We are at the heights of bleak midwinter: the sunlight dims early, and the days darken earlier and earlier. Ever since the death of the Sun at Samhain or Hallowmas, we have been plunging headlong into the darkest season of the solar year, expectantly awaiting the inevitable return of the Sun and the new solar year he will bring.
Now, after three months in which the darkness of the night overpowers the light of the day, now the darkness’ power is about to be broken. It’s hold on the earth will begin to weaken as the daylight shall begin to wax in power again at the winter solstice as the Sun enters into Capricorn. In a few days time, - the Sun will enter into this practical, dour sign on Friday, December 22nd, at 10:29pm eastern time.
In many pagan or traditional cultures, the winter solstice was viewed as the moment that the Sun is reborn into the world, bringing with it the promise of a new year. After 6 months of diminishing daylight, now the light of the Sun begins to wax in power again. Though Spring and Summer are a ways off, their return is ensured: one day, the light of the Sun shall overpower the darkness, and the time of dead barrenness shall be replaced by a renewed time of vivacious abundance.
The winter solstice and beginning of Capricorn Season bear a promise: that things will improve. Thus, capricorn season carries strongly optimistic undertones; the new Sun is here, and it’s only a matter of time until the world is reborn anew.
But Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the lord of darkness and death, the greater reaper, the winter wind, and the only planet of astrology whose reign over the Sun lasts two consecutive terms. Though the light of the Sun may be increasing in power throughout the world, we have a great force of darkness to contend with at present - Saturn’s reign of darkness lasts two months, and we’ve only just begun.
The hegemony of darkness during this period has always been acknowledged and respected by traditional symbolism. In fact, many of the surviving traditions that occur through Christmastide are rooted in pagan protective rituals to ward off dark spirits. In some parts of Germany, people will dress up as diabolical sprites and tricksters and parade and stampede around the community - reenacting the dominion of Saturn-Kronos’ daemons in the aethers. Wassailing or caroling originates in the practice of singing and pouring mulled wine onto fields to appease the dark elves or unseelie fae who ran around.
This is the dominion of the Holly King, of Old Man Winter, of Scar before Simba's return. Devils, pookas, horned imps, goat-men, krampuses, and belsnickels abound. It’s fitting then, that Capricorn season is associated with the devil in the Tarot - it reflects our bondage in wintertime, as well as the nature of our captors.
And yet there is hope. The king is reborn - the new year has come - even if he cannot yet take up his mantle. In Christian theology, the birth of the Sun king is represented by the birth of the Christ child - the Messiah who will save us from the darkness. Although Satan (i.e. the Roman Empire if you’re living in Ancient Judaea) is still in dominion, his power will inevitably be broken.
So Capricorn exhibits a dual quality - on the one hand, the state of affairs that welcomes the Sun is not kind. We are in a time of darkness and bondage where Saturn reigns supreme. But on the other hand, there is a guarantee of emancipation from darkness and winter - we will not always be in bondage to the cold of winter - there will be the establishment of another golden age of Summer.
In Capricorn, we are called to work through this darkness of winter and begin building the future we desire to see. The Sun will come, but we have to prepare the way. We have to survive the rest of wintertime intact. We have a long way ahead of us before the Sun brings its promised warmth.
In Greek mythology, Capricorn is often associated with Amalthea, the She-goat who nurses Zeus as an infant into adulthood. The current God - Kronos - is tyrannical, filicidal, and corrupt. Eventually, Zeus shall grow into the savior from the age of darkness that we are in, but in order for Zeus to take up his mantle, Amalthea must fulfill her duty: she must tend to the needs of the future God-king.
Just as Amalthea nurses Zeus, we must nurture our duties. We must tend to our callings and purposes in life. We must see that we are properly nursing whatever we are trying to put into the world - our projects, our writing, our services, etc. - whatever your calling is to be of service.
Likewise, we must see closely that we are progressing in the Great Work: tending to the development of divinity within ourselves. The cultivation of enlightenment is often framed as the cultivation of a golden, immortal fetus in place of everyday awareness, just as Amalthea rears a baby into godhood.
During Capricorn season, the abundance of darkness and faintness of the light can create a very dour, depressed atmosphere. Taking up this mantle can feel like a great responsibility. We can feel just like a mountain goat at the bottom of a mountain looking towards the top, at the long road ahead. Likewise, as she sits on her mountain, cradling the baby Zeus, Amalthea ponders the amount of time, energy, attention, and love required to turn a baby into a king.
What duties is your soul asking you to fill? How can you work to achieve the desires of your spirit? What Summer is your heart longing for? What godlike qualities are you being asked to rear up?
We are very fortunate to see a trine between the Sun and Jupiter who currently occupies the fecund sign of Taurus. You will find great support coming to you from teachers, mentors, and friends. Colleagues at work will be more supportive, and entrepreneurs will find more smoothness and flow around the projects they are working on. This is a good time to work on long-term projects and make great headway with them.
Mercury is retrograde for the first half of Capricorn season, until the 4th of January. Expect miscommunications, small inconveniences, and kerfuffles with travel, computation, and the tools we use for each.
Check your own chart to see where you’ll feel this most strongly. The house that the Sun is transiting will tell you waht you need to focus on, and the house that Jupiter transits will tell you where you’ll be most likely to feel his blessings.
Yellow topaz and yellow citrine are good stones to shake off Capricornian cynicism and melancholy. They can help you to reconnect with your sense of purpose and feel inspired and invigorated when circumstances around you feel dull.
So as we continue to plod through the dour depths of Capricorn season, remember the new light and life that we our nursing into existence, both within ourselves and in the lives that we are building for ourselves. We can truly celebrate, not because the darkness is conquered, but because it will be someday. The Messiah is here. The Son/Sun shall deliver us from the darkness (at easter/beltaine, to be precise!)
Happy holidays!
-Merlin