Capricorn the Goat is an earth sign in the cardinal mode. The Sun is in the sign of Capricorn each year from December 22nd on the winter solstice until January 19th.
Like the mountain goat- determined, strong and fearless- Capricorn steadfastly climbs to the peak of the mountains, and values the hard work to get there. Capricorn is sometimes depicted as a goat with a fishtail or sea-goat, which represents the more spiritual and less materialistic aspects of this sign.
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet related with time, limitations, material reality, and death. This influence is felt during the darkness of deep winter (in the Northern hemisphere), when all the animals and plants are in hibernation and appear as if dead.
In the season of Capricorn the light of the Sun is weak and cold. Even though Christmas is a beautiful celebration, we may feel the solemnity of late December more than in the beginning of the month during the influence of Sagittarius.
In many parts of the West the New Year is celebrated on January 1st which is a relatively recent phenomenon, and not universal in all cultures. In January there still is a strong Capricorn influence to this holiday so we make New Years resolutions that usually involve a plan to renounce indulgences in food, laziness, alcohol, spending, etc. This is the pragmatism, willpower, and dislike of excess that characterizes Capricorn and Saturn.
Sometimes we see the symbol of an old man (Saturn) being burned or thrown out and a new baby being brought in, showing the old year as past and gone and a new hope and beginning in the new year.
Capricorn is characterized by the need to build, to methodically create structures, be they physical or organizational, that will last for generations to come. Likewise they strongly value what has been able to endure the test of time, particularly well-made objects, buildings, antiques, legacies of any sort.
Capricorns can have a gravity, seriousness and authority that makes the seem older than their years. At the same time, often Capricorns are blessed with the ability to age very gracefully, and often later in life are full of a child-like joy.
The connection to death and willingness to prepare for it in a practical way is the lesson we can all learn from Capricorn, which will give us that joy throughout our lives and the freedom from fear and ignorance of death.