Warrior I am, and from the battle I emerge triumphant
Value through sharing the self: freedom from insecurity and emotional traps
| Fixed complement: | Taurus |
|---|---|
| Rays: | Ray 4 |
| Othodox ruler: | Pluto |
| Esoteric ruler: | Mars |
| Hierarchical ruler: | Mercury |
| Esoteric decanates: | 1st: Mars, 2nd: Sun, 3rd: Venus |
| Retrogressive motto: | Let Maya flourish and let deception rule |
| Scorpio triangles: |
Scorpio: esoteric meaning
Details to follow.
Scorpio: rulers
Orthodox: Pluto ⇧
The main concept behind Pluto’s rulership of Scorpio is one of “esoteric death”, i.e. the ending of all that hinders the expansion of our awareness:
In Scorpio there is the death of the personality, with its longings, desires, ambitions and pride.
…the death of forms must eventuate leaving the disciple free; the dissolution of old group structures of thought, embodying worn-out ideas and ideals must necessarily supervene; crystallised old forms must dissolve and disappear, but in their place the undying spirit—impressed by revelation and sensitive to the emerging new concepts of truth—will create the needed new forms of appropriate expression. (EA 214, 260)
Scorpio via Pluto is thus regarded as the “sign of discipleship” or of all those who are “ready for the fusion brought about through the influence of the sacred planets”. The idea is that the death of hindering personality traits “is definitely brought about by the soul…”—the inner self thus liberates us by revealing personal limitations so that we can move beyond them and leave their remains to sink into the depths. The feeling at these times is one that echoes the traditional role of Pluto as one of regeneration and rebirth after trial and experiencing the depths. The “dissolution and detachment” (EA 538) mentioned in connection with the Eighth House are part of this experience.
Esoteric: Mars ⇧
Details to follow of Mars as esoteric ruler.
Hierarchical: Mercury ⇧
The global resolution of conflict and the harmonising of seemingly impossible oppositions, is the territory where Mercury will lead. This might seem a real challenge in the present time, but the work of mediators is the first glimmer of how this planet focusses the strength of Ray 4 as harmony through conflict. The collective shift in humanity is far-off, but—according to the occult philosophy—inevitable and intimately bound up with the expansion of the collective human consciousness.
Mercury, as it relates Gemini to Scorpio and to our planet, has a mass or general effect, for it is the hierarchical ruler of Scorpio and its effect is of a planetary nature far more than is usually the case, and is, therefore, far more difficult to trace at our present point of planetary development and human consciousness. Its true significance will not be understood until the consciousness of [the individual] is also planetary in its scope and grasp, which is never the case until after the third initiation. (EA 359)
Decanates
See the notes about the inconsistency of decanates in Esoteric Astrology. For comparison, Stephen Pugh’s decanate rulers are listed, alongside current orthodox rulers and those given in the book.
- Esoteric/developmental: conscious development (annual signs from Aries via Taurus to Pisces)
- 0-9°: Mars E: Scorpio, the resourcefulness and determination to persist in the will to reorient the self
- 10-19°: Sun A: Pisces, courage to achieve self-mastery over the appetites (form), passions (quality) and vices (life) in preparation for initiation
- 20-29°: Venus D: Cancer, sensitivity of the evolution of plans for the greater good, and readiness to contribute
- Exoteric/experiential: humanity in general (precession from Aries via Pisces to Taurus)
- 29-20°: Moon B: Cancer, the acquisition and building of relationships for personal resources and comfort
- 19-10°: Jupiter F: Pisces, the use of emotional skills and manipulation for personal advancement and gain
- 9-0°: Mars E: Scorpio, the selfish use of resources for physical and sexual fulfilment
- Orthodox: Mars/Pluto, Jupiter/Neptune, Moon (Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer)
- EAst e/o: Mars, Sun, Venus / Moon, Jupiter, Mars (reversed from: Mars, Jupiter, Moon)
- Pugh e/o: Mars, Venus, Pluto / Pluto, Venus, Mars (swapped/reordered?)
Esoteric Astrology is slightly evasive on Scorpio’s decanates, stating that “a new planet is arising in this sign—presumably Pluto as exoteric co-ruler with Mars as the ruler of the first decanate—while the Pisces/Neptune decanate brings in the exaltation of Venus in that sign. The central decanate as ruled by the Sun symbolises “the stupendous victory achieved by Hercules, the Sun-God, in this sign” in slaying the nine-headed hydra (EA 203-4), the forces of each head standing for the nine human failings outlined in the Labours of Hercules (p. 144)
Each head of the hydra represents one of the problems that beset the courageous person who seeks to achieve [self-mastery]… Three of these heads symbolize the appetites associated with sex, comfort and money. The second triune group concerns the passions of fear, hatred and desire for power [the need to control]. The last three heads represent the vices of the unillumined mind: pride, separativeness and cruelty. […Hercules] had to learn the art of transmuting the energies that so frequently precipitate human beings into catastrophic tragedies. The nine forces which have wrought unspeakable havoc among the sons of men since the beginning of time had to be redirected and transmuted. (Labours of Hercules, p. 144. See the Moyra Federation on Scorpio for details)
If we note the remark that “each decanate… concerns the three aspects … life, quality and appearance” (EA 226) these rulerships can perhaps be interpreted accordingly, or perhaps matched to the qualities represented by the heads of the hydra: the appetites of the third aspect (appearance or form), the passions of the second aspect (quality), and the vices of the first (life). These form the groups:
| appetites: form |
passions: quality |
vices: life |
|---|---|---|
| sex | fear | pride |
| comfort | hatred | separativeness |
| money | control | cruelty |
See the triangle Taurus-Scorpio-Pisces in which Scorpio itself is a decanate (with Taurus and Pisces) in a “still greater zodiac” (EA 204, 486).
The three decanates and their rulers are given very differently by various astrologers. One group posits Mars, the Sun and Venus as ruling the decanates of Scorpio whilst another regards Mars, Jupiter and the Moon as the three rulers. Perhaps the truth lies in both conclusions, if we view them from the esoteric standpoint or from that of the undeveloped man. […] Some day [astrologers] will arrive at a clear decision as to the position of the five planets suggested as ruling the decanates… I cannot indicate to you the essential truth because a new planet is arising in this sign and it is [to be discovered and rightly placed] within the circumference of the Great Wheel. (EA 226)
The tests of Scorpio are necessarily three in nature as they concern intimately the readiness of the threefold personality:
- To reorient itself to the life of the soul and later
- To evidence readiness for initiation.
- To demonstrate sensitivity to the Plan thus becoming the one-pointed disciple in Sagittarius.
The three major tests are again divided into three stages, and upon the Path of Discipleship [we may pass] into this sign for testing and experience nine times. … Each test (and therefore each decanate) concerns the three aspects which in this Treatise on the Seven Rays we have called: life, quality and appearance. Thus the three great tests in Scorpio are in reality nine tests and hence the nine-headed Hydra or Serpent which is ever associated with Scorpio and hence also the nature of the stupendous victory achieved by Hercules, the Sun-God, in this sign. (EA 203-4)
Esoteric Astrology: 203-4, 226