"My Life And My Creativity Is All About Learning How To Get Out Of The Way." — Bernadette Peters

How it feels when you have:

pluto-ascendant aspects, pluto in the 10th house, pluto in the 1st house, Scorpio rising, Scorpio moon, pluto- sun aspects, pluto-moon aspects, pluto-venus aspects, 8th house placements (especially moon, sun and Venus). 🥀

these individuals give off, “you can never kill me. I will never fall” energy. ⚔️

Attempts made against them to destroy or harm them ultimately fail. It will simply replenish them over time. They are ultimately compensated for their pain. They have an overwhelming need to climb up to the top, whether they’re covered in sweat or their hearts ache from the journey. even after being shunned, defamed and slandered by the public they will not crumble. similar to the way a snake sheds its skin, they become new over and over again. and it’s glorious to watch them. To change, some people require a catalyst.. someone to guide them through it. But these individuals don’t need anything at all. Off willpower alone they transform.🩸

Often times, they are not even aware of just how powerful they are believe it or not. They could stare at their peers in confusion, wondering, why are they looking at me like that? I had to get back up. I didn’t have a choice. And in many ways it can feel like they didn’t for them. They can't remember a period when they didn't experience some sort of upheaval in their lives. 🕷

There could have been weeks or even years where they lived in survival mode. After spending so much time in the shadows, they don't even understand how dazzling and beautiful they are until they emerge from them. When they walk into their full power and not only recognize it but also comprehend how to utilize it in the healthiest and most successful manner, get out of their way. Or you will be brought to your knees by their success. 🧿

-rxmxa 🖤

No Justice, No Peace.  Quote from Emiliano Zapata

Art by Liberal Jane

scorpio: a rich conspectus

*the zodiac sign of Scorpio, Luigi Gonzaga (1500/2-1532), with inscription: Qui Vivens Laedit Morte Medetur (Who wounds when alive, heals when dead).  

The aforementioned phrase is all you need to know about Scorpio. They will cut you down to size for seemingly no reason only to build you back up when they see you down and out. This is the Pluto in them. They’re not designed to make sense - hell, I’m sure they don’t even understand why they do the things they do. Scorpio is the zodiac sign that is possibly the most unnecessarily calculating and sneaky yet they’re intensely irrational and emotional as well. They are always on guard expecting someone to cross them which makes them paranoid about betrayal. The paranoia leads to the sneakiness. It’s as if they always have to stay ahead of you just in case you do something to betray them/their trust. I enjoy watching their emotional and mental gymnastics most of the time, because I can’t understand why that behaviour is necessary and I wonder if they ever get tired. They’re the ones who confide to their closest friend their guilt over the shitty way they’ve treated their family/friends/love interests. This is the only zodiac sign represented by an INSECT…a poisonous one, but an insect nonetheless. Like the scorpion and the frog, it’s in their nature to sting. Since they’re so full of venom, they feel the need to distribute it on others and/or self-immolate on their own bile. You see, even if their perfect match fell into their lap, they are too controlling, self-destructive, reactive, and stupid to not destroy it. It’s funny hearing Scorpios call themselves “loyal and honest” yet they are constantly playing the game of not revealing, and leaving things unsaid, to people they claim to “love”. Very passive aggressive. But of course, unlike everyone else, there’s separate laws for them because they are “super sensitive and scared of being hurt” LOL. It’s funny that they brag about being “super-tough” annihilating machines, yet are such snowflakes that they demand special treatment and require protection in case they get hurt. Fascinating.

Scorpios honestly think most signs find them “sneaky” and “mysterious” but the reality is that they just don’t feel inclined to tell their business to everyone. They feel that they have to stay one step ahead because they feel like they can pick up on certain patterns and behaviours from other people. Like Virgos, they do overthink, but they’ve literally predicted the future when it came to certain situations, believe it or not. I don’t find them particularly mysterious, especially if you start observing them. After a small amount of time you can tell what their triggers are because they’ll start to act from their shadow side (shit talking, shit stirring, manipulating, backstabbing, etc). Scorpios, like Cancers and Virgos, are primarily a defensive sign - they generally don’t come at you unless you come at them first. Where it gets tricky is if you’re dealing with an unevolved and/or insecure Scorpio (of which there are MANY, hence the hate this sign gets). Those people don’t just go for the defense, they are equally as offensive as they are defensive. Those Scorpios tend to be toxic people who confuse someone outshining them or not falling in line kissing their ass as an attack, they’re like all the other fixed signs (as well as Sags and Virgos) that way. Further proof of how pathetic they are is the feigned indifference to being hated and also felt the need to summon other Scorpios to defend what’s left of their deservedly shit reputation. Cancer and Scorpio are the signs for survival/self-preservation. If they feel their survival is at stake, even the nicest Scorpio will hit overdrive and do their absolute best to evade or shut down that threat. Remember, like Aries, Scorpio is also ruled by Mars. However, that warrior Martian spirit is intensified by the presence of Pluto. The two planets together (and both rule Scorpio) can be really destructive - and Pluto makes sure the damage lasts. Pluto is an abysmally RUTHLESS planet.

Like the rest of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Aquarius) Scorpios have a HUGE ego but they also tend to be about value. Evolved Scorpios value authentic, preferably intense, emotional interaction and connection. Devolved Scorpios value obsession, worship, sadism, and sycophancy. This is a sign of passion and extremes. Moderation is not in their makeup and the balance embodied by the previous sign of Libra is the anathema to their very being. So that means if Scorpio discovers that another person has used that connection or those interactions to play them for a fool…it can get ugly real quick. Their intensity cuts both ways. It’s a violation of one of Scorpio’s primary values. Hence they, the sensitive water signs that they are, get hurt to the core. It hurts. And so they take protective measures. That could mean severing the connection with you. Why? Because they valued that connection and it’s been exploited. They don’t know how to live with that. Hence they cut you off. It may seem unfair. But that usually is because the person Scorpio sees as exploiting the connection, didn’t value the connection. It could also mean an aggressive, combative interaction with them - although interestingly enough, that’s actually kind of uncommon with healthy Scorpios. It’s hard to explain. It’s not like Aries, the sign whose Martian association they share. When Aries blows, it’s destructive but they get over it really quickly. Scorpio does NOT. It generally takes longer for a healthy Scorpio to blow and when they do, it’s more like a volcano erupting in that whatever happens, however things are resolved, the landscape of the relationship is permanently changed. Aries is a destructive storm that blows over. Scorpio changes the landscape. From what I have seen, if anything, despite their sneaky ways, oddly enough they’re some of the realest signs in the zodiac. They’re like Sags because they’re blunt and don’t like to sugarcoat anything and that’s what I like about them. But then again, I don’t like overly fake, pc people.

Scorpio takes all that Martian energy and weigh it down with the destructive lead weight of Pluto. Incidentally, lead is the metal associated with Scorpio; iron is Aries’ metal. Lead is softer than iron. But lead is also toxic. It can poison you very easily in small amounts. It also is one of the few sure containers of radiation. If a toxic level of radiation is coming your way, you better jump behind some lead real quick. It will block and protect you. But if that lead container is opened, you get exposed to a level of damage that can’t be cleaned up, at least not easily. If you get wounded by an iron weapon and aren’t killed, you can most likely be fixed. However, if you get poisoned by lead…well, you better act fast cause if you don’t, you’re toast. In other words, Scorpios can be TOXIC. And as self-aware as they like to think themselves as, they have fixed-sign delusions of grandeur and they won’t necessarily see that they are toxic. About the vengeful part: yes, they also make a mission out of seeking revenge. This is a misuse of Scorpio energy, and too many of them do it. Scorpios should always avoid that behaviour as best they can because, like Saturn (planet of karma) -ruled Capricorn (and unlike Pisces, as well as a lot of the fire signs - damn, you people get away with murder!), Scorpios always pay for their misdeeds, sooner or later. And it’s usually kind of ugly. Deservedly so. So it’s best for them not to dish it out.

If you don’t know who you are, they will ruin your life if you let them get close enough to you. They’re good as acquaintances if you’re looking for someone to have a good time with and keep it real with you about certain things, but I wouldn’t advise the insecure to get too close to them. Needless to say, I’ve never had my life ruined by a Scorpio but I’ve observed what they’ve done to other people and I definitely keep my doubts about Scorpios, as well as my distance; again, they only ruin someone’s life if they think that person is weak (nice, very understanding, give a lot of grace, etc.). When they meet their match (usually a Gemini, Aquarius, Capricorn, or a fire sign) they’re total cowards. They’re like Virgos because they think that they know everything and will tell you what you need to do in a heartbeat but can’t listen when you tell them the same. They will tell their business, but not everything and when you find it out, you had no clue. Unhealthy Scorpios are always best avoided - and you’ll know them by their tendency to always be bullying, underhanded, controlling, dirty, lowdown, abusive, hateful, mean-spirited, scathing, draining, willfully destructive, miserable, don’t like themselves, vengeful, irritable, nitpicky and, mostly, to have a need to control every little thing and every person in every environment they are in. They’re wayyy crazier than Cancer is made out to be. However, their “sexy” and “dark” archetype along with their courage/fixed-sign audacity and compulsion to take things to the limit makes them exciting/interesting to others, hence others turn a blind eye to their antics and ways.

If others have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with an unhealthy Scorpio, I don’t blame them for being wary of all members of the sign. But it just might be a good idea though to remember that evolved Scorpios (eagles) are actually really good to have in your corner. They’ll have your back, they’ll recharge you, they’ll show up to help in times of trouble. Like the other water signs and Leos, Scorpios are other people’s power chargers - they tend to power up the people they love and value. They tend to recharge people. That’s why folks so often ask them for advice or help. And if they love you, they will help you. A lot of times, you may not even see them every day, and then all of a sudden trouble hits you and there they are, sleeves rolled up and ready to dive in. The recipient may not realize it until they do something that damages the relationship (connection) and then they sever it. Suddenly, you’ve got lower energy levels and you can’t figure out why. It was them, charging you up, and now they’re gone. Cancer, Taurus, Capricorn, and Scorpio are the main signs that have a lot of internal power - which must never ever be willfully misused. But with the Plutonic/Martian Scorpio, it’s imperative that they don’t misuse their internal power, because it always comes back to them. With great power, comes great responsibility. Like I said, their intensity cuts both ways. And even if you fail to understand the value of your connection and violate it to the point that a Scorpio cuts you off, a healthy Scorpio will not take vengeance. They know better. As with Cancers, just don’t threaten their survival and you’ll be fine.

previous tea: capricorn • aquarius • pisces  • aries • taurus • gemini • cancer • leo • virgo •  libra •  scorpio

au where everything is the same except sirius black is played by jonathan van ness from queer eye

Inside the Playbill of 6 shows with Bernadette Peters: On the town (1971), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Into the Woods (1987), Annie Get Your Gun (1999), Gypsy (2003), and Follies (2011)

Charlotte Brontë: Here’s my novel about a young governess who falls in love with a charming asshole edgelord who keeps his wife in the attic

Emily Brontë: Here’s my novel about a tragic orphan and a young lady who torture each other and call it love

Anne Brontë: Here’s my novel about a woman who leaves an abusive marriage and nabs herself a hot young Yorkshire sheepfarmer who Treats Her Right

Me: Oh thank God, at least one of you is sensible.

“I became a mother without ever having sex.  I was sixteen.  My sister was older than me, and she was living a reckless life.  By the time we found out she was pregnant, she was already three months along.  And the baby was born premature, so there was no time to prepare.  My sister went back to the street life, and everything fell on me.  I became the mother.  I was feeding him, changing his diapers, waking up in the middle of the night.  My mother helped at first, but soon she had a stroke and lost all movement on her right side.  The doctor told us she wouldn’t be able to care for a child.  So she signed Aidan over to me, right there in the hospital.  I was only eighteen years old.  I was taking care of my mom.  I was taking care of my son.  I kept it all very private.  I didn’t tell my tennis coach why I had to quit the team.  I didn’t tell my friends why I couldn’t take vacations, or go to parties, or go to college.  I didn’t want the stigma.  I started working four jobs.  I pushed all my own feelings to the back of my mind just to make sure my son was OK.   I couldn’t even grieve when my mom passed away.  I had to think about him.  I had to make sure he was fine.  Since then it’s been the two of us.  Aidan and I grew up together.  He’s a great kid.  He’s so respectful.  I get stopped all the time in our building.  Complete strangers tell me how much they love him.  He holds the door for people.  He helps people carry their groceries.  He’s focused.  He’s a go-getter. He gives one hundred percent, just like his mom.  When there’s something that has to be done, he gets it done.”   #quarantinestories

Oof.

Making this a post so it's part of the BP archives.