Oh, midwinter!
The shorter days. The longer nights. The colder temperatures.
And our celebrations: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day. Celebrations of hope, of all the darkness holds, and of the soon to be returning light.
This year, we also have the New Moon in Capricorn, today, at 2:27 PM Pacific Time. I have a lot of feelings about this one. On the one hand, I love it when the New Moon is so close to our New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations. It makes the potency and the potential of a genuine, bona fide, new beginning that much more powerful and intense. And possible.
On the other hand, what people do with it can get a little, ummmmmmmm, interesting. Sometimes, it just isn’t clear what we are starting anew. Are we starting another round of the same old miserable beliefs and behaviors? Or a new cycle based on a new understanding of our goals, the values they are based on, and the things we need to change within ourselves, our families, and communities?
That is where the energy of Capricorn helps. A lot. Capricorn has several archetypes that have evolved over the years, and all of them are rock solid and crystal clear. Use them as visual and energetic cues to help anchor you through the midwinter celebrations and processes.
Originally, the archetype of Capricorn was the Shepherd, the Father, the Patriarch, and the King. Later, the Hermit, the Master, the Steward, and the Teacher became part of Capricorn’s archetypical pantheon. Later still, the CEO, and the Governor, were added. Currently, the Crone, the Wise Woman, and the Wise Elder are also considered a part of the archetype.
Capricorn’s realm is that of order, structure, discipline, and form. It is the solid, safe container for all processes and the firm bedrock upon which you stand while you are in them. This sign rules the steadfast strength and endurance with which you bear the burdens you carry. Especially the tricky ones, especially at times like now.
Things are happening fast. Things are changing fast. And it is just a lot. In more than 30 years of doing this work, I have never seen as much depression and despair as I have in the last 3 to 4 months. The Mars Retrograde in Leo and Cancer, which started on December 5th and runs through February 4th, has been incendiary. Mars rules anger, and depression is anger turned inwards. And people get so judgmental of themselves and others in these states, especially during the holidays.
The challenge before us—beyond simply keeping up—is to maximize the opportunities provided by a New Moon in Capricorn at the New Year. How do we make this the new beginning we need it to be? How do we have the most success and the most fun achieving it? Courage, my friend. Remember what Joseph Campbell said, “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
With that in mind, here is my (current) recipe for midwinter success, for finding, awakening, and activating your inner Capricorn and its archetypes:
Prioritize. Given how fast people and things are moving, you have to be flexible and pivot. A lot. About three times a day, you're going to have to step back and ask, “what is my biggest priority right now?” And then listen. Don’t think. Listen. And only do that one thing. You will have moments where you're clear what the top three are and have a reasonable probability of being able to get those done by sundown. But don't try to do more than that at any given time period. Instead, focus on the most immediate priorities.
Build support teams. The problems we face now—as individuals and in our spheres of influence—are more complex than ever before. And they are more complex than we currently have the skills and tools to solve on our own in any sort of efficient, effective, meaningful, and sustainable way. It’s okay—we all are going through some version of this. Instead of judging yourself, identify where you are most in need and call in specialists.
Learn how to cleanly and appropriately talk about things that are awkward and hard. Being able to have calm, rational, adult conversations about difficult things is the only way to receive and sustain the love you want, the treasure you seek. Your past efforts are not failures. You just didn’t know how. And now you do. Be patient and realistic in your expectations of yourself and others. This is Earth. These are humans.
I’m seeing a lot of folks right now staggering under the weight of their changing paradigms, and of what Capricorn is asking them to do with and about it. If you are one of them, know that you are not alone. Not only that, but you are also breathing rarefied air. The load you carry, and your commitment to being free of it, is a badge of honor that few can wear. Pace yourself, prioritize, create a strategy and some talking points, and get the support you need to stick to it. And if you get stuck, call me.
We’ll figure it out.
Calendar
Below are some of the dates when your opportunities for wizardry, magic, and alchemy—what you need to create a more successful New Beginning—will be the greatest.
December 31
New Year’s Eve
January 1
New Year’s Day
January 2
Venus moves into Pisces
January 6
Mars moves into Cancer
Dia de Los Reyes, Epiphany/Feast of the Epiphany, Feast of the Theophany, Three Kings Day
January 8
Mercury moves into Capricorn
January 10
Asarah B’Tevet/Fast of Tevet
January 13
Full Moon in Cancer (also known as the Wolf Moon, Storm Moon, Snow Moon, Old Moon, Holiday Moon, and Moon after Yule)
January 19
Sun moves into Aquarius
January 20
Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 25
Visual Planetary Parade: The planets that are visible to the naked eye (Mercury, the Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) will appear to be in alignment a 180 degree portion of the night sky. With a telescope you can also see Uranus and Neptune.
January 27
Mercury moves into Aquarius
January 29
Lunar Imbolc
New Moon in Aquarius
Chinese and Tibetan New Years: The Year of the Wood Snake (introspection, strategies, and personal growth)
January 30
Uranus goes Direct 23° Taurus