24 October - 22 November Scorpio is the eighth Sign of the Zodiac. They are a sign not to be taken lightly. Those born under this Sign are serious in their mission to learn about others. There's no fluff or chatter for Scorpios, either: Scorpios will concentrate on the essential questions, gleaning the secrets that lie within. Scorpios concern themselves with beginnings and endings, and are unafraid of either; they also travel in a world of black and white with little use for grey. Their curiosity is immeasurable, making them adept investigators. These people love to probe and know how to get to the bottom of things. The fact that they have a keen sense of intuition certainly helps.It is the Scorpion who fittingly symbolises Scorpio. Just as the stinging little Scorpion would rather kill itself than be killed, those born under this Sign are in ultimate control of their destiny. Life is always lived on a Scorpio's own terms, too. They promote their agenda (they are quite the executives) and see to it that things go forward. Others may find this overbearing (it can be) and even self-destructive, but that's the beauty of Scorpio. They have tremendous regenerative powers, just like their symbol, which can lose its tail and promptly grow a new one.Fearless Scorpions rarely lose - they just keep on going, stubborn and determined to succeed (this Scorpio trait is in keeping with the Fixed Quality assigned to this Sign). Scorpios work as hard as they do so they can eventually sit back with a sense of self-satisfaction. They are intense, passionate and filled with desire. They're also complex and secretive, so don't expect to get much out of them, as they may become suspicious and withdraw further. It's best not to bet against Scorpios, either, since these sexy secret-keepers are surprisingly resourceful.

Scorpio is ruled by the Planets Mars and Pluto. Mars was the God of War in ancient Roman mythology and is the first, and oldest, ruler of Scorpio. When the Planet Pluto was discovered in the 20th century, it was also assigned to this Sign. Pluto was known as the God of the Underworld in ancient Rome, so, when coupled with Mars, expect some intense energy to head toward Scorpions here on Earth.

This planetary combination makes for motivated, penetrating and aware individuals. Scorpions don't miss much, since they are highly attuned to the vibrations of others. They are intuitive, probing and very focused on knowing who's who and what's what. Scorpions can lose their temper (and even become vengeful) when someone gets in their way, so it's best to give them plenty of room. Remember, they're unafraid, and a loss today simply means an opportunity for victory tomorrow.

The Element associated with Scorpio is Water. As opposed to the `roiling seas´ seen in other Water Signs, a better motto for Scorpions would be `still waters run deep´. Those born under this Sign are as emotional as their water-borne brethren, it's just that they are less likely to show it. The Scorpio's emotions are repressed, kept under cover. Those are just secrets to be used another day. That said, be aware that these people are clever, perceptive and always in the mix. Their ability to see into things can sometimes be a curse for Scorpions, however, since they can take an insignificant matter and turn it into a huge slight. Beware the Scorpion who feels crossed - they can quickly become vindictive.

Luckily, once Scorpions catch their breath, they will return to their usual determined and loyal (albeit strong-willed) ways. Finally, while Scorpions aren't above some subtle manipulation to get what they want, they'd much rather take a scientific path. The Scorpio-born are powerful and passionate, qualities which serve them well, as long as they don't let them deteriorate into self-indulgence or compulsion.

Scorpios love competition in both work and play, which is why they enjoy sports and games. Extreme sports are right up the Scorpion's alley, as is almost anything which will test their mettle. They've got to have an adversary, since it makes the game that much more fun. The Scorpion's colours? Powerful red and serious black. When it comes to love, though, Scorpions soften up a bit and are caring and devoted with their lovers, even if they do hold on a bit tight.

The great strength of the Scorpio-born is in their determination, passion and motivation. Scorpions don't believe in the word failure, which is why they usually get the job done. A powerhouse? Like no other.