Not Your Average Scorpio

Every time someone asks for my zodiac sign, I hesitate to respond. Scorpios are polarizing. Either you adore them because you think they're loyal, profound, genuine people, or you see them as sex-addicted, crazy-jealous, violent stalkers.

I like to think I'm in the first category.

Up until high school, I knew very little about astrology except for my zodiac sign's basic stereotypes.

Secretive and magnetic.

An icy demeanor that belies an intense, passionate nature.

Determination and devotion that know no bounds.

Not the worst characteristics, but also not worth mentioning on a dating profile.

Some of the descriptions were spot-on. To this day, I share very little about myself when I meet people. All my life, strangers have told me that I look serious and unfriendly—even when I'm in a good mood! And I quickly become obsessed with new topics and activities.

As a water sign, Scorpios feel deeply. I've always considered myself empathic and sensitive.

They fall under the fixed modality, making them stubborn and persistent. When I was growing up, my mother called me hardheaded so often that it was pretty much a nickname.

But I had many other qualities that didn't fit the Scorpio archetype. I can be indecisive and scatterbrained, funny and hyper, shy and nervous, and more logical than emotional.

As I grew up and read more about astrology, I discovered that my zodiac sign, or more accurately, my sun sign, was just the tip of the iceberg.

The sun sign, which is determined by looking at an individual's birthday, reveals a person's true "essence." It's a component of the "Big Three," the three most dominant placements that make up a subject's core personality. The other two are the rising sign and the moon sign.

The rising sign, or ascendant, was the sign ascending the eastern horizon when a person was born. It affects appearance and indicates an individual's first impression on others. Birth time is needed to calculate a subject's rising sign because the rising sign shifts approximately every two hours.

The moon sign refers to the position of the moon when a person was born. It details an individual's inner mood and subconscious needs. Because the moon's position doesn't change every day, birth time isn't always required to find a subject's moon sign.

For more information on a person's inclinations, their Mercury (communication style), Mars (will and drive), and Venus (ideals in love and relationships) signs are worth looking up, too.

It's common for people to have their ascendant, sun, and planets in different signs. The combination influences how closely they resemble their sun sign. A person with a Gemini sun, for example, may appear reserved because of their Virgo rising. And Leo suns can be shy, and Capricorn suns can be hippies.

It's also possible for a single sign to appear multiple times in a person's chart. In this case, the person may express that sign's qualities in a more pronounced way. Ever met a triple Aquarius? Yup.

Scorpio is my "essence," but other signs also affect the way I go about life. I express myself like a fair and balanced Libra, love like an optimistic, adventurous Sagittarius, and have a down-to-earth, calming presence like a typical Taurus.

As soon as I identified my Big Three and additional placements, I developed a deeper appreciation for astrology. Everything suddenly made sense. I didn't entirely fit the Scorpio stereotype because Scorpio wasn't my only sign.

So, why am I still reluctant to disclose my (sun) sign?

I embrace my Scorpio side, and some of my favorite human beings share my sun sign.

At the same time, I like having privacy and control over what people assume about me (if I can help it).

And that is very Scorpio of me.