Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)
When you have a month with two eclipses (one on the 8th, one on the 23rd) and a retrograde Mercury (4th-25th), you know that things are going to get steamy and a tad complicated. It’s also important to recognise that timing is all and knowing when to act is deeply helpful.
A lot of the dynamic energy involves cardinal signs, Aries, Libra and Capricorn (Cancer is the 4th cardinal sign) and especially if you’re born in the first 5 days of January, the intensity’s building.
As the month begins, both the Sun and Venus are in Libra up at the top of your chart ruling your work, career, vocation and your status. This is where you’re heading in life. These two planets walk side-by-side throughout October until they change signs on the same day, the 23rd.
On it’s own this is a positive energy as it’s about finding what you love and doing more of it, enjoying your vocation and the work relationships you’re building, plus it’s a chance for you to stamp your personality and your identity on your work.
If you’re a typical Capricorn, your work is important to you and your identity is closely aligned with the work you do. This month you may feel as if you’re drawing closer to what you want to do but if not, it’s decision time.
The key date is the 8th when there’s a Lunar or Full Moon eclipse cutting across the Aries/Libra axis of your chart. This pits your foundations (Aries) against your direction in life (Libra). Plus Pluto in Capricorn squares this opposition and for some this indicates a tough choice. It may be a simple decision between home and work; you may want to move home but how does that affect your work or you may want to take on a job or role that instigates a change of residence. It could be a decision around staying at home to look after your kids, working from home or changing your commute. Fit the symbolism to your own personal situation.
However, eclipses very often represent external events and what’s hidden comes to light. This may mean a job or contract comes to an end and as Venus is involved, the planet of love, what takes place in your partner’s life has a knock on effect in your own.
It’s a complicated picture but it’s important to realise that on the 10th Mercury, planet of communication, retreats back into Libra and only turns direct on the 25th. Mercury retrograde is a classic symbol for mix-ups and misunderstandings and it’s hard to see a clear picture until Mercury turns direct. Use the time when Mercury’s retrograde to re-negotiate, think things through and to wait patiently.
Sometimes Mercury retrograde is simply an indication that you’re waiting on news and that someone key in your life is unavailable. It’s also a good time to look back over the past, see how you can do things differently and to chase up old contacts. It’s not easy to move forward when Mercury’s retrograde but that shouldn’t stop you looking again at what’s been and gone and trying a 2nd or 3rd time to get the results you want.
During the eclipse there are also two dynamic fire trines which may provide an outlet or a solution to what you want to do. These involve Mars, the action planet, in Sagittarius, hidden away in the sign before yours in a trine aspect to Uranus (change) in Aries and your home and family sector on the 5th and Jupiter (opportunity) in Leo and your shared resources sector on the 8th. Again there’s a theme here of things being hidden, secrets or confidences that you’re having to guard.
However, if money’s an issue, look to your home or family to help you out or be the one to step in and offer your support. Fire signs are where the action’s at early in the month and you may find that someone from your past, a private benefactor or your own fairy godmother waves their magic wand and helps you out.
Finally this month, there’s a Solar or New Moon eclipse in Scorpio on the 23rd. This too involves Venus and the Sun, Moon and Venus are connected in the sign that rules friends, groups and wider society. This is the time to be more sociable, to look outside of your private world and widen your interests.
Eclipses can and do bring dramatic events so perhaps you’re called to help or advise a friend or simply be a shoulder to lean on. The end of the month is a wonderful time for deepening your connections with old and new friends alike and being part of a wider group that makes you feel you belong to something special.
Both the Moon and Venus are feminine planetary bodies so connect with the women in your life and build communities that are based on trust, collaboration and gentle kindness. The flow of information and new ideas can be enlightening so look out for someone who changes your life in the last week of October. What you hear, what you see and the people and activities you connect with may well have a deeper significance in your life for months and even years to come.