Capricorn
Like your alluvial allies, you are also EARTH INCARNATE. Capricorn is the third and final earth sign of the Zodiac. Ruled by ages 63-70, Capricorn is a sign that is characterized by themes of tradition and retirement. Capricorns have a strong urge to break free from life’s monotony in order to start enjoying living and laughing. Commonly seen in members of the age group associated with this sign, some Capricorns can be rather gloomy and disillusioned individuals. They feel disconnected from the modern world at an early age, preferring more vintage and antique styles of clothing and décor. Capricorns feel that people can only get so much enrichment from perpetual hard work. Contrary to this philosophy, Capricorns are actually very hard workers. Deep down, Capricorn uses work as a necessary means to a peaceful and relaxed end. For many Capricorns, sitting alone in thought, in a lush backyard is their idea of serenity. Capricorn is the sign that begins the final quadrant of the Zodiac, which is concerned with big-picture-thinking concerning society as a whole.
There is a strong sense of spirituality seen within the tail end of the Zodiac; however, in my experience this vital connection to higher powers is most pronounced within the sign of Capricorn. Many ministers, rabbi, shaman, and other holy people, including those who believe in finding the value inherent in all forms of faith, are members of the Capricorn club. This is fitting in relation to Capricorn’s associated ages. As people grow older and their hair whitens, fear of death creeps in slowly, inevitably guiding worrying folks to seek solace in spiritualism. Many forms of faith follow practices that aim to maintain tradition and sanctity. These themes of purity and tradition are hallmark characteristics of Capricorn. The spiritual interests of Capricorn manifest positively when these natives offer others their great wisdom and their enlightened perspectives on life. When the spiritual interests of the hard-headed goat manifest negatively, they appear as conservatism, restriction and judgmental attitudes. The former extreme represents Capricorns that make the most of their hard work ethic and sensitive nature. Capricorns who judge, and restrict others, (the latter extreme) may find that it takes them a lot longer to reach a place of enlightened wisdom.
Ruled by the planet Saturn, Capricorn is a sign that aims to avoid metaphoric and literal dethronement. In Roman mythology, Saturn rules agriculture, social order, and structures of civilization. Dethronement was the central issue showcased in the mythological origins of this sign. Saturn, or Cronus (Greek), was the initial ruler of Olympia. Due to a prophecy, he was aware that his aging would eventually lead to his offspring overthrowing him. He did this to his own father and believed the prophecy, so he devoured all of his children out of fear. When Zeus was born his mother took extra care to ensure that Saturn did not devour this child, and after many years of living in the mountains, Zeus came back to take his place on the throne.
Astrologically speaking, Capricorn deals with themes of restriction, boundaries, abundance (the cornucopia is a Capricorn symbol) and ambition. Most importantly, members of this sign greatly value the preservation of tradition. Chaim Topal, who played Teveah in the musical Fiddler on the Roof, was born with a moon in Capricorn. His emotional connection to Capricorn ideology served to accentuate his incredible portrayal of an earthly man who proudly stood by tradition. Maintaining tradition has its ups and downs. For Capricorn, this habit could go one of two ways. On the one hand traditionalism is intrinsically tied to a fear of losing what Cap has worked so hard to establish and preserve.
On the other hand the Capricorns I know, instill in us all a greater connection to life and god in all his forms. This natural tendency of the goat, preserves one of man’s most sacred of traditions and keeps man’s relationship to the spiritual world alive and well.
Every sign is burdened with certain archetypal issues. Capricorns who are out of balance seem to act out of a constant fear of being upstaged or even overthrown. They do not treat people who threaten them lightly, and they can suffer from bitter resentment that builds up due to paranoid fear. This is their particular archetypal cross to bear. However, most Capricorns have the awareness and the emotional flexibility needed to rise above this unfortunate aspect of their sign’s nature. The best way for Capricorn to overcome these challenges involves them truly connecting to their own deeply spiritual roots. Also, working with the elderly can help foster Capricorn’s immense compassion. Attempting to learn and grow and connect to others will provide Capricorn with the kind of perspective that can help them tremendously! The more spiritual the Capricorn, the more they tend to laugh, love, and spread their jovial energies to those who need it most.
Pictorially represented by the goat, Capricorn lives up to its reputation of being rather strong-willed. The goat is a creature that is able to brave some of the world’s most mountainous terrains with ease. This speaks to the Capricorn nature of being extremely grounded. The natives of this sign are typically rock solid. They are capable of making informed and strategic power moves. When Capricorn natives see an opportunity, they jump on it, without hesitation (much like a mountain goat discovering a tasty morsel on a nearby peak). Goats are tenacious creatures with surefire climbing skills. Capricorn uses these climbing skills to reach higher vantage points, relying on their spiritual knowledge and carefully planned steps to take them to where they want to be.
Many people are unaware of the other attributes assigned to Capricorn. These folks have an innate understanding of human emotion that can be confirmed by Capricorn’s earliest archetypal depiction: the sea goat. This creature has the head of a goat and the tail of a fish, speaking to the sensitive and intuitive nature of the Zodiac’s oldest earth sign. After all, Saturn did have the good sense to trust the prediction surrounding his eventual fate: deep down he knew what was coming. Capricorns know a lot about how the world works, even as children. They impress their parents with their savoir-faire as well as their refined emotional intelligence that is beyond their years. This allusion to the sea goat helps explain that while being children of the earth, mature Capricorns do have water sign abilities too.
Capricorn is the only earth sign that falls into the group of cardinal signs. Occurring during the beginning of winter, Capricorn is a sign that possess plenty of initiative. Like the other cardinal signs, the goat knows how to move forward (horns first!) with upward enthusiasm. These are idea people who have bigger picture perspectives combined with a healthy dose of reality. Similar to Scorpio’s need for self-regeneration, Capricorns also recognize that failure is a learning opportunity, above all else. A fall from stature allows for Cap to resurface once again with newer, better structures in place.
While Capricorns handle defeat quite gracefully, they prefer to avoid it entirely. They also do their best to avoid falling into financial distress. As earth signs they have an established propensity for stability, causing them to be cautious and controlled spenders. Expert budgeters, Capricorns are seldom threatened by bankruptcy. Their rises and falls seem to be of social and spiritual origins rather then career-based tragedies and triumphs. Regardless of what brought them down, you can be sure that everyone will notice when the sea-goat makes their efficacious return!
Fun-loving Capricorn does not live to work. For them it is quite the opposite. They work to live, with the intentions of living life to the fullest. Always down to have a good time, Capricorns use their burgeoning cardinal energy to focus on escaping the humdrum misery of working life. They want to transport themselves to somewhere new and exciting. This is where Capricorn defies typical earth sign logic. They spend recklessly if it is for enjoyment’s sake. Capricorns are connoisseurs of anything that smacks of old-fashioned living. Collecting odd antique furniture, phonographs, tobacco pipes, pocket watches, fine brandy, Elizabethan lace, or other items that suggest a rejection of the modern world is truly a Capricorn habit. These Grandmas and Grandpas of the Zodiac indeed enjoy finery! Yet, earth signs all share a gift for finding these things that they love at the most affordable price. Capricorn is no exception.
When they are not out experiencing their own brand of restrained adventure, Capricorn is subject to hopelessness and depression due to their tendency to carry emotional baggage. Many folks born under this sign had absent or distant fathers. This early sense of loss contributes to Capricorn’s initial fearful and defensive stance on life. Born with an inherent awareness of old age and death sometimes causes Cap to perceive everyday living to be bleak and threatening. More often than not, depressed Capricorns simply need some spirituality to lighten their situational burdens. On a bad day, Capricorn is plagued by insecurity. In this case, they can be overly distrustful, manipulative, materialistic, lazy, conservative, cowardly, judgmental and arrogant.
The negative attributes listed above are only dominant in Capricorns who are un-evolved or seriously depressed. As long as the sea goat continues along her spiritual quest for peace, she will have good fortune. On a good day, Capricorn is a caring and compassionate comrade. Drawn to helping careers, these natives often use their wisdom to help others discover their own paths to spiritual awareness and stability. These individuals make great accountants, social workers, and historians. Capricorns are said to revere their elders with more respect than any other sign. On a good day, Capricorn is logical, pragmatic, hilarious, wise (beyond their years), politically aware, ambitious, humble, and kind.
Cheers to our conventional Capricorn!
