The third animal within the fire element of the Wild Unknown Animal Spirit deck is the Scorpion. It is a perfect time to write about this wonderful creature as we approach the Full Flower Moon in Scorpio.
A quick recap: the previous card was the Hyena. The Hyena invites us to consider where laughter, comedy, wit, and sarcasm are a true healer, and where they provide a facade for wounds we haven’t tended to within the self.
Bravado, and hiding things behind a brave smile are often more revealing than the words we have not said. Healing through laughter is essential, and needed, but it can only heal so much. At some point, we will need to look at our wounds for what they are: pains that we still carry.
The invitations of the Hyena will bring needed balance and consideration as we move into working with the Scorpion. Scorpion sits in the numerical spot of 3. The numerology of three brings creativity, self-expression, expansion, artistic, and communication. There is an exuberance and joy with this number. We will see how these themes combine with the element of fire to build up the invitations of the Scorpion. Read about the numerology of 3 here.
Coming Clean with the Scorpion
Before we look at the invitations in the card, let’s look at some facts about the Scorpion.
- They are not insects. They are arachnids.
- Scorpions dance before mating.
- They give birth to live young.
- Adult scorpions are fluorescent.
- They are conservative with the venom in their stinger, and can alter how much venom is released through a sting. They often tend to kill with their pincers, not their stingers.
- Every Scorpion is venomous, with a myriad of different toxins. Only a few are truly dangerous and lethal, but any sting is going to hurt.
These facts came from the TreeHugger website, which had even more information about how cool Scorpions really are. There is a dual nature to the Scorpion, seen with the facts from above. They are seen as “scary” by society, but provide benefits to their ecosystem, and their venom, even the deadliest ones, are inspiring scientists to look at the medicinal properties including: cancer treatments, autoimmune treatments, and effects against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and more!
We should lean more into the dual nature, especially when working with this card. The Scorpion is not to be feared, but we do need to be honest. The element of fire is the transformer and illuminator. Fire corresponds to the part of us that is our spirit. This is the unique force within us that, like fire, is felt but not anchored. It is power, that uses the other elements in order to burn. Fire is a creator and a destroyer. Fire kindles connection, and a deep resonance within the self.
Here, with the Scorpion, the fire element creates a power that conjures passion and fear. The heat from the sting is needed, but are we as mindful as the Scorpion when we bring out this side of us. All of the animals within this element help us embrace transformation and change. They guide us to move from the fire within. Our spirits burn brightly inside our bodies, but we need to know how to tend that flame. That is precisely what Scorpion is here to teach us.
We all have this inner, dual nature. Our fires can burn brightly, paving the way for authenticity, creativity, passion, and divine embodiment. This fire within us is sacred, because it is the force that, makes us unique, connects us into cycles of life/death/rebirth, and fuels our evolution through curiosity and discovery. Like someone with a torch venturing into a cave, our spirit and power within helps us navigate the unknowns in life with bravery, presence, and the power to create change.
However, this fire also can spill into destruction, chaos, or feeling burned out. Our inner fires help us move through the physical world with this palpable illumination, but that means that we need to be mindful about how much we feed this fire, or how we contain or channel it mindfully so it doesn’t start to burn us, or burn out of control. The fire also comes through in our emotions. We feel deeply, and with that intensity in emotions the fire within also burns hot. We need to tend the fire so that we feel this force move through us, but tend it in a way that it doesn’t scorch everything around us.
Guidance from the guidebook
Some key references from the guidebook
Keywords / phrases: Passionate, Competitive, Tends towards Isolation
When in balance: wild and free, fierce
When out of balance: jealous, resentful, unresolved
To bring into balance: honesty, forgiveness
Following the guidance from the guidebook, the Scorpion speaks to our passions. The guidebook mentioned career as a focal point. People with this kind of energy often need a career that fuels their passion, or else they start to get bored. I can relate to this! The guidebook says, “The scorpion is a passionate and determined creature. Their careers are highly important to them, along with a few select friends.
This is hitting too close to my Scorpio Moon!
In reality, this card says that that force within that drives our passion, competitive edge, and determination will light the way forward, but we need to consider the cost. The guidebook goes on to say that the heat the Scorpion carries can often fester, a result of a past situation where you felt burned, and the emotions have gone unresolved. Like the Hyena before, we do need to be mindful of where our boundaries are with others. The energetic vampires don’t need more of our precious energy.
However, the problem with letting the heat fester with Scorpion is that when it leads to unresolved emotions, we can spill our heat into unintended places, and that is where the destruction comes in. That is why the honesty and forgiveness mentioned is what will bring our heat down. We need to become more open about what we are feeling inside so that we channel the beauty of our inner fires, but temper them from creating unintended harm, for us or others.