Sun in Capricorn ☼ Winter Solstice 2019

Dec 21 (Winter Solstice), 2019 – Jan 20, 2020

Remember – your sun sign is just one planet in your star-soup.

Happy birthday goats!

In the upper echelon of the zodiac, we arrive at Capricorn. As the last earth sign in the wheel, Capricorn represents culmination of all that is solid, tangible and real. It’s time take stock of everything we have been working towards this year.

Capricorn season coincides with all kinds of holidays celebrated around the world. The most emblematic one is the Winter Solstice. This is Capricorn’s debut, after all. Think about what it means, the fact that Capricorn arrives on the darkest night of the year. This is not the darkness of Scorpio, not the darkness of autumn cometh or Halloween. This darkness is not seductive or intimidating, but rather serious and meditative. Is it really surprising that Capricorns tend to be so self-critical and pessimistic when we consider the time of the year in which they are born? The earth goes to sleep; light slips through our fingers; the cold sets in.

Capricorn is always associated with stodgy, boring aspects of life like work and business. But the most important work that Capricorn performs is entirely ignored: this is the work of bringing the light back. The winter solstice officially takes place at 8:19pm PST on Dec 21. Take a moment to look up at the sky and welcome some LIGHT BACK!

This task, bringing the light back increment by increment, keeps the goat very busy. What Capricorn must remember is that, despite the importance of the work, what is even more important is managing expectations and high standards. The goat can be stiff, repressed or emotionally constipated. Remember to smile, Saturn-dwellers.

The goat moves at one of two speeds: insanity or total stillness. If you, like me, have heavy earth energy in your chart, this cycle signals hibernation. When the Sun moves into Capricorn, I hit the sheets bear-human style. Overcoming inertia feels pretty impossible at this time of year. Some things that are important: sleep. Go to bed early and wake up early, otherwise you will sleep through this entire cycle. Eat lightly and not too late at night. Move as soon as you wake up. Spend time in the sun. Schedule something into your day and then make sure to show up and do it. Get out, leave your house. Outings don’t have to be social – just move, go for a walk. If you are feeling overwhelmed or depressed, try incorporating citrus, cinnamon, hot chilies or other pitta–inducing foods into your diet. These will help keep your energy elevated. Take hot baths. Stay away from screens, TV, etc. Pick up a book instead. All creative work encouraged per usual, but I know how hard it is to create when you’re not feeling inspired!

This Capricorn season is going to be extremely busy (just like the goat!): for starters, on Dec 24 the sun forms a trine to Uranus Retrograde in Taurus. Usually trines are harmonious, but this one tends to make us feel cranky, overwhelmed, exhausted, and/or antisocial. This is not a good day to travel or make ambitious plans – just lay low. Dec 25 is the new moon solar eclipse in Capricorn – report coming soon!

On Dec 27, the sun will be at the same degree as Jupiter in Capricorn – yay! This should be one of the warmest, most festive days of the holiday season, if not the entire coming year. Mercury enters Capricorn one day later on Dec 28 but won’t catch up to the sun until Jan 10, the same day as the full moon lunar eclipse in Cancer. Out of all the full moons, the one that falls in Cancer, in my opinion, is the most powerful, simply because Cancer is ruled by the moon herself. So expect to really feel something! I’m very curious to see whether this full moon lunar eclipse madness will thwart Mercury’s influence, which is normally very productive and allows us to get a lot of shit done. Also on this same day, Uranus Retrograde ends – a great indicator that things will be feeling pretty copacetic.

Two more conjunctions: on Jan 13, the sun meets up with Pluto in Capricorn. A word of warning: this one tends to be intense on an emotional level. Just two hours later, the sun will then be conjunct Saturn in Capricorn. All of this comes just one day after Saturn and Pluto form their own conjunction. These conjunctions signal that we need to confront some serious shit. The wise know to tune out the bullshit and STAY FOCUSED.

These conjunctions are inherently motivating and encouraging. Even fear encourages honest inquiry and gets us moving. This is a major Capricorn excavation but we’re going to survive. We all play a small but important part in the renovation. Get together with loved ones and warm up in front of a fire. Give big hugs. Give yourself a hug – right now. Breathe. Breathe life into yourself and your goals. In meditation, focus on the root chakra. Light up the solstice with Capricorn Yoga.

Affirmation:  I am a mountain