December 21- January 19
by Rebecca Farrar of Wild Witch of the West / Illustration by Stacey Newmyer
CAPRICORN BASICS
SHOP OUR CAPRICORN COLLECTION HERE!
ALL ABOUT CAPRICORN
Around the 21st of December each year, the Sun makes its annual move into tropical sign Capricorn marking the official beginning of winter and the darkest day of the year. As a cardinal sign, it initiates a new phase and season, like a northern cardinal point on a cosmic compass. While this time of year has much to celebrate it can also evoke feelings of heaviness...a classic Capricorn trait.
Understanding Capricorn energies can also be related to Scrooge character in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, or the wise woman or man. It’s the serious sign of the zodiac that can take time to loosen its grip on judgment and skepticism and invites us into the wisdom of time. Those born with Sun or Moon signs in Capricorn can become lighter as they get older and understand its gifts of slowing down and solitude.
In its most wise expression with Capricorn, we feel stability and security in ourselves and the world around us. It connects us to the archetypes of the wise woman or crone and with it those who have a connection to the past, with history such as ancestors and family roots. Capricorn’s elevated expression pulls us into authority or mastery of the material world and allows us to manifest the things we really want through being in alignment with our Earthly roots of reality. This humbling sign helps us keep our feet on the ground, but can sometimes get a little too caught up in one version of “reality” and get stuck.
The shadow sides of Capricorn energies reveal through contraction, a sense of constraint, or sometimes even depression. We may also notice fear about the unknown or skepticism and judgment beyond usefulness. Capricorn reminds us of our separateness from each other and the world around us, and in this way can be prone to loneliness or being overly self-sufficient. Depression comes naturally as a symptom of the stagnation that can occur with the familiar slowness of this sign. It may feel the weight of the world relies upon Capricorn and can be prone to overworking as a way of avoidance or status seeking.
Currently, we are navigating a lot of Capricorn lessons with Jupiter, South Node, Ceres, Saturn, and Pluto all in the sign of the sea-goat. We may notice both the positive and negative traits of Capricorn influencing us collectively and personally. The themes of fear around security, contractions of power, and the push pull between tradition and the future. It asks us to take on more responsibility for others and ourselves.
As the Sun makes its way through Capricorn this winter season, we may feel our inner coldness as well as the delight in the traditions that have been built over time.
Because Capricorn loved climbing the professional ladder, the Success & Power Ritual Kit can be used to invoke these intentions. Or try the Altar Essentials Spell Candle Set with Candle Snuff to alter your ritual to your specific needs.
Rebecca Farrar of Wild Witch of the West has her M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, and has worked with many renowned astrologists and cosmologists. Read her bio here, and catch more of her work on Witch of the West.
______________________________________
Read more on astrology, horoscopes, occultism, magick & ritual on our blog, Esoteric Insights!
As the Sun dips into the fiery heart of summer, July emerges—golden, long, and lazy. And right alongside it, the zodiac’s watery guardian, Cancer, takes the helm. July is one of the few month’s of the year (next to March or April, depending on the date of Ostara) where a pagan holiday or fire festival is not observed, yet the middle of summer seems almost ritualistic in how entrenched we become with the richness of the season. Looking further, it only makes sense as to why Cancer, summer’s sweetest star sign, is the mascot to the start of summer. Here’s why the vibrancy of July and the nurturing essence of Cancer are cosmic twins—bound by symbolism, season, and soul.
A celebration of identity, liberation, and self-expression— Pride Month is an annual honoring of the LGBTQIA+ community’s history, resilience, and ongoing pursuit of equality. While astrologically Pride Month falls within Gemini and Cancer seasons, the bold and untamed spirit of the Sagittarius full moon each June aligns strikingly with the energy that fuels Pride’s essence: truth-seeking, radical authenticity, and freedom from oppression.
As we navigate the celestial currents of 2025, a unique astrological event awaits: both Venus and Mercury will be retrograde simultaneously. Venus will transition from Aries to Pisces during its retrograde, while Mercury will retrograde in Aries. This rare cosmic alignment offers a profound opportunity for introspection, reassessment, and personal growth. When these two influential planets appear to move backward in the sky, their retrograde energies prompt us to slow down and reevaluate critical aspects of our lives. While the experience may seem challenging, it ultimately serves as a chance to heal, reset, and reconnect with our true desires and intentions.
