Leo Scorpio Compatibility

“Proud and insolent youth, ” said Hook, “prepare to meet thy doom.”
“Dark and sinister man,” Peter answered, “have at thee!”

Let’s begin on a positive note. One thing Leo and Scorpio share is an honest respect for one another. As mentioned before all Fire Signs (and Leos are no exception to the rule), instinctively comprehend that their bright enthusiasms can be drowned in Scorpio’s watery depths – just as all Water Signs, like Scorpio, intuitively realize that if Leo’s fires are allowed to blaze uncontrolled, they can come dangerously close to dehydrating their sensitivity, causing them to nearly disappear – if not entirely. A Scorpio will crawl away in the dark of night, rather than face final dehydration from a Leo mate, relative, or friend. Scorps are self-protective. Very.

Both Sun Signs are Fixed in nature, and have a secret desire to dominate.

Well, at least with Scorpio it’s a secret desire; with the Lion, it’s more or less obvious – unless the latter is a Leo who is submerging the natural Leonine ego, a very unhealthy thing to do. To casual observers of this pair it appears that Leo must eventually win control, the Lion or Lioness being so transparent about his or her goal as ruler of the relationship. But not all casual observers are astrologers. If they were, they’d take care not to underestimate Scorpio’s subtle, longrange strategies, the power gained by keeping motives hidden, the effectiveness of a surprise attack when it’s least expected. Careful calculation is advised before predicting the outcome of an association between these two astrological creatures – in the office, the family circle, or the marital scene.

The Scorpion is sensitive, and so will sense instinctively when Leo’s pride is injured, then be enormously comforting and protective … when an outsider has done the hurting. When the wounds have been inflicted by the Scorpio himself (or herself), however, Leo may feel that Attila the Hun would have more com-passion. It’s not anyone’s fault but yours, Leo. Over and over again I’ve warned you that Scorpios mean business when they’re miffed. They’ll sting in retaliation. When Scorpio is mad, Scorpio is mad, and there’s no use trying to coax them out of it. Going away until it blows over won’t help either. The anger will still be there when you return. Since Scorpions are not the overlooking kind, the only safe way to handle one and not get stung is to be careful not to push the Pluto-ruled person too far or too often.

Unfortunately, Leo will seldom accept such advice. Treading carefully around Scorpions is for the cowardly. The proud and dauntless Leonine character scorns such caution, so Leo often pulls out all the stops, and the devil-take-the-hindmost. A friendly suggestion: Watch it. The devil just may do that.

Strangely, the relationship between children and adults, whether related or not, in this particular 4-10 Pattern, is frequently very close, even touching. There is something hauntingly paternal or maternal in the attitude of the older Leo or Scorpio to the younger Scorpio or Leo. It’s a joy to behold, delightful to experience. Perhaps this is because the younger Leo has not yet had time to acquire such fierce pride, therefore will not resent an older Scorpion’s intense protective gestures. And it may be that the younger Eagles have not yet developed the full Pluto retaliatory nature, therefore can accept the Leo’s dramatics more good-naturedly. The older these two become, however, the more effort they’ll have to exert to achieve harmony. I know a young Scorpio boy who formed a deep attachment for an older Leo man. The latter was like a big brother to the youngster, whose own Aquarian big brother was, at the time, weathering the storms of adolescence, and therefore behaving with detachment toward him.

When a Scorpio finds something or someone worthy of respect, no one can be more respectful than a young Eagle, and Mike, the Scorpio boy, found much to respect in his older Leo companion. Bob, the Lion, patiently and lovingly taught the boy how to catch a lizard with a string, then let it go free near a fish pond, how to fly a kite and make it soar among the clouds like .. well … like an eagle! He told him Hobbit stories, complete with sound effects, answered his questions, with great seriousness, about how the handle of a car door works, and even sternly advised the boy’s mother that the youngster was not a slave just because he was younger in years than she, that he deserved to be treated with respect, and to be asked – not be rudely ordered – to run errands for her. All this slowly but surely imbedded itself into the Pluto subconscious. Then came the day when they were standing together on a rock at the edge of the ocean in Pismo Beach, California, and a huge wave appeared suddenly, completely engulfing them. If the Lion had not held tightly to the boy, he would have been washed away out to sea, and the child couldn’t swim. That sealed the relationship. The boy firmly believed his Leo friend had saved his life, and he was ready to worship him forever after. (Leos can stand a lot of that!)

Later, the Lion, through no fault of his own, had to go away. His absence dragged on for nearly seven years. The Scorpio boy was leaving his childhood behind with each passing year – yet, not once, in all that time, did he waver in his intense loyalty to the far-away Lion. Although there had been no communication of any kind between them, he would listen to no negative word against his friend. He knew he had good reason to go away, just as he knew he would return. And one day .. he did. Scorpio is seldom wrong in judging character.

I also know a small Scorpio girl in Falls Village, Connecticut, who feels the same way about her real-life, blood-brother Lion, and showers him with absolute adoration. The Big Cat loves it, of course, and the devotion is mutual. It’s the same thing when Leo is the youngster, Scorpio the older one. Both Sun Signs instinctively protect the weaker. Between the Sun-ruled and the Pluto-ruled, it’s an “all or nothing-at-all relationship.” Neither the Eagle nor the Lion or Lioness can handle caring casually. They will be passionately attached – or ignore one another. No middle ground for these two, whatever the association.

In the less fortunate Leo-Scorpio combinations, the initial attraction may last more briefly than both believed it would when it began. It won’t take long for disenchantment to set in if one of them has an incompatible Moon Sign, for Scorpio’s attitude of “I’m always right,” even though unspoken, will first frustrate, then annoy Leo. Superiority needn’t be verbalized by Scorp. A long, hard stare of cool confidence can project the message quite clearly. The Leonine resentment then may seem unjust, since Leo is an equally recognized expert in the conviction of his or her privilege of infallibility – of being always right, while everyone else is always wrong. (Yet, somehow, the Lion or Lioness is never quite as certain ofthis as a Scorpion.) The smug “I’m superior” attitudes of these two are so similar, you’d think they’d be more tolerant of one another’s egos, but it doesn’t always work that way. In a human relationship, there’s room for only one person to be always right the way Leo and Scorpio are always right (they think).

The Fixity of both signs doesn’t help matters. Fixity is another word for stubbornness, a little milder in meaning perhaps, nevertheless making it difficult to swerve or sway either Leo or Scorpio from a set position or opinion. Try it, when you have lots of time to spare. You’ll soon understand what astrology means by a Fixed Sign. (Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, and Aquarius are the Fixed Signs.) Scorpio may remain quiet during a Leonine monologue, but don’t be fooled.

No Scorp is going to accept opinions from a Leo without being totally convinced of their validity. The Scorpio will either object outright with a blunt refusal to accept the Leonine views being arrogantly pressed upon him – or her – or find a way to avoid the whole issue. Sneaky. That’s the word for it. At least that’s the word Leo would choose to describe the way Scorpio slides, crawls, and slithers away from obeying his or her Majesty’s commands. There’s nothing sneaky about Leo; even Scorpio will admit that. What these Kings and Queens desire and demand is made clear to all the peasants. No, Leos are not sneaky – just a little bossy. And spoiled. And accustomed to getting their own way since they were cubs. Yet they’re so warm and sunny, so generous and friendly, despite those commanding airs, that even the normally perceptive Scorpion may not immediately sense the danger of dehydration – or worse. Likewise, Scorps are so gifted with the subtle talent of appearing to give in without actually giving an inch that it may be a while until Leo recognizes the situation as another Waterloo.

When a Leo is injured, he or she will either pout or roar. The latter behavior will disturb Scorpio’s sensitive psyche the first few times, causing an apparent retreat – but if either the pouting or roaring is repeated with unnecessary frequency, eventually all Leo will get for such dramatics from the Scorp is that frustrating, long, hard, cold Pluto stare. Being stared down by a Scorpion is about as pleasant as making mud pies in a sandbox full of black widow spiders. It does absolutely nothing for the Leonine sense of self-importance.

If these two play down the personal element, and keep their mutual endeavors centered on abstract goals outside themselves, they can operate as a smooth unit, a formidable threat to outsiders who try to conquer them by smothering Leo’s fire or making waves in Scorpio’s water.

But if Leo’s impulsive ideals and generous spirit are watered down so often that those splendid Leonine dreams are dampened to the point of crumbling, the Scorpio will be banished from the Kingdom – or the Leo will leave himself (or herself) and move to another castle where one can expect to receive the proper respect for royalty. It would also behoove Leo to curb that bossy attitude with Scorpio. From no other Sun Sign will the Lion or Lioness receive such depth of loyalty and devotion. It must be earned. Still, it’s well worth swallowing a few lumps of pride now and then to be worshiped with the kind of in tensity only Pluto can give.

Love Signs by Linda Goodman

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