There are very few references to scorpions in mythology or modern symbolism books. I have no good theories on why this would be the case, but many of my searches for information on the scorpion have been in vain. In response to this lack of information, I’m going to post my thoughts and personal symbols for the scorpion as well as the little information I’ve found.
In every case that I’ve found, the scorpion has represented the death that comes unsuspecting. It does not attack with ferociousness like a tiger or bear, but instead dances around its enemy, drawing their attention to its pincers while it slowly draws near enough for the fatal strike from its tail. This teaches us the value of the never letting your enemy know the true danger until it is too late.
On the other hand, there is no cruelty in the scorpion. It is simple, emotionless, and deadly at the same time. Cold-blooded simplicity at its finest. The scorpion will fight, kill, and then devour any rival scorpions and even their mates. They teach us that we are alone in the world, and that it is often best to rid the world of competitors. Unlike people though, this is not done through hate or distrust, simply the cold knowing that all competitors can turn around and destroy you if you do not destroy them first.
Strangely, they are one of the only “bugs” that cares for its young. As soon as the eggs hatch, the baby scorpions climb up on the mother’s back and completely cover her. She then protects them until their first molting. This cold-blooded killer knows that it must protect her young from the world until they are ready to fight their own battles. She knows that in this world, there is no mercy to be had, even for the young.
The scorpion represents death in its most simple sense. It represents the world in its harshest most destructive nature, and yet with a very protective nature. Crowley integrated the scorpion into his Death card in the Thoth Tarot, along with the serpent and eagle, the other two pieces of Scorpio.
In the Ritual of the Portal, an initiatory ritual of the Golden Dawn, it is said that
“The Scorpion is the emblem of ruthless destruction; the Snake is the mixed and deceptive nature, serving alike for good and evil; the Eagle is the higher and Divine Nature, yet to be found herein, the Alchemical Eagle of distillation, the Renewer of life. As it is said:–’Thy youth shall be renewed like the Eagles.’”
There are many parts of the Golden Dawn that I disagree with, but on this series of transformations I agree. It is necessary to learn the destructive nature of the scorpion before you can learn the trans-formative nature of the snake who can travel between the upper and lower world.
This post is not about this Golden Dawn ritual and so I will not go deeply into it, I was simply showing yet another example of the symbolism of the scorpion. If there is any interest in this topic, I would have no problem writing about it in more detail.
Yes, I’d like to hear more on this topic. What about the various potencies of the different scorpions? How would that influence the intensity of the symbolism? What about their nature in general? You touched on the isolation and hiding– is this alwayst the case? Are there situations where it isn’t? How would all this translate into daily life? What does the person do if Scorpion comes calling? Do we automatically go get a prepaid funeral policy or could some of the symbolism translate less literally? Again, yes, I’d like to hear more on this topic.
Yeah c’mon tell us more about this scorpion topic and wth is the golden dawn???? I just got some tarot cards that say they’re golden dawn and I’m like Golden Dawn???
Sounds like something that I should be further educated on if I’m gonna read this deck.
Oh yes! Do write about it in more detail wiseman *giggle* magick talk makes me pull out my ancient mannerisms and ways of speaking sometimes lol.
But seriously I went to trance while reading about this scorpion. Feed me more.
& you’re so fuggin right (oops if you all dont use immature words sometimes)
I really need this information because I’m a baby soul, and I still need to fully be comfortable with balancing light and dark. I know I cannot survive without using dark, but I can’t do it in vein which is why I need real information like this article. This makes me feel like I’m taking a step in the right direction of understanding the right times places and circumstances to incorporate darkness into my very light existence which seems to be beginning to swallow me up because there is a very dangerous imbalance, and I’m a girl cancerian, so I really need help with this more than anybody.
I’m only trying to interpret my dream..hence my research lead me here…I’m in Iraq and on the night shift we catch these burrowing scorpions..I practice the craft and do meditations to have dream messages…In this dream I was playing with the scorpion with a young boy I’m not sure I recognize..We both received stings and only laughed and gazed at the majesty of the scorpion as it stung us.
Mybe is wasn’t dark, maybe just intense and passionate energy in the air.
The Scorpion is a very intense and passionate symbol which is rules by pluto, scorpio too, the planet and sign of transformation, notice it’s meaning The Death Card (major transformation) being talked about up there, the Trump 13.
Maybe the dream is prevising you of a spiritual transformation that is coming up.
There are more symbols and further elaboration could be done on my dream. All I know is the scorpion was black and chillin on an open windowsill with curtains blowing in the night wind. The room was dark and magickal feeling…Like the feeling I get when working with tarot or practising nocturnal witchcraft.
What would it mean to be stung by one??
wow. Do you believe in God???? You have no idea how annoited your thoughts are. Youve heloed me with that postin more than you can fathom. If you dont reply to me or if I never talk to you again remember in everything you do seek God (xpthegeneral@gmail.com)
I actually quite agree with you. The scorpion is ruthless, cold, emotionless. Still, I can’t help but think that if humans were like that, the world would be a lot more simple.
I see Scorpions everywhere real or symbols or stickers even one with a scorpion with my initial in the middle I see them constantly and have no idea what it means if im in danger power betrayal or what this has been going on for at least a month now can u tell me anything else
Fuck! Me and my friend Arianna are very close and we are both becoming wiccans..we were born wiccans actually but we are just now finding who we are. I was born April 12 and she says she is scorpio. Well I thought I was water and she thought she was fire…Turns out..Scorpio is water and aries is fire. so then I would be fire and she would be water..but I have always been attached to water and I don’t like fire. Shes always been attached to fire..Whats wrong??? Could it be that we were ment to be the opposite or somethin???
You should figure out the rest of your astrological signs. What’s your moon, mercury, Venus and mars signs? That’s very possibly the difference. You’re sun shows what other people see you as.
Not to be picky or anything, but scorpions are Arachnids not bugs a.k.a. Insects.
I’m sorry, but I believe that “bug” is not actually a scientific category. It is what most people would consider an umbrella term for both arachnids and insects. I’m sorry if my colloquial language confused you.