How Scorpio Am I?

If it wasn’t already obvious, today is November 22nd, the very last day of Scorpio season. Which officially makes me a November Scorpio, not an October one. And ironically, even my job now is where I teach the fewest students, it’s also the day I’m surrounded by the most November-born students I’ve ever had in all of my six years of teaching. Three of them even share my exact birthday.

One of my adult students recently went down an astrology rabbit hole and binge-read everything she could find. Naturally, our lesson spiraled into an astrology discussion. It was eye-opening; and a little bit humbling, because I realized how little I actually knew about Scorpios despite being one. Also, I'm a bit annoyed by the side-eyes we get. So... I am taking one for the team.

Before this, I always viewed astrology as fun but mostly superstitious. Since, I am very much my father’s daughter, his blood runs strong in my veins. I think like him, react like him, even unintentionally echo his exact words when my mom brings up certain topics. It freaks her out sometimes.

But he’s a Libra, and I’m a Scorpio. And somewhere along the line, I began noticing traits that fit me but not him. So I started asking myself a simple question:

How Scorpio am I really? And more importantly, has all this research changed my mind about astrology?

Passionate

The number one trait people love to associate with Scorpios is passion, that intensity, that ability to feel everything with impossible depth. And honestly? My first reaction was? Nope. That’s not me.

But then I had to pause and ask myself: Passionate about what, exactly Passion can mean a lot of things; love, family, career, ambition, creativity, lifestyle. It’s not just one emotion or one area of life.

So I tried to categorize myself.

Out of the top five passion “domains,” I only fit two. And when I expanded that list to ten? I checked off just three.

So I came to a not so surprising conclusion: I don’t think I’m a stereotypically passionate Scorpio. At least not in the way internet insists we should be.

MYSTERIOUS

I didn’t mention what I am passionate about, and that’s actually intentional. It leads straight into the second major Scorpio trait: being mysterious… or, more preferably, being private.

Scorpios are known for keeping their thoughts and emotions tucked away, and that is very much me. I’m naturally stoic. You won’t catch me crying, snapping, or even showing irritation in front of people. Unless, it's a situation that's extremely egregious. At most, you’ll see three versions of me: zoned out, tired, or energetic for my students. That’s about it.

Over the years, I’ve trained myself to hold back my thoughts, to observe rather than speak. And honestly? Living in Korea sealed that habit.

Hyperbolic statements can get you misunderstood even between us westerners, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. Once, I casually mentioned that I had never taken a cab in the GTA. A coworker immediately accused me of lying, aggressively. Later, my dad reminded me I had taken a cab once, when helping my grandma. And I definitely lol'ed out at that.

Experiences like that taught me to keep things closer to the chest. To say less. To share selectively. To protect my peace. Even the most nominal of things.

So am I private because I’m a Scorpio…or simply because life trained me to be this way?

DETERMINED

Scorpios are often described as fiercely determined, the type who lock onto a goal and refuse to let go until they’ve conquered it. But for me? Not really.

I stay committed if I see progress. If something is moving forward, improving, or showing potential, I stay invested. But the moment something becomes a drain, wasting time, money, or energy , I’m out. No emotional attachment. No stubborn pushing. Just logic. I've abandoned a few hobby activities midway. And sometimes I don't even start something I'd been planning to do.

And that’s the thing: I’m logical to a fault. That practicality limits how much risk I take, which means I don’t always match the classic “Scorpio determination” stereotype.

So no — I’m not determined in the way Scorpios are usually portrayed.

Not relentless. Not obsessive. Not all-or-nothing. My drive is a bit on the conditional side, not cosmic.

HONEST BUT GUARDED

This trait confused me at first, doesn’t being “honest” clash with being “mysterious”?

But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Scorpios aren’t rigid in their privacy. There’s flexibility. We value truth, but we don’t hand it out to everyone.

Scorpios have a reputation for being honest, but only with the right people. Earning our full trust takes time. Sometimes, years.

When someone asked me whether I personally value truth, I realized my answer wasn’t simple. For example, if someone bragged, “I have $5 million but I teach for fun,” I’d nod politely… but in my mind, I’d immediately think: Why tell me this? What’s the motive? That’s my natural suspicion kicking in. It’s instinct.

Even when people lie, if it doesn’t impact me, I honestly don’t care. I don’t go hunting for truth. I reserve my energy for things that matter to me directly. And when it comes to sharing about myself, I’m selective.

I’ll talk openly about my hobby of driving. Writing, on the other hand? I keep that guarded, because it’s tied to being insecure.

My level of honesty also shifts based on the person:

If someone sensitive asks for my opinion, I guide them gently toward their own conclusion. If someone emotionally strong asks, I’m direct and blunt. If I dislike them, I’m brutal. No filter, no sugarcoating.

So yes — I am honest. But I’m also guarded. And somehow, the two coexist perfectly. It's situational.

STRONG-WILLED

This one? Yes — this is absolutely me. Strong-willed. Resilient. Stubborn in the best way. It’s something I share with my father.

He lost his own father young, immigrated to Canada at a young age in the 80s, and navigated two very different cultures while building a life from scratch. He’s one of the strongest people I know, and the apple hasn't fallen to far from the tree.

Scorpios are often described as committed, controlling, emotionally guarded, independent thinkers, and steady under pressure. And in this category, I fit almost perfectly.

Commitment: If I make plans, I follow through. I don’t cancel unless there’s a serious, unavoidable emergency. In ten years of working, I’ve taken only five sick days, all in Japan, and only because I literally couldn’t speak. But on days I could barely speak, half-voiced, I still showed up for my classes.

Control: When it comes to my personal life, I don’t like being told what to do, because my life choice doesn't affect anyone in any measurable way except for their sentiments. And to borrow from the conservatices, facts don't care about feelings. At work, though, I do lean back from my controlling nature. But it's still there, in the sense that I like things done practically, efficiently, and with intention.

One example is at my first proper job involved driving 300 km every shift. I preferred waiting in the car instead of the base cabin, it felt safer. A coworker tattled to our boss about “gas misuse.” My boss was curious but didn't care after I clarified as to why, but the coworker’s need to meddle definitely irritated me.

Emotionally Guarded: This part we’ve already covered, but yes it aligns strongly with Scorpio traits and with me personally.

Independent Thinking: I don’t come to conclusions on impulse. I analyze deeply, write pros and cons, research, question, observe and only then do I choose. I take problems seriously and think way too much.

Performing Under Pressure: When things go wrong, I switch into action mode. My very first teaching day in Japan, I got lost and arrived with zero prep — no materials, no context, nothing. And somehow… I nailed the lesson. I didn’t freeze. I adapted.

So yes, when it comes to being strong-willed, this is where I feel the most Scorpio. This is the trait where everything finally clicks.

PERCEPTIVE & INTUITIVE

Yes, absolutely. I’ve always been perceptive. Even as a child, I noticed things my parents completely missed. But I don’t attribute that to astrology. At present, I credit criminology, sociology, and adolescent education, all fields that sharpen your ability to observe, decode, and interpret human behavior.

I genuinely love analyzing people. Understanding motives. Catching subtleties. So while the “intuitive Scorpio” stereotype fits me, I think training and experience (being an only child surrounded by adults) are the real reasons.

LOYAL

Scorpios are often described as fiercely loyal, but for me? It depends. I’m loyal to values, not automatically to people. If someone I cared about betrayed my principles, I wouldn’t blindly defend them.

For example, if I had a sibling who cheated, I wouldn’t support their actions just because we share blood. That’s not loyalty, that’s enabling.

That said, my loyalty has never truly been tested. So in theory, this is where I stand.

INTENSE

Yes, but in a highly selective way. I’m intense about children’s rights, safety, and social issues. Those topics switch something on inside me. I care deeply, argue fiercely, and advocate loudly. I'm a teacher, duh.

But despite being vegetarian, I’m not as intense about animal rights. Not everything gets the same fire from me.

So the Scorpio “intensity” shows up, but not universally.

TRANSFORMATIVE

Scorpios are said to grow stronger through challenges, the whole “rise from the ashes” motif. And while that’s true for me, it also feels a bit generic. Most humans grow through struggle. That isn’t zodiac-exclusive.

If anything, my greatest lifelong enemy has always been the same: bugs.

That fear has not transformed. Will not transform. Never will transform. Some things are permanent.

VINDICTIVE

Scorpios are known for holding grudges and, sometimes, seeking revenge. Unfortunately… yes, this one fits me. I don’t start pettiness, but I will absolutely finish it or hold out on it. I am a canine with a bone.

One example that sticks with me is my 2017/2018 car accident. I was stopped at a yield sign when suddenly, bang. I was rear-ended, hard. A massive trailer truck was directly in front of me, and for a split second, I genuinely thought I might die.

I was shaken for weeks afterward. Later, when I found out how much the other driver ended up paying in insurance and damages, I won’t lie, my soul sang. It wasn’t about cruelty. It was about accountability. Actions have consequences.

Even now, I hope he still drives cautiously… and yes, pays slightly higher premiums forever, if it means he never puts someone in danger again.

The ironic part? He worked in the same area. He was actually a nice guy. But being nice doesn’t erase responsibility.

CONCLUSION

In the end, I matched far more Scorpio traits than I expected. Some were spot on, others felt conditional, and a few were pure coincidence or the result of life experience rather than astrology.

So do I suddenly believe in horoscopes? No.

Will I live my life by astrology charts and daily predictions? Also no. I’ve lived perfectly fine without them.

But the exploration was fun. And who knows, maybe next November I’ll fall down this rabbit hole again.

Maybe I’ll even make a video and write about my mom, a Sagittarius.

For now, that’s all.

See you in the next one, whenever I come back.

Sayonara all the way from Japan 🏯🍡