Capricorn the Goat helps us live with integrity

By Anne M. Nordhaus-Bike

Each year, the Sun travels through the 12 signs of the zodiac, giving all of us a chance to “try on” the energy of each sign for a month at a time. This ongoing opportunity helps us make the most of our astrological birth charts, because everyone has all 12 signs within his or her chart. So, during any given month, we can experience the positives and negatives of a particular astrological sign and then take the best of what we learn to enrich our lives and achieve a new level of personal harmony.

Last month, the Sun made its way though Sagittarius, and we all had opportunities to experience the Archer’s optimism and questing spirit. Now the Sun moves into sober Capricorn, renowned for its discipline, stoicism, patience, love of order and structure, and ambition for power and success.

As symbolized by the Goat, when Capricorn is out of balance it butts heads with others who stand between the Goat and its goal. It also can be cold, melancholy, joyless, cruelly stingy, and proudly materialistic. At its worst, Capricorn takes its deep need for security to extremes, becoming a dictator at work and home and using any means to get money, power, and social status. When those it takes advantage of or dominates reject Capricorn, the injured Goat withdraws into haughty solitude and may drink alone to soothe its aching heart.

As a cardinal sign, Capricorn takes initiative, and as an earth sign it focuses on practicality and reality. Ruled by Saturn, the ancient symbol of Father Time, Capricorn’s reserved, cautious personality reflects its need to live within limitations to develop patience, build a firm foundation slowly, and see the fruits of its considerable labors manifest over time. Naturally self-reliant, Capricorns find happiness when they balance ceaseless striving by opening their hearts and risking vulnerability.

Goats’ legendary perseverance and self-discipline suit them well to any aspect of business, especially as top executives, office managers, or any job requiring excellent organization skills. They excel in practical fields concerned with structure, such as the building trades, architecture, and engineering, and work successfully with the Earth as farmers, clay artists, and land developers or managers.

Other Capricorns work in government, politics, the military, administration, and other callings enabling them to work hard in return for steady advancement. Typically mature beyond their years, Capricorns begin taking responsibility as children and come to love being in charge. This wise elder quality can be expressed in teaching, often as a stern taskmaster, or in health care, particularly specialties associated with bones and bodily structures. Goats also serve well as accountants, actors, agents, and advisors.

Occasionally, Goats may become overwhelmed by responsibility and morph into chronic complainers. Trapped by obligations, excessively high standards, and the misery of shouldering others’ responsibilities, they short circuit their own ambition by refusing to take any responsibility at all. In extreme cases, their careers amount to nearly nothing, and they even may drop out of productive employment entirely.

At leisure, Capricorns enjoy connecting with the Earth via walking, mountain climbing, and sports or through pottery, gardening, or landscape painting. Golf with the powerful and other exclusive activities with movers and shakers nurture Goats’ love of efficiency by combining exercise with status seeking. Goats also enjoy planning and taking trips, especially to places that improve or advance them in some way. Most of all, Goats need time alone and space of their own to retreat and recharge regularly.

In relationships, Capricorns make worthy, loyal friends. Pride and abhorrence of debt push them to repay kindnesses promptly and well. With those they respect and trust, their gloomy mask falls away and their dry wit takes center stage. Surprisingly sensitive and naturally sympathetic, they provide dependable support and a commendable example of how to get on with the business of life despite setbacks.

In romance, Capricorns may put security before love by marrying for money or status; others focus on career to the exclusion of relationships. Still others live out their goat-like personas with earthy sexuality. Most are prudent in love, waiting to reveal passion until sure of themselves and the object of their affections. Once in love, they commit fully and faithfully protect their families.

Above all, the Sun’s yearly journey through Capricorn is a time to seek achievement, which for Capricorns means working steadily, with self-control, to reach the top of their particular mountain, however they define it. To succeed, they must keep their feet on the ground but their focus on the prize. Although they may pause regularly to rest and reflect—and even consider turning back when confronted by great obstacles—they must ever strive onward and upward. 

Success means living in integrity

Making the most of Capricorn energy means accepting that true success comes from integrity and patiently awaiting results. Although opportunism and social climbing may bring fast riches and worldly power, they also breed pride, overwhelming temptation to misuse authority, and the likelihood of social disgrace or even legal woes. The key is embracing spiritual development so your material prosperity reflects your inner ideals and your actions remain above reproach.

On the physical level, Capricorn rules the bones, knees and other joints, skin, and teeth. To keep your bones strong, enjoy daily walks—especially solitary jaunts in sunshine to get Vitamin D—and eat plenty of foods rich in calcium. Keep your joints flexible with plenty of water and stretching and consider yoga or tai chi to increase your range of motion. Indulge in a massage and let the warm oil penetrate deep into your joints.

Take good care of your teeth with daily brushing and flossing and regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Eat a varied, balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep your gums healthy. Care for your skin by eating warm, nourishing foods, enjoying plenty of olive oil and other healthful fats, covering your face and hands in cold and windy weather, and using gentle, natural soaps and moisturizers.

In your emotional life, overcome the Goat’s tendency to turn stone cold by acknowledging and expressing your feelings. Strengthen relationships by spending time with loved ones and letting them know how much you need their love and appreciation. Watch emotional barriers you use to protect yourself and eliminate any that keep you from enjoying the intimacy you crave. Enjoy rest and pleasures, use humor to lift your spirits, and beware workaholism, which blocks emotions and stifles your loving spirit.

Get serious about your responsibilities but let go of others’ duties. Avoid Capricorn’s notorious worry, grouchiness, and excessive control by being organized but accepting that life often is surprising and even chaotic. Release your need to control, let life unfold naturally, and have faith that self-control will help you meet any challenges.

Harmonize with Capricorn’s energy by wearing this sign’s stone, garnet, and donning natural fabrics in green, brown, and other earthy colors to achieve the Goat’s signature restrained elegance. Plant ivy, a vine associated with Capricorn, or go to a forest to walk among the Capricorn trees: pine, poplar, willow, elm, and aspen. Visit a zoo or farm to see some goats or reread the old story of The Three Billygoats Gruff.

In your mental world, evaluate your life’s structures and routines. Eliminate any that have outlived their usefulness, strengthen those that remain, and create new ones as necessary. Reflect on your career, status in the world, and goals. If you have not achieved as much as you had hoped, consider whether your goals are realistic and if your heart is still in them. If so, resolve to be more diligent and correct any personal flaws keeping you from success.

As for your spiritual life, beware the Goat’s weaknesses of living to impress others and seeking self-worth from accomplishments. Meditate and pray regularly to cultivate self-approval as unshakable as your self-reliance and to avoid judging others by appearances. Also during that quiet time, learn the difference between solitude and loneliness by embracing your connection with the Divine, which always sustains you and ensures you are never alone.

Remember that while you must make the upward climb through life, the true peak you are scaling is a spiritual one. Avoid the Goat’s tendency to assume material reality is the only reality, for beyond the world of the senses lies an even greater, more wondrous world of truths and intangibles. When you open yourself to this plane of existence, you enrich your spirit and sanctify your hard work through the nobility of your dearest hopes, dreams, and wishes.