Astrology is one of those topics people feel strongly about. Whether you read your horoscope religiously or just enjoy zodiac memes, odds are you’ve picked up on the traits and elemental types tied to each sign.
But when it comes to Scorpio, there’s a memory that’s causing a surprising amount of confusion—and it’s not about personality, it’s about element.

The Memory
For many, Scorpio was always a fire sign.
This memory actually makes sense on a surface level. Scorpio is often described as intense, passionate, even explosive. The kind of energy people naturally associate with fire. Many recall hearing Scorpio grouped alongside Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius—the classic fire signs—especially because Scorpio often feels fiery in personality.
Some even say they remember reading it in astrology books or hearing it referenced in pop culture, zodiac apps, or schoolyard conversations.
But that memory doesn’t line up with today’s reality.
The Reality
In truth, Scorpio is, and always has been, a water sign—grouped with Cancer and Pisces. Not only is Scorpio governed by the element of water, but it’s considered the deepest and most emotionally intense of all the water signs.
Water signs are known for being emotional, intuitive, and inwardly focused. Scorpio’s traits of secrecy, emotional depth, and transformation match the water element well—at least according to current astrological sources.
Yet, many people still feel like something doesn’t add up. The elemental vibe of Scorpio just feels different—more fire than flow.
So What’s Going On? Mandela Effect or Miscommunication?
Could this be another case of the Mandela Effect? Where collective memory differs sharply from what official records and documentation show?
This particular one is interesting because it hits at how we intuitively interpret personality traits. Scorpio’s emotional intensity may be more easily misfiled as “fire” than “water.” But that doesn’t fully explain why so many people are so confident they remember it being a fire sign—not just assume it.
In fact, we were able to gather several messages and comments from people saying they were shocked to learn Scorpio is considered water. It completely contradicted their memory of zodiac order, school lessons, or astrology websites they say they once saw.
someone tell me why I thought Scorpio was a fire sign
— 🦦 (@ashtonkimmi) September 1, 2016
Im in actual shock
— 💗dealz lip filler💗 (@Troubled_Witch) February 19, 2018
Scorpio is a water sign?? Like i always thought it was fire?? I never thought about the third water sign it was just like yeah cancer and pisces
what are some silly things you initially thought before learning more about astrology? lol i thought:
— ☁️🍒 paulina 🍒☁️ (@astrollocherry) August 13, 2019
– aquarius was a water sign cuz lol aqua
– scorpio was a fire sign ??
– pisces’ symbol was ♋️ cuz it looks like fish sksj
– knowing your birth time/houses didnt rlly matter 💀
Since when was Scorpio a water sign?? I thought for sure it was a fire sign!? I’m so confused!!! 😭😭😭
— Bald John Travolta 👨🏻🦲 (@tallowfaced) November 8, 2019
I legit thought I (Scorpio) was a fire sign. My whole life. Until recently when someone told me otherwise. I was like Ooooooooh it all makes sense now as I welled up with tears in my bathtub
— frankie🌾 (@humanhouseplant) November 19, 2019
real shit I thought Scorpio was a fire sign and Aquarius was a water sign you rly can’t trust anyone
— 𓂁 aleah 𓂁 (@razzletwt) December 6, 2019
Today I made a friend around 1am. We went to IHOP and I asked him his zodiac. He said he was a water sign, an Aquarius…
— 🌸🧘🏾The One🧘🏾🌺 (@yungcha0s) January 20, 2020
Corrected that mf so QUICK😭. And THEN he thought that Scorpio was a fire sign😩
I can’t believe Scorpio is a water sign. All this time I thought it was fire
— Aaron H. Aceves (@aaronhaceves) April 5, 2020
This whole time I thought Scorpio was a fire sign…🙂 my life is a lie. I’m made of water damn it
— L E X♏️ (@_lexiramirez) April 19, 2020
Didnt know scorpio is a water sign i always thought it was a fire sign https://t.co/RNy2xAEzCD
— ThatGirlMzlevelzTheDon (@mzlevelz) July 2, 2020
When I first got into astrology, I thought Scorpio was a fire sign… smh
— 🦋 (@misfitaileen) July 27, 2020
i want everyone to know
— 🫧Kura @ your deity🫧 (@deityofthedeep) July 30, 2020
that for his 22 years, red thought he was a fire sign
he’s a scorpio
and when i told him he’s a water sign he said “that doesn’t make any sense, scorpions aren’t water animals”
For the longest time I always thought Scorpio was fire sign 👁️👄👁️ pls validate me
— B !!! (@SAINTLYBEATRICE) August 18, 2020
Ok but until I was maybe 15 I thought scorpio (my own sign) was a fire sign and even when I learnt it was a water sign I still didn’t understand how that was possible 🥴
— Amber ( ͡°ᴥ ͡° ʋ) (@ambershutup) November 24, 2020
FACTS! I didn’t get into astrology until like 2018 & I was shocked to find out that Scorpio was a water sign 😩🤣😂😭 for almost 27 damn years I thought Scorpio was a fire sign cause I always felt like some HEAT 🔥 lmao. But that’s just my Aries Moon 🥰✨
— Eva Diva ♏️🇧🇿 (@AsToldByDiva) May 10, 2021
i Always thought scorpio was a fire sign idek why but it blows my mind that they’re not
— 𝚓𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎 ✨ (@99kcals) May 23, 2021
“You’re a scorpio so you’re a water sign”-me
— Steph (@itsstephhh_d) June 6, 2021
“I thought I was a fire sign”-savanna
“No you’re a water sign”-me
“Oh well I’m still fire though💁🏻♀️”-savanna
😂😂😂
i told a Scorpio yesterday that she was actually, in fact, a water sign
— 𝚐𖤐𝚝𝚑 𝚋!𝚖𝚋𝚘 ☾ ❤︎ ᴖ̈ (@kristajo_) August 4, 2021
she lost her mind bcs she thought she was a fire sign
Still can’t believe Leo is a fire sign & Scorpio is water sign, thought Leo was air & Scorpio was fire💀 I honestly feel like I just hopped in this dimension.. I swear that’s new info for me😭
— baby (@saintshako) January 2, 2022
Wow all my life I thought scorpio was a fire sign but turns out it’s a water sign?????? I’m sickkkkkkk 🥴🥴🥴🥴
— human (@vladimirlesbian) January 10, 2023
I told my sister she was a water sign , she like damn i thought i was fire !
— unproblematic black hottie (@_kingkaaaay) July 3, 2023
girl yo soft ass is a Scorpio 😂 foh
I was today years old when I learned that Scorpio is a water sign. I thought it was a fire sign this entire time.
— Deathspade 💛 (@Deathspade_) January 1, 2024
My bestie thought she was a fire sign ….she’s a Scorpio 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— وخوخثث (@PrttyMthvFuccvh) November 20, 2024
We Want to Hear from You
Have you always known Scorpio was a water sign? Or are you one of the many who remember it being fire?
Let us know in the comments. If you’ve got screenshots, old books, or even just strong personal memory—share it. These Mandela Effects are built from collective memory, and every voice adds to the bigger picture.