On this page: Scorpio Personality Overview * All Things Associated with Scorpio * Famous Scorpios
Scorpio Traits: ambitious, capable, courageous, deep, discerning, distrustful, extreme, hardworking, independent, intense, intriguing, intuitive, persistent, possessive, protective, secretive, self-sacrificing, strong-willed, tough, unforgiving
Scorpio Personality Overview
Scorpios Are Secretive and Intriguing
Scorpios are secretive, yet other people tend to tell them their own secrets. This often puts Scorpio in the role of counselor.
Scorpios are slow to trust new people and it takes a long time for them to reveal just a few of their secrets or make themselves vulnerable in any way. Others are often intrigued but also frustrated by the Scorpio’s carefully constructed emotional defenses.
The typical Scorpio has piercing eyes, a powerful gaze, and a magnetic and seductive personality. People tend to find Scorpios interesting because they reveal little but are usually very deep.
Scorpio Is Among the More Intuitive and Discerning Signs of the Zodiac
Scorpios are highly intuitive and good at solving mysteries and puzzles. They have a knack for figuring out what is going on behind the scenes in any given situation and a talent for discerning the feelings and motives of other people and predicting what their next moves will be. This ability can make them either very empathic and compassionate or cruel and vindictive, because they know where other people’s weak points are.
Known for their sharp minds and shrewd intellects, Scorpios like to explore the profound in life and have little interest in small talk. They tend to be excellent judges of character, and most have plenty of compassion for those who truly deserve it, but no sympathy or patience for whiners and people who are the authors of their own misfortunes.
Typical Scorpios Are Strong in Adversity and Brave Under Pressure
Scorpios can tolerate a lot of hardship and manage under the worst of conditions. They are good at overcoming obstacles and turning challenges to their advantage.
Scorpios are extremely persistent, going after what they want with a fierce determination that is often rewarded. They are survivors, and adversity makes them stronger.
Scorpios don’t like to show any weakness. They are cautious about what they reveal to the world due to their fear of others having power over them. This need to be in control at all times can cause problems when they deal with authority figures.
The sign of Scorpio rules over death, rebirth, and the occult, and Scorpios are often interested in these subjects. They have the courage to examine things that most people fear, and they are able to intellectually explore subjects such as death that others avoid. Scorpios can experience a lot of anxiety, but not usually over the things that make other people anxious.
Scorpios are extremists. Everything they do is all-or-nothing. They tend to be courageous, and if other elements in their natal zodiacs magnify their propensity for risk taking, they may develop an affinity for extreme sports.
Scorpios are also fiercely protective of those who elicit their sympathy. They will sacrifice anything without hesitation (even to the point of risking their lives) to ensure the safety and happiness of those they care about.
When other elements in Scorpios’ natal zodiacs incline them toward altruism, the combination of a self-sacrificing nature and physical courage may draw them to rescuer careers such as police officer, fireman, coast guard, or paramedic.
Although typical Scorpios are strong, courageous, and blessed with high endurance, they are inclined to be hypochondriacs or suffer from hard-to-diagnose symptoms when under stress. Extreme obsessions and compulsions are also common among Scorpios.
Some Scorpios Are Suspicious and Retaliatory
Scorpios are often suspicious of other people’s motivations, and many have a strong jealous streak or a tendency to attract very jealous partners, which can cause strife in their relationships. Scorpios can also be inflexible, resentful, and vindictive, unless their ascendants or moons are in gentler signs such as Libra or Pisces.
Anyone who tries to dominate or harm a Scorpio will soon feel the sting. Scorpios can be vicious and vengeful. They are unforgiving and feel a need to take revenge when they or those they care about have been wronged. This means that Scorpios who lack a conscience can be exceptionally dangerous. However, most Scorpios have very well-developed consciences and are inclined to be harder on themselves than on others. Ultimately, Scorpios fall to one of two extremes: either they represent the height of integrity or the depth of diabolical cunning.
Most Scorpios Are Independent and Hard Working
Self-employment suits the Scorpio personality because Scorpios don’t like to have anyone telling them what to do. They are hard workers on their own, without any supervision, and excellent researchers (this talent may extend to investigative ability).
Unless their ascendants fall in more careless signs, Scorpios are responsible by nature, and can almost always be counted on to do what they say they’ll do. They don’t just talk idly; they put their plans into action, which is one of their great strengths.
Typical Scorpios are practical, reliable, and good with money. They are also forceful and exhibit great willpower, which increases their likelihood of success in the long run.
The Atypical Scorpio
The sun sign isn’t the only element that influences personality. Aspects and planetary placements, particularly the moon sign and rising sign (ascendant), are also important. For example, a Scorpio with Aquarius rising will be more extroverted and less inclined toward jealousy, and with Gemini rising, a Scorpio will be more forgiving and open about deeper feelings, but less reliable and well-organized.
There are many websites that offer free chart calculation to determine other planetary placements and aspects (for example, www.astro.com). Learning these other planetary placements is recommended, as it provides a more comprehensive personality profile.
All Things Associated with Scorpio
Planet: Pluto
Symbol: the scorpion
Element: water
Quality: fixed
Metal: steel
Gemstones: bloodstone, garnet, onyx, serpentine, opal (October), topaz (November), hematite
Associated Parts of the Body: genitals, bladder, cervix/prostate, lower intestine
Number: 0 (zero is the power number because it can magnify all other numbers)
Places: Morocco, Norway, Algeria, Tahiti, Syria, Liverpool, Washington DC, Newcastle, New Orleans
Animals: hawk, crow, scorpion, snake, raven, scorpionfish, insects, crustaceans
Trees: Pine, blackthorn
Plants and Herbs: aloe vera, thistle, broom, briar, cactus, ginseng, nettles, tobacco, reed, chrysanthemum, rhododendron
Foods: garlic, ginger, horseradish, leek, radish
Colors: black, blood red, burgundy, maroon
Other Scorpio Associations: occult paraphernalia (i.e., tarot cards), psychic powers, mysteries, puzzles, death, rebirth, sex, revenge, murder, chess, blood, psychology, power, organized crime, global resources, international finance, undercover organizations, recycling, spies, secret societies, swords, knives, needles, chemicals, survival, strength, endurance
Famous Scorpios
- Adam Ant
- Adam Driver
- Albert Camus
- Ang Lee
- Anne Hathaway
- Aron Ralston
- Auguste Rodin
- Barbara Boxer
- Bill Gates
- Billy Graham
- Bjork
- Bo Derek
- Bobby Kennedy
- Brie Bella
- Brittany Murphy
- Caitlyn Jenner
- Calista Flockhart
- Calvin Klein
- Captain James Cook
- Carl Sagan
- Carly Rae Jepson
- Chad Kroeger
- Charles Manson
- Christopher Columbus
- Claude Monet
- Condoleezza Rice
- Dan Castellaneta
- Dan Rather
- Daniel Boone
- Danny DeVito
- David Schwimmer
- Demi Moore
- Dennis Miller
- Diana Krall
- Dick Cavett
- Dolph Lundgren
- Jonas Salk
- Drake
- Dylan Thomas
- Ed Asner
- Edwin Hubble
- Emily Post
- Emma Stone
- Erwin Rommel
- Ethan Hawke
- Evelyn Waugh
- Ezra Pound
- Feodor Dostoevski
- Francois Mitterand
- George Patton
- Goldie Hawn
- Goodluck Jonathan
- Gordon Ramsay
- Grace Kelly
- Harry Hamlin
- Henry Winkler
- Hermann Rorschach
- Hillary Clinton
- Indira Gandhi
- Jaclyn Smith
- James Garfield
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Joan Sutherland
- Jodie Foster
- Joe Biden
- John Adams
- John Candy
- John Cleese
- John Gotti
- John Keats
- Joseph McCarthy
- Julia Roberts
- Katharine Hepburn
- Katy Perry
- Keith Urban
- Kendall Jenner
- Kevin Jonas
- Kevin Kline
- King Hussein of Jordan
- Kris Jenner
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Laura Bush
- Lee Strasberg
- Leon Trotsky
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Lisa Bonet
- Lorde
- Loretta Swit
- Lou Ferrigno
- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
- Maria Shriver
- Marie Antoinette
- Marie Curie
- Martin Luther
- Martin Scorsese
- Matthew McConaughey
- Meg Ryan
- Michael Crichton
- Michael Dukakis
- Miranda Lambert
- Morgan Spurlock
- Nancy Cartwright
- Nancy Grace
- Neil Gaiman
- Nicolette Sheridan
- Nikki Bella
- Owen Wilson
- Pablo Picasso
- Pat Sajak
- Pele
- Peter Jackson
- Petula Clark
- PewDiePie
- Prince Charles
- Puff Daddy
- Ralph Macchio
- Rebecca Romijn
- Richard Burton
- Richard Dreyfuss
- Rob Schneider
- Robert Kennedy
- Robert Louis Stevenson
- Rock Hudson
- Rodney Dangerfield
- Roseanne Barr
- Ryan Gosling
- Ryan Reynolds
- Sally Field
- Sam Shepard
- Seth MacFarlane
- Shailene Woodley
- Shere Hite
- Augustine
- Sylvia Plath
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Vanilla Ice
- Vivien Leigh
- Voltaire
- Walter Cronkite
- Wayne Rooney
- Weird Al Yankovic
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Will Rogers
- Willow Smith
- Winona Ryder
- Yanni
Learn More
Read about other sun signs: Aries * Taurus * Gemini * Cancer * Leo * Virgo * Libra * Sagittarius * Capricorn * Aquarius * Pisces
Read about moon signs: Aries Moon * Taurus Moon * Gemini Moon * Cancer Moon * Leo Moon * Virgo Moon * Libra Moon * Scorpio Moon * Sagittarius Moon * Capricorn Moon * Aquarius Moon * Pisces Moon
Learn more about astrology: Astrology FAQ
Scorpio image courtesy of Graphics Mouse, www.freedigitalphotos.net.