Monthly Horoscope: Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

FEBRUARY 2012

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Should I get (or stay) married? Am I with the right person? Will I have a child? What's my best career move? When will I feel happy again?

"Getting my chart done was like the best therapy session of the year!"
—Pamela Madsen, fertility coach and author of bestselling book Shameless

MONTHLY OVERVIEW:

It’s get-down-to-business time in Cappytown, as the Sun visits Aquarius, your second house of work and money. The first three weeks of February could be incredibly productive, and you might just see some of those 2012 resolutions yield their first tangible results. Priorities are everything now. Put your nose to the grindstone and keep your schedule slim and streamlined. You’ll get your social groove back when the Sun moves into Pisces on February 19th, warming up your communicative third house. From then on, you could be juggling meetings, appointments, dates and more. The Pisces Sun brings an exciting month of multitasking and new friends, so you might as well get your work done in advance.

Another reason not to bite off more than you can chew professionally? Your ruler, structured Saturn, will be retrograde (backward) from February 7-June 25. Saturn is in Libra, your ambitious tenth house, and this could be a challenging time in your career. That is, unless you embrace it as a sort of “boot camp” training period—a time to learn new skills and perfect your craft like a willing young grasshopper. Fortunately, Capricorns are especially attuned to heeding the call of duty. The extra effort you put in now will pay off with long-term stability.

On the other hand, you also have to know when to fold ‘em. If you’re stubbornly forcing something to go in a set direction, take the blinders off. Might doesn’t make right, and dogged persistence doesn’t always pay off in the end. Get back in touch with your higher intention. Why do you want this so badly, anyway? With impatient Mars also retrograde in your expansive ninth house until mid-April, some soul-searching is definitely in order. Consider both your material priorities AND your soul’s desire when weighing options. You don’t want to win the battle and lose the war—so make sure you’re really pumped and passionate about whatever it is you’re fighting so hard to keep.

February is a time to discover a new way of thinking. Right on cue, dreamy Neptune begins a 14-year visit to Pisces on February 3rd, your third house of communication and thought processes. Your imagination, formerly something you may have shooed away like a gnat, now becomes your greatest asset. When in doubt, pick up a book, a journal, or go for a walk through your neighborhood (or anywhere near water). You’ll do your best brainstorming while you’re “going with the flow,” not sitting rigidly at your desk or computer. During this cycle, you might get involved in your community, perhaps spearheading a neighborhood drive, running the arts council or even campaigning for local office. Stranger things have happened, Cap, so prepare to discover your platform and step up with pride!

LOVE & ROMANCE:
This might not be an off-the-charts month for romance, but it’s a stellar one for self-love. Venus is in Aries, your fourth house of home, family and emotional foundations. Pay attention to the environment around you: is it conducive to a happy life? Does it nurture and nourish you? Your relationships with your family, your body, and yourself are all part of the equation. Intellectually, you know: nobody can make you happy if you’re not happy with yourself. Use this month to fall in love with your life, to savor the unconditional love of friends, and to get in touch with your feminine, nurturing side (yes, even the toughest of Caps are still sensitive underneath all the gruffness). That way, a romantic partner isn’t weighed down with the Jerry McGuire-esque burden of “completing you.” S/he just becomes the cherry on top of an already amazing life.

One intense moment arrives at the Leo full moon on February 7th. This moon is in your eighth house of intimacy, shared resources and soulmate bonding. Single Caps could be in for a sexy, sizzling night. Others may hear an “I love you,” get a proposal, decide to move in with someone, or get pregnant. On the far end of the spectrum, a divorce could finalize, or you may divide assets from a breakup. The Leo full moon could also prompt a discussion about the deeper dynamics of your relationship (sex, power, division of money or duties), which, while uncomfortable to bring up, will take a huge weight off once you do. Just know that emotions could be running high, and you could suddenly burst into tears or a flash of anger around this intensely-charged date.

As for that commercial holiday that falls mid-month? You might be feeling fun and pink-cupcake festive during the day, but by the evening, the moon slips into Sagittarius, your dreamy and sleepy twelfth house. For some Caps, this could be a sensual and sexy night, perfect for an ambient lounge or restaurant. Others might just want to stay in and avoid the Hallmark hoopla. This might even be a good time for a closure ritual if you’ve got a bygone love who you can’t seem to release. Light a candle, write an angry letter and burn it, finally part ways with that old T-shirt that has your ex’s scent on it. You know what to do, Capricorn.

MONEY & CAREER:

First, the good news: your money is gonna stop being funny. On February 3rd, foggy Neptune ends a 14-year visit to Aquarius, your second house of work and finance. Since 1998, you may have been on a winding career path that’s felt almost karmic. You’ve “fallen into” jobs by being at the right place at the right time. Money has slipped through your fingers, then washed back your way in unexpected waves. You were certain you’d found your path, only to later feel dizzyingly self-doubt about every decision you’ve ever made. Trying to find a direction—something Capricorns normally do very well—has been a divine comedy of errors sometimes. Neptune is the planet of illusions, and under its spell, you may have dealt with shady people or lost money to slicksters promising get-rich-quick-schemes. On a positive note, you may have become more altruistic, even “tithing” or donating some of your profits and earnings to charity. And in the best-case scenario, you’re ending this cycle with a job that you actually love.

This month, Neptune departs your money zone, never to return in this lifetime. It will now reside in Pisces until 2026, your third house of communication. With dreamy Neptune here, you’ll be using your imagination and creativity more than ever. You could explore writing, teaching, speaking or other outlets that merge the right and left brain hemispheres. Shy about public speaking? Take an acting workshop to help yourself become more present. Working with your hands in a creative way can also help you untangle mental knots. Perhaps you’ll come up with a killer slogan while crocheting, or nail that clincher while you practice scales on the piano.

On February 7th, your ruling planet Saturn backs into retrograde motion in Libra, your tenth house of career. Fasten your seatbelt, because things could get a little bumpy on the work front between now and June 25th. Saturn is the inspector, and it finds flaws in the structure and integrity of anything. You may have to go back to the drawing board several times. Perhaps there are new skills you need to learn to make yourself a stronger candidate in the market. If you’re a business owner, you may have trouble with taxes, licenses or policies—or, you may need to restructure from the foundation up. Clashes with authority figures are possible during Saturn retrograde, as the planet rules bosses and managers.

Also on February 7th is a Leo full moon, which illuminates your eighth house of shared resources and long-term finance. Are you slaving away or taking substandard treatment because you’re scared to leave a job or assert yourself? Do you walk on eggshells, or constantly fear getting in trouble? Perhaps control issues are driving you to be a workaholic, or maybe you’re living beyond your means. Whatever the case, this full moon will reveal the emotional underpinnings of any professional angst. Much of this could be happening between your ears, Capricorn. Maybe it’s not the job that’s the problem, but how you’ve been approaching it. You’ll know soon enough.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL:

Your home is your haven—well, in theory, anyhow. Lately, it might be feeling a bit like a bus depot or a bomb shelter. On February 7th, beautifying Venus enters Aries, your domestic fourth house. The rest of the month is perfect for feathering your nest. Hang those paintings, add colorful accent pieces, unpack that last box of books (or upgrade the rickety shelf your favorite tomes are leaning on). Even if 80 percent of your pad is affordable chic (Ikea, Target, West Elm), this might be time to invest in a single statement piece that pulls it all together. Would a chandelier—even a sleek, modern version of one—add some pizzazz to your place? Perhaps an awesome wing chair or trunk would pull it all together. With the Sun in your sophisticated second house through the 19th, use your discerning taste to sniff out that treasure.

The fourth house rules family, so this is a good time to spend quality moments with your nearest and dearest, too. If you’ve been bickering with a female relative, extend an olive branch. With Saturn retrograde in your structured tenth house, sticking to a plan around eating, exercising, and self-care could be a challenge. There’s strength in numbers, so buddy up with your favorite femme and keep each other motivated.

Siblings are especially highlighted at the Pisces new moon on February 21st. In fact, your relationship with a brother or sister could go through a healing transformation after February 3rd. Are you still playing out childhood roles and dynamics, or feeling codependent with each other? Dissolve those boundaries that keep you divided and learn how to be great, supportive friends to one another. You might make different choices in your lives, but what really matters is the love between you. Next up: your Capricorn Weekly Horoscope >