Scorpio I, The Jawbone (as named by Austin Coppock in his seminal book 36 Faces) begins on 22 October 2025 at 11:51 pm EDT, and lasts for ten days, no additional hours, and twenty-six minutes. T. Susan Chang, developing the links between this decan and the Five of Cups in Tarot, called it the Storm of Tears. This decan ends on Sunday 2 November 2025 at 12:17 am EDT, just forty-three minutes before US Daylight Saving Time ends at 1:00 am local time (spring forward, fall back) and clocks jump back an hour.

I’ve written about Scorpio I before, in 2019 – 2020 – 2021 – 2022 – 2023 – 2024.

The four dodeks, or twelfth parts, of Scorpio I are Scorpio of Scorpio, Sagittarius of Scorpio, Capricorn of Scorpio, and Aquarius of Scorpio. These could represent the stresses of a person coming to terms with their sexual desires — who first suppresses their sexual desires as kinky or immoral or unseemly; they then observe others expressing these desires (which could be either in pornographic media, or in a healthy manner among friends and acquaintances); this results in them placing these images in the vault of their imagination; and finally learning how to express these desires in a healthy fashion.

The classical-era and Hellenistic-era Greeks assigned this decan to the Nymphai, or Nymphs — the spirits of placid and lovely places in nature: ponds and springs, natural and intentional groves and orchards of fruit or nut trees, flowery meadows, and beaches where a gentle swell laps at the sand. The nymphs were the feminine spirits of these places, the genii loci, not simply the individual dryads or tree-spirits but the unembodied intelligences of the location as a whole. For reasons that appear to be lost to time, the Greeks understood these spirits to be associated with Hephaestus-Vulcan — they learned from him the various crafts and artisanal skills of working with materials other than metal, and taught those skills to mortals through their association with these places. Humans, this mythic storytelling attests, didn’t create knitting or spinning or weaving, woodworking or rope-making, basketry or glassblowing or ceramics themselves — rather, we were taught to do these things, in specific places, by specific spirits, by choosing to honor our relationships with the placid places in the landscape.

When we consider the Five of Cups, the Tarot card associated with this decan (and specifically, Pamela Colman Smith’s depiction of it in the Rider-Waite deck) we see a mixture of themes of both loss and opportunity — three cups are spilled on the ground, suggesting missed chances (the liquid from one cup is green, implying that at least one missed chance was genuinely toxic), while two remain upright. Yet the figure pays more attention to the spilled cups, mourning the lost options, than to the remaining choices. There’s a famous interview with the shoe salesman and marketer Ben Prober from the 1950s where he said that the secret to the success of his business lay in the idea of “Two, not Three” — when a customer wanted to try on a third pair of shoes, he always asked which pair he was to take away first? He’d learned that a customer who had to choose between three pairs of shoes never bought any shoes; but a customer who had to choose from one or the other, always bought at least one pair of shoes if not both. The bridge in the distance of this card points to this truth — if we turn from too many lost chances toward our existing choices, a real future is far more possible.

Yet this decan, administrated by Mars, also reminds us to be ambitious about acquiring new skills, and to use our time in natural settings wisely — to observe, to study, to reflect on our own learning, and to grow in skillfulness. The Nymphai teach us new skills and new talents steadily, but only when we take time in the placid places of the world to understand what we cannot learn from a computer screen: how to make new glues and new textiles, how to understand the medicines hidden in plant life, how to weave together the relationships between roots and leaves, and how to understand nature’s own economy — which does so much for us for free, but only if we live in right relationship with the Earth our Mother.

Dates to Watch

• October 19-20-21 — Mercury conjuncts Mars. This three-day period is likely to be a time when you can motivate yourself to accomplish much. But there’s a risk of both ego inflation — “this is my work and my work alone, how dare you try to claim credit for it!” (even/especially if it’s not true), and pent-up sexual frustrations bubbling out.
• October 23 — Moon conjuncts Mercury. This is a great time to come into your therapist’s office, and flop down on the couch to unpack some seriously stressful emotional baggage. But it’s not likely to be a great day to ask for a raise or expect to go over your annual review. Expect emotional stressors to affect most irregular or unusual communications, although ordinary dialogues and regular conversation are unlikely to be deeply affected.
• October 29, 2:38 am EDT — Moon conjuncts Pluto. It may be a stressful time in relationships, as each partner seeks ways to manipulate a romance to economic or social advantage. Long-term relationships navigate this transit on a monthly basis, and have probably learned to manage it with affection and grace; newer romances may find this Halloween to be a struggle.
• October 29, 7:09 am EDT — Mercury enters Sagittarius, opposing Uranus. Although this combination is great for artistic expressions of language like poetry, it lends itself poorly to rational discourse. It’s also a relatively undisciplined combination, with Uranus inviting volatile emotion into public discussion while Mercury is at their tongue-tied, aphasiac worst at picking careful verbiage. Don’t feed the online trolls today.

House Delineations

The First House of self and self-presentation is Leo, ruled by the squaring Sun. You’ll want to show your best self to others, but you may find yourself needing to talk about home and family matters with complete strangers. Remember that they don’t need to know everything. The other triplicity rulers of fire signs are inconjunct — duty calls you to specific actions, that may be difficult to remember; the kindnesses that you show now are important, but may not be repaid for some time.

The Second House of money and possessions is Virgo ruled by sextile Mercury in Scorpio. Venus is inconjunct, Mars and the Moon are sextile. The South Node is present. Getting your friends to visit at home, is an essential part of keeping your bills in check; but you may find that there is some emotional turmoil when strangers come into your private domains. Lost income is unlikely to return for a considerable length of time: belt tightening may be in order.

The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Libra, ruled by present Venus. The triplicity rulers are either square (Jupiter) or inconjunct (Saturn and Mercury). Contentment is found in creating and deepening the strong bonds of friendship; but be cautious that personal generosity and outreach does not make you a nuisance; true friendship is dependent on linking up together — trading invitations and showing up for one another. Don’t be constantly reaching for others; remember to wait for them to connect to you, too.

The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is scorpio, ruled by present Mars. Among the triplicity rulers, Venus is inconjunct and the Moon is present. The Sun, Mercury, and the Lunar Apogee are also present. New issues arise in the household, that may lead to argument and fighting; in extreme situations, this may lead to toxicity and abuse — but careful conversation can help you pre-game an ugly situation or two, and solve problems before they arise. Adopt a framework of mutual pardon to family members and housemates, but don’t be too afraid to break this guideline or to show up with an apology gift; justifications and outraged defenses are more likely to inflame and confuse difficulties beyond your usual control.

The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Sagittarius, ruled by inconjunct but exalted Jupiter. Among the triplicity rulers of fire signs, Saturn is square and the Sun is inconjunct. It’s a time for observing and studying what brings you happiness, and reflecting on the ways in which your regular duties and long-term plans interfere with your delights (and with how you raise your children). How are your real or perceived responsibilities in the world getting between you and what you love?

The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, and injuries is Capricorn, ruled by sextile Saturn. Among the triplicity rulers of earth signs, Mars and the Moon are sextile, while Venus is square. Ask your friends to go on errands with you, as the Dutch do; do your grocery shopping together and catch up in the produce aisle, or find the parts to your next project in the hardware store and get their take on bolts or nails? Being in a public place will hold you in some reserve relative to one another, but it beats not being able to find time to have a cup of coffee on your mutually busy schedules.

The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Aquarius, ruled by inconjunct Saturn. Among the air triplicity rulers, Mercury is square and Jupiter is inconjunct. Pluto is present. You and your primary economic partner may be caught in a difficult dance between future economic hopes, and current financial realities. You don’t see eye to eye, but you may have chosen to agree to disagree while silently critiquing the others point of view. Is it affecting how you express both desire for one another and manage your household together? Ask the questions before it gets out of hand.

The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Pisces, ruled by trining and exalted Jupiter in Cancer. The water triplicity rulers are either inconjunct (Venus) or trine (Mars and Moon). Saturn and Neptune are present, as is the North Node. Tasks and chores that you normally see as difficult, carry unusual emotional baggage; you may find yourself crying in the grocery store. Yet you may also see a path through any present bureaucratic nonsense as providing opportunities for exceptional beauty and loveliness.

The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Aries, ruled by inconjunct Mars. Among the fire signs’ triplicity rulers, only Jupiter is available, both exalted and square. You will be known by the journeys you undertake, and the learning that you choose to acquire and wear as a crown of sovereignty upon your head; but acquiring the crown will require that you humble yourself and seek to do more than just feed yourself or address your own healing. Only those who endeavor to awaken the soul of others will be sovereign.

The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Taurus, ruled by inconjunct Venus. OF the other triplicity rulers, Mars and the Moon are in opposition; the Lunar Perigee is present, and the Midheaven is in the ninth house. In professional circumstances, work to the agreement as written, rather than as understood; maintain your own power as best you can in unbalanced times, and treat your workplace as though they had put you on an austerity diet. Get fed elsewhere. Game out this plan with family members at home for better results, and for ensuring that you can survive a strategic retribution if it comes.

The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is Gemini, ruled by inconjunct Mercury; among the air triplicity rulers, Saturn is square and both Jupiter and Mercury are inconjunct. Uranus is present and retrograde. Plans with friends and coordination with allies face frequent upsets, but a mix of technology and relentless efforts at communication may yet help you pull off a meet-up after all. Holding get-togethers while running errands may assist, too. Enlist your compatriots in intellectual projects like editorial work and shared book groups.

The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Cancer, ruled by the trining Moon exiled in Scorpio. Jupiter is present and exalted. Among the triplicity rulers of water signs, Venus is square and Mars and the Moon are trine. Your big plans and dreams face some big limitations, that are unlikely to be overcome except with steady kindness and generous self-reflection on how well you’re doing. In current struggles, be aware of the ways that “home” is often a place of stress and “hope” is likely to be found elsewhere… but don’t retreat too far from family.

Horoscopes

Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.

I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.

Leo: it’s a good week for keeping your personality issues close to your own chest, and doing your best to put the shine on others. Admit a new close friend to your confidences. Start conversations about household or family matters, before you actually get mad about them. Be kind to yourself and to others about obstacles in your path. Keep your to do list clear, be cautious about spending funds, even on craft supplies or similar resources that you feel like you need. Be prepared to help a partner avoid being more generous than they can afford to be.

Virgo: your financial trouble may be in your face and bring you a fair bit of trouble, but you’re still well-placed to help your friends with your own resources, as long as you do so creatively and by using the links and connections you’ve got already. These self-same connections to others can help you achieve important goals and collect prizes and awards that are meaningful to you, but you should still be cautious about what you say in public. It’s worth checking in with a spouse or signifiant other before doing something that might trouble their lives.

Libra: Reconnect with a sibling or cousin (even if “from another mother” has to be part of the familial definition). You may have trouble making long-range plans without their aid, especially with your financial life in such turmoil. Re-balancing your checking account and putting a restriction on your credit card may help, but your household may have to live a little bit lower on the hog for a while. Daily austerities might mean making coffee or tea at home, but it’s still important to find ways to bring small treats into your life.

Scorpio: Remember that you have two eyes and two ears, two nostrils, and a whole body of skin, but only one mouth — be prepared to stand by every word you utter, but be strict about collecting enough information to make a reasonable choice. Scholars of decision making say that the right time to make a choice is sometime between when you have 40% of the needed intelligence, and 60% — and this week you might choose to be closer to that second number than the first. Reserving your action for later may help you avoid argument at home or with your parents.

Sagittarius: you may be concentrating on having some fun these days, but the long-term is coming, knocking at your door in a lot of hard ways. Your spouse or significant other may be going through the first stages of a complex alignment of their lives; and you have big responsibilities that seem to keep getting bigger. Contentment is found by connecting with friends and linking up connections through deeper ties; you want to spend more time at home, but it often feels like a place of both confinement and holy imagination, like a monk’s cell. Your professional life may be completely dependent on allies and followers, who need more help from you than you are getting in return. Keep doing the hard work as best as you’re able… but do reserve time for play!

Capricorn: it’s a week for sitting down with your team members, and trying to give them a vision of the future that you can live with, based on your past interactions with them. You are going to need them more than ever, and their commitment to you will matter. But it’s also important not to break faith with them. You can break rules on their behalf, or bend the company policy manual, or be creative with the perks that you offer, but don’t try to gladhand them into accepting a terrible situation. Trying to maintain their positive attitude in the face of hardship is not going to land well. Your own financial education may be running up against any budgetary responsibilities you have. It may be worth watching a few videos to brush up on your bookkeeping and budgeting, or finding an online course to audit.

Aquarius: partnership, and both It’s troubles and opportunities, may be in the forefront of your attention this week. How you relate to your spouse or significant other will be of interest to your closest friends and allies, and you may find yourself under the spotlight or microscope or both as a result. Some of it may arise from being too generous to a spouse who is in a difficult situation; some of it may arise from the monetary limitations that you currently both face. Is your life costing more than theirs, in terms of ordinary daily expenses? Who is bringing in the fun-funds, or the bacon home? The hardships of your workplace require more frequent communication, but you should also be documenting your boss’s missteps against you: put it in writing.

Pisces: there is at least one difficult item on your to do list, that is making you sweat. Yet you are hungry to complete it, as though fulfilling it will realize some long-held vision (or bring some much needed recognition or certification). The household may be a place of frenetic conversation with friends, as you call in every favor, you can to provide additional support through this process, but also sweeten the cup with your own particular magic. In all of this, there is a risk that you ignore a spouse or significant other, but you can find some delightful and perhaps sensual ways to hook them back in. Remember here that the learning is the point, and be ambitious about using the hardships of the current moment to navigate yourself into new seas and stranger tides.

Aries: this is a week for learning and recognizing how sovereignty always comes with responsibility. You may find your anger boiling over with frustrations that are not in your control. You may find yourself wanting to send a poison pen letter or leave a nasty voicemail and violation of your own personal code of conduct. You are absolutely capable of using your words as weapons this week, and they will land with force. Yet it is useful to remember that, as the old Firesign Theater skit had it, your anger is a weapon useful only to one’s opponent. Instead, try the litany against fear from Frank Herbert’s Dune: face your fears until you are calm, and then act for the thriving and good of all.

Taurus: your professional roles require you to be the voice and presence of steadiness and tradition, which you can obviously do with grace and contentment by asking friends and allies to take on subordinate roles and let themselves be bossed around by you for a little bit. Be a generous and merciful leader in this situation, but remember that your own financial life is in some challenging and stormy weather at the moment, and don’t commit more of your own resources than you have to. Your long range thinking is honored and rewarded, but you may have to hold back from letting your allies get too close; lese-majeste, the ancient warning of social disorderliness that arises from letting ordinary folks be too familiar or cozy with leadership, could be an actual problem for you this week — even if it runs counter to your national or personal character.

Gemini: your social circle may be subjected to some chaos this week as past events rise to the level of notice and become a dog’s breakfast where long-held rule and custom interferes with a new casualness among friends (or friends-with-benefits). It’s easy to be big hearted with your money, but keep an eye on long range trend; as the saying goes, bankruptcy happens very slowly and then all at once. It’s not to say you’re going to lose everything this week, but a greater degree of caution, and a larger reserve, won’t hurt you any. Expect that daily life is going to bring some hardships and miscommunications, but that there are plenty of chances creative delight.

Cancer: so much of your current enterprise and desired endeavors depend on big risks taken with a generous heart. You may find yourself looking back at the past in astonishment, wondering how you have the courage to take these steps. It may be worth taking a leaf out of Marcus Aurelius’s meditations, and reflect on both your past mistakes, and the teachers and mentors that helped you correct them. It is in these pieces of your history that you may find the fortitude to go on. That said, you might want to turn on your desk lamp and run through your budget for the month, or join together all of the household’s accounts under a single system of bookkeeping. While pursuing hobbies or looking after your kids, be more alert to injuries of both heart and body. Remember that words too can wound.

Colophon

You can hire me for a consultation.

I have a Patreon account for those who want to support this column as it starts its sixth year. Those funds support artists, artisans and thinkers that I regard as contributing to the well-being of the world. You can also buy me a Ko-fi in $3 increments; any column I write after receiving a Ko-Fi donation will be open to the public). .

If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.

I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.

I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.