Tag Archives: Scorpio

Ask Real Astrologers: How Much of Scorpio Is Ophiuchus?

This week’s question comes from Rich in Boston, MA:

How many degrees of the second half of Scorpio is Ophiuchus?


Pat’s response:

This is a really great question, Rich, but unfortunately not as straightforward as it might seem. There are two separate astrological systems at work here, and we need to translate between the two. Before I can do that, I need to provide some technical background.

The zodiac is the belt of constellations along the ecliptic, the path of the Sun in the sky. Although we count twelve signs of the zodiac, there actually is a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, also called the Serpent Bearer. Continue reading →

Ask Real Astrologers: Does First-House Pluto Draw Death?

This week’s question comes from Joe in Minneapolis, MN:

Would having natal Pluto in the first house make someone prone to have an extraordinary number of “ghosts” of family, friends, lovers and acquaintances that have gone on? They weigh heavily on my S.O., especially in January which is an anniversary month for almost all of these people’s deaths. Now another friend is preparing to go from liver cancer, and he is wondering why it seems like everyone he knows is dropping dead. I know everyone starts feeling like this at a certain age, but I just wondered if the feeling is more acute, having the Lord of Death in the house of the self.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Joe, as I see it there are two different parts to your question. First, why is January his “anniversary” month and second, what does having Pluto in the first house mean?

In your SO’s chart, Chiron in Aquarius falls in his sixth house and squares his Moon in Taurus. This past January, the solar eclipse in Aquarius conjoined his Chiron and likely brought many feelings about his losses to the surface. Even though he is past his Chiron return, planets passing over this sensitive point will trigger all aspects to it. Fortunately his natal Sun-Mercury conjunction is trine Chiron, providing the means to process his feelings through dialogue with others.

I believe having Pluto in the first house, Scorpio Rising, planets in the eighth house, or Sun in Scorpio, all help give one the ability to see and accept death and dying as part of the larger cycle of death and rebirth. In the case of your SO, you are correct about his age bringing more of this into his life but he is also a person with a strong Venus influence in his chart (Venus on the Ascendant, Venus ruling both Sun and Moon). This suggests a preference for using charm and tact with an appreciation of beauty. Coming to terms with the Lord of Death is not easy for him.

Pluto in Capricorn started squaring his Sun a year ago and will finish up later this year. Perhaps this uncompromising transit will help him come to understand and find some beauty in Pluto’s realm.

Good topic, Joe! We have only touched the surface!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Well, Joe, as you know, when our resident Pluto expert gets on a roll, there’s not a whole lot I can add!

I agree with Neith that having strong Pluto or Scorpio in the chart can predispose the native toward a focus on death. In extreme cases, it can indicate more contact with death and dying than most of us experience in the normal course of life.

Remember that before Pluto was discovered in 1930, Mars was considered the ruler of Scorpio and was associated with the eighth house. Your S.O. has Mars in the eighth house, in Pisces, which like Scorpio is a water sign and tends to be psychic. In fact, dreams and “supernatural” phenomena such as ghosts fall more within the realm of Pisces, the twelfth house, and Neptune, the modern ruler of Pisces. Before Neptune was discovered, Jupiter was the ruler of Pisces, and your S.O. has Mars in a very tight opposition with Jupiter. So I think it’s pretty safe to say that he is tuned into the “beyond.”

I also have Pluto at 29 degrees Leo, but in the seventh house, and my North Node is conjunct the Midheaven in late Scorpio. While I don’t have Pluto in the first house, I do have a first-house Moon in Pisces, so I, too, pick up these subtle energies. I would not say, though, that they weigh on me the way your S.O. describes.

I agree with Neith about the January timeframe. With Chiron in early Aquarius, your S.O. is always reminded of these unhappy events when the Sun and Mercury are in proximity to his natal Chiron, and that means they also are square his Moon, triggering a strong emotional response. This alone can be troubling for Moon in Taurus.

That may seem like a bit of a convoluted answer, but as is often the case in astrology, there is no simple answer that explains everything. The natal chart is a complex energy imprint, which makes sense, as most human beings have a complex psychology not easily summed up in a neat paragraph.

Thanks for this intriguing question!

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Saturday Extra: 13th Sign of the Zodiac

Neith has pointed out recently that Scorpio’s healing properties often are ignored, which prompted me to write this little explanation for Saturday Extra.

Ophiuchus

The zodiac is comprised of twelve constellations on the ecliptic, the path the Sun takes as it appears to move through the sky from our perspective here on Earth. There is, however, a thirteenth constellation on the ecliptic, Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. When the ancient Greeks came up with the tropical zodiac system, they excluded Ophiuchus and Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast November 10: Full Moon in Taurus/Scorpio, Venus and Mars Change Signs

Walking a tightropeThere’s a lot going on this week, and no matter what your Sun or Rising sign is, you’ll feel a shift.

We’re still in the wake of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, a long-term aspect with far-reaching consequences. The effects are going to take a couple of years to shake out. The challenge here is to walk the fine line between making much-needed changes in your life and being practical and grounded.

Throughout the week, major aspects will release the energy of this opposition, much the same way that an earthquake releases pent-up earth energy. Most of these aspects are positive, and I’m hopeful that this will help tip the balance in favor of maximum change while keeping within tolerable bounds the disruptions that inevitably come with that change.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Sun in Scorpio makes favorable aspects to both Saturn and Uranus, along with Jupiter, which currently is sitting at a near-exact sextile to Uranus and trine to Saturn. Jupiter, a benevolent influence somewhat tempered by his residence in Capricorn, moves into an exact sextile with Uranus on Thursday and trines Saturn next week. Growth starts in your head; what you think and what you believe, both about yourself and the world, can limit your possibilities. New doorways will appear, but to see them, you may have to be ruthless in examining errors in your thinking.

On Wednesday (late Tuesday in later time zones), Venus conjoins Pluto in the last degree of Sagittarius before moving into Capricorn several hours later. Depending on where this conjunction falls in your chart, you may become obsessive or possessive about something or someone. The feelings themselves may be fleeting, but don’t discount deeper, underlying motivations. It all flows into better self-understanding.

Also on Wednesday, the Moon in Taurus amplifies the Saturn-Uranus opposition and forms a grand earth trine with Jupiter and Saturn, providing still more cosmic support for keeping an even keel while abruptly changing course, if necessary.

Thursday is the Full Moon, with Sun in Scorpio and Moon in Taurus (the Full Moon always falls in the sign opposite the position of Sun). Neith has written a full report already, and she also noted that this is the start of Day 6 of the Galactic Underworld (according to Calleman; I’ll have more on this in a day or two over on The Pisces Chronicles). Not only will this Full Moon activate events of the current eclipse series, but it marks a major shift in planetary energy.

Mercury squares Chiron on Friday, calling attention to our deepest wounds. This is never comfortable, but it is a necessary part of the healing process. Accepting the pain, even for an hour or two, will do you more good than resorting to your favorite painkiller, be it an actual drug or escapist behavior.

The Moon enters Cancer on Saturday and, along with Mercury, keeps the energy of the Saturn-Uranus opposition in full flux for the entire weekend. Add to that the entry of Mars in dynamic Sagittarius, and we’re all in for a wild ride. I’ll have more on Mars in Sag in next week’s forecast.

To sum up, if you’re overwhelmed and feeling a sense of inner chaos, so is everyone else, and this is not a bad thing. We’re all ready for change, and this is a necessary phase.

Much courage and love to all…

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: World High Wire Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2008. Photo by Lee Jin-man for the AP.

Astrology Poll: How do you feel about Scorpio?

This week’s poll is about the sign of the month, Scorpio.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Scorpio is a sign that attracts strong reactions and is often misunderstood. Since they tend to be reserved as a group and enjoy their reputation as the sexy, strong, silent types, the tremendous amount of good they do can be overlooked. Those in the healing professions often have a strong Scorpio signature in their charts for instance. To be sure, the Scorpio “sting” is something to be reckoned with but in many cases it has to do with Scorpio’s lack of tolerance for foolish behaviors. On the other hand, Scorpio is noted for being loyal to their friends and loved ones.

Hey, as many of you know I’m a Libra Sun person with a strong Scorpio rising so in interests of fairness (Libra) I have to stand up for my Scorpio brethren! Anyone else have thoughts and opinions about Scorpio?

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast October 27: New Moon in Scorpio, Neptune Direct

spider-web.jpgThis week, we celebrate Halloween, Samhain, Day of the Dead, All Saints, and various permutations that are all linked to the symbolism of Scorpio and its ruler, Pluto.

To our readers in the Southern Hemisphere, I apologize, because this is all backwards for you. But for us here in the North, we’re heading into shorter days and into the part of the yearly cycle when plant life is dead and rotting back into the ground. It is our time to turn inward and to allow certain parts of ourselves to die so that we can be regenerated at the beginning of the new cycle.

Not coincidentally, this is the time of year when the veil between the worlds lifts, and many of us become psychic, even those who normally aren’t. Pay attention this week to your dreams and flashes of intuition, especially around the New Moon on Tuesday. As usual, Neith has written a complete report, so I won’t elaborate here. I will add only that this is a great time to think about where you want to go and what you want to become, and to visualize yourself there.

Mars, the traditional ruler of Scorpio before Pluto was discovered in 1930, is powerfully placed in Scorpio this week and makes several aspects to other planets, starting with Chiron and Jupiter on Monday. The square with Chiron could be biting, but the sextile with Jupiter provides energy for manifesting immediate needs. This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff, but down-to-earth and measured. Often what we want and what we need are two different things, and we can be lured toward the former to our detriment.

As I write, we’re already feeling the influence of Tuesday’s New Moon, which we’ll feel equally as strongly on Wednesday, as the Moon carries the energy of this lunation to Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus throughout the day. Expect to feel ripples from this lunation through Friday.

Also on Wednesday, Mercury trines Neptune, the third and final pass in a three-part aspect that began around the time Mercury went retrograde in late September. We’re still thinking and talking about the same relationship issues, only now we can begin to make big progress and move beyond the obstacles that were hanging us up. Neptune is stationed in preparation for returning direct on Saturday after his annual five-month retreat, making this a powerful time for healing.

On Thursday and Friday, Mars triggers the opposition between Saturn and Uranus, which is exact next week. If you’ve been nervous and anxious about this aspect, you should start getting a clue now as to how it’s going to play out for you. Also, watch the news headlines, as this is one of those aspects that strongly affects the collective.

On Friday, Venus sextiles Chiron, which is not a major influence, but it is a healing energy nonetheless, and every little bit helps.

Love and blessings to all,

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Spider web in Tagelswangen, Switzerland. Photo by Steffen Schmidt, AP.

Weekly Forecast October 20: Sun in Scorpio, Chiron Direct

The Sun enters Scorpio this week, heralding the time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere) when we turn inward and start thinking about the long winter nights ahead. At the same time, Chiron goes direct this week, just as Mercury is forming a trine, the third and final pass in a three-part transit resulting from Mercury’s recent retrograde. (Post continued below.)

Jason and his Teacher, by Maxfield Parrish

First, let’s look at the Sun’s entry into Scorpio on Wednesday. With Mars and Venus ahead of the Sun, we’ve already had a good dose of Scorpion energy over the past few weeks. Venus moved on into Sagittarius last week, but Mars remains in Scorpio until November 16. Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio, which is ruled by Pluto in modern astrology, but the Warrior is still potent here.

Both Mars and the Sun are ego-affirming bodies, and in Scorpio, they will go after what they want without apology. This isn’t a bad thing, especially for those of us who either have been taught to defer to others or who believe that the Universe, God, Spirit, Source, or some mysterious higher power will provide for us. How far would über-Scorpion Bill Gates have gotten if he had entrusted his garage business to the Source?

Most of us aren’t comfortable in such ruthless shoes, and yet we don’t like not getting what we want, either. Scorpio is often described as a sign of tests and challenges. When we go after what we want, we typically meet with obstacles, as though someone is asking us, “How bad do you want it?” As the Sun moves through Scorpio, we’ll find out…

Chiron turns direct on Saturday and is stationed direct on Sunday when the trine by Mercury is exact. I’ve written here and on The Pisces Chronicles, my personal blog, about the significance of Chiron and Mercury, with the lunar North Node and Neptune in conjunction. Mercury, Chiron, and Neptune all went retrograde within hours of each other in late May. Mercury was in Gemini, in a close trine with Chiron, and now here they are again, in a trine as both go direct.

My take on this is that we have had a rare and precious opportunity over the summer to revisit old wounds, some of which go to our very foundations, perhaps even carried with us into this incarnation. In some cases, we have had to relive those old wounds, and now we have a chance to move forward with the next step in our healing. If your issues are with another person, this weekend will be a good time to talk through where you’ve been and where you want to go from here. Or, it simply may be time to move on in your own mind.

Do keep in mind that Mars will square Chiron next Monday (October 27), and you could feel the effects of salt rubbed into those wounds. If you’re still open and raw, this will be a test for you. If you’ve done a good bit of healing over the summer, you may be surprised by how well you can take a hit and not be fazed.

Also on Sunday, Mercury squares Jupiter in Capricorn, which likewise is a third pass in a three-part aspect. This is good for long-range planning and also for correcting errors in your thinking. After all, what we believe does affect our external circumstances.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Jason and his Teacher, by Maxfield Parrish, 1908. In classical mythology, Chiron was the wounded healer who mentored gods and heroes, including Apollo, Achilles, and Jason.

Second Full Moon in Scorpio – May 19/20

Full Moon in Scorpio 
The Full Moon on May 19 (May 20 in the Eastern Hemisphere) falls at 29° Scorpio, just before the Sun leaves Taurus and enters Gemini. This is called the “anaretic degree” or “critical degree” and marks the ending of a phase. It is an opportunity to review our understanding of the lessons of the sign involved.

Scorpio has been the focal point of this last cycle from Full Moon to Full Moon, and hopefully most of us have had realizations about what we need to let go of or release to the highest good.

The Sun is still conjunct Venus in Taurus, emphasizing appreciation of what we have and the importance of being in the body. When the Sun moves on into Gemini and joins Mercury and Ceres there, air signs will be able to breathe more easily, whereas the earth signs will be reluctant to give up touchy feely Taurus. The fire signs are just happy to have Mars in Leo instead of Cancer! It is a bit dry now for water signs.

One of the more interesting patterns in the sky on this Full Moon is a wide fixed grand cross formed by the nodal axis, the luminaries, and the Chiron/Neptune conjunction in Aquarius. This particular pattern impacts my chart strongly and prompts me to feel the key here is to take advantage of pain to discern what needs tossing from one’s life. It’s a truism that humans change more readily when it’s too painful not to, and the conjunction of Chiron/North Node/Neptune looks very much like just the crew to do that. Aquarius provides the detachment to stand back and observe the source of the pain Chiron is pointing to, while Neptune provides the anesthetic (boy, is this going to hurt when it wears off . . .), and the North Node in Aquarius indicates the path we need to travel toward the greater good. The Scorpio Full Moon gives us the wherewithal to dig deep inside ourselves and haul what we need to review to the surface. May passing through this experience help all of us feel lighter and freer to truly be ourselves.

We are still working with Jupiter sextile Uranus, but in this Full Moon chart, Mercury conjunct Ceres in Gemini is square Uranus. This may be a clue as to why so many are feeling Mercury retrograde is casting a deeper shadow than usual. Once Mercury goes retrograde on May 26, the square to Uranus will widen and won’t begin to close until after Mercury goes direct on June 20. Uranus is essentially standing still now as it prepares to station retrograde on June 28, but we won’t cross that bridge for awhile yet . . . thankfully.

The next chapter following this Full Moon will unfold slowly due to Mercury’s change in direction. Perhaps the best course of action is to keep in mind Scorpio’s theme of rejuvenation and review, as Mercury retrograde is certainly a good time to continue with it. Life has been moving very quickly since the powerful New Moon in Aries, and a breather would do us all good!

Libra is learning Scorpio lessons posted by Neith . . .

Reflections on the Full Moon in Scorpio

In many ways the Full Moon on April 20 at 0° Scorpio 43′ feels to me like an extension of the New Moon in Aries. The zero-degree point is obviously associated with beginnings and, of course, Aries is the starting place in the zodiac. We are being offered an opportunity to build on what was started on the New Moon in Aries.

Each Full Moon in fire and air is always followed by a Full Moon in earth and water, with the exception of the upcoming lunar cycle. We are going to be spending extra time with earth and water over the next lunar month.

Fire and air need earth and water to take something from a spark of an idea to actual manifestation. Watching spring growth unfold with great speed over the past few days was an excellent example of this principle in action. We had plenty of moisture (water) available in the soil (earth) for seeds (air) to germinate but had been lacking warmth (fire). Three days of temperatures around 70 degrees F was enough to kick-start all kinds of growth – truly amazing to watch.

The zero-degree Full Moon in Scorpio (water and earth) has the potential to take the seeds planted on the Libra Full Moon (air) and really make them grow. The New Moon in Aries (fire) provided the necessary heat. I know firsthand how this works because the partnership between Pat and I gelled around the Libra Full Moon, we went public on the New Moon in Aries, and now we are in the manifestation stage approaching the Full Moon in Scorpio. However we are both aware we need to continue to nurture the growth of our website with care over the next month or so in particular. I anticipate the second Full Moon at 29° Scorpio 27′ will find us well launched and hard at work responding to our clients.

A couple of patterns in the sky at the Full Moon supporting the growth of new ventures are the grand trine in earth (Pluto in Capricorn, Saturn in Virgo, Sun in Taurus) and Mars in Cancer still opposing Jupiter in Capricorn, but this time it’s Venus in Aries as part of the cardinal T-square. We also still have the delightful sextile between Uranus in Pisces and Jupiter keeping us flexible and open to revision. So we are well grounded in realistic expectations with our energy source in place, but this climate is better suited to promoting existing ideas due to the shortage of planets in air signs. The next time to come up with new ideas is on the New Moon in Gemini on June 3 . . . but that’s for another day!

(Libra Rules!)posted by Neith . . .

The photo is one I took showing the new growth of willow leaves against our old wood shed. Neith

Looking for a Sign of Love

Liza with a ZResearchers in the UK have just released the results of a study showing that facial features reveal whether someone you’re interested in just wants to have a good time or is looking for a long-term commitment.

“Lots of previous studies have shown that people can judge a lot about a person from their face, including things like health and even some personality traits like introversion,” says Dr. Ben Jones of the University of Aberdeen’s Face Research Lab. “But this really is the first study to show that people are also sensitive to subtle facial signals about the type of romantic relationships that others might enjoy.”

Well, Dr. Jones, a good astrologer could have told you that and a lot more! And we wouldn’t have drawn the same old gender-based conclusion that women look for a lasting relationship, while men just want a good roll in the hay (they actually pay people money for this?).

Your physical appearance is reflected in your birth chart, especially your Ascendant, also called your Rising sign, which can literally represent the face you present to the world. Does that mean that all Rising Leos look alike? Of course not. The interplay between your Sun, Moon, Rising sign, and planets near the Ascendant is complex and very individual. But there are detectable patterns.

I have a friend with a lot of Aries in her chart. Her profile almost resembles a sheep, with a straight, barely protruding nose. I met another Aries at a party once and immediately pegged him as a Ram. He had two spots on either side of his broad forehead where you could almost see the horns sprouting.

You can tell a Scorpio or Rising Scorpio by the eyes. They’re unusual in some way, whether by the size or color or by the intensity of their gaze. Pisces or Rising Pisces often has large eyes and “fish lips.” My all-time favorite example is Liza Minnelli (born March 12, 1946).

According to the University of Aberdeen study, men with more “masculine” looks are out for a good time, while those who are more feminine are more likely to want some type of commitment. They qualify that this applies to young people, implying that at some point, facial features are no longer a consideration. That certainly was true for Charlton Heston, the quintessential Hollywood manly man. As Neith explained in her recent post, his birth chart strongly indicated a preference for commitment.

A research project called Astrofaces is attempting to draw correlations between people’s Sun, Moon, and Rising signs and their facial features. Frankly, I put more stock in this research than in an academic study that attempts to quantify dating behavior and reinforces outdated notions that men want sex while women want love.

= tall, dark and gorgeousPat

Don’t know your Moon or Rising sign? Get Pat’s Bare Essentials Sun-Moon-Rising report!