In astrology, the zodiac signs receive a lot of attention. However, the planets are equally significant because they represent various aspects of ourselves and society as a whole.
Each zodiac sign has a planetary “ruler” that corresponds to its energy, and when planets transit through their ruling signs, they are usually more easily and effectively able to express their cosmic qualities. The ruling planet of Scorpio, the dark and mysterious Scorpio, is the smallest and most distant player in our solar system — but that doesn’t mean we should underestimate its power.
In modern astrology, Scorpio’s ruling planet is Pluto, as you may have guessed. (Traditional astrology practices differ, but we’ll get to that later.) Despite losing its status as an astronomical planet in 2006 (it is now classified as a dwarf planet), this distant celestial object is still classified as a planet in the astrological sense. Pluto is the astrological sign of regeneration, depth, and power. Scorpio, like its modern planetary ruler, is associated with heavy themes. This deeply felt water sign is associated with all things taboo, including sex, intense emotions, and even the occult. Scorpio has no interest in surface-level deception, preferring to follow in the footsteps of its planetary namesake and investigate the hidden underbelly of any situation.
Whether or not you are a Scorpio, understanding the nature of this sign’s ruling planets can help you better understand your chart and get to know the zodiac’s scorpion. Continue reading to find out more about Scorpio’s ruling planets in modern and traditional astrology.
All About Pluto, Scorpio’s Ruling Planet
Pluto is the planet of transformation, power dynamics, and all that lies beneath the surface in astrology. Because it is one of the “outer planets” — the three planets that are the furthest away from the sun — its effects are often felt on a more collective and societal level (though it can still have a significant impact on our personal lives). Because this planet is named after the Roman god of the underworld, it is associated with darker themes like destruction, death and rebirth, and more subterranean aspects of life.
It’s worth noting that Pluto was transiting through Scorpio from November 1983 to November 1995, which means that the majority of millennials were born with Pluto in the sign that it naturally rules. Pluto’s position in its home sign of Scorpio gives it extra power and prominence, and we can see this influence in the way public conversations about once-taboo topics — such as mental health, sexuality, trauma, and society’s power structures — have changed in recent years. Pluto will not enter Scorpio for another 250 years, so having a whole generation with this alignment in their birth charts is both rare and significant.
But Wait, isn’t Mars One of Scorpio’s Ruling Planets As Well?
Scorpio’s ruling planet was traditionally ambitious and competitive Mars before Pluto’s discovery in 1930 and subsequent integration into astrology. Traditional astrologers regard this as the true planetary ruler of the sign, and most modern astrologers also recognize Mars as one of Scorpio’s co-rulers. Mars, named after the Roman god of war, is the planet of passion, action, and sexuality.
Mars has traditionally ruled both Scorpio and the fire sign Aries, which it still does today. While Aries represents the more energetic and feisty aspects of Mars’ cosmic archetype, Scorpio represents the more slow-burning and strategic aspects of the Red Planet. Mars in Scorpio is stealthy, power-hungry, and cutthroat, determined to get what it wants and conquer its competition — and it’s not afraid to use its poison-filled scorpion stinger to protect its fiery emotions.
What Makes a Scorpio So Attractive?
Scorpios have a way of making themselves memorable, whether it’s the way they make you feel when you lock eyes with their smoldering gaze or how they slither through your mind while reading your thoughts. Aside from being an elusive water sign — naturally enigmatic and intuitive — Scorpio’s modality is fixed, which means it is immobile and unadaptable. Water is symbolic of emotion, intuition, and the unconscious, and it has the ability to sustain, secure, and stabilize. Scorpio, as a fixed water sign, automatically strengthens and magnifies the element’s mysterious essence. Everything is always present, from its psychic connection to the other side to its numinous fluidity.
Scorpions have the ability to transmute darkness because the Lord of the Underworld is one of their ruling planets, which makes their aura the perfect combination of alluring and terrifying. It’s like a vampire gilding one of their victims and manipulating them to do what they say.
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