Jupiter In Capricorn
There's a quote that a well-known yoga teacher in my community includes as a tagline in his newsletters:
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler
I couldn't think of a better motto for the transition of Jupiter from Sagittarius into Capricorn. Those of you who know a little bit about astrology are apprehensive about Jupiter moving from a sign that it rules into a sign where it is considered to be seriously debilitated. My friends keep asking me, what do I think it means?
One of the challenges is that traditional astrology places so much emphasis on Jupiter and Venus as the forces of good in our solar system. Every time one of these planets moves into a sign considered "challenging" for it, a collective anxiety ripples through the zeitgeist. Yes, Jupiter is the bringer of gifts: good fortune, expansion, the energy to rise above what drags us down. But we risk losing perspective if we only treat Jupiter as the force that is going to bring us "big money" on the Wheel of Fortune gameshow.
To me, Jupiter is best described as the guru, the teacher, and bringer of wisdom. Your natal Jupiter position shows where and how you find wisdom and expansion in your life. The transits of Jupiter around the zodiac represent steps on the path to further activating your natal Jupiter and gaining more and more wisdom as life goes on (hopefully!).
Preserving Fire: From Sagittarius to Capricorn
With Jupiter in Sagittarius, our altars have been lit with flames of inspiration casting a beautiful light. Perhaps Jupiter in Sagittarius "made things happen for you," but mostly what I've observed is that Jupiter in Sagittarius has helped clarify our personal values, intentions, and uniqueness. We've reconnected with our inner vision and our deeply-held values.
But it's up to us to carry these intentions and values forward into manifestation. It's time to take these embers of your inner vision with you into your workrooms and year-ahead planning sessions when Jupiter moves into Capricorn on December 2. We must continue to make fire even when it feels as if there's no wind of inspiration.
Renewing Our Life Force
Capricorn is a sign that is generally considered to be concerned with concrete realities, government systems, and being a productive member of society. But at this moment most of us feel as if we have nowhere to stand in the world-- inequality, polarity, climate change, systemic violence, and technology all leave us scrambling to get a foothold in our lives and feel physically secure.
As I wrote at the beginning of last year, Saturn and Pluto meeting in Capricorn in 2019 and 2020 signifies serious change to our world and political systems.
Most astrologers, however, overlook the mystical side of Capricorn. Firstly, the myth and symbolism of Capricorn as the sea-goat comes from the Sumerian God Enki (Babylonian Ea), who is the god of the abyss, the primordial life-giving waters, wisdom, and magic. He was the manager of the magical stuff of "life essence," which humans needed to build their civilizations. In modern times, the astrologer Dayne Rhudyar equated the sun with this life force or creative potential that must be harnessed, or actualized. At the time of the winter solstice in December, the sun is being reborn from Enki's life-giving abyss in the sign of Capricorn.
Thus, at the solstice, Christmas, and the Epiphany, we celebrate the return of the light.
Shadows and Light: Make the Most of Jupiter in Capricorn
With Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, our old definitions of our selves and our world are being stripped away. We see fear, uncertainty, and instability everywhere. It can be hard to trust ourselves in the face of so much fear and so we fall back into repeated mental scripts of what we "should" do.
This is why it is so important to carry the visionary flame from Jupiter's time in Sagittarius into the next year. Here's my prescription:
Assess your ambitions and your intentions: What is the seed of truth in your endeavors? How do your actions align with your inner vision and authentic self? How do your ambitions contribute to the well-being of the collective?
Reorganize your energies: What are you doing because you think you "should?" Where do you find yourself coming up against a critical superego that tells you that you must behave or act in a way to gain approval by society? (Note: if you are dealing with significant trauma from bullying or trying to fit in, be gentle with yourself.) Even if a situation feels intractable, what can you do to change the story you're telling yourself?
In sum: focus on what you can do, direct all your energy there, and reconnect with your own inner wisdom every step of the way.
While Jupiter’s time in Capricorn may not be one of luck and expansion, it can help illuminate the ways we have become disconnected from our own higher selves and our innate, creative life force. Let us direct the warmth of our true selves towards remaking the world in 2020.
