New Moon in Capricorn: New Projects, New Opportunities to Adapt to Change
On December 30th, the New Moon will be in Capricorn, an earth sign that symbolizes ambition, leadership, and a desire to build something concrete and lasting in the real world. Capricorn takes Sagittarius's “big ideas” (the sign that precedes it in the zodiac) and creates earthy structures, buildings, and projects.
New Moons can be the start of something new in our lives, a seed planted in the ground that develops over the coming weeks or even years in the part of our chart where Capricorn lies.
While this moment may inspire you to embark on a significant project in the new year, it may also bring circumstances that require you to adapt and change as the project progresses. This is reflected in the Tarot card associated with this New Moon and the planetary aspects in the chart.
The New Moon occurs in the first decan (10 degrees) of Capricorn, also known as "Capricorn I.” The tarot card linked to this part of Capricorn is the 2 of Pentacles, referred to as "the Lord of Change.”
2 of Pentacles, Rider-Waite Tarot
The card exhibits a playful, up-and-down quality. A man, possibly a juggler, hops from one foot to the other as he plays with two pentacles. Movement permeates the card; the infinity symbol surrounding the pentacles represents the continuous motion and change in life, embodying the endless ebb and flow of existence. In the background, ships navigate large and small waves, adapting to the shifting waters to stay afloat and reach their destination.
Capricorn is known as a “cardinal sign.” Cardinal signs enjoy initiating activities, starting projects, and contemplating the consequences afterward. By combining the 2 of Pentacles with Capricorn's earthy-cardinal essence, you begin to grasp that this part of the Zodiac relates to the creative space where we establish our footing as we embark on a new project.
This New Moon gives us the energy to initiate a new project and encourages us to stay flexible as it unfolds. We might begin our work only to discover that something about the timing, location, or content is slightly off; we may realize we need to modify and reshape our initial vision in response to unforeseen circumstances.
Capricorn I calls us to adapt and change, connect with our intuition, and stay light on our feet as the project unfolds. If we can ride the waves of change and be flexible about our initial plans, we may reach the next stage, represented by the 3 of Pentacles card—where our creative project is ready to take on concrete form.
3 of Pentacles, Rider-Waite Tarot
The chart also contains aspects that suggest we may encounter turning points and conflict as we take up any new project. Saturn, the god of restrictions, limits, and what is possible, is in a square to Jupiter, the god of expansion and optimism. Saturn has more power than Jupiter in this position, suggesting that we may have to pare down our big ideas and move forward with feasible ones. A “square” aspect between these planets also symbolizes a “turning point,” where we must choose and take a slightly different path than anticipated.
In addition, Pluto, the god of the underworld, opposes Mars, the god of war. When these planets oppose each other, we may be forced to work through power struggles before moving ahead. Mars is a masculine sign associated with men, so these power struggles may involve men or patriarchal systems.
If you’d like help understanding the meaning of this cycle in your life, feel free to reach out for a reading.
Or, if you’d like to take a deeper dive into astrology and learn about the meanings of the houses, planets, and signs in your chart, I’d love to have you join me for my upcoming Introduction to Astrology Course. It will be live over Zoom on Saturday mornings (10 am CST/11 am EST) from February 1-March 8. Sessions will be recorded. We will cover the ABCs of astrology, including house meanings. The class offers all the tools you need to read a simple birth chart for yourself, friends, or family. The best way to learn astrology is by working with your chart, so the class also includes weekly chart practice with participants’ charts. There is a link below if you are interested.