Winter has started and how perfect the cold, the white, the fog and the snow are to represent what Capricorn is all about.
Capricorn is said to be hard-working, bossy, aloof, serious but with a great sense of humor.
This last bit always made me pause. “A great sense of humor.” This seems to have been added to sweeten the grave reputation of our little magical goat sign.
Why if Capricorn is so serious and cold would they have a great sense of humor? Some say dark humor in particular, which makes a little more sense. But still.
So what’s the real character of Capricorn?
Well, to me the real raw Capricorn is the mood of late December, the new year and up to the end of January. Capricorn is a lucky sign that covers a key period in our lives.
I’d like to explain a bit in what way Capricorn is the coldness of winter. And I’d like to show you how to make sense of Capricorn your own way.
Did you know that in astrology any zodiac sign is at its core defined by its element, mode and ruling planet?
If you understand those 3 things, you understand the sign. So let’s check out the meaning of the element, mode and ruling planet of Capricorn, and see if it makes sense with it’s standard reputation.
1. The Element
There are 4 elements in astrology: fire, air, earth and water. Capricorn is earth.
Can you feel the earthiness in Capricorn? I feel it even in the word. It’s raspy.
The elements in earth are much like the real element they are symbolized by. Earth is heavy, slow and compact. Earth is solid yet takes the qualities of its surrounding. If the air is hot, the earth warms itself up. If the rain is cold, the earth becomes muddy and fresh.
I love the element of earth. It’s grounded, it’s mysterious, it’s rich. You can find anything in the earth. You could dig the ground forever.
And of course the earth is our earth. It’s our home. It’s nature and it’s life as we know it.
In traditional astrology, earth is the lowest of the elements. It goes earth, water, air and fire as we rise towards the aether. Rising up doesn’t mean being better by the way.
In less abstract terms, earth is the element that connects us to our physical world, it’s our body and our senses.
2. The Mode
There are 3 modes in astrology: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Capricorn is of the cardinal mode.
All the cardinal signs are the ones who start a season. They’re the signs that begin, initiate, create and bring fresh and new qualities.
So Capricorn is actually the most dynamic of the earth signs in that regard. It’s cardinal earth. It’s this fresh start when you feel something for the first time. It’s your first breath in the morning that reminds you that you’re a living being.
3. The Ruling Planet
It’s here that everything makes sense for Capricorn. It’s here that we get the seriousness, the harshness and this drive to work and achieve.
Because Saturn is the planet that rules Capricorn.
Dear old Saturn. The furthest of the 7 traditional planets. Look at Saturn in the sky and you’ll notice that Saturn isn’t a very bright star. It’s kind of an ashen color. It’s pale. Nothing in comparison to Venus.
But is makes sense because Saturn is so far away.
And Saturn moves so slowly.
Saturn is dull, distant and slow. Sorry, I’m not saying it in a mean way. I love Saturn. Saturn rules all the planets in my birth chart and if you meet me, well, you’ll notice I am a tad dull, distant and slow. But in a good way XD
Saturn is time, and in particular old time. Saturn is the unbearable stretch of time and also the terrible quickness of time. Time runs out for all of us. That’s why Saturn’s also limits, ends and deaths.
Saturn is maturity and responsibility but not out of kindness or goodness. But because there isn’t any other choice. That’s our only life, so let’s try to make something kind of decent for us, right?
4. Wrapping it Up
Saturn explains the cold, harsh and mature attitude of Capricorn. Cardinal earth explains the incredible stamina of Capricorn and why they have this reputation of working so hard.
They’re not working hard because they want that job at the top of the ladder. But because they’re earth. They’re the world, they’re what we sense. What can be felt, seen and touched means something for them.
Not emotions, like water. Not ideas, like air. Not individuality, like fire.
Earth is what’s tangible and felt like animals.
Saturn is a tough ruling planet. Like Mars, Saturn likes to push to their very limit the signs that they rule. They’re not easy-going like Venus or warm like the Sun.
Saturn asks Capricorn to show the results. They want something clear. Something nobody can deny. Something that will stand the test of time. But how could that ever exist, right?
But sometimes Capricorns believe they’ll achieve this thing that’s eternal.
And I love Capricorns for that. They believe in gods. They believe we could be gods.
So yes, Capricorn deserves their reputation. But only if you see the words hard-working, bossy, aloof and serious in a slightly more mysterious, more timeless way.
5. What about that wicked sense of humor?
Honestly?
I don’t know. I really don’t get it, haha. Saturn isn’t a funny planet. Elements and modes aren’t really funny or not funny, that’s not really what they’re about.
Any signs can be funny in their own ways and for me, sorry Capricorn, but you’re not the funniest of the signs. But you’re still wonderful.
If you'd like to connect more with this wonderful Capricorn energy, I've got a journaling prompts post here. The idea is in this post is what would Capricorn want you to think about and reflect on?
I hope you have a lovely Capricorn season. Here's a little summary of the sign of Capricorn.
Stay warm or cool depending on where you live.
Jin ♪