Ruler: Saturn
Exalted: Mars
Detriment: Moon
Fall: Jupiter
Polarity: Feminine/ Negative
Modality: Cardinal
Element: Earth
Body Parts: skin, joints, structure & form, skeletal system, hair, nails, teeth
Nature: cold, dry, with little internal heat
Capricorn represents structure, achievement and the efficient use of resources.
As kids, we’d play Monopoly on Christmas Day or rainy days on holidays.
My Cap Moon Dad would insist on being banker and, somehow, always seemed to have a ready supply of cash.
I’d buy whatever property I landed on, generally lose focus and go bankrupt quite quickly. My Capricorn Sun, Aries Rising sister, Bec, would play the game strategically, aiming for the quality properties and utilities, quietly erecting hotels on each and then waiting for the sting. She’d wait until I’d gone bankrupt so she could buy up my defaulted properties and immediately improve them as well.
Bec and my Aries brother would generally battle it out to the death … or tears- usually when Mr Aries would pick up the board and throw it. Monopoly is now banned at my parents’ home).
Monopoly is the ultimate Capricorn board game.
Every astrologer has a sign (or two, or three) that they find difficult to identify with and difficult to write about. This doesn’t mean that we don’t like that particular sign, (or the people who have placements in that sign) but rather that we find it difficult to understand- usually because of differences within our own chart and with our own motivations.
As much as I love my sister, Capricorn is one of those signs for me. I think it’s because I have a difficult relationship with Saturn (the ruler of Capricorn). I think it’s also because I find it difficult to laugh at Capricorn- and I like to find something to laugh at or with in all signs.
Most signs have something in their key descriptive words that is sort of interesting or even slightly glamorous sounding. Cancer is caring and empathetic, Libra social and decorative, and Taurus tactile and musical. Capricorn, though, is ambitious, goal orientated and hardworking- motivated by the attainment of security, stability and societal respect. Positive traits indeed, but difficult to live up to- especially when young…
However, mention these motivations to Capricorn and the response is likely to be ‘I am nothing like that, which just goes to show that astrology is a crock of s%^t,’ or, ‘You make me out to be motivated by nothing but work and I am nothing like that, which just goes to show that astrology is a crock of s%^t ,’ or ‘you make me sound so boring and I am nothing like that, which just goes to show that astrology is a crock of s%^t.’
I also find that most signs have a shadow side that they are secretly willing to admit and even more secretly are proud of. Aquarians like their detached and quirky side, Gemini jokes about duplicity and Scorpio revels in her paranoia and revenge fantasies. Sadge brags of his excesses and Pisces her addictions, but Capricorn has difficulty admitting to her shadow side. Materialistic? Elitist? Social climbing? ‘Not I,’ they will say, ‘I am nothing like that, which just goes to show that astrology is a crock of s%^t.’
Each sign is a function of their ruling sign, and Capricorn’s is Saturn. Saturn represents maturity, mastery, containment, boundaries and restriction.
Saturn structures get stronger as they mature- as experience and wisdom is absorbed and storms weathered and survived.
So too with Capricorn. Capricorn is one sign which really grows into itself- quite possibly one of the reasons that people with Capricorn Ascendants and Suns (or with Saturn in the 1st house) age so well- they literally grow into their own skin. Capricorn careers also tend to peak later, as achievement is based on practicality, prudence and perseverance rather than charisma and light-bulb moments.
As Indiana Jones once said, ‘It’s not the years, but the mileage.’
Although sometimes feeling older than their years and their peers when young, and with a tendency towards gloom, prudence, economy, melancholy and worry, Capricorn tends to “lighten up” with age.
Symbolically, Capricorn is represented by the image of the Sea-Goat, a mythical creature with the body of a mountain goat and the tail of a fish. Where the mountain for Sagittarius is part of the adventure, existing as a challenge to get past, jump off and see what is on the other side; for Capricorn, it isn’t about what is waiting on the other side- it really is all about the Climb.
Capricorn achievement is not of the “look at me” fame and glory nature. It is quieter and more intrinsic. It is about mastery. It is about understanding the gravity and reality of life and confronting issues honestly and with wisdom and integrity. It is about maturity and becoming an adult.
Capricorn needs to feel that their experience, wisdom and knowledge is appreciated- with or without the supporting feedback. As such, Capricorn does tends to internalise when down and can be prone to depression if she feels that she hasn’t achieved what she thinks she should have achieved.
The danger for Capricorn is when she becomes hooked on social approval or compares herself and her position, salary and achievements to others, and finds herself envious of the apparent ease with which others have accumulated. It is at this point that the shadow of Capricorn comes into play.
Regardless of your Sun sign, we all have Capricorn somewhere in our charts. It’s this part of life that we approach with a Capricorn practicality, and its this part of life that is activated for the next month while the Sun is in Capricorn.
I’m a Pisces Rising, so Capricorn rules the 11th house for me- friends, networks, hopes and dreams. I have no planets in Capricorn, or the 11th, but the 11th for me is hard work. I have a lot of acquaintances, yet my trusted friends are relatively few- and that’s the way I like it. I don’t like crowds, dread the thought of large social gatherings (but can plaster on the mask and enjoy it when I’m there), and know that no one is going to come along to give me a shortcut to making my dreams come to life.
Wherever Capricorn is in your chart is a place that you need to learn to be “enough”- what other people think matters less than you would imagine.
If you know your birth time and have a chart, go looking for the Capricorn symbol- it’s like a v with a squiggly tail.
If you don’t know (or can’t be faffed) follow the solar chart guide below:
If your Sun or Rising sign is Aries, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 10th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Taurus, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 9th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Gemini, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 8th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Cancer, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 7th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Leo, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 6th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Virgo, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 5th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Libra, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 4th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Scorpio, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 3rd house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Sagittarius, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 2nd house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Capricorn, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 1st house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Aquarius, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 12th house
If your Sun or Rising sign is Pisces, Capricorn will be on the cusp of your 11th house
Don’t know what this means for you? This site can help.