Scorpio: Searching the Depths by Pam Younghans   This is the eighth article in a series exploring the 12 astrological signs. In Western Astrology, the sky is divided into 12 equal sections, beginning with Aries at the Vernal Equinox and continuing through the rest of the zodiac. Exact dates for the beginning and ending of each sign vary from year to year. Please consult a qualified astrologer to verify your sun sign, and to get a more complete picture of your entire astrological chart. Although the description below applies especially to those who were born when the sun was in Scorpio, it also applies in varying degrees for everyone, as we all have Scorpio represented in our charts. If you were born between October 23 and November 22, your astrological chart will show that your sun is in Scorpio (see note above regarding exact dates). Scorpio is the only sign of the zodiac that has two animal symbols, giving you a clear picture of the behavioral options you have in life. One symbol is the scorpion, the namesake for both the sign and constellation; the other animal representative is the eagle. Every sign has both a developmental purpose and the possibility of healthy or unhealthy expression. For you, Scorpio, that purpose is related to seeking the truth of what lies beneath the surface — of people, situations, information, emotions. You are not content with superficiality, preferring to dive into the depths of the unknown to find out what is real. A part of your journey involves experiencing and accepting your own deepest emotions, even those that most of us try to keep hidden from the world because we judge them as being "dark" or "negative." Nothing is out-of-bounds for Scorpio; all is part of the human experience, intended to be lived and expressed. There is a certain intensity and moodiness about you, Scorpio, which makes sense considering that you are here to experience such depth of feeling. When it comes to involvement in a project or a relationship, once something has your attention, you can become completely focused on whatever it is, to the exclusion of other areas of your life. This is both a gift and a curse, depending upon your ability to maintain perspective and balance. Herein lies your choice, Scorpio. You can lose yourself in an activity, a relationship, or an emotion, to the point where it consumes you. This is the influence of the scorpion, an animal that cannot see further than the darkness of the rock under which it has hidden, and that stings out at anything that might disturb it. In the same way, you can become so caught up in the emotions of the moment that you lash out, sometimes merely from the need to dispel some of the tension. This is when remembering your other animal symbol can assist you. The eagle, due to its keen eyesight and ability to soar above the landscape, can see the rock, the darkness, and even the scorpion. However, the difference is that the eagle can also see the entire landscape — the dark and the light, the valleys and the mountains. This clear vision allows the eagle to have a higher, more balanced perspective, as it uses the air (mind) to assist in detaching from the darkness that can threaten to overwhelm it (emotions). Some of the archetypes related to Scorpio are Psychotherapist, Detective and Truth-Seeker. Each of these personality types has in common the desire to get to the heart of the matter, and yet each also must have the ability to detach from emotional involvement in order to solve the mystery. Scorpio, when you are able both to explore the depth of human emotions and also to maintain a higher perspective, you are fulfilling the highest potential of your sun sign. It makes sense that Scorpio is a water sign, which emphasizes emotions and the ability to feel deeply. Relationships with other water signs and with earth signs may come most naturally to you; fire and air signs are typically less compatible. Scorpio is also a "fixed" sign, giving you tenacity and determination, but also indicating a certain stubbornness and inflexibility. That internal drive serves you well when you apply it to whatever project you are involved in; however, it sometimes can be difficult for you to let go of something, even when its importance and purpose in your life is over. Mars, the planet named for the god of war, was Scorpio’s ruling planet for centuries, personifying the internal drive for which you are famous. But the discovery of the planet Pluto in 1930 changed the astrological landscape; as its influence has become more completely understood, this "new" planet has been assigned the rulership of Scorpio. In mythology, Pluto was the powerful god of the underworld, and so is a fitting associate for your sign, given the depths in which you sometimes find yourself. Pluto’s stories show him as an intense, manipulative being, which reveals the amount of power you also have at your disposal. It is a part of your life journey to learn how to direct that dynamic energy and desire for control in positive, healthy ways. Another aspect of Pluto’s mythology is also applicable to your experience as a Scorpio: the theme of death and rebirth. There is a transformational quality associated with your sign, as you go through the profound experiences that alter your perspective and change your self-definition. It is as if you live through a progression of small deaths and rebirths throughout your life, as you continue to refine and transform yourself. Scorpio’s passionate and sometimes-misunderstood characteristics are also reflected in the areas of the physical body which are associated with your sign: the sexual organs, bladder, and rectum. These are areas of the body which "proper" people of days past did not speak about in public, or perhaps even with family. Those powerful emotions that you feel, Scorpio, must be expressed and released in some way, just as each of the body parts listed above is involved in a release process. When your true feelings are denied, repressed or used in manipulative, unhealthy ways, you may experience physical symptoms in these areas. The sign that is directly opposite Scorpio in the sky is Taurus, and from the Bull you can learn some additional skills for improving your life, Scorpio. In so many ways, Taurus is your opposite — where you thrive on involvement and depth, Taurus likes things to be uncomplicated and easy. But if you can balance some of your intensity with a touch of appreciation for life’s simpler moments, you may find it easier to maintain that higher perspective you seek. Scorpio, you entered this life with the intention of fully discovering and appreciating a wide range of human emotions, from the heights to the depths. When you maintain a balanced and far-seeing perspective, each situation, each relationship, each project in which you immerse yourself enriches your life and contributes to your understanding and acceptance, both of yourself and of your human family. Pam Younghans is an astrologer and teacher, offering personal consultations and classes at Longevity Holistic Center on old Main Street in Bothell, Washington. To schedule a consultation, to receive Pam’s free weekly forecast by email, or if you have questions: call (425) 445-3775, email <astrologerpam@aol.com>, or see Pam’s website at <http://www.pamsastrology.freeservers.com>.