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December 22 to January 20
CAPRICORN
(THE GOAT)
The sign of the Priest, Ambassador, or Scientist
A cardinal earthy sign. Ambitious, persevering, diplomatic, reserved
Ruler: Saturn
Gems: white onyx, moonstone
Color: green
Metal: lead
Harmonious signs for business, marriage, or companionship:
Taurus, Virgo, Libra
The Capricornian Type
Evolved Type
The typical Capricornian
takes life earnestly and is generally an enthusiastic
upholder of tradition and authority. When fully
developed he has a fine historic sense which gives him a
keen interest in the events of the past, and a profound
understanding of the problems of the present. He
frequently treads the path of scholarship, does well at
the university, very often shines in diplomacy or in
some kind of work which involves acting as an
intermediary between those whose interests and theories
clash, and generally enjoys life. Social legislation may
claim a large share of his attention, and he usually has
the welfare of the community strongly at heart.
This is not an easy type to analyze, and it is
consequently difficult to sum up its characteristics
briefly; but two main elements are always found in
connection with its highest manifestation in humanity,
namely noble ambition, and an extraordinary power of
adaptability to environment. The first of these
qualities results in abnormal industry, and the second
makes the type peculiarly fitted to take part in
activities associated with city life, and with the
guidance or government of large communities. Where
civilized human beings congregate, it is necessary that
the will of the majority should prevail if life is to
run smoothly, and Capricornians not only acknowledge but
proclaim that fact. They can accept conventions and
traditional customs more easily than any other type,
partly because historical values appeal to them, and
partly because they possess an instinctive understanding
of average humanity - its possibilities, its trials, and
its shortcomings, and are therefore ready to admit the
necessity of some kind of restraint. The native usually
has a strong sense of the desirability of fixed
standards of conduct, in social as well as in political
and municipal life, and, accepting these readily
himself, is inclined to insist upon their acceptance by
others; but at the same time such insistence is of the
diplomatic and persuasive order, for his ambition is not
of the type that sweeps obstacles out of the way
regardless of the interests or feelings of his fellow
men.
The symbol of the sign - the Goat ascending the mountain
- is a very appropriate one; for it is always depicted
as steadily following the upward path. Every experienced
climber knows that the beaten track is the safest road
for those who desire to travel far, and that the
attractive short cut is generally a delusion. Capricorn
scarcely gives the latter a glance; his reverence and
admiration for those who have preceded him, and have
already attained the heights on which his own soul is
set, is tremendous. At times he may pause for a
breathing space and look backward, remembering with
gratitude the resting places and the guidance given in
the earlier part of his journey, but he speedily resumes
the climbing, and continues till the goal is reached;
after which his ambition simply becomes more inclusive,
and, embracing the careers of others, finds more and
more scope as the years of the long full life go on.
Those who feel critical of such methods of attainment
are inclined to reserve their appreciation for work that
is daring, experimental, and original, should remember
that experiment may be carried too far. The tendency of
some people to use the words "traditional" and
"conventional" as terms of abuse if unjustifiable. If a
conventional method happens to be a good one, it is
folly to reject it; and to abolish all tradition and
start afresh in any department of human activity - in
building, engineering and in all technical handicrafts,
as well as in poetry, music, philosophy, art, and
religion - would involve a colossal waste of time and
energy.
The crest of the wave rather than its first advance is
the place for Capricornians, and none are quicker to
feel the heartbeat of their own generation and to
respond to it. Their enthusiasm is slow to awaken, but
it is one of the kind that grows and gathers force
through coming into touch with the enthusiasm of the
masses of their fellow men, and they frequently throw
themselves into the task of guiding a popular movement -
which has passed through its initial difficulties - to a
successful issue, winning great praise and much esteem
by their ability, especially in particular crises which
require the exercise of tact and finesse.
Primitive Type
There is naturally another
side to the picture; for until the complete and
well-balanced development of the whole nature has been
attained, ambition is often a source of worry rather
than of happiness. It is a splendid spur or goad to
activity, but to onlookers it is often recognizable only
in the form of gloomy discontent with present
circumstances. That other source of Capricornian
strength, adaptability, has its other side. To be all
things to all men may be a splendid achievement, for
constant courtesy and consideration for others means
constant self-control; but if the nature is ignoble such
pliancy may take undesirable forms. There is a danger in
this "earthy" type, with its keen realization of the use
and value of experiences on the physical plane, that
worldly success may be given a disproportionately large
place, and the methods by which wealth and position can
be attained will not be very closely scanned. Typical
Capricornian employments, as has already been remarked,
are those associated with mediatorial work; and a
perfectly legitimate and useful form of the work is that
of the middleman or broker; but what a man does is
always less important than why and how he does it. The
go-between who will do any kind of errand, however base,
if it can be made to pay, is, in fact, a kind of
"ambassador" in his own way. The Capricornian has none
of the innate cruelty of the Scorpionian, but his
ambition to make his way in the world makes him
unscrupulous in his use of the tool, and although he
does not rejoice that others are weaker than himself he
acquiesces in the fact and uses it.
It is in the regulation of their relations with their
fellow creatures that the majority of Capricornians find
most satisfaction. They have an intense desire to
influence others - to manage them, mother them, direct,
protect, persuade, convert, wheedle, attract, or meddle
with them in one way or another. This tendency is of
course apt to prove somewhat irritating to their friends
and relatives at times, especially when they are quite
young; but as they advance in years and grow in wisdom,
they learn to control it, and are naturally listened to
with more deference and respect when they do speak. In
fact, the longer they live, the better they are able to
exercise their particular gifts. They like to remember
and observe dates and anniversaries, and to make much of
special occasions of social reunion, for they are
excellent hosts and hostesses, and generally popular in
that capacity, besides making charming guests. In later
life they are generally looked up to as authorities on
matters of dress and deportment, and often consulted on
questions of precedence or social procedure. It is in
fact a real affliction for these people to have to
appear anywhere in unbecoming or unsuitable garments,
and they rarely grudge the time and trouble given to
preparation for great occasions, inclining to the
magnificent in their own attire, if their means will
allow, and doing marvels in the way of making a brave
show even at a considerable sacrifice of personal
comfort.
Love and Friendship
This tendency to give
importance to externals affects their friendships to
some extent, for it makes them inclined to cultivate
people of superior social position - to pay undue
attention to those who are "in the running." In short,
one of the vices of this type is snobbery, which appears
and reappears in many strange guises, long after its
victim fancies it has been overcome. At his worst the
snob grovels before rank and wealth and scorns poverty
and obscurity; but when he has got over that weakness,
and has carried his social ambitions into literary,
artistic, or political - or even religious - circles,
his snobbery remains snobbery still, so long as he
worships popular success and turns his back upon
failure.
The Capricornian's interest in love affairs - his own
and those of other people - is so characteristic of the
type that it ought to have a chapter to itself. The
consciousness of sex difference is very strong, and at
the primitive stage it is almost impossible for these
people to be easy and natural and altogether free from
excitement in the presence of any member of the opposite
sex. Their constant desire to breathe forth some sort of
a challenge provokes many encounters of wit - not always
of the most desirable type, for it is full of innuendo.
Most people of this sign are, in early youth, and
sometimes much later, incorrigible flirts. In the men
the protective tendency - passing sometimes into
patronage - is accentuated; and in the women there is
usually a distinct craving for protection, which results
in a manner that is often charmingly appealing and
confiding.
Roughly speaking, ambition is the preponderating quality
in the masculine type, while adaptability is so markedly
present in the feminine variety that it sometimes fairly
runs to seed, depriving its owner of the power of
concentration or specialization altogether. If that is
the case, however, it will generally be found that
ambition is not really absent, but merely vicarious, and
that the woman who at first sight seems only bent upon
making herself agreeable all round is in reality on the
road to distinct social success, and that when once her
own welcome is assured she will leave no stone unturned
for the advancement of husband, brother, parent, or
child. Especially is she in her element if she can
forward a promising love affair, likely to result in
what she terms a "suitable" marriage. She is a loving
parent, and her policy is more in the direction of
weeding out and giving to pleasing eligibles a fair
field and a judicious amount of favor, than of actually
forcing matters against the victim's will. Having
disposed of her own sons and daughters successfully, she
is generally more than ready to turn her attention to
the children of her friends and relatives; for love and
marriage have usually played so very important a role in
her own life that she simply cannot understand that
interest and interference, however kindly meant, may
prove unwelcome to those who are naturally sensitive and
reserved. The patching up of broken friendships and
starting new ones, the removal of misunderstandings and
the smoothing out of troublesome tangles in family life
are all congenial occupations. In the primitive type
such a tendency naturally manifests in an irresistible
inclination to have a finger in every pie.
Literary Style
The literary style of the
Capricornian, like everything else about him, has two
aspects. It is stately, sonorous, ornate, rolling on
into long periods and imposing paragraphs; sometimes
rhythmic, always weighty and impressive, frequently
veiling rather than revealing its meaning by its wealth
of heaped-up metaphor or over-elaboration of phrase; or
else it is pithy and sententious, taking shape most
readily in the maxim and the popular saying, and
sometimes degenerating into the trite, the commonplace,
and even the vulgar.
Religion
The religious life of the
advanced Capricornian is the strongest and most
important element in his nature, for ambition when it
comes to its height is transmuted into aspiration. The
handing on of tradition, the reverent rendering of
ritual, and the dutiful observance of all kinds of
ceremonial are thoroughly congenial to him. This
practical adviser and disciplinarian, who is at the same
time a man of the world, is well able to direct others,
speaking as one who has received authority and never
losing sight of the fact that to whom much is given from
him shall much be required - a saying which he accepts
very literally as applying to possessions as well as to
the greater gifts of wisdom, love, and power. His
religious teaching and ministrations are generally
adapted to the needs of average humanity, and he is
consequently apt to find himself rather at a loss when
brought face to face with exceptions and minorities, his
general solution being a dictum that they ought to ease
the situation by conforming to custom, however
uncongenial or difficult it may be for them to do so.
The Jewish people and also the Hindu are said
traditionally to be ruled by Capricorn. Rhythmic methods
of counting prayers and invocations, such as the Hindu
and Roman Catholic use of the rosary, or the turning of
the prayer wheel by the worshiper in Tibet, are always
suggestive of the influence of Saturn and are, of
course, to be found all over the world, among Christians
as well as among people of other faiths.
In Real Life
A strikingly typical son
of Capricon may be studied in the person of William
Ewart Gladstone, born with the Sun and Mercury rising in
that sign; and those who wish to understand its
peculiarities should read the pages of his biography
with care. His style in writing is of the ornate and
elaborate Capricornian type, abounding in Latin
constructions and very scholarly in diction. He was
amazingly fluent of tongue, so much so that both in
conversation and in public oratory he was apt, as his
contemporary Disraeli remarked, to be carried away "by
the exuberance of his own verbosity." He was interested
in ceremonial observances, conformed easily to social
customs and conventions and observed the etiquette of
his generation strictly.
Physical Characteristics
Capricornians are even
more difficult to describe and classify physically than
they are mentally and emotionally. Some of the old books
insist much on the serious aspect of the Capricornian,
his tendency to despondency, leaden looks, swarthy
complexion, and sleek, lank, black hair. As a rule they
are exceedingly lively and talkative.
Drama and Fiction
Some of the statelier
priests and politicians of Elizabethan drama suggest
this Capricornian type - notably Cardinal Wolsey, with
his splendor and his pride and the soaring ambition
which, by running entirely in worldly channels, brought
about his downfall in the end. The oft-quoted passage
beginning
"Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my
king" strikingly illustrates the change from lower
ideals to higher. A less dignified Capricornian is
Polonius in Hamlet; and also, at a lower social level,
the garrulous and kindly old nurse in Romeo and Juliet.
Capricornians are said to attain their best period
between the ages of fifty-six and seventy, a much longer
and older prime than is enjoyed by any other type. Many
of them live to well over eighty, some remaining hale
and hearty. The chief danger to health is thwarted
ambition, inducing discontent and gloom. Later in life,
if prosperity is overdue and still tarries, and the
limited outlook and cramping conditions show no signs of
giving way, gloom and despondency may turn to
melancholia. A change of air is beneficial and even
essential in some cases, but it should not be a change
to solitude. Capricornians always patronize the
fashionable spa in preference to the moorland and
mountain, and no type is more keenly interested in the
exchange of facts or surmises concerning the various
celebrities and nobodies who haunt such favored resorts.
The best and most comfortable hotel that their means
will allow is chosen on such occasions, and the skill of
the chef is often considered an important point; for the
Capricornians palate is sensitive, and its owner not
infrequently gives considerable time and attention to
its cultivation.
SUN IN CAPRICORN
This gives a very ambitious individuality, possessing
much independence, strength of character, a keen love of
justice, and a desire to attain to the highest position
possible. Self-reliance and determination are expressed
through this sign, which considerably strengthens the
various personalities attached to it.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Aries
This combination gives ambition, a keen desire to be at
the head of everything, determination, extreme
independence and self-assertion. It gives an intense
love of music. The native is of a capable executive
nature, has strong will and much force of character. He
can work hard and accomplish much, is suited for the
army, for engineering or mining, for large business
undertakings, or for public life. If the influence or
Mercury is strong in the horoscope he will be suitable
for literary pursuits or for philosophical or scientific
occupations. His intellect is keenly critical, but not
destructively so. If badly aspected, there may be some
harshness, irritability, and an undisciplined nature,
causing family and public conflicts.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Taurus
This gives a very persistent mind, much firmness and
self-control, a desire to elevate and improve others. It
is the most practical of this set of combinations,
giving the native the ability to acquire wealth and do
good with it. With favorable aspects, it is fortunate
for possessions, legacies, worldly prosperity, and
social and family life. It gives a strong but harmonious
nature, with good feelings, patience, and faithfulness.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Gemini
The steadiness of Capricorn behind the activity of
Gemini causes those born under this sign combination to
be studious, yet inclined to give expression to all
thoughts, especially those of a higher nature. This
combination is good for occupations connected with
intellectual work or travel. It produces consuls,
ambassadors, literary men, accountants, scientists,
public speakers, and professors. It gives an orderly,
methodical, ingenious and sometimes profound mind,
coupled with a good memory.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Cancer
This combination increases the sensitiveness of Cancer,
and gives an inclination toward economy, thrift, and
prudence, but also a certain amount of selfishness.
There is much tenacity, yet a love of change, and a
desire for high attainments. With good aspects, there
will be gain through parents or marriage. This polarity
is good also for home life, possessions, honor, and
reputation. The native will often occupy some public
position, more or less notable according to the sphere
of his birth, or he will hold some official post. In a
good horoscope success comes toward middle age.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Leo
Personal tendencies are toward affection in this
combination. There is some love of ostentation and
display, and ideals are high regarding artistic, social,
or political interests. At its best, this polarity gives
a dignified, self-reliant nature, ambitious of power and
distinction, firm, strong-willed, and with much force of
character. The native is honorable and kindly; he may
have some dramatic power and an ability for occupations
connected with public life and amusements. He is fitted
for a prominent position, is ambitious of social
distinction; he has some capacity for financial
speculations and large business enterprises, and will
probably succeed through them. There will usually be
gain by legacy or marriage.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Virgo
In this polarity, the critical and analytical tendencies
of Virgo are softened by the meditative and
contemplative Capricorn nature. The native has an
orderly and methodical mind and is logical, analytical,
and clear-headed. Basically he is a little lacking in
enterprise, but this may be supplied by the planetary
positions. He is good in positions held under authority,
or in those pertaining to medicine, law, or science. He
has good business ability, and sometimes a literary one,
but is usually at his best when associated with someone
else, or in the employ of others.
in Capricorn and Moon in Libra
The well-balanced brain of Libra and the thoughtfulness
of Capricorn will give splendid intuition and foresight.
It gives a love of popularity and the desire for fame;
it is favorable for partnership, marriage, and
friendship. In a good horoscope it benefits parental and
family life, and will produce a dignified, human,
well-balanced, methodical, and law-abiding nature of
good disposition.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Scorpio
This combination gives positiveness and determination,
strength of will, masterfulness, with some hardness and
selfishness. The native is apt to be self-centered,
difficult to influence, and materialistic. This feeling
of independence is strong. In a good horoscope, he is
able to control others, plan, organize, exert tact and
diplomacy, and exhibit useful qualities as a leader in
business, politics, or home life.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Sagittarius
The practical nature of Capricorn will steady the
impulsiveness of Sagittarius and improve the executive
ability. It is a good combination for explorers and also
for the church, as it gives much religious ambition.
There is decided business and financial ability, but the
outcome depends greatly on aspects. If these are good,
there will be gain through investments, speculative or
otherwise, through travel, commerce, or occupations
connected with the church or law.
Sun and Moon in Capricorn
This combination gives a thoughtful character, but with
some inclination to despondency. There is apt to be too
much independence at times. The feelings are not
expansive, and there is a tendency to retire inwardly
and live a life of loneliness. The native has good
business ability; he is acquisitive, somewhat
self-centered, reserved, steady, quiet, tactful,
persistent, plodding, and thorough in his methods.
Strong aspects from Mars and Jupiter will give more
energy and ambition. If Mercury is strong in his
horoscope he will possess more intellectual power.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Aquarius
Splendid organizing ability, with success in large
undertakings, is given in this combination. It quickens
the perceptions, gives considerable intuition and the
ability to read character accurately. Progress is made
through careful forethought and steady persistence. Much
depends on the aspects, however. With Uranus or Mercury
prominent, the native will have an original and
inventive mind, and a stronger instinct to marry, and
with support from Venus or Jupiter there is likely to be
geniality and popularity. Money may be gained through
governmental or other official positions. There is
usually good business ability, with success in financial
operations and investments.
Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Pisces
This polarity tends to produce a quiet, undemonstrative,
easy-going nature, moderately sociable and home-loving,
sometimes rather retiring and self-distrustful. The
native possesses better abilities than most people
suppose, but lacks the energy or opportunity to use them
to advantage. Some are careful and frugal, anxious about
the future, but others are rather careless or
indifferent. They are charitable according to their
means, and sympathetic, or, if circumstances necessitate
it, they may benefit by the charity of others. They are
suited for occupations connected with liquids,
hospitals, charitable movements, and institutions. If
the "ascendant" is a mercurial sign, they may make good
writers, speakers, or preachers. They possess
considerable tact, and do not show their whole nature on
the surface by any means.
FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN WITH THE SUN
IN CAPRICORN
Joan of Arc: January 6, 1412
Isaac Newton: December 25, 1642
Benjamin Franklin: January 17, 1706
Alexander Hamilton: January 11, 1757
Edgar Allan Poe: January 19, 1809
Paul Cézanne: January 19, 1839
Woodrow Wilson: December 28, 1856
Henri Matisse: December 31, 1869
Albert Schweitzer: January 14, 1875
Pablo Casals: December 29, 1876
Carl Sandburg: January 6, 1878
Rebecca West: December 25, 1892
Mao Tse-tung: December 26, 1893
Humphrey Bogart: December 25, 1899
Cary Grant: January 18, 1904
Marlene Dietrich: December 27, 1904
Simone de Beauvoir: January 9, 1908
Galina Ulanova: January 10, 1910
Richard Nixon: January 9, 1913
Martin Luther King: January 15, 1929
Thomas P.F. Hoving: January 15, 1931
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