Thursday, March 31, 2011

MARS-driven: ARIES & SCORPIO

A look at Aries and Scorpio, as seen by 20th century American astrologer, Carl Payne Tobey in his book Astrology Primer for the Millions. His assessments show us some similarities and differences between two zodiac signs traditionally ruled by the same planet.

Most of what Mr Tobey has to say about the individual signs is much the same as other astrologers have said, many times. What I like about these comparisons is the way a fundmental similarity can be seen, shining through the differences - something I hadn't fully appreciated before.

Mr.Tobey's comments about Aries and Scorpio can be applied not only to Sun Aries or Sun Scorpio people, but to anyone with emphasis in these signs (e.g. a cluster of planets, or Moon, ascendant or ruler of natal Sun in one of the signs.) He considered that both signs have relationship with Mars and Pluto, but states in this book that Mars rules Scorpio while Pluto rules Aries - the reverse of what most astrologers suggest. Pluto ruling Aries doesn't sound quite right to me.

(For brevity I have not copied the author's exact words throughout, and have omitted remarks about personalities who are no longer in the public eye.)
Both signs are aggressive, impulsive, but executive. Alike, but different.

Scorpio tends towards family or group loyalty whilst Aries is more of an individualist, independent and daring.

Both have drive but Scorpio's is emotional in source, Aries drive is vital, from the spirit. Aries initiates, Scorpio reacts. Aries burns, Scorpio boils.

Aries is the natural pioneer, able to survive alone if necessary. Business pioneers are often found to have Aries strong in their charts, and many Taureans who are pioneers are often found to have a cluster of natal Aries planets. Scorpio believes in working as a team. Wary of the stranger considering him a potential enemy, suspicious and alert for possibility of betrayal.

Scorpio expects loyalty and is badly hurt if let down by others.

The ancients associated Scorpio with sex and it is a strong feature in the Scorpio individual, but can also be associated with a guilt complex (Scorpio ministers Billy Sunday and Billy Graham preaching against sin).

Scorpio produces excellent executives, loyal and inspiring loyalty, able to be secretive when secrecy is called for.

Both Scorpio and Aries are accident prone. Aries often sustains injuries to the head, Scorpio seems to undergo more surgery than average.

Will power is a strong feature of Aries people. They are capable of fighting off great physical pain, and even disease by strength of will.

Aries intends to be master of its own destiny. Unlike Taurus/Libra(Venus People) it does not wait for opportunity too come along, it goes after it.

Both these signs are always active, nothing lethargic about them. Aries tends to live in the present and future, Scorpio in the present and past, but both emphasise the NOW.

A characteristic difference between Aries and Scorpio is that Scorpio cannot hide its feelings, being too emotional for that. Aries can - completely - it is too proud to let others know it needs then and can always find a way of going it alone if necessary.

Aries strength comes from inside, Scorpio draws strength from others, in some cases to the extent of becoming a psychic vampire.

Aries finds it easy to break away from its heredity, Scorpio is the reverse. Aries is likely to marry into a different race or religion, Scorpio more likely to marry someone who resembles a member of their own family.
Illustration at beginning of post is taken from Medizinisch-Astrologisches Hausbuch, 1429. Nuremburg. (Medical Astrology Housebook). It shows Mars overseeing Aries and Scorpio.

12 comments:

Gian Paul said...

Few know that Scorpio is a double sign (or was thought to be so in antiquity). Scorpios being what they are, and often hiding their "true nature", I go after the positive side of them (must be my Ascendant in Sagittarius, idealistic): The lower, common Scorpians are certainly ruled more by Mars than Pluto. The higher ones correspond to the "secret symbol" of Scorpio, the Eagle.

PS. Has to be the sign of Scorpio to have a "secret symbol"...

PPS. If anyone wishes to please a Scorpio, tell him that they belong to a double sign and, of course, the one whom you want to please is more "of the side of the Eagle". You might gain a friend for life!

Twilight said...

Gian Paul ~~ Yes, the positive and negative of Scorpio get their own symbols (Eagle and Scorpion) while the positive/negative sides of other zodiac signs remain mingled within one symbolic image.

I wonder why?

Let's see - Aries could be both Ram and Lamb

Taurus - Bull and Artist

Gemini - Communicator and Trickster

and so on.

Gian Paul said...

I see it a bit differently: When astrologers only knew 7 planets, they may in some cases not have been satisfied to "fit" more evolved Scorpios into the martian typology (pre-intuing something like another ruler planet, to be Pluto and only in the last century).

Symbols also had a deeper meening then.

As for Aries "the lamb" ,no, thankyou. LOL

Twilight said...

Gian Paul ~~~ Yes - except why did Scorpio get all that consideration when none of the other signs did?
Were astrologers frightened (for themselves) by the Scorpio passion and paranoia - I wonder?
;-)

Gian Paul said...

Because Scorpio is so-to-say "the black sheep in the family". Any sincere S. will confirm how he often feels. Why there are "black sheep" is a very much more complex thing.

Even God could not beat Trump-As with a Joker. In my view black sheep are needed as much as salt, or Jews (calling themselves "salt of the earth").

As for Aries - lamb: on second thought that thing with the "sacrificial lamb" sounds different in Latin languages. In French we talk of the "bouc emissaire", the Ram sent to confront peril.

PS. I am a true friend to many jews, so if any Jew reading what I said above about "salt of the earth" might be offended, my apologies for a "bad April-fool's" thing.

Twilight said...

Gian Paul ~~~ Okay - so Scorpio gets the Black-Sheep award of the zodiac. ;-)

I shall not get into the rest....salt of the earth etc. except to say that
I believe ALL humans are salt of the earth (without exception) - and at the moment the earth has become seriously over-salted. what do we do when we get a mouthful of over-salty food or liquid? Mother Earth will continue spitting us out - just watch!

Gian Paul said...

Agree that the number (and quality?) of humans presently populating this planet may be a problem.

Whether mother earth can or will do something about it, is questionable. After all she brought us all into being.

BUT I prefer to think that in the overall equilibrium (which goes well beyond this small planet), some "Greek or other God" will not let things get completely out of hand. If it were not that, how does one explain the functioning of cycles, astrological and other?

And the periodic changes which do seam to bring some progress. I guess I am, besides a romantic, foremost an optimist.

PS. Talking of progress (and it's not an April fool's joke): The German press reports that the Pope wishes to meet with homosexual organisations when visiting Germany one of these days. Is it that the American Jesuits sent him some cash which they had left-over from their own settlement with gays?

Twilight said...

Gian Paul ~~ "how does one explain the functioning of cycles....?"

That's a nice comparison, but the planetary cycles didn't reach their current balance and regularity all at once, I think.
There had to be some inside jostling. Didn't giant Jupiter deal a few awkward blows here and there?
That's one reason why I can't fully agree with astrology's interpretation of jupiter as entirely benign.

Anyway - meant to say that, yes nature or "the gods" will re-balance us, and our habitation, and that might involve a bit of nastiness from time to time.

:-)

Twilight said...

GP - forgot the bit about the pope.
I don't admire him one little bit - in fact I despise him, so will continue to forget it.
;-)

Gian Paul said...

What I ment is that even the Pope (whom I do not appreciate neither) appears to improve, at least with regards to the subject raised.

Twilight said...

GP ~~~ Even he has to feel the winds of change beginning to pick up strength, I guess.

:-)

Big John said...

Actually Aries has dual symbols as well..The Ram and The God of War.