I was only eighteen years of age when I became interested in astrology. I became interested because I was looking to make some sense out of the chaos of my life.  It was through astrology that I first learned about the concept of karma and it was through astrology that I began to understand that there might be a purpose to what seemed to me to be a childhood spent in chaotic madness. 

At that time I had never heard of Vedic or sidereal astrology and learned to calculate charts according to the rules of the tropical system.  The tropical system put the Sun into the sign of Scorpio from October 23rd to November 21st.  The sign of Scorpio has a terrible reputation and, along my own journey, I even met an astrologer who simply would not work with someone who was born with the Moon in Scorpio. 

What puzzled me was that I happened to have close relationships with a few people born in the early days of November, and their personalities did not match up with the negative traits attributed to the sign of Scorpio.  Most of my early November loved ones were not vindictive, overly sexual, sarcastic or on a mission to destroy their relationships.  In fact, they were just the opposite.  This difference was explained by classifying Scorpios along the lines of an actual scorpion, a phoenix or an eagle.  Apparently, I didn’t know any Scorpios that were “not” eagles. 

Adding to the equation were the events that tended to take place in October and November.  Most astrologers are keen observers of the world and current events.  For years I accepted the dates of the Scorpio ingress dates because Scorpio can also be known for a tendency towards anger and violence, and it did seem that the news showed a higher rate of violent crimes during the October/November time period.  For a while I just lived with an acceptance of having only eagle Scorpios in my life. 

Once I started to study Vedic astrology and the sidereal zodiac, my understanding changed.  Using the sidereal zodiac, the Sun is in Scorpio from approximately November 15th to December 15th.  This calculation showed me that those very same people that I wondered about years ago were actually born with the Sun in Libra and their personalities definitely matched the lighter and relationship-friendly qualities of Libra.  The new placements made sense to me.

What I was left to look at was the fact that violence still seemed to be at a higher level during October and the earlier days in November.  If this could not be put at the feet of the maligned sign of Scorpio, why would it be put at the feet of the sign of balance and harmony known as Libra?  The Sun is the planet which rules the ego and self-esteem.  It is also a fiery planet known for qualities of dominance and quick reactions to being thwarted.  The Sun just happens to be debilitated in the sign of Libra.  When a planet is debilitated, it tends to bring out the more negative attributes of the planet. I suspect that when the Sun becomes debilitated, people who are unstable and/or extremely dominant, or are prone to violence or irrational actions, tend to lose it during the time of the Sun’s debilitation.   

This particular Libra cycle has been very difficult because of the fact that Saturn, Rahu and Mercury are all in Libra and having a weakened Sun did not help matters.  I have noticed that relationships (a Libra matter) have been more difficult than usual during this particular cycle.  Because Libra is one of our business signs career relationships have suffered as well.  Because of the presence of the Sun, far too many people reacted through an impatient ego and have chosen to sever relationships prematurely.   

Each planet has signs that are considered to be strong or friendly places to reside.  The Sun actually does well in the sign of Scorpio, and it is an improvement now that the Sun is in Scorpio.  Of course, it is still 2013 and nothing is simple or easy, and we may not be able to feel the improvement just yet.  This is because Mercury is still stuck with the energy of both Rahu and Saturn until November 30th.  Mercury is our planet of neutrality, objective mind and the nervous system.  He is now moving forward,  and now that the eclipse is done and the Sun has moved the energy is more positive – but, we do have to work a bit to feel the energetic change.

Scorpio is one of our more mystical and mysterious signs.  Scorpio can be restrained in action, and rules the subconscious mind.  Professionally, both plumbers and surgeons are favored by this sign.  It is a sign of deep feeling which tends to plumb the depths of our emotions.  The majority of us have felt the tension and uncertainties of the past few months.  Now that the focus has moved into Scorpio, this sign is going to bring up the fears and frustrations within ourselves, others and the world in general.  It is Scorpio’s job to do this.  The trick is to try and bring the Scorpion energy into looking at ourselves rather than others.  We can only change ourselves and often waste too much time and energy in trying to correct others while ignoring what needs to be worked on within our own personalities and lives.  The Scorpio process will continue no matter what choices we make, but behind the energy there is always the opportunity to clean out the negativity within ourselves and to grasp another level of understanding on a deeply energetic and spiritual level.  Until Mercury moves out of Libra there will be a lingering of the issues and emotions of past few months and, rather than wishing for the outer circumstances to right themselves, it is more proactive to use the healing of the Scorpio energy to take place.

It makes little sense to hang onto the tensions and irrational energy of the past months when the sign of Scorpio is giving us the opportunity to release the thoughts, patterns and emotions. Until Mercury is out of Libra, there will continue to be surprising events especially with regard to travel, weather and accident levels, but the worst is behind us.  We are finally at a point when the planets are going to give us a bit of breathing room, and we all deserve to be able to enjoy the reprieve since it has been that kind of a year. This year the Scorpio energy of releasing negative emotions is a truly worthwhile gift if only we will be wise enough to accept it – we can all soar like the eagle.