October 23 - November 21 · Water · Fixed · The Scorpion
Scorpio
Scorpio embodies the archetype of the Shaman and Detective—the penetrating, transformative force that explores hidden realms, confronts shadows, and catalyzes profound rebirth. As a water sign traditionally ruled by Mars and modernly by Pluto, Scorpio represents the principle of depth, power, and the evolutionary cycle of death and regeneration. Scorpio possesses exceptional emotional intensity, psychological insight, and magnetic presence that can sense the underlying truth beneath surface appearances. While sometimes secretive or controlling, Scorpio's greatest gifts lie in their ability to facilitate healing, access hidden resources, and navigate transformative passages through their emotional courage, unflinching honesty, and capacity for profound intimacy.
At a glance
- Dates
- October 23 - November 21
- Element
- Water
- Modality
- Fixed
- Ruling planet
- Pluto
- Symbol
- The Scorpion (Feminine)
- Opposite sign
- Taurus
- Focus
- Transformation, psychological depth, and shared resources
- Best trait
- Idealism
Scorpio as a Sun sign
Scorpio is the sign of transformation and regeneration, the sign of the investigator and the psychologist. You have a penetrating mind and a powerful will. You are intensely curious about the hidden side of life and have a natural talent for investigation and research. You are also somewhat secretive and may have difficulty trusting others. You have strong emotions that you keep carefully controlled, but when you do express them, they can be quite intense. You have a natural understanding of human psychology and can see through people's facades to their true motivations.
Scorpio by life area
- general
- intense and transformative
- career
- investigation and power
- relationships
- depth and passion
- health
- regeneration
- spirituality
- occult wisdom
- personal growth
- self-transformation
The three Scorpio decans
Every sign spans thirty degrees, and those thirty are traditionally read as three ten-degree decans, each sub-ruled by a different planet. Two people born three weeks apart under the same sign can be describing genuinely different versions of it.
First decan (October 23 - November 1): Integrity, sub-ruled by Pluto.
Second decan (November 2 - November 11): Regeneration, sub-ruled by Neptune.
Third decan (November 12 - November 21): Clarification, sub-ruled by Moon.
Scorpio Moon and Scorpio Rising
The same sign reads differently depending on which point occupies it. As a Moon sign it describes emotional need rather than conscious identity; on the Ascendant it describes how a person comes across before anyone knows them.
Scorpio Moon
You have deep, intense emotions that you often keep hidden from others. You process feelings through deep psychological understanding and transformation. You are somewhat private about your emotional life and need time alone to process your feelings. You have powerful intuition and can sense others' hidden emotions. You may have difficulty trusting others emotionally.
Scorpio Rising
You project an image of mystery and intensity. Others see you as someone who is deep and somewhat secretive. You have a penetrating gaze and a powerful presence. You move with controlled intensity and speak with conviction. You may have a tendency to appear somewhat intimidating to others. You have a magnetic quality that others find both attractive and somewhat unsettling.
Correspondences
Birthstone: Topaz. Lucky day: Tuesday. Keywords: intense, magnetic, penetrating, transformative, private, resourceful.
Common questions
- What are the Scorpio dates?
- Scorpio runs from roughly October 23 - November 21. Birthdays at either end fall on a cusp, where the Sun may have changed sign - the only way to be certain is to calculate the chart for the exact date, time and place of birth.
- What element is Scorpio?
- Scorpio is a Water sign, along with Cancer and Pisces. emotion, intuition, sensitivity, and empathy
- What planet rules Scorpio?
- Scorpio is ruled by Pluto. The ruling planet colours how the sign expresses itself, and in a birth chart the position of Pluto says a great deal about how someone's Scorpio side actually operates.
- Is Scorpio cardinal, fixed, or mutable?
- Scorpio is a Fixed sign. stabilizing, persisting, and maintaining
- Which signs are most compatible with Scorpio?
- Traditionally Cancer and Pisces and Virgo and Capricorn and Taurus. That is a starting point rather than an answer, though - real compatibility depends on the Moon, Venus, Mars and the aspects between two whole charts, not on Sun signs alone.
- What are the three Scorpio decans?
- The first decan (October 23 - November 1) is sub-ruled by Pluto and emphasises integrity. The second decan (November 2 - November 11) is sub-ruled by Neptune and emphasises regeneration. The third decan (November 12 - November 21) is sub-ruled by Moon and emphasises clarification.