Element: Earth Modality:
Cardinal Ruling Planet: Saturn
Personality Traits: Cautious,
Ambitious, Prudent, Shrewd, Patient, Disciplined
General Compatibility: Taurus, Virgo
Color:
Indigo, Royal Blue
Gemstones: Garnet, Azurite, Carnelian
Foods: Nuts, Avocado, Cabbage, Kale,
Brussel Sprouts
The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night.
—HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac, is
ruled by the planet Saturn and symbolized by the Goat. Upon cursory
observation, the Capricorns you know may not have much in common with
their zodiacal mascot, but on closer inspection, you can easily find
some striking similarities. The goat's natural habitat is
mountainous, and Capricorns similarly are attracted to the high
places both socially and economically. The terrain the goat seeks is
rocky, unarable, and sometimes sparsely vegetated, yet they seem to
manage quite well under such austere circumstances, even to prosper
and flourish. Human goats, too, can thrive under adverse conditions,
exemplifying a high degree of shrewdness, especially in business,
where they seem to make the most of what they have to work with. The
goat's environment is full of high precipices, loose rocks, and
dangerous inclines, yet its ascent is steady, sure and unerring. It
does not climb swiftly, ambling carelessly over rocks or haphazardly
choosing this path or that. The goat ascends slowly and carefully,
first testing the ground before it with a slight pressure before
putting its full weight on, and using its specially designed hoofs to
take advantage of every slight protuberance or crevice in the
mountain's steep facing. The paths it travels are tried and true,
probably used by generations of its own species, and it will not
deviate from them to the many pitfalls often taken by careless
others. Owing to its sure-footedness, caution, perseverance and
patience, the goat finally reaches the mountaintop, safely beyond the
reach of predators.
Now you wouldn't suspect that Capricorn friend of yours to be a
social climber, or even of being particularly ambitious, yet sooner
or later you'll hear about his being promoted to district manager or
executive vice-president. Don't let his quiet, unassuming manner fool
you. The goat will always have his eye on the mountaintop and
secretly dream of one day being there. He'll plod tirelessly in the
same routine for years, waiting patiently in the background, never
shunning the opportunities for advancement which inevitably come his
way. Just as mountains erode with time and landslides can change the
general terrain, obstacles to the goat's success will eventually
yield to his perseverance, allowing him to rise easily to new
plateaus of success. He'll be the employee who is never late in fifty
years, taking his work very seriously. He'll gradually assume more
and more responsibility, becoming indispensable to his company, and
is inevitably promoted to higher positions. His hoofs are steeled
with the qualities of assiduousness, industry and patience, and they
are forever ready to cling onto any advantages encountered during his
mountainous climb.
Learning to recognize Capricorn may be somewhat of a trick, not that
there aren't some obvious physical traits, but the appearance of
these natives is often greatly mitigated by other planetary
influences. Nonetheless, Saturn natives in general will have medium
to large frames, their bodies appearing big-boned, lank and angular.
The limbs will tend to be long, and the hands, feet or knees may be
accentuated in some way, seeming not to go with the rest of the body.
The head will appear to be longer than it is wide, although a certain
accentuation of the jaw can give a squarish appearance. The flesh on
the face will often be noticeably thin, giving the impression of the
bones being just beneath the surface, although this is not always the
case. The forehead is high, often with frown lines, and the eyes will
usually be small and piercing. There is a serious cast to the mouth
expressing the ambitious, persevering character underneath. The nose
will often be straight and long and the chin determined. The whole
general expression is formal and grim, suggesting the Saturnian
qualities of austerity, shrewdness and intense reserve. As untenable
as any of these characteristics may be, there is one Capricornian
trait which is almost always present. Saturn natives will always give
you the impression of having their feet planted firmly on the ground.
There is a look of resolve in their stance and bearing, and even when
these natives move there is always an appearance of cautious deliberation.
All this talk about Capricornian austerity can easily lead you to
believe these natives as some kind of ruthless social climbers or
miserly old Scrooges, but nothing could be further from the truth.
One of the most delightful Capricornian traits is their sense of
humor. Though they may be persons of few words, their dry, somewhat
dour comments can be extremely funny. Consider the stage antics of
Capricornian Steve Allen or the dry wit of Saturnian Carey Grant, and
you won't easily dismiss January-born as gloomy. Steve Allen knows
how to woo his audience with the casual one-liner, saying only a few
essential words and leaving the rest to your imagination. In his
movies, Carey Grant exhibited a special knack for making even the
most ordinary of lines seem funny by his somewhat understated
delivery. As clowns, these natives won't be the extroverts, wildly
kicking up their heels or flamboyantly indulging in slapstick.
They'll be the comedic straight man, delivering their gems of humor
with pan-faced expressions and droll mannerisms, which only tend to
make their comments all the more humorous. Their unruffled
temperament, mastery of subtlety and sense of comedic timing can
easily be regarded the hallmarks of low-key comedy.
At a party, you'll easily spot the Capricorn for his characteristic
wry humor. The cut-up Cancers, the flagrant Leos, the verbose Geminis
and good-natured Sagittarians will all be vying for their share of
the laughs, when suddenly the most reserved, conservative-looking one
in the group will step out of the background and sum up the whole
humorous bend of the conversation in a few terse remarks which you'll
find irresistibly funny. Watch out, you've just been floored by the
Saturnian sense of humor, and the purveyor himself will join in on
the laughs with his characteristic downturned smile, seeming to grin
and frown at the same time. Perhaps the reason so many Capricorns
have such a genuine sense of humor is that they understand
seriousness so well. They instinctively accept the need for hard
work, responsibility and structure, and their adeptness at humor
creates the necessary balance of comic relief.
You won't find many Saturn natives lounging at the beach, grooving at
a disco, partying wildly or indulging in other forms of idle
amusement. The Capricorn native is too serious-minded to really
understand such capriciousness. Not that he couldn't enjoy a little
bit of carefree fun every now and then, he'd just feel more
comfortable in his normal shroud of self-reserve. Capricorns'
favorite haunts are more apt to be a museum, art gallery, the opera,
theatre, a concert of classical music, a lecture or business
convention. If you do find him at a party, it will probably be a
charity fund-raising affair, a premiere of a play or movie or the
social event of the season. Capricorns are very status-minded,
remember, and they'll find it hard to pass up an opportunity to show
off the laurels of their hard work. Any notable social event in town
can be a showcase for Capricornian indulgences, and expensive furs,
exquisite jewelry, the latest fashions, prestigious cars and a
smattering of high-bred manners will definitely be in order for the
occasion. Even if their immediate finances don't permit an
extravagant lifestyle, January-born can unconsciously adopt the
mores, attitudes and mannerisms of the elite, and they'll secretly
dream of finally reaching the mountaintop and belonging to that
distinguished class of people. Examine your Capricorn friend closely
next time you happen to catch him at a business or social gathering.
Now doesn't his strong, assured manner and attitude of calm reserve
make him appear as if he's already made it? Even when their bank
statements don't coincide with their aspirations, Saturn natives do
know how to make an impression among the well-to-do, and they'll
often be invited to high-society soirees because of it. Besides, the
goat will never shirk an opportunity to advance himself, and who
knows what may come of his upper-echelon hobnobbing?
As unassuming as Capricorns are in character, they won't refrain from
ostentation in other ways. Even though they rarely show it overtly,
they secretly desire recognition, and they'll have their share of
status symbols to show off the results of all their patient labors.
Saturn natives can live under very austere circumstances for years,
tolerating conditions that would break most others, but once they can
afford it, they'll gladly turn in their beer for champagne and their
baloney sandwiches for caviar. A handbag by Gucci, fashions by Dior,
or cologne by Lauren can be as important to these natives as their
next meal, not only for personal pleasure, but for the impression
they can make on others. They'll never shout for recognition, but
they may conveniently hang their coat off the back of a chair to
reveal the designer label or casually flash a collection of sixteen
credit cards from their purse or billfold when making a purchase.
The Capricorn's love of finer things will naturally be evidenced in
the selection of a major status symbol such as a house or a car. In a
car, their needs go far beyond mere transportation, and Capricornian
predilection dictates the classic lines of a Mercedes, Rolls,
Continental or other luxury cars over more sporty models. They won't
mind spending a few extra dollars at the gas pump to make that extra
impression, and these natives know how important appearances can be,
especially in business. Even if the Capricorn you know drives a more
modest-priced vehicle, he'll demand it be large, new, and probably
have it outfitted with several "extras" to give the added
feel of luxury. January-born are no less discriminating when it comes
to the selection of a house. Just as they'll gravitate to the upper
echelons of society, Capricorn natives will visualize their homes on
top of a hill or at least in the better part of town. They'll demand
a large, imposing structure with large rooms, and outer appearance
will be just as important as inner comfort. The rooms will have a
warm, earthy feel, usually with lots of wood and brass, and decorated
tastefully with genuine antiques and expensive artifacts. Some
Capricorns may have to live in an apartment or in an abode less than
to their liking for a time, but just as their zodiacal mascot eyes
the mountaintop with yearning, these natives will dream of a
lifestyle not yet realized, but in the making. They'd sooner do
without than settle for anything less than the best, and owing to
their patient persistence and ever-upward glance, their very
practical dreams inevitably become a reality.
The Capricorn's preoccupation with status shouldn't lead you to
believe them as some kind of elitist snobs, for that would certainly
be too rash an appraisal of their true natures. These natives are
actually quite humble, unobtrusively fulfilling their duties with
hardly ever a complaint. They'll never ask for a raise unless they
feel they truly deserve it, and once they assume a higher position,
they'll quietly take over the reins with modest authority. Rather
than step on toes to achieve their goals, they wait and endure until
the fruits of their patient efforts inevitably and irrevocably come
to them. Their sights are set high just like the Sagittarian, but
unlike the archer, their goals are more practical. They figure it's
better to live in the better part of town than to live on the other
side of the tracks, and who could argue with them? They expect
nothing more than what they have earned and deserve.
Capricorn's ruling planet, Saturn, is sometimes called the karmic
planet, and characteristically, these natives' lives are sometimes
tinged with an element of destiny. They'll often meet just the right
people at just the right time to help them on their way. A Capricorn
friend of mine had once been stranded with a flat tire in a rural
area of Mexico. Who should come by to help but a person whom he had
helped in a similar situation years earlier in the Nevada desert. The
chances of their meeting again (and in Mexico no less!) were almost
non-existent, yet what the Capricorn had put out years earlier had
inevitably come back to him when he really needed it. Capricorns
subconsciously know that whatever they put out, good or bad, will
eventually come back to them, and this is perhaps why they are more
willing than other signs to put their noses to the grindstone to
reach their goals. They instinctively know that honesty, integrity
and perseverance are the only true ways to reach the top of the
mountain, and all other paths are only there to tempt and confound
the less shrewd.
———————————————
Excerpted from The Astrology Diet,
Copyright © by Jon Stevens. All rights reserved.
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