorpio presents. Start with this question: How much do I still hide my own feelings and fears behind a mask even as I am obsessed with what other people are hiding? Your answer may be an invitation to get real, reveal and let heal. Scary? Of course, but it’s also your fulfillment.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21):
Your passion for truth can be inspiring to others, including your intimate relations. During this Scorpio month, pay attention to the difference between general truth (like philosophy, religion, metaphysics, etc) and personal truth (eg, “My stomach is in a knot”, “I feel afraid of …”). Espousing beliefs does not typically invoke vulnerability or intimacy. In your desire to create closeness and trust, lean into the inarguable personal truth of the body and emotions. They will inevitably lead you back to a higher vista of cosmic awareness.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19):
Your natural abilities to take responsibility and create order are probably highly valued in your relationships. Others can lean on you. However, during Scorpio, watch for a tendency to want to maintain control. Managing joint finances is one thing. Managing emotional or sexual intimacy is quite different and not recommended, unless requested. It avoids vulnerability. Try to loosen up and let go. What’s the worse that can happen? If things get out of hand a bit, you’ll probably be able to whip things in shape again.
Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18):
You are typically prone to avoid intimacy, Aquarius. It’s your desire to remain objective and free from the emotional distractions that cloud your intuitive visions and idealism. Trouble is, without emotional intimacy, your inventiveness remains disconnected from humanity. Use this time in Scorpio to stretch your ability to be sensitive to feelings, your own and others. Explore some dimension of your own vulnerability and share it with a trusted partner. Try to be more sensitive to the feelings of your teammates. Tune into their souls.
Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20):
If Scorpio is about surrendering ego to soul, you have a head start. As the third water sign, Pisces represents an infinite wide ocean of divine oneness, without boundaries. Thus, when it comes to vulnerability and intimacy, you may need to pay attention to where the boundaries need to be. If someone is worthy of your trust, then surely let compassion and forgiveness rule the day, but let those feelings create the container and not cut short the necessary personal emotions that your ego must express. Denial of ego is not intimacy. Revelation and recognition of ego is.
Barry Kerr, a certified soul-based astrologer, has 33 years of experience with an international clientele, including many medical professionals and alternative healers. He and Kristine Gay, a licensed psychotherapist, are owners/practitioners at Inner Essence Center in Madison. Both have extensive training in soul-guided healing of mind, body, heart and spiritual systems. They offer healing, coaching, therapy and astrology services. Visit www.ChooseConsciousLiving.com for more information.
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