SCORPIO HOROSCOPE

Your mistrust of people began in grade school when you were shunned by the popular crowd and your view of humanity hasn't really changed much since. Yet Ruling Planet Pluto in the zodiac sign of Aquarius insists that you broaden your horizons by fraternizing with people you wouldn't normally seek out. Some of them might remind you of the ghosts of cafeterias past while others may be so completely different that you wouldn't even know where to begin to relate. The point is to build bridges, not lock the gates and drain the moat. Try it this year and you'll wind up surprising yourself in November.

They say you can’t make more without spending more and that’s something you need to think about this week. You’ve been riding a wave of success recently thanks to an increase in customers or an uptick in demand. This increase is so substantial that you may need to reinvest in your business just to keep up. Maybe you have to update equipment, expand operations, or simply upgrade your look. But the cost of doing this will be steep which begs the question: is it worth it? Yes. Because even if the current wave of success passes there’s bound to be another one right behind it.

Make sure that you're not reading too much into an offer or opportunity on December 20th. Situations often appear to be both alluring and elusive when the Sun forms a square to phantasmal Neptune. Now this isn't to say that you're fooling yourself. You really are on to something, but you need to figure out how much of this is real and how much of it is playing on your hopes and wishes. Take things one step at a time. If what you're after hasn't vanished by December 27th then rest assured that you can pursue what you want with the expectation of getting it.

Internal changes are so slow and gradual that we often don't recognize their external effect. Transformations in your appearance, alterations in lifestyle, or who you decide to hang with are day-to-day things we take for granted until we bump into someone who knew us when. On December 10th you'll cross paths with an old acquaintance who may not recognize you at first; they might even be at a loss as to how to reconcile the past you with the present you. It's one of those reality checks when you realize how far you've come and how glad you are to be who you are today.

Scorpio detective work reveals something you suspected was true. Unfortunately divulging this information may result in someone you care about getting hurt. This is one of those times when you have to ask if it's really worth it. Are you sharing this information because it's the right thing to do or are you sharing it because it proves you were right all along? Truth and love don't always mix and sometimes it's better to withhold than reveal. That said, knowing what you know doesn't have to make you complicit. You're still free to nudge, wink, and hint until this person discovers the answer for herself.

Put off accepting any bid, offer, or counteroffer – no matter how tempting. Mercury retrogrades are famous for throwing a Cosmic monkey wrench into our most carefully laid plans, but it's the retrograde Mercury/Venus conjunction on November 26th that could prove most worrisome. Either someone's trying to sweet talk you into accepting a price that's far beneath what you should be getting or they're making promises and/or assurances that they're not in a position to make. In any case you'll want to wait until Mercury forms its third and last trine to both Jupiter and Saturn on December 6th and 7th before agreeing to anything.

Saturn always rewards those who rise to its challenges, but this won't come from outwitting or outmuscling. It comes from espousing the Saturnian virtues of persistence, discipline, and patience. Many of Saturn's supposed “limitations” are actually self-imposed. We often blame Saturn for making us struggle, but Saturn, like a good teacher, won't lower the bar. It simply waits for us to figure things out. The beauty of the Sun in Scorpio trining Saturn in Pisces on November 17th is that you will finally find your way out of a tight corner. And the best part of it is that you will have discovered it yourself.

Love may be the last thing on your mind these days but it’s the central focus of someone who will do just about anything to win your heart. You are entering a remarkable four month period where you will experience a complete transformation in your love life. This applies as much to Scorpios who are dating right now as it does to Scorpios who have been coupled for years. There comes a time when people turn a corner in their relationship and things suddenly get very deep and profound. Love doesn't always appear at first sight; sometimes it acts more like a time release capsule.

Venus in Scorpio for the next 3 ½ weeks makes you the person people can't live without. It's going to take a while to realize that they're being sincere. At first you'll be perplexed, then suspicious, and perhaps even desperate as you try to convince them that you are not all that. Yet you are. For years you've pined away for impossible loves and now it will be impossible loves who will long for you. Enjoy it while it lasts and remember to be nice to those whose affections you don't share. Let them down gently in the way you wished others had done with you.

You're not as ruthless as you boast – and that may be your best kept secret. For all your talk of vanquishing rivals and showing them no mercy, part of you can't help feeling that there, but for the grace of God, go you. It's why you make a point of saying opponents only got what they deserved and that justice is on your side. Yet the planets in their courses will often introduce a change in disposition that nobody is immune to. Events this week show the human side of those you’ve vilified and it will be hard to harden your heart to their plight.