the capricorn sun

Image by Dorothe Wouters from Pixabay

winter is upon us

The exquisite silence and stillness of winter is upon us here in New England and with it comes the Capricorn season. Although I’ve named this post The Capricorn Sun, the following info is also highly relevant if you were born with a Capricorn Moon (like myself). While the Sun and the Moon have very different roles within your birthchart, the infusion of Capricorn energy motivates them in much the same way. For a more detailed look at what the Sun represents in your psyche, you can take a peek at this blog post here: The Sun (astrologically speaking). The very short version of that post is this: the Sun represents your personality, and living true to the highest expression of your Sun is the way to ensure your sanity. The Moon, on the other hand, represents your inner emotional world, and living true to your Moon is the way to ensure your happiness. Again, this post will offer helpful tips and guidance for both.

I think it’s also important to stress that even if you’re not a Capricorn yourself, this post may still be applicable to your life. If you have a spouse, child, partner, or parent who’s heavily spiced with Capricorn energy, then I encourage you to read on. Having an awareness of what each sign needs to truly thrive can make a world of difference within your relationships—fostering greater understanding and acceptance. Personally, I used to drive my girls (and honestly, sometimes even myself) absolutely crazy with my endless goals. They couldn’t fathom why I’d finally finish up one giant project only to breathe a quick sigh of relief before diving directly into the next! If you get just a little bit deeper into this post, you’ll learn that accomplishing goals like this is fundamentally necessary to the happiness of a Capricorn, and without these projects misery quickly ensues (I can attest to the truth of this). Thanks to astrology, we all understand my “craziness” just a little bit better now.

Before we dive into the good stuff, I get the feeling that some probably believe Capricorn to be a somewhat boring member of the zodiac, but this couldn't be farther from the truth! Obviously I’m a huge (perhaps biased) fan of the energy myself and am grateful every day to have this stalwart energy coursing through my veins. It’s saved me many times—giving me the stamina to see through some of the hardest things I’ve ever had to tackle. So as I take the first chilly step into this glorious season (snowflakes are falling as I type), it’s time to talk about what it means to be a Capricorn. What is the overall goal of this sign? What are its strengths and its weaknesses? What does it look like if you’re using this energy well and what does it look like if you’re not?

Image by Birgit from Pixabay

the capricorn goal

Being born with your Sun in the grounded sign of Capricorn, your evolutionary goal for this lifetime is to cultivate:  integrity, self-discipline, and maturity.

As one of the three earth signs, Capricorn embodies a patient, practical, and enduring strength. It’s solid. Committed. Reasonable. And often fascinated by challenge. My favorite motto in life for the longest time has been: slow and steady wins the race, and those six words quite accurately sum up the Capricorn spirit. Blessedly focused, Capricorn folks are able to push aside all distractions and temptations in order to get the job done—working on long after everyone else has called it quits. A current fleeting pleasure pales in comparison to the deep satisfaction that comes from accomplishing the goal that sparkles ahead in the distance—especially if that goal is a worthy one.

These goals are so important, in fact, that they've earned a name of their very own and for the remainder of this post I’ll be referring to them as: Great Works. Broadly defined, a Great Work is a daunting, long-term project that will require patience, persistence, and endurance to see it through. We’ve strayed far from the land of instant gratification when we’re talking about these Works, just as surely as we've strayed miles from the concept of "easy-breezy." But while it's true that they will ask a lot—namely all of the discipline and dedication that a Cap is capable of—they offer just as much in return. What follows upon completion is an immense sense of pride and gratification that makes all of the blood, sweat, and tears well worth it. Essentially, Great Works give purpose, meaning, direction, and joy to the remarkable life of a Capricorn, and some sweaty tears seem a small price to pay for a reward so rewarding.

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

the sea-goat

Capricorns are a deeply grounded force of nature—characteristics embodied by their symbol: the Sea-Goat. If we consider that Aries has the ram, Taurus has the bull, and Cancer has the crab, then what even is a sea-goat? And why does it take a mythical creature to sum up this hard-working sign? Perhaps it seems a strange combination on the surface, but if you pick this fish/goat hybrid apart, then you quickly begin to understand why it’s a most perfect fit.

We’ll start with the upper half because I think goats may be my all-time favorite animal. I had the sheer joy of their company as pet companions for many years, and so I can confirm their nimble, sure-footed, and tenacious nature. If they want that luscious treat dangling just beyond reach? Well, they’ll do whatever it takes to claim it. With agile goat feet, they’re able to turn on a dime, leap, and scamper up rocks like there’s nothing to it. Basically, neither land nor difficulty will thwart a goat on a mission.

But a sea-goat has another half, too—the tail of a fish—which means that not only are they adept at climbing mountains, they’re also completely at home swimming in the seas. Therefore, land is no obstacle nor is water… which means that a Capricorn with an eye on a carrot is deterred by nothing. Able to calmly and logically navigate problems both on hoof and by fin, they can be virtually unstoppable. Personally, I have a hard time giving up, even when land and sea are stacked against me. But just like the goat, I'll try as many new avenues as I can think of until I reach that peak with tasty carrot in mouth. And if I don’t? It’s certainly not for lack of trying. Or climbing. Or swimming. Or sweating.

Percy & Tansy

know thyself

For some, a Great Work will manifest as writing a novel, raising a family, climbing Mt. Everest, getting your PhD, or perhaps even learning the craft of Evolutionary Astrology—your choice of goals here really is infinite. The goal itself isn’t what’s important, only that you’ve chosen it because it has personal meaning and value for you and you alone. Deciding to become a doctor because it’s what your dear ol’ ma has been dreaming of since you were five is indeed a daunting, long-term goal, but it’s not a Great Work, simply because it’s been chosen for the wrong reason. In the same vein, choosing a Great Work because you know society will approve is also a no-no. So before a Capricorn can definitively sets their sights on a Great Work, it’s imperative that you know yourself well enough to understand what it is that will actually make you happy. What Work do you approve of? What are you eager to pour your passion into? What "mountain" do you want to climb? What is it that's calling to you in a visceral sort of way?

Unfortunately, if you rush through this first step, there’s a very real danger that you select the wrong Work, for all the wrong reasons. Which means you'll spend substantial energy climbing the mountain before you only to reach the top, look around, and realize you’ve scaled the wrong peak. Instead of wasting your precious resources on a climb meant for someone else, there are a couple of important things for you to factor in. These "important things" can help to clarify whether or not the mountain you're considering is indeed the right one for you.

trust your guts

First, begin by trusting your hunches—a talent inherent to earth signs. Let these urges lead the way and point you in the direction of your peak. I was stuck in a horrible and boring rut right before I began studying astrology. Not having any idea how to climb out and free myself, I simply let my intuitive sparks guide me—right to astrology. And then to aromatherapy. And then to soap-making. Those gut-feelings didn't exactly make perfect sense (if I'm being honest, I wasn't even sure I believed in astrology before studying it), but they're all I had to go on. Just make sure that your heart also wants those hunches badly enough to see you through the work that lies ahead. Collaboration between heart and mind is critical, so check in with both.

moral code

Secondly, make sure that the Work you're considering aligns with your personal code of ethics. Several paragraphs ago, I touched upon how important it is that a Capricorn know themselves well before picking a peak to climb, and that knowing includes a firm personal code of ethics. Begin by taking the time to consider whether or not your values have been chosen by you or by others. It's all too easy to adopt a set of morals simply because they're all you've known.

Once you're clear on what you stand behind and for—walk the talk. Honor them in your everyday life. If we keep in mind (at all times) that developing integrity is one of the evolutionary goals for a Capricorn, then you realize that this step is nothing to take lightly. That being said, each Great Work that you choose should reflect your integrity and morals, and if you find yourself compromising them in any way? You’ve settled on the wrong goal. It truly is as simple as that.

Personally, I’m a vegan, therefore my soaps are also vegan; I've decided that veganism is so extremely important to me that I've fashioned my life and choices around it. So if I were to one day start selling soap made with honey, tallow, and goat milk there would eventually be an inner conflict of interest (probably sooner rather than later). My goal wouldn’t be in alignment with my ethics. And if your goal doesn’t align with your morals, then you've already taken the first steps towards a peak that isn't yours to summit. And while you will likely still reach that peak (hard-worker that you are), it won't bring the satisfaction and sense of victory that you're hoping for.

Image by G.C. from Pixabay

tools of the trade

At the moment of your birth, you were abundantly blessed with an impressive array of Capricorn tools. These tools will obviously be helpful in many facets of life, but particularly so when it comes to accomplishing Great Works; in this area, they will likely prove indispensable. Topping the list, your self-discipline is admirable and so is your willpower which, quite frankly, is pretty much your superpower. You also possess the stamina and endurance needed to see these large and long-term projects through to completion.

I lean on all four of those aforementioned traits quite heavily when I'm immersed in a Great Work, especially in those moments when I become overwhelmed by the enormity of it all... and decide to give up. Yup, it's true. During the course of each Great Work, I often throw in the towel at least once—quite often twice (or thrice). Sometimes, I throw in the towel before I've even taken that first scary step. It's important to understand that even a Capricorn can feel temporarily daunted and that's perfectly fine, so long as you don't let fear permanently stand between you and your peak.

Also at your disposal is an abundance of common sense and logic which, when partnered with your equally abundant self-sufficiency, probably makes you the person others turn to when they want things done and done well. Capricorns tend to prefer working alone and are naturally resourceful self-starters who can work with single-pointed focus. At peace with solitude, the Capricorn soul generally needs an abundance of it, so make sure to actively claim periods of alone-time—on a daily basis, if possible—to really be at your best.

And lastly, Capricorns are excellent at prioritizing. This proves to be especially helpful when you've set your sights on a Great Work and are getting ready to take those first steps. Prior to that initial jumping in, it's important that you determine and set priorities; picking at your Work in a willy-nilly fashion is simply a waste of your precious resources and time. So while all plans may need adjusting as you go, set your priorities as they stand now and make a resolution to stick to them, no matter how tempting that mindless distraction may be. Sure, doomscrolling would definitely be easier—and you certainly don’t need to break a sweat to do it—but it will never (ever) fulfill that pressing need in you to accomplish something worthy.

watch out for...

Pretty much this entire post thus far has been spent talking about what things look like if you’re using this energy in a useful and positive way. So then, what does life look like if you’re instead navigating the Capricorn energy poorly?

One of the greatest dangers is your tendency to work yourself too hard. Even though Capricorns come equipped with impressive stamina, please remember that you’re also human. And humans need rest. They need food and play and companionship. Out-of-balance Capricorns often find themselves so engrossed in their work that they completely ignore the needs of the body and work themselves to death. Sleep? Who needs it? Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? I’ll get to that later.

Make sure not to lose sight of the fact that you’re a whole and rounded person who needs to nurture body, mind, and soul just as much as the rest of us. Don’t allow your amazing focus to overshadow your simple and basic human needs and transform you into a workaholic. Traveling back again to the upper half of the sea-goat: goats love to play. Like, love it more than any other animal I can think of! So make sure to “frolic” like a goat sometimes, kicking your heels up just for the heck of it. It’s not only fun, it’s necessary. All work and no play—even for a hard-working Capricorn—is a recipe for disaster.

We've already talked about this earlier but it bears repeating, so always confirm for yourself that your Great Work is one that is freely and personally chosen. If you climb a mountain because others have told you to, or because it’s “the thing” you’ve been raised to do, this can lead to feelings of crushing loneliness, defeat, and sadness. In this case, it’s all too easy to feel as though you’ve lost total control over your life, so where does all that energy go? It doesn’t simply disappear, and in order to compensate for your sense of powerlessness, you may resort to excessively controlling others—perhaps even becoming tyrannical in nature. Dictating how others should live their lives, freely offering unsolicited advice, and constantly correcting others is a sure sign that you’re using this strong Capricorn energy is a destructive way.

a sleepy, baby Percy

high & low

The higher expressions (or archetypes) of Capricorn that you want to strive for are the hermit; the elder; the strategist; the solid rock; the parent; or the prime minister.

The lower expressions (and those to steer clear of) are the tyrant; the curmudgeon; the schemer; the power-tripper; or the control freak.

If you find yourself discouraged because those lower expressions resonate with your experience more than the higher ones do, please, please don’t beat yourself up. The Sun energies are very strong, and it’s often through voluminous trial and error that we stumble upon their best expression. I’d suggest using that discouragement intentionally as motivation to become the best You that you can imagine. Choose a higher expression that represents the most empowering vision of yourself that you can imagine and then move towards becoming that. Remembering that you already possess the energies and the tools, if you willfully move in the direction of a higher archetype, amazing doors often open ♥

Happy Capricorn season to my fellow sea-goats!

Much love,

Melinda

P.S. Don't forget to check out our all-natural Capricorn soap bars! I was going for a marble look (because Caps are solid as a "rock") and the organic essential oils are a gorgeous and grounding blend of cedarwood, patchouli, and frankincense! Fabulous, if I do say so myself ;)