Capricorn
January 5, 2008
The day of longest darkness, December 21, is celebrated all over the northern hemisphere. This is the first day of Capricorn (December 21 – January 19), the day the sun stands still at it’s southern most moment of it’s yearly journey. This is the day of the winter solstice, a day marking the return of the light. Capricorn is therefore an ultimate sign. The sun can only travel north now. Capricorn must go to the top of the mountain.
The Mergoat is Capricorn’s mythic ruler. Most of us don’t notice that the Capricorn goat has the tail of a fish. This overlooked tail is what gives Capricorn the intuition to know which mountain to climb. Because climb they must. Winning is so important to the young or unevolved Capricorns that they might not play if they can’t win.
Capricorn is the third and final earth sign where ideas received in fiery and spirited Sagittarius must be brought onto the earthly plane and put to the test of time. Capricorn is ruled by ringed Saturn, the cosmic task master and the Lord of Karma, reminding us that what we sow we reap. Saturn in the Grim Reaper, never letting us forget that we too, like all living things, will be reaped one day. Since Capricorn is the energy of time, often the little Capricorns look old, but these “old youngsters” stay younger looking than their brothers as they age.
The Mergoats are the most ambitious in the zodiac. Theirs is the sign of recognition and achievement, reputation and fame. Since Capricorn bestows the gift of inner discipline of its own, long after others have gone home, the Capricorn is working, putting in that extra effort that ensures success. It is no wonder then that a great many of the world’s highest achievers are Capricorns. The sign of the mergoat is the most prominent sign of Indian gurus. Other earthly kings such as Mohammed Ali, king of boxing and Elvis Presley, king of rock and roll, are notable Capricorns. Black leader Martin Luther King is a Mergoat, and he even has the name King. Jesus’ birthday was placed in Capricorn since he is the king of kings. However, new research indicates that Jesus was born in late August at the Leo/Virgo cusp where the lion lays down with the lamb.
The shadow side of Capricorn is a dour seriousness sometimes seen in businessmen and the like. No time for play in the Capricorn’s day. And the Mergoat can be a superior fellow, looking down on others from his mountain perch. The darkest shadow of Capricorn is ruthlessness. Come will do anything to win. It doesn’t matter who is stepped on or eliminated along the way to the top. Richard Nixon was a Capricorn with his shadow side showing.
Our local psychological astrologer, Nancy Cohen, says the little Capricorns are born to mothers who are running the show but pretending that the father is. The child is in on the secret, giving him an adult edge and a quiet superiority.
Saturn hardens and defines so the Mergoat rules the skeleton, the teeth, the knees and the skin. Knees heal more slowly than other body parts since they are ruled by the Lord of Time. People with low self esteem often have skin problems as our skin separates us from everything else.
`The New Capricorn Moon on January is a day to meditate and set your intentions for the New Year. However anything begun on this day is likely to fail. Wait until tomorrow January 9, or the next day, the 10th to start, this month’s best days for new beginnings. Other good days for purchases or beginnings are January 14 and 15. Don’t travel on the 18th unless you are looking to practice patience and to overcome irritation. Mercury will turn retrograde on the 28th for three weeks. Best not to buy electronics or cars now.
If your New Year’s Resolution is to quit something, begin quitting by the 8th. If your resolution is to accomplish something, begin on the 9th or 10th.
The Full Moon this month is in the first degrees of Leo on January 22. The Sun has just moved into electric, eclectic, eccentric Aquarius. Three days later Pluto will move into Capricorn marking the beginning of a new cosmic era. It will take Pluto 17 years to complete her transformation of the big stuff here on earth: governments, corporations, and our definitions of success, all ruled by the Mergoat. The high minded learning and transformations of belief systems that we’ve experienced during Pluto’s 12 year transit of Sagittarius must now be put to work to build new structures suitable for our new awarenesses. Grand ideas that can’t be grounded will fade away.
At the time of the Full Moon, Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn is in Virgo making a hard aspect to Venus in Sagittarius, “suggesting that we need to square our beliefs with some facts. Question those voices that tell you, ‘that’s the way it is.’” (S. Austin). During 2008, Saturn, the planet of form, and Uranus, the planet of reform, will oppose. The last time this happened was in 1965. So look out. Expect big upheavals.
It’s time for big changes. One message of this lunation is this: everyone is important and no one is special. Another message is this: everyone is responsible and no one is to blame.
Copyright 2008 Carolyn Moennig
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