VENUS IN CAPRICORN
The planet Venus left Sagittarius and entered Capricorn this morning, November 11th. It will be in the sign of the sea-goat until December 6th this year.
Sagittarius is all about gathering experience and broadening one’s horizons. As a result, it’s not a particularly stable, practical or responsible sign, at least where its shadow sides are concerned. Capricorn reacts to these tendencies with a focus on responsibility, integrity and maturity (hence its reputation for being a bit boring, predictable and square). This is the natural evolution of the zodiac: from education to work, from youth to elderhood, from experience to accomplishment. Capricorn takes the widened perspective of Sagittarius and focuses it on a goal, wanting to leave behind a real and useful legacy in the world.
In astrology, Venus governs all things relational: justice, art, money, and of course relationships. It’s the planet of values and all that we value. Moving into Capricorn, Venus will now be focused on living out those values with integrity in everyday actions. The sea-goat wants to be able to look itself straight in the mirror every day, knowing that it did the right thing - even if it was hard, and even if no one else was looking. First and foremost, Venus in Capricorn is a time to put work into our relationships with ourselves.
When it comes to our relationships with others, Capricorn craves stability and long-term commitment. Real relationships take hard work, and the sea-goat isn’t afraid of climbing tall mountains or diving into deep waters. Capricornian connections are built one brick at a time, with effort put in and promises kept. They prioritize being responsible to each other and grateful for mutual support through challenges, growing and maturing together into our best selves. As Venus enters the sign of reality and consequence, let’s remember to accept inevitable flaws and limitations in others and in ourselves. Reflect on boundaries in your relationships, and prioritize the connections that are mutually beneficial.
Capricorn is a sign associated with solitude, ruled by the wise hermit Saturn tucked away inside its rings. Try to make sure you’re getting the alone time you need to emotionally regulate and to do the work you feel called toward. Of course, the flip side of healthy solitude is isolation and loneliness, which cast deep shadows in this zodiac sign. Harness Venusian balance to recalibrate aloneness and togetherness in your life. Don’t let fear and limiting beliefs prevent you from connecting with others, especially in these uncertain times when we so deeply need each other. Capricorn can be controlling and demanding at times, or simply cold and calculating - so lean into the vulnerability of Scorpio season to soften some of the walls you’ve built around yourself.
This transit also encourages us to realistically appraise our finances and resources. It asks us to reflect on balance in our lives, and justice in the world - especially since Capricorn is a sign more oriented toward the collective. It represents authority and the structures of society, including the toxic frameworks of patriarchy, capitalism, and everything that falls within the kyriarchy. Much of this darkness has been brought to the surface during the last 16 years of Pluto in Capricorn (and while Venus is still in this sign, Pluto will finally leave it on November 19th and shift into Aquarius). Venus will draw our attention to economic injustice, the undervalued status of art in our culture, and issues around gender and sexuality such as queer, trans and women’s rights. With a Trump presidency looming on the horizon, now is the time to shore up our community-building and do some strategic, long-term, Capricornian planning around how to continue making societal progress for all.
On November 14th, at about 4 degrees of Capricorn, Venus will square the north lunar node in Aries and the south node in Libra (which it rules). This presents a cosmic challenge, asking us to integrate Venusian values into the last stretch of these nodal placements. The lesson here is to let go of Libra’s shadow tendencies of indecision, people-pleasing, and doing anything to “keep the peace.” Aries invites us to make a stand, to fight for what we believe in, to protect the vulnerable, to claim our needs and desires, and to demand our right to survive and thrive in this world.
How will Venus in Capricorn affect you specifically? That depends on which house(s) of your birth chart fall into this sign, representing areas of your life which Venus will be activating over the coming weeks. The 1st house will emphasize your relationship to yourself; the 2nd or 8th house will relate to finances; the 4th house will focus on home, family and roots; the 5th house will concern creative self-expression; the 6th and 10th houses will be about work and service; the 3rd and 11th houses will connect to community; the 7th and 8th houses will highlight relationships; the 9th house will question your values and beliefs; and the 12th house will invite solitude and reflection.
If you can, take a look at the aspects that Venus will make to your natal planets as it journeys through Capricorn. To learn more about these details and unpack your birth chart one-on-one, book a reading here or contact me with questions. I hope we can all practice living out our values with alignment and integrity during this transit!
