Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Scorpius. In western astrology, the sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Scorpio is considered a water sign, and is one of four fixed signs. Like the rest of the watery signs, Scorpio is considered a "negative", feminine sign, which in Astrology means it is rather introvert.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Scorpio individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun enters Scorpio around October 23-24 and exits around November 21-22. Under the sidereal zodiac, it is currently there roughly from November 16 through December 15. People born on these juncture dates would have to have an astrological chart drawn if they wished to determine which sign the sun was in at the exact time of their birth.

Astrological qualities and associations
Being a water sign, Scorpio is considered highly passionate, imaginative, determined, persevering, inflexible and self-confident.

Traditionally, the planet Mars has been considered to be the ruler of Scorpio, and since its discovery, Pluto has been considered a modern ruler of this sign. Some modern astrologers consider Pluto to be a more appropriate ruler over the sign, citing the reason for Mars having initially ruled the sign being that Pluto had not yet been discovered. In 2006 Pluto was reclassified by astronomers as a "dwarf planet", and though no longer considered a planet in astronomy, this has not reduced its significance to astrologers as the modern ruler of Scorpio.

As the eighth sign in the zodiac, Scorpio is associated with the astrological house number 8, which is associated with natural Scorpio matters - birth, death, transformation, deeply committed relationships of all kinds, and the occult and psychic matters.

Scorpio also has associations with three animal symbols: the scorpion, the snake, and the phoenix. Each sign represents different levels of power related to personal strength, individual power, and even intimidation based on cultural associations with these different animals. All three symbols indicate the fierce determination of the Scorpio symbol to triumph over odds and to be ruthless in pursuing goals, traits that are evident in the personality characteristics attributed to Scorpio individuals.

Mythology
In Greek mythology Scorpio is often associated with Hades, Lord of the Underworld, who was known in Roman mythology as Pluto, and Orpheus from the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Scorpio is also associated with the Greco-Roman gods Ares/Mars. The constellation is also associated with the scorpion that killed Orion. According to the myth Skorpios or Scorpius was a giant scorpion sent forth by the earth-goddess Gaia to slay the giant Orion when he threatened to slay all the beasts of the earth. Orion and the Scorpion were afterwards placed amongst the stars as a pair of Constellations. The two opponents are never seen in the sky at the same time, for one constellation sets as the other rises. The scorpion's claws were originally formed by Libra.

There is also one famous myth which is particularly fitting for Scorpio. It's one of the twelve labours of Hercules from the Greek mythology. In this particular labour he is told to slay the Hydra. Beneath the outward success and power, this myth describes Scorpio's real destiny. Hercules is sent to destroy a large, deadly creature called a Hydra, which inhabits a dark cave in a swamp and preys upon the folk of the countryside.

Hercules at first attempts to club the Hydra to death, then to slice its heads off. He is about finished, since this results in a proliferation of heads. Then he remembers a piece of advice given to him by a wise teacher. The Hydra cannot stand the light. So Hercules gets down on his knees and lifts the creature up into the sunlight. It shrivels up and begins to die. Only one head remains, for that one is immortal, and buried within it is a precious jewel. But one head is easy for Hercules to handle. He simply buries it under a rock. The explanation of this myth isn't really necessary for Scorpio. They usually come, sooner or later, to that place in life where they discover the hydra within themselves. But some explanation may be of value to the less introspective signs. We can say that the hydra can mean many things: jealousy, vengeance, resentment, anger, frustrated sexuality, violence. Scorpio is a sign of intense desire; and the hydra's many heads can mean the many desires of the uncivilized human heart. Left to grow in the darkness, they can become poisonous, and begin to destroy others. But they cannot be dealt with by repression. They must be understood, held up to the light, respected as part of oneself. And although vanquished, it is a good idea to remember that one immortal head. For Scorpio, all human beings carry within them the seeds of good and evil. Evil is not an abstract thing, or somebody else's fault; it is in everyone. Human brutality cannot be blamed on society, but ultimately only on oneself. It is relevant to realize that Sigmund Freud, the great founder of modern depth psychology, had Scorpio rising. Therein lies the deepest meaning of Scorpio's myth: come to terms with the hydra in yourself, and you redeem the world.

Associated traits
Astrologers broadly agree that the following are the characteristics of Scorpio:

• Intense
• Powerful
• Determined / tenacious / persevering
• Emotional / sensitive
• Calm but seething
• Reserved / withdrawn
• Secretive
• Deep / profound
• Revengeful (if hurt) / unforgiving
• Passionate
• Loyal / devotional
• Ambitious
• Extreme
• Willful / fanatical
• Mysterious / magnetically attractive / exciting
• Deeply resentful / brooding / potentially destructive
• Scorpio is the Zodiac sign that indicates the deepest interest in sexual matters, and for most Scorpios, sex is an expression of love.

Compatibilities
Although many mainstream astrology books do not bother with superficial sun-sign compatibilities, Scorpio is still widely thought to be compatible with the watery signs, Pisces and Cancer. Its relationship with Taurus is often considered passionate, however complicated.

There are many variables that determine compatibility in astrology, such as birth dates, birth months, birth years, position of a sign within the Sun, the Moon, Stars, etc. The signs listed as compatible with Scorpio do not reflect an individual profile or individual reading as interpreted within astrology, but rather reflect a general guideline and reference to compatibility as dictated by variables such as Qualities and Elements within the Zodiac.

Correspondences
The following items are traditionally associated with Scorpio:

• In medical astrology Scorpio governs the reproductive system and sexual organs.
• Scorpio is associated with the following animals: Scorpion, Wolf, Eagle, Phoenix, Gray Lizard.
• In Tarot, Scorpio is associated with the Death card, specifically as a form of regeneration.
• The Indian equivalent of Scorpio is Vrishchika.
• The Chinese equivalent is thought to be the strong, resolute Pig, whose lunar month is 8 November - 6 December