The Labors of Hercules
Scorpio
Destroying the Lernaean Hydra
You will resonate with Scorpio if you have the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Scorpio or if you have any of these in close aspect to Pluto. You will also be influenced by Scorpio if you have several planets in the Eighth House, or if you were born with Pluto in the first, fourth, seventh or tenth house.
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Destroying the Lernaean Hydra
Listen to Kathy Newburn Summarize the Myth
Scorpio
The Soul’s Task in Scorpio:
In this labor, Killing the Lernaean Hydra, Hercules demonstrates the need for the hero to venture into the dark, destructive, and terrifying depths of the psyche so that the shadow elements may be brought into the light for transformation.
Scorpio’s strengths and gifts:
- Determined
- Forceful
- Magnetic
- Resourceful
- Emotional
- Perceptive
- Passionate
Scorpio’s shadow and weakness:
- Destructive
- Vindictive
- Possessive
- Jealous
- Secretive
- Resentful
- Obsessive
Click on the link to listen to a reading of Killing the Lernaean Hydra from The Labours of Hercules, by A. A. Bailey
~ Read by Karen Johannsen
The Myth
Hercules has been instructed to destroy the hydra, a dreadful nine-headed beast from the Lernaean swamps. Thought to be immortal, the serpent would rise from the stinking bogs and attack the villagers and this myth requires Hercules to find and kill the hydra. Hercules brings his nephew, Iolaus with him on the journey. In the version of the myth relayed by A. A. Bailey, Hercules is provided instruction before starting this labor. He is told, “We rise by kneeling; we conquer by surrendering; we gain by giving up.” This instruction provides a valuable clue to defeating the beast.
As they approache the swamp, Hercules and Iolas spot the Hydra hiding in his lair. Hercules, with Iolaos’s help, lights his arrows with their torch. To draw the beast out of hidin he begins firing the burning arrows, which pierce the monster’s skin. In pain, the Hydra attempts to escape into the swamp, but Hercules captures him and lifts the beast into the light. The Hydra weakens as the light reveals him, and Hercules begins to sever the monster’s heads. But, the heads regrow, and for every head he removes, two grew in its place.
Using the torch Iolaos begins to burn the flesh where the head was severed. Together, Iolas and Hercules work to several the monster’s heads. Through their teamwork, the monster subdued. Finally, they sever the Hydra’s immortal head and to ensure that it remains defeated, Hercules buries the head beneath a large rock.
Understanding the Myth’s Symbols and Meaning
Iolaos is Hercules’s trusted charioteer. The Soul needs its companion and instrument, the personality, and this is Iolas’s role here as the soul’s mode of transport. It is Iolaos operating as the personality who burns the place of each severed head, communicating that the personality must do the work to transform its shadow elements.
Hera raised the Hydra so that it could be used to destroy Hercules. She cared for and nurtured its destructive qualities. The Hydra lived in a dark, foul, and stagnant swamp that was polluted and hazardous. This representation helps us to grasp the inhospitable and overwhelming aspects of our own shadow. The Hydra must be driven from its darkness and hiding, just as we each must bring our shadow elements into the open for their transformation.
The heads of the Hydra represent the human vices and the qualities of evil encountered on the hero’s journey in Scorpio. We must confront and overcome as part of our purification the three aspects of our shadow nature, which includes:
- Physical: Physical comfort, Money, Sex
- Emotional: Fear, Ambition, Hate
- Mental: Cruelty, Pride, Separativeness
For every head severed, two grow in its place. When we suppress and reject our unwanted desires their energy and influence rises and becomes stronger. The process of battling the Hydra is long and exhausting. Anyone not on the hero’s journey will find the work hopeless and fraught with failure. The hydra’s immortal head tells us that our capacity for evil can never be wholly eradicated. We can control our shadow impulses, but we must always remain vigilant to their presence.
The instruction provided to Hercules in the Myth as described by A. A. Bailey is, “We rise by kneeling; we conquer by surrendering; we gain by giving up”. This instruction reveals the importance of humility, courage, and acceptance when doing the profound work of purification in Scorpio.
The Spiritual Task in Scoprio
Scorpio is a fixed water sign ruled traditionally by Mars and Pluto, and spiritually by Mars. The Scorpio native’s task is to learn to recognize, access, and transform the shadowy, unpleasant, and hidden aspects of the subconscious. As a water sign, we are invited into the depths and the emotional realms. We are asked to confront those aspects of ourselves that we most reject. Both of the signs ruled by Mars, Aries and Scorpio, are warrior signs. While the warrior in Aries takes his battles out into the world, in Scorpio the battle is turned inward. It is in this interior battle that the shadow aspects of the unredeemed personality are brought into the light of consciousness and transformed.
When we recognize, meet, and battle the personal Hydra in Scorpio our nature transforms and reveals a tremendous capacity for love. To access that loving capacity, though there must be a willingness to perceive and experience the authentic feelings within you, no matter how frightening, foul, and ugly they might seem.
Applying the Scorpio Lesson in Everyday Life
Johfra Bosschart
If you haven’t already done so, it may be helpful to read the article “Spiritual Transformation is a Team Activity“. This useful article highlights how the energy of the personality shifts its expression from personality dominance to soul control.
The personality in Scorpio may seek to avoid acknowledging the unredeemed and shadowy emotions symbolized by the heads of the Hydra. They can fall prey to their feelings of hate, cruelty, or pride and express them in destructive ways. The spiritually immature Scorpion, seeking to avoid their own darkness, may lose their way and escape into an unhealthy relationship with drugs, alcohol, or sex.
The spiritually mature Scorpio can benefit by using the energy of its opposite sign, Taurus, to establish an attitude of will and persistence. It is through the will that we find the courage to face our inner darkness.
Explore the Ancient Keynote
These ancient and profound Keynotes provide insight into the expression of the sign by the personality and the soul. Kathy Newburn explains how we can better understand their meanings.
Practice
It is helpful to meditate on and ponder the ways the personality uses the energy of Scorpio in the world. Consider how the spiritually mature Scorpio native uses the power of the sign. Take some time to journal your answers to the following questions. This practice will support you to deepen your awareness and integrate the highest expression of Leo and to manifest it in your everyday life.
The Voice of the Personality in Scorpio Says, “Let Maya flourish and deception rule.”
The personality in Scorpio wants to go to the depths. But, they can lash out at others in the process, turning the battle outward. The shadow aspects of the Scoprio personality might express as jealousy, vengefulness, and secretiveness. To avoid their own discomfort, they may be more interested in focusing on other’s flaws and darkness rather than their own.
Questions for Transformation of the Personality
- What are the characteristics and faults in others that I most dislike? Do I also these characteristics or flaws within myself?
- What are the strongest desires and passions that drive me? Do I get lost in them?
- Do I use sex, drugs, alcohol, or other enjoyments to escape my feelings? How do I experience them as a retreat from the darker aspects of myself?
- Am I able to perceive and understand my feelings honestly? What are they? What is the darkest within me?
- What are the feelings and thoughts that you most work to keep hidden (from yourself and others)?
- The Voice of the Soul in Leo Says: “Warrior am I, and from the battle, I emerge triumphant.”
The Voice of the Soul in Scorpio Says, “Warrior am I, and from the battle, I emerge triumphant.”
The soul in Scorpio finds in necessary to experience and exercise the power of the will to face their own shadow aspects. Through bringing their darker impulses the light and relationship, they are transformed and a greater capacity to love and serve others is born.
Questions for Expression of the Soul:
- I know my deepest desires. They are…
- Are you able to see through other people to understand the inner darkness that they battle?
- Do I experience a greater sense of intimacy with others when I better understand their needs?
- The heads of the Hydra can take many forms. What are the heads of your Hydra? Which ones are the most frightening?
- In the work of your transformation, are you careful not to be cruel and hurtful to others? If not, from where do you think this energy arises?