Tag: Capricorn

Full Moon In Capricorn – All Or Nothing

Astro Butterfly

There’s an extremely powerful Full Moon in Capricorn coming up on July 8th, cutting across the Cancer/Capricorn axis at 17°.

The Full Moon is conjunct Pluto, opposite Mars and square Jupiter, forming a T-square in Cardinal signs. The message of this Plutonic Full Moon is very powerful and will touch every single one of us: dig as deep as you can until you find the passion that fuels your soul. Stick to the truth and nothing but the truth. Settle for nothing less than what your soul craves for. And purge what no longer serves you.

The Full Moon in Capricorn is undoubtedly the most intense Full Moon of the year, and will give us an unique opportunity to make radical changes in our lives. The Full Moon in Capricorn will subject us to our greatest fear. It is only when we can face our greatest fear that we can fully tap into the truth of our soul. And this truth is always scary, because it contains all the shame, all the darkness, everything we are to too scared to embrace in ourselves.

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There is no mountain high enough, no ditch too steep for the goat to climb. The Full Moon in Capricorn will expose that dark part of our soul who wants to win, who wants to reach the summit, who will devour anyone or anything that keeps us from reaching our goal.

Traditionally the Moon is not very strong in Capricorn. Its nurturing qualities cannot be easily expressed in the hard working, ambitious and dutiful sing of the Goat. But deep in our soul, beyond comfort, we all have a mountain to climb, a purpose we know it’s worth living and fighting for.

The Full Moon in Capricorn will ask you to break through your comfort zone (Cancer) and honor your ambitions and passions so you can make it to the top. The Full Moon is a great opportunity to take responsibility for what you really want. Propelled by Pluto, you can now climb higher than ever.

You are not alone in your quest to Everest. Your ally is not your ego, nor our physical strength (both Sun and Mars are now in comfort-seeking Cancer and their primary concern is preservation; they are not interested at all in risking their life for what they call “foolish” endeavors). Your ally is Pluto, this infinite energy and passion hidden very deep inside your soul. Pluto wants only one thing: to change you.

Pluto will either take you to the top of the mountain if you chose to adapt and evolve OR to the bottom of the underworld if you resist change. Either way, you will HAVE TO let go of what no longer serves you. With Pluto there is no negotiation, there are no compromises.

Fighting a battle you’re not in control of? Give away your control to Pluto and let him fight the battle for you. The only way to deal with Pluto is to hand him over everything you have. If you try to dominate something in your life by resisting change, the Full Moon in Capricorn will beam light on your ego-driven pursuits and expose your humanly limitations.

Even if Mars is currently weak in Cancer (Mars is also invisible as it approaches a conjunction to the Sun, and an invisible planet is thought to be weaker) still it does not mean it will not add up to the general tension that accompanies this Full Moon.

When Mars applies an opposition to another planet, he wants to show he’s the boss. An opposition is a very confrontational aspect and when you have the God of War involved you can definitely expect battles of will. Unfortunately for Mars, he is not only opposing the soft& sweet Moon, he is also opposing Pluto, who is very strong in Capricorn.

Pluto is the higher octave of Mars, so we will have ego-centered will vs. higher will. There is no question who is going to win this battle.

However, we should not forget about what Cancer stands for. In isolation, comfort and security (Cancer) will not take us too far (Capricorn) but we cannot get too far (Capricorn) if we don’t have a solid identity and if we don’t take proper care of ourselves (Cancer).

Mars and Sun are also in quincunx to Saturn showing us again our boundaries and asking us to find creative solutions to express ourselves in a constrained environment, and in the same time acknowledge the possible consequences of our actions.

Jupiter is mid-way in this epic battle of wills. Jupiter is the release point of the Full Moon, the point of balance. If you feel completely overpowered by the energy of the Full Moon, what will help is to come back to the basic meaning of Jupiter in Libra: fair-mindedness, balance and mediation.

But Jupiter is also a very straightforward planet, “what you see is what you get”. Applying a square both to the Sun and Mars, and to the Moon and Pluto, his aim is to reveal and to expose. Jupiter magnifies and exaggerates, and when he reveals a secret, he also calls the paparazzi. Exposure is indeed a major theme of this Full Moon – so better be honest with yourself and make peace with the “dark side”, otherwise the Full Moon’s light will reach into the depths of your secret and let everyone else know about it.

There is an all or nothing quality about this Full Moon. Although Pluto will paralyze us with fear, and Mars and Sun in Cancer will make us want to play it safe, there will be an overwhelming desire to give our soul what it craves for, no matter the consequences. It will become impossible to ignore and deny our soul’s longing and this urge to satisfy it will propel us from the inside to do whatever is needed.

…but at which cost? The powerful Full Moon in Capricorn will raise questions about how much one can withstand. Just like a volcano, Pluto will burn through everything, leaving only the essentials.

The Full Moon in Capricorn reminds me of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The old man and the sea”.

The main character of the novel, Santiago is an old, experienced fisherman who hasn’t caught a fish in months. On the 85th day of this dry spell, he heads far out into the Gulf of Mexico where after several struggles he manages to hook a giant marlin. Unable to pull the fish into his boat, because of the giant size of the fish, Santiago holds onto the line for three days before killing it with a harpoon. 80% of the book is in fact a description of Santiago’s struggle to bring the fish to the shore.  But on his way home on the sea, the sharks reduce the fish to bones, and the old man returns to port only with the skeleton of the giant fish.

All this struggle for nothing…or maybe not. The “Old man and the sea” is a story about what really matters, about values such as pride, respect, and tenacity. While challenges and setbacks can strip someone of all the outward signs of success, still their spirit can remain undefeated.

Or, as Hemmingway puts it, a man is not made for defeat.

A man can be destroyed, but not defeated.

If you are brave about the changes you need to make in your life then the Full Moon will transform the core of your being and help you take your personal power back. During the process, you may discover you don’t need much. Only the essentials. That truth worth fighting for.

The sabian symbol for 18° Capricorn is “The Union Jack flag flies from a British warship”. The symbol points to the concepts of power and institutions. Power is required to maintain social order but this power can easily be misused under the pretext of preserving “law and order”. Justice and compassion (Jupiter in Libra) must balance this institutional power to make sure is not being used for selfish advantages.

The transformative quality of this Full Moon in Capricorn has also been acknowledged in the native American tradition, where the Full Moon of July was called the Buck Moon, pointing to the time of the year when the bucks grow new antlers.

If you have Capricorn ascendant, if you are born around January 8th, or you have other personal planets or angles around 17° in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) you are going to be especially affected by this Full Moon.  Check which house in your natal chart is ruled by Capricorn for more insight.

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Juno In Capricorn – Stand Your Ground

Astro Butterfly

Juno, Jupiter’s wife symbolizes our attitude toward relationships, especially the themes of commitment and equality in relationships. Juno also rules the insecurities and jealousies that can arise in relationships.

In Greek mythology, Juno was the suspicious and jealous wife, chasing her husband’s mistresses and punishing both her husband and his lovers for their infidelities. But  “jealousy”  is an oversimplification of what Juno stands for. More than the “jealous” wife, Juno is the “forgiving” wife. Jupiter cheated on Juno again and again, yet she still stayed with him, fulfilling her marital duties.

Juno simply knows what it takes to have a relationship that is set on equal terms, a relationships that can stand the test of time. Equal terms can mean anything from “I’ll cheat on you if you cheat on me” to true commitment, when we stick to our partner though the good but also through the bad times, no matter what  – and Juno understands the value of commitment more than anyone else.

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Most of us have some kind of challenge around making the transition from romantic love to commitment.  In astrology, Venus and the 5th house rule romantic love and the beginning of relationships, while Juno and the 7th house rule committed relationships and official partnerships.

Juno is literally acknowledged as the asteroid of Marriage. Astrological research has shown over and over again the strong link between Juno and marriage. Juno transits often pop up in marriage charts or in husband/wife synastries.

On the 2nd of February Juno moves from freedom-loving Sagittarius into serious, ambitious and responsible Capricorn.

In Capricorn, Juno is strong and stands her ground. More than in any other sign, Juno in Capricorn demands respect. She makes up her own mind and exudes authority through her presence, class and outstanding style. She wants to be surrounded by and she’s actively looking for partners who understand her ambition and drive for success.

Juno in Capricorn seeks depth and the assurance of long-term commitment, more exactly traditional forms of commitment. If she feels she’s losing control, Juno in Capricorn will enter defense mode and do everything under her power to regain it and demand obedience.

And because Juno is the Goddess of Marriage, when in Capricorn, she will take marriage with the utmost seriousness. She sees marriage as a social contract in which both partners support each other’s reputation, climb the social ladder and keep each other looking good.

For all of us, during Juno’s transit in Capricorn will become more important to “officialize” our partnerships,  sign long-term contracts and “get our act together”.  More than ever we will now want to take pride in our partner – not in the way Juno in Leo “brags” with a beautiful or rich lover, but a sense of pride for the accomplishments, success and authority that our partner has gained through hard work.

The deeper meaning of Juno in Capricorn is about taking responsibility for our own life. We need to become that responsible partner we are looking for. We need to stand our ground and defend our faith and values. We need to commit to become the best version of ourselves.

New Moon in Capricorn and Uranus Turns Direct

Astro Butterfly

On the 29th of December we have the final New Moon of the year. A New Moon, and a new year with new beginnings. Say  goodbye to  2016 once and for all and start your brand new journey into 2017.

The energy of the New Moon in Capricorn blends with the energy of Uranus which turns direct immediately after the new Moon. Uranus stationing direct also activates the mighty Uranus – Jupiter opposition (I will say it again, Jupiter opposite Uranus will be THE astrological event of 2017). Thus, the New Moon will set the tone for the upcoming year, so pay attention to the themes that emerge around this date.

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Art by Jahna Vashti

The Capricorn New Moon will ask us to break the chains of the past and reinvent new structures and new rules. The New Moon is also conjunct Mercury retrograde, pointing towards what we need to start with if we want to achieve the long awaited freedom:  with our mind.

Capricorn plus Uranus will invite us to be authentic and original. Even a bit weird. In 2017 authenticity will become the replacement for enlightenment as the true goal of spiritual practice. 

And how can you express your authenticity? Again, the planet closely conjunct the New Moon will give us some hints, and this is Mercury. Which part of yourself needs expression? How can you use words (Mercury) to show the world who you are? Mercury retrograde will now help us dig into old perceptions and patterns and see what needs to be cleared out.

Another way Mercury can play out is by encouraging us to have deep conversations with the others.

The Capricorn New Moon energy encourages the need for structure, discipline and organization. It is a good time to set goals and plan for the future. (What a good timing for New Year Resolutions!)

What else can we learn from the Capricorn energy? Capricorns are very good at assessing reality and seeing what needs to be done to get from start to finish. We all know it, succeeding on our own merits is so much more rewarding than winning a quick buck. By having ownership and  getting things done, we achieve something far greater: a sense of empowerment, a sense that we can do whatever we set our minds to.

A New Moon always brings something new into our life. And because this New Moon is in Capricorn, it is likely that a new situation or an external circumstance arising in our life will require more responsibility, inviting us to take charge.

But the Capricorn New Moon will not simply leave us there with things to finish. She will also show us the way. Just like the mountain goat, from the reign of great highs, can have a panoramic view of the land stretching in front of her eyes, so will we now be able to see the bigger picture, and realistically plan how are we going to get there.

The New Moon in Capricorn is ultimately teaching us how to be our own master, how to turn discipline, tenacity and drive into something sustainable that is there to stay.

The New Moon in Capricorn is a lesson of the power of undying commitment. If you allow the “if” to interfere with your goals, you will never achieve them. There is no 99%. There is only 100%.

The New Moon is making  pretty awesome aspects to Jupiter, Venus and Uranus. We only have  Saturn (which is also the ruler of this New Moon) applying a challenging square to Chiron, the wounded healer. Feeling weak or being in a position where others think we are incapable can be very hurtful for us right now.

The New Moon  is also sextile Mars; and Mars is conjunct Neptune and South Node. This is why I mentioned at the beginning of the blog that authenticity will ultimately replace enlightenment as the true goal of spiritual practice. The theme of Mars with South Node and Neptune is letting go of the past and of unhealthy spiritual beliefs that don’t even belong to us. Only then we can move into tomorrow with fresh perspectives.  Mars is the planet of action, the South Node represents the past and our Karma, and Neptune is  and the planet  of spirituality. What do you need to forgive or forget to move on?

2016 was a 9 universal year in numerology – the end of a cycle. 2017 will be a 1 year. A new cycle is about the begin. This New Moon can empower us to move in a bold direction. For this, we need to break free from bad habits – and the New Moon will help us form new ones. Our life can be much freer than we have ever thought. We just need to move out of our comfort zone.

Few things to keep in mind and reflect upon, because Capricorn is a serious and reliable sign and wants you do to your homework: do you keep you commitments? When not, what makes you give up and when yes, where does the determination come from? What keeps you going?

When you set goals, how do you know if they are appropriate? Are your goals realistic? Do you have any sort of mechanism in place to make sure you recognize true opportunities when they arise?

The New Moon in Capricorn is teaching us that intention is a great start, but is not enough. The transformation of that intention into reality is the key, and is only by putting together intention and action we will achieve what we have committed to.

If you want to keep track of all the Moon Cycles of 2017, check out the Astro Butterfly Moon Phase Calendar. More details here

Mars In Capricorn

Astro Butterfly

Mars is now in Capricorn. This is one of the top 3 placements for Mars, which in exalted in Capricorn.

During this transit we will just get better at achieving our goals. Our focus will become excellent as we will get in tune with that place of quiet confidence within.

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We will get a better sense of perspective, by setting clear goals, based on our values, knowing WHY we do what we do. Mars entered Capricorn just after Pluto turned direct (Pluto is also in Capricorn!) which will make this transit even more potent and transformative. Just like the mountain goat, the symbol of Capricorn, we will keep pushing one foot after another until we reach the top.

Those of you with natal Mars in Capricorn will experience the Mars return, which means a new chapter of your life is about to start. This is an excellent time to plan your future activities. The House Position of Mars in the Mars return chart, calculated for the time when Mars returns to its natal position, will indicate what area of your life will be highlighted in the next 2 years.

For all of us, Mars will bring a boost of energy in the House transited by Mars.