Scorpio

(24 October to 22 November)

Animals: wolf and panther.
Birds: eagle and vulture.
Colour: deep red.
Origin and glyph: The origin of the scorpion is unknown, although it appears in numerous guises in ancient history. The glyph symbolizes a serpent's coil and is linked with the male genitalia.
Ruling planet and groupings: Pluto; feminine, fixed and water.
Day: Tuesday.
Flowers: heather and chrysanthemum, dark red flowers such as geraniums.
Food: foods with strong flavours.
Gemstones: opal, all red stones are beneficial, especially the ruby; also beryl, topaz and turquoise.
Metal: iron.
Number: nine for both Scorpio and Mars, its ruler.
Trees: thorn-bearing varieties.

The Sun enters Scorpio on or about October 24 each year, and leaves it approximately on November 22. Persons born between October 24 and 27 are, however, also ruled to some extent by the preceding sign, Libra, whose influence does not die away entirely until the latter date.

Scorpians can show rather a mix of behaviour and character, on the one hand being very determined and strong-willed, and on the other being obsessive, awkward and arrogant. Once committed to something, whether a person or an ideal, they will be very faithful, although they are susceptible to being melodramatic, and when emotions become involved logic suffers. They are usually energetic, wanting the most out of life, whether at work or play, and will not relinquish their goal easily. Although they are perfectly capable of sacrificing others, they do hold on to what is right and will exhibit a strong sense of fair play and reason.

Scorpio, whose symbol is the stinging scorpion, is a negative and watery sign, but is ruled by the fiery planet Mars. Its subjects are a mass of extremes and contradictions, and even at the best are always difficult to size up or classify.

Powerfully magnetic, brimful of energy, intense in their emotions, and subtle and involved in their actions and maner of thought, they have perhaps the strongest personalities of all the zodiacal types. The willpower which their can exert over other people is enormous.

They often seem to be possessed with a demon of perversity, and they love to impress and 'shock' people by some dramatic and unexpected action, usually of an unpleasant nature.

They have amazing powers of tenacity and resistance, and are seldom discouraged when their plans go awry and success seems far away. They will meet the most crushing blows without cringing or changing expression; in fact, they always know when and how to conceal their emotions, although there are few people who live on their emotions so much as those born under Scorpio.

Idealists and humanitarians at heart, the more developed types among these subjects are ever eager to defend and champion the weak and oppressed; but they often speak slightingly of those whom they uphold and protect, and affect a contempt of charity and kind actions! Naturally gifted with dramatic ability, many of them act throughout their daily life and, in a spirit of perversity, seem anxious to give the world an entirely wrong impression of their character and temperament. They have little use for convention, and often fly deliberately in the face of established custom and propriety, a course which seems to afford them keen pleasure.

Scorpions have good memories, and will remember your kindnesses as well as your cruelties. Your generosity will be richly rewarded, but you can expect dreadful revenge to be taken if you have been nasty. Just try to make fun of a Scorpion in public and you will find that you will receive a dose of your own medicine-with interest.

They are hard workers and never spare themselves, and if they are gifted with ambition-as is usually the case nothing can stand in the way of its realization. They lay their plans with calm deliberation, meet and overcome obstacles with the greatest coolness and ingenuity, and often look upon other people as pawns to be sacrificed to their own success. Natives of Scorpio often have pronounced psychic gifts, and feel drawn towards a study of the occult. Many of them can sublimate their intense vital force into religion or mysticism, and this process produces personalities which are outstanding and unique.

A notable person born under Scorpio is usually remarkable in many other ways than that in which his or her particular talent or genius has distinguished him or her; he or she is the sort of man who is fated to make his or her mark in the world, no matter how he or she chooses to do so.