
In addition to the Sun and Moon in Capricorn, we have Venus, Pluto and Mercury in Capricorn on this New Moon. The innermost and the outermost planets. And they all are in orb of being square to the lunar nodes in Libra and Aries. Stephanie Austin says that “the spiritual task of Capricorn is the development of responsibility, resourcefulness and integrity.” Learn to see your life as filled with opportunities for growth and learning.
Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, represents boundaries, structures and form. We are encouraged to find an appropriate container for our creativity, ideas and inspiration in order to bring something into manifestation. We may have loads of ideas but until and unless we put them into some form, they remain in our own imagination. You may decide this coming year to learn a new skill that will become that container. Follow the crumbs left on your life path into the little house in the woods where transformation takes place. Where we are cooked and changed.
This happened for me this past year. I had taken up knitting and crocheting again after a few years of not doing it. One day in a local craft store, while searching for a new crochet pattern book, I came across a book on Soutache Jewelry. When I opened that book a magical world appeared. I was entranced. I continued to think about that book and the jewelry depicted there. I did some Internet searching a discovered a new world. I was fascinated. Already possessing boxes and bins of yarn, dozens of pattern books, and loads of craft supplies, I said “No way,” to this new craft which would require a whole new set of things. It haunted me for months. I dreamt about it. I saw visions of ‘my work’ in shop windows. Finally I surrendered. I am developing my own line. I was in a juried craft show last weekend after only being into this for 5 months. My soutache website is www.silkroadsoutache.com
My point is that if you follow what delights and fascinates you, you may just find your ‘way’ into something you could never have imagined. There are so many things to do, directions to take. No reason to give up and be depressed. While you may have no idea what’s next in your life, if you are willing to be surprised, to stay in ‘not-knowing’ for a while, to remain open to possibilities, then to act on your inspirations, you may find yourself with a whole new life.
This New Moon corresponds to the ingress of the Sun into Capricorn also known as the Winter Solstice. Solstice means standing still and in fact the Sun appears to stand in the same spot for 3 days before beginning its journey back to the high point in the cycle. It is the period of the shortest days, longest nights and signals the ‘official’ beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere.
I see this time as best served by going within, reviewing the past year’s successes and failures and then developing goals for the coming year. This usually culminates in ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ that most people forget about after 2 or 3 months. A good time to look at where you’ve been and where you want to go.
In addition to all the planets in Capricorn on the New Moon, Uranus, retrograde since July 21, goes direct minutes before the solstice, so there is a lot going on that day! When planets have been retrograde they seem to intensify whatever energy they represent so that when they go direct their influence on us is heightened.
There seem to be many contradictory forces operating simultaneously, much like planets in difficult aspects. The challenge therefore is to find a way to synthesize, to provide what is known as ‘third force’. Outside the box. Not ‘either/or’, but ‘both/and.’ New ways of seeing beyond black and white; yes or no. How can we learn to work together despite our differences? How can we celebrate diversity while working together on common issues.
This is so both on the global level and the personal level. One way that I am developing personal integrity is to learn to say “No,” when people want me to do more than I originally committed to do. I have learned to keep things simple and direct. Clear communication is best. It is easier to add more tasks when you complete the ones you have agreed to do, than to take on too much, then try to get out of it.
For many, the ‘holiday season’ presents overwhelming stress as they try to make everyone happy (except themselves), because they want to be loved or appreciated. They run around shopping for the perfect gift, spending way too much money and end up getting sick Christmas Eve so their holiday is ruined. If you are one of these people, I want you to take breathing breaks. Stop what you are doing and take a moment to breathe. Look around at where you are. Say to yourself, “I am here and everything is okay.” If you don’t learn to be present, you will miss most of your life as you live in the past or the future. The only thing we have is the present moment and if you miss that it’s gone.