Past Articles

AR 53 The Lion in Winter

AR 52 As Above, So Below

AR 51 The Ancient Quest

AR 50 Astrology and Alchemy

AR 49 Star of Wonder

AR 48 Jupiter in Libra

AR 47 Once in a Blue Moon

AR 46 Sedna Enters the Arena

AR 45 Royal Stars of Persia

AR 44 Ancient Formulas for Immortality

AR 43 Twelve Gates of Heaven

AR 42 Jupiter in Virgo

AR 41 Geometry of the Spheres

AR 40 Saturn in Cancer, June, 2003 to July, 2005

AR 39 The Poles of the Zodiac

AR 38
Uranus In
Pisces
2003-2011

AR 37
Twelfth Planet, Plutinos or
Planet X

AR 36
Eclipses – Promise or Peril?

AR35
Solar Fire

AR34
The Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology

AR 33
Children of the Gods

AR 32
Wheels Within Wheels

AR 31
Horoscopes of Destiny

AR 30
Zodicac of Dendera

AR 29
A Star Is Born

AR 28
Age of Aquarius

AR 27
Persia's Royal Stars of Ancients

AR 23
The Lore of a Shaman

"Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue-- to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak." - Socrates

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the Zodiac and is a fixed water sign. British astrologer Ronald Davison has said, "Each water sign prepares the way for a new kind of manifestation. Every fixed sign represents a particular gathering together of power." As a fixed water sign Scorpio embodies tremendous emotional power which can be used constructively or destructively. Where Scorpio influence holds sway issues of power, control and discipline are paramount.

Scorpions crawl on the ground and hide in secret places, and their human counterparts are not shy about exploring and experiencing what is hidden or concealed. This includes everything from sex to the most sacred of mysteries. The extremes of Scorpio energy can range from course vibrations, ruled only by the lower senses, which can be selfish and even cruel. Unconscious Scorpios are often stung by the force of their own ruling passions. Scorpio is co-ruled by Mars, and when Scorpios are backed into a corner they can eject their venom with "Martian" force when least expected. Therefore, there is a great need to master speech for the tongue of Scorpio can be as venomous as the sting of it's eight-legged namesake.

By contrast the eagle, representing the higher side of Scorpio, is said to be the highest flying bird, soaring above earthly concerns, possessing far seeing vision and symbolically even entering into another sphere, the element of air. But the king of birds might also be seen as potentially cruel in the realm of earth as the raptor is a finely honed killing machine.

Regeneration is the highest expression for Scorpio energy, and this complex sign is the only one to have three symbolic emblems. Mythically the imagery of regeneration is embodied by the Phoenix, the legendary bird which submits to a period of self-immolation, and then rises reborn from the ashes of its former self. Hidden in this symbolism is the idea of degeneration and regeneration, death and resurrection, and the ultimate attainment of immortality through right use of will.

King of Heaven

Roman Jupiter was the earlier Greek Zeus and the Egyptian Min-Amon. King of the gods, Zeus was the quintessential "sky father." The Zeus/Jupiter archetype was derived from the earlier Indo-European Sanskrit Dyaus, from div, "to shine," and the Latin Dies-piter (Jupiter). Zeus/Jupiter was considered to be the god of Light, and therefore wisdom, although his escapades don't always reveal his higher attributes. According to myth, the infant Jupiter was raised on the milk of a goat whose horns continually overflowed with food and drink. This is the origin of the cornucopia, the horn of plenty, and mythically encodes the symbolism that Jupiter exudes abundance.

As king of heaven Zeus/Jupiter ruled supreme over the Olympian gods. Jupiter's positive qualities include a jovial expansiveness, a sporting approach to life and an unquenchable optimism. His influence is generally fortunate, benevolent and generous. Exaggerated or used unwisely these same characteristics can become extremist in viewpoint, wasteful and disregarding of resources, and trusting too much to luck which brings misfortune. This side of Jupiter can sometimes fail to see when matters are serious. Because Jupiter always wants to take the larger view, there is also a risk of dismissing details as insignificant, leading to misfortune.

Jupiter was considered to be a god of Light, and therefore wisdom, and Jupiter is said to deal with the realm of superconsciousness and therefore is a widener of horizons. Jupiter is larger than life and his expansive nature can be difficult to contain. Astrologically, Jupiter acts to expand, and hopefully enlighten, the area he visits.

Jupiter in Scorpio

Jupiter's natural energy is nearly boundless and mythically he soars around heaven bestowing bounty and largess when he isn't hurling thunderbolts. Being confined to the focused, dark and intense energy embodied in Scorpio, or by association the unseen realms of the underworld, is not his natural habitat or forte.

This combination is akin to focusing sunlight through a magnifying glass or perhaps like the intensely focused light of a LASER. Jupiter in Scorpio therefore holds the potential for consciousness to expand through strong and intense feelings for life and experience. Emotions will run both deep and wide as intensity increases and force expands.

Characteristics of this combination include heightened passion with fuel to burn to achieve our desires. But a consuming passion which ignites under this influence could grow to become an obsession if the energies remain unchecked. Jupiter in Scorpio can either intensify the desire to know the truth or increase the will to have power and control over others. The energy may express as great strength and courage or degenerate into woven webs of deceit. On the down side there can be risk of overly strong feelings, pushing toward excess of expression and even violence in search of release.

Some possible good news comes from the planet of abundance in the sign which deals with power. This will certainly highlight economics and finance, bringing the major motivators of money and power to center stage. Economically this can be a positive combination and can bestow a real talent for business and finance to those who are born when Jupiter is in Scorpio.

Jupiter in Scorpio can give healing power and magnetism which can bring success in outer world. This energy is also helpful in detective and police work as well as aiding efforts in engineering, chemistry or medicine. At the level of highest potential Jupiter in Scorpio directs these energies, through right focus of force or will, toward a sort of immortality which is sought not through procreation or lineage but through a great work or discovery that lives on.

Adventure in inner space

In myth Pluto (Hades), the ruler of Scorpio, is lord of the underworld. Psychologically, this domain contains all that is hidden in the recesses of our consciousness. This could be treasures or "monsters." Technically, Hermes/Mercury was the only Olympian who could travel between Mount Olympus and the Underworld which he did by virtue of his Caduceus wand. As the Messenger of the Gods he carried information back and forth between Hades (Pluto), and Zeus (Jupiter).

Hades name meant "the Invisible," and was not spoken aloud for fear of arousing his anger. Instead he was most commonly called Pluton, "the Rich," signifying the wealth of mines cultivated beneath the earth. He was often depicted with a horn of plenty. This links the myth of Jupiter's sustenance with the bounty which can lie unclaimed or unrecognized within the inner reaches of our beings. Metaphorically Jupiter in Scorpio connects the heights of Mount Olympus to the deep realm of the Underworld which exists in the microcosm within each of us. Understood this way, Jupiter in Scorpio can bring the "light of heaven" to the darkness of the deep, revealing many things which are normally unseen.

If we're paying attention this archetypal combination can bring heaven's light into a realm which is ordinarily cloaked in darkness and secrecy, like shining a flood light into a cave, or parting the so-called veil which conceals the deeper aspects of reality. By benefit of the transit of Jupiter through Scorpio we can potentially access the depths of our own underworlds, gaining access to secret knowledge, hidden wisdom, buried treasure or whatever is normally concealed from us, asking ourselves what needs to come into the light of conscious awareness? If we are wise this orientation will bring wisdom to bear where our deepest desires lie hidden.

Individually and collectively therefore, matters which have been hidden may come to light during this transit, brining a potentially vital transformation. We might choose to leave a dead-end job or end a painful relationship as we "see the light." The key is turning vision into appropriate action.

Jupiter circles the Sun every twelve years, so looking back in time to events and circumstances in our individual lives twelve, twenty-four or thirty-six years past may also shed some light on what to expect personally in the next thirteen months. Understanding how the twelve-year cycle plays out in our own life can give us a sense of how the planet's current transit will affect us. Similarly, at twelve year intervals from our birth date Jupiter returns to the degree and sign he occupied at birth, providing an infusion of growth and energy we can optimize. Those born with Jupiter in Scorpio will experience the benefits and challenges of this transit.

In issue #53 of ATLANTIS RISING I explored the current astrological transit of Saturn in Leo. (Jul 2005-Sep 2007). In a sense this is an opposite sort of planet-sign combination. Saturn in Leo constrains the outgoing and fiery nature of a sign through the planetary nature, while with Jupiter in Scorpio it is the planet which is limited by the sign in which he transits. If the more positive side of the Saturn in Leo transit prevails, along with the positive influence of Jupiter in Scorpio, keen insight and disciplined minds combined with well-chosen investments and careful timing could yield positive results.

The power of silence

Another lesson of Jupiter in Scorpio is the value of silence and the power of keen observation. Used wisely Jupiter in Scorpio energies can take heed of the words of Socrates quoted at the beginning of the article. Namely, that we should observe and listen a lot more than we speak.

There is an ancient occult maxim, said to represent the hallmark of the spiritual disciple. In Latin, "Sciere, velle, audere, tacere." In English we are admonished, "To know, to will, to dare, and to be silent." More than any other combination of astrological influences I believe Jupiter in Scorpio can facilitate this attainment and focus.