The Scorpion · Water sign
Scorpio zodiac sign
Scorpio is the fixed water sign, traditionally ruled by Mars and, in modern astrology, by Pluto. It is associated with emotional depth, privacy, loyalty and transformation.
October 23 to November 21
Water · Fixed · Scorpion · ruled by Mars (modern: Pluto)
Scorpio dates
Scorpio covers birthdays from October 23 to November 21 in the conventional tropical table used on this site. The exact moment the Sun enters Scorpio changes slightly each year, which is why people born on October 23 or November 21 sometimes find different answers online.
From 1950 to 2050 the Sun entered Scorpio on October 22 in 22 of those years, October 23 in 76 of those years, October 24 in 3 of those years in US Eastern Time. For a birthday on a boundary date, the birth year, time and time zone decide the sign.
| Year | US Eastern Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 22, 6:14 PM EDT | October 22, 22:14 UTC |
| 2025 | October 22, 11:50 PM EDT | October 23, 03:50 UTC |
| 2026 | October 23, 5:37 AM EDT | October 23, 09:37 UTC |
| 2027 | October 23, 11:32 AM EDT | October 23, 15:32 UTC |
| 2028 | October 22, 5:13 PM EDT | October 22, 21:13 UTC |
Scorpio personality traits
Traditional descriptions paint Scorpio as intense, private, perceptive and determined, with strong feelings that are rarely shown on the surface. Fixed water is read as emotion held deep and long, which is why loyalty and resentment both appear in the Scorpio story.
Traditional strengths
- Deeply loyal
- Perceptive and investigative
- Determined under pressure
- Comfortable with difficult topics
Traditional challenges
- Secretiveness
- Jealousy and possessiveness
- Difficulty forgiving
- All-or-nothing thinking
Keywords: intensity, depth, loyalty, privacy, transformation.
Scorpio in love and compatibility
Scorpio is described as a passionate, all-in partner who values trust above everything. Honesty and emotional depth matter more to it than easy charm.
Traditionally, Scorpio gets on most easily with Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces. Signs described as more challenging are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Aquarius.
| Scorpio with | Aspect | Element · modality | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Quincunx | Fire · Cardinal | Challenging |
| Taurus | Opposition | Earth · Fixed | Complementary |
| Gemini | Quincunx | Air · Mutable | Challenging |
| Cancer | Trine | Water · Cardinal | Most harmonious |
| Leo | Square | Fire · Fixed | Challenging |
| Virgo | Sextile | Earth · Mutable | Harmonious |
| Libra | Semi-sextile | Air · Cardinal | Mixed |
| Sagittarius | Semi-sextile | Fire · Mutable | Mixed |
| Capricorn | Sextile | Earth · Cardinal | Harmonious |
| Aquarius | Square | Air · Fixed | Challenging |
| Pisces | Trine | Water · Mutable | Most harmonious |
Scorpio in friendship and family
In traditional sign symbolism, Scorpio brings themes of trust and depth. These examples are prompts for reflection, not descriptions of every person born under the sign.
Friendship
A private, attentive conversation fits the Scorpio theme. Trust can grow through consistent actions, without requiring a friend to disclose everything at once.
Family and shared life
Discuss what should stay private and what needs to be shared for a practical decision. Respecting an agreed boundary is more useful than testing someone’s loyalty.
A person’s actions, circumstances and boundaries matter more than a sign label. Explore the symbolism of sign pairings without using it to decide who deserves trust.
Scorpio at work
Research, investigation, psychology, medicine, finance, crisis work and any role that uncovers what is hidden are associated with Scorpio.
Emotional needs and communication
Astrologers name trust, privacy and emotional honesty as Scorpio’s core needs.
Scorpio is described as few-worded and intense. A Scorpio apology is rare but deeply meant, and Scorpio is said to watch whether words are backed by changed behavior.
The Scorpio symbol and its mythology
The glyph ♏ represents the scorpion. The scorpion is linked with the story of Orion the hunter, killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia or Artemis. The two were placed on opposite sides of the sky, so Scorpius rises as Orion sets.
The constellation Scorpius gave the sign its name, but the sign and the constellation are no longer aligned. Its brightest star is Antares (Alpha Scorpii). See when the Sun actually passes through each constellation.
Scorpio traditional associations
| Association | In Western astrology |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 23 to November 21 (conventional) |
| Symbol | Scorpion |
| Glyph | ♏ |
| Element | Water |
| Modality | Fixed |
| Polarity | Negative (yin) |
| Ruling planet | Mars (modern: Pluto) |
| Exaltation | None in the classical scheme |
| Opposite sign | Taurus |
| Natural house | 8th house |
| Body area (melothesia) | Reproductive organs |
| Tarot card (Golden Dawn) | Death |
| Colors often cited | Deep red and black |
| Stones often cited | Topaz, obsidian, garnet |
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Brightest star | Antares (Alpha Scorpii) |
Colors and stones vary between modern sources and have no single historical standard. The other associations are long-standing conventions of Western astrology.
A prompt, not a prediction
What deserves deeper attention, and what can you let rest?
Separate what you know from what you suspect in a difficult situation. Ask a direct, respectful question where clarification would help.
Scorpio questions
What are the dates for Scorpio?
Scorpio runs from October 23 to November 21 in the conventional tropical table. Between 1950 and 2050 the Sun entered Scorpio on October 22 in 22 of those years, October 23 in 76 of those years, October 24 in 3 of those years (US Eastern Time).
What element is Scorpio?
Scorpio is a water sign, together with Cancer and Pisces. It is also a fixed sign.
What is Scorpio’s ruling planet?
Scorpio is traditionally ruled by Mars; modern astrologers also assign Pluto.
Which signs are most compatible with Scorpio?
In traditional astrology the easiest matches are the other signs of the same element and the signs of the complementary element: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces. These are symbolic tendencies, not predictions.
What is the Scorpio symbol?
The Scorpio symbol is the scorpion, written with the glyph ♏. The scorpion is linked with the story of Orion the hunter, killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia or Artemis.
More about Scorpio
Other water signs
Continue around the zodiac
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide