Capricorn in a Chestnut Shell
Winter’s stillness descends with the energy of cardinal Earth pulling us down into the depths of our foundations. The Sun spends three days churning at this turning point on the great sky wheel before it begins to share more of its light with us, slowly gifting us longer days. Capricorn and its ruler Saturn deal in currencies of time, tenacity and toil. To create the external foundation for our internal intentions, this season and sign demand some sweat and sacrifice for these ambitions to be realized and for us to receive due recognition for our process. This is Capricorn done well. If one chooses to negate these truths and attempt to sweep aside ones responsibilities and skate by on good looks or vapid words or actions then not only will ones foundation be a house of cards, but karmic loops may be perpetuated. This sign also brings with it great helpings of past life karma and the debts that are to be paid this lifetime. Ultimately that is what we are here to do, so developing an awareness around what you have come in with regarding your personal karma, as well as understanding that it is a complex web as it is all connected into collective karma at this point. This will start to give you a map to climb and clear these mountains of karmic debts that need our attention. This is a time of practical action, rooted in a history of what works, of what has stood the test of time. Idealistic ponderings and fluffy tidings of good will don’t accomplish much of anything, but they do a great job of keeping one trapped in a pretty box of slavery with a big bow on top. We have Pluto anchoring the 29th degree of Capricorn while the Sun enters the first degree of this powerful sign, Pluto’s power of transformation of empire is definitely underway and the Sun comes in as an accelerant to this process. The subtle systems and organizations that have kept humanity in invisible chains for generations continue to dissolve. Rejoice and decipher how you are actively participating in transmuting the karma that presents itself in your daily waking life. On another note, Capricorn and Saturn rule over the skeletal system, once again reflecting how they provide the structure and foundation of our bodies, as well as tapping into the realm of our ancestors with the epigenetics shared through our bone marrow. In TCM, Winter is the season of the kidneys and water element, so rest and deep nourishment are the medicines required to build up our stores of energy in the kidneys, preparing them for the return of Summer when that energy is spent in much more external activity. Plenty of good fats (if you don’t know what I mean start here - https://www.westonaprice.org/11-principles-overview/ ), mineral rich bone broths, roots and long sleeps will serve you well.
In the spirit of restructuring communications with Mercury currently retrograde in Capricorn, I’m experimenting with how these writings will be presented so they are more easily integrated into your days, this will also hopefully allow time for some interspersed writings on specific planetary aspects, plants and other topics that are inspired by the spirits of the depths.
Planetary Aspects
Friday Dec 22 - Sun conjunct Mercury RX at 0º Capricorn & later that evening Mercury moves back into Sagittarius ~ The halfway point of Mercury’s retrograde cycle is reached here. An underworld rebirth process begins.
Saturday Dec 24 - Mars at 22º Sagittarius sextile South Node in Libra & trine North Node in Aries ~ Time to put those passion projects and ideas into action with fiery fuel and blessings from the cosmos. Direct and perhaps jarring teachings coming in to redirect one to the path that must be blazed.
Monday Dec 25 - Venus at 25º Scorpio trine Neptune at 25º Pisces ~ Spiritual gifts flow with ease this day, this energy may be channeled into something of beauty you create, a meal or a craft project that appeared in your dreams the night before. A day to soften and receive emotional support while not getting lost in the pleasure waves. Intoxicants may be calling your name but trust me, they aren’t needed with all this watery energy streaming in!
Tuesday Dec 26 - Cancer Full Moon - Sun at 4º Capricorn opposite Moon at 4º Cancer // Chiron direct at 15º Aries // Mercury at 25º Sag square Neptune at 25º Pisces - 2nd square of 3 ~ This is the Full Moon that rules them all with the Moon in her home sign, water energies flood the scene providing motivation to reach higher ground and gain new perspectives from the mountain side. One’s foundations of inner security and external reputations may be receiving some challenging attention, as cracks in communications of ones higher ideals start to show, triggering old wounds for the next level of healing. Let the trap of emotions move through and get a grounded foothold of what is real in the present moment, some resolution and clarity will start to trickle in after Mercury clears its 3rd square with Neptune around January 8.
Wednesday Dec 27 - Sun at 5º Capricorn trine Jupiter at 5º Taurus // Mercury RX conjunct Mars at 24º Sagittarius ~ A wild card of a day. Powerful Earth support comes in with the Sun trining the Great Sage of the Cosmos, gratefully receive the stabilizing forces that show up, bolstering your confidence to initiate some great work. Meanwhile Mercury’s trickster energy gets amplified by Mars’ enthusiasm for playful chaos. Move through the day with eyes for both of these aspects popping up in interesting ways.
Thursday Dec 28 - Mars at 25º Sag square Neptune in Pisces // Venus at 29º Scorpio sextile at 29º Pluto Capricorn ~ Fresh off the exact Mercury conjunction, Mars could be misfiring all over the place for the days around these aspects. Aspirations may miss their intended mark, vague undercurrents of passive aggressive behavior may abound and impassioned emotions could be wrangled by outside forces for agendas that do not serve anyone well. Ultimately all will end well, but it may rocky for a bit. On the upside Venus is in a working friendship with Pluto here, bringing new appreciation for the depths of transformation reached this last month and activating some potent manifestation magic.
Friday Dec 29 - Venus moves into Sagittarius ~ A lightening of energy, Venus flies from the depths of fixed water Scorpio to expand into the Jupiter ruled skies of endless possibilities here in Sagittarius. Jovial social gatherings, toasts to the gods, charming philosophizing, exotic flavors and utopian dreams now drip into consciousness.
Saturday Dec 30 - Jupiter turns direct at 5º Taurus! ~ Bless Jove! As Jupiter slowly begins to shift directions ones propensity for attracting and creating valuable resources should start to drop into form.
Monday Jan 1- Mercury turns direct at 22º Sag! // Venus at 3º Sag square Saturn at 3º Pisces ~ The resolution phase of Mercury’s underworld journey begins today, so some sense should start to crystallize around what kept breaking down these last few weeks. Constructive feedback from wise allies about ones spiritual path may appear, the sort of stuff you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Have open ears, it is a necessary correction and a good start to the year.
Thursday Jan 4 - Mars moves into Capricorn ~ Mars operates well here, initiating projects that have strong foundations and enduring longevity. Now is the time to start channeling your energy into your big project(s) for the year.
Monday Jan 8 - Mercury 25º Sag square Neptune in Pisces - third and final pass ~ The fuzzy thinking and communicating that may have peaked around the Full Moon reaches a resolution point around this time, perhaps bringing new tools and realizations around how to be clearer in ones intentions. Conveying spiritual truths and divine inspirations is tricky business, humility is key for doing so in a good way.
Tuesday Jan 9 - Sun at 19º Capricorn trine Uranus at 19º Taurus // Mars at 3º Capricorn sextile Saturn in Pisces ~ A day of revelation. Personal and collective tensions may receive the necessary bolts of energy and clarity of mind to make quantum shifts that benefit this process of constructing new and stable foundations. We are in the lead up to a super potent New Moon so expect these few days to be a lit gauntlet of upheaval and change.
Wednesday Jan 10 - Sun at 20º Capricorn square South Node in Libra & North Node in Aries - a cardinal T-Square ~ The perfect follow up to the Uranian energy that hit yesterday is the destined realignment of the Sun crossing the bending of the nodes. This tense T-square energy is worked through with the medicine of Cancer’s cardinal Water. How can you soften and focus on cultivating your own inner security and emotional well being as the collective deals with its karmic debt coming up for payment?
Thursday Jan 11 - Capricorn New Moon at 21º Capricorn - squaring the Nodes and trine to Uranus in Taurus // Venus 16º Sag trine Chiron at 16º Aries ~ An electric seeding of a new lunar cycle, all of the players that rapidly redirect errant journeys are in aspect to this moon! It kind of feels like it’s inspection day, the work done thus far into setting your foundation gets a cosmic check to see if it will hold, or if there are cracks in the foundation that need further attention. Trust me, you will know the answer, nothing is subtle today. Also some medicine comes forward today that is a balm for the wounded warrior within, it could be in the form of a reframed cosmology or be coming from a far off place.
Friday Jan 12 - Mars at 5º Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus ~ Another productive day that supports our inner and outer construction projects.
Saturday Jan 13 - Mercury moves into Capricorn ~ Still in the shadow of the retrograde, Mercury retreads its ground in the first decan of Capricorn for one more week when it will clear this shadow degree and move on to new terrain.
Sunday Jan 14 - Venus at 19º Sagittarius sextile South Node in Libra - trine North Node in Aries ~ Relationships could blossom in new ways around this day, deepening feelings of fated connections, realizations around shared past lives and the implications for your co-evolution could come to light. Also some karmic debt could be paid off in some quite tangible ways that alights a clearer path of evolutionary support to stream in.
Monday Jan 15 - Sun at 25º Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces ~ Direct and divine guidance for manifesting a dream may appear today. May also have a haze of illusion clear that allows for deeper knowing of what alights your inner fire that fuels your life’s work.
Thursday Jan 18 - Mercury at 5º Capricorn sextile Saturn at 5º Pisces - third and final pass of the retrograde ~ Mercury is developing some winged feet to stand upon again with support from Saturn, the words you use can begin to hold some power to effect change. The frustrations leading up to this may be understood on a deeper level, as you see the slow build that was necessary for what is wanting to emerge.
Friday Jan 19 - Mercury at 6º Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus // Venus at 25º Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces ~ A continuation of the potentising power of ones words from yesterday, resources may manifest that assist the grounding of ones spirit. Be aware of being drawn into spending money on tokens that are poor replacements for true spiritual wisdom and power.
Summary
All in all we have a significant shift in the aspects being made this season of initiating, cardinal Earth energy, there are many more supportive sextiles and trines after a whole lineup of squares and oppositions in Sagittarius season. There’s a lot of energy that is streaming our way, as there are direct aspects nearly every day! Despite the Mercury retrograde energy we have going on there feels like there will be a more cohesive flow that assists in setting of foundations and getting some really powerful winter’s night work done, especially once Mercury clears its shadow degree upon the entrance into Aquarius season. Buckle up for the tectonic shifts, especially around the mid-January New Moon electric jam, keep your role as the witness handy when the going gets frazzled. See you after the turn of the human constructed year.

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