New Year 2016 and the Energy of Capricorn

The New Year 2016 and the Energy of Capricorn

Happy New Year 2016, everyone!

The Winter Solstice on December 21st came and went. Christmas with its magnificent Full Moon in Cancer came and went allowing for so many wonderful moments with family. It brought with it the love, acceptance and healing that only Cancer can shower us with. And now we find ourselves getting ready to bring in the New Year 2016….out with the old….in with the NEW!

Many of us have already begun to make resolutions for the New Year 2016. We always do. We set these inspiring goals for ourselves with every intention to accomplish them, but then somehow they tend to fall by the wayside. Why? We truly are genuine in our determination to make the changes in our lives that we know are beneficial, but somehow we fall victim to impatience, pessimism, cynicism, fear…..whatever it may be. And then Capricorn comes to greet us in the New Year 2016!

The Goat is the achiever in life, slowly climbing the mountain but always reaching the top. It is the perseverance, determination, patience, ambition, structure, endurance, and most importantly, the discipline that we need in order to reach our fullest potential. But it’s not always easy! The energy of Capricorn (and Saturn, its ruler) is not without its fair share of suffering, and even depression.

Saturn is the Lord of Karma and our life lessons. He brings to the surface that which lies in our subconscious. It marks the area in our lives where we hold our fears, inhibitions and shortcomings. Saturn/Capricorn is the disciplinarian forcing us to take a long, deep look at our fears and overcoming them in order to accept responsibility for our own achievements. He wants us to “reboot.”

The Tarot card associated with Capricorn is the “Devil,” symbolizing, among other things, the acceptance of our humanness, ridding ourselves of the chains of self-hatred that restrict us so we may free ourselves in order to overcome our greatest obstacles and challenges in achieving success. Are we being truthful to ourselves or are we living in denial fearful of facing that truth? Do we accept our darker self and take responsibility for our shortcomings?

While in the energy of Scorpio we had the death of that which no longer served us, not only globally, but personally, as well. In Sagittarius we were given the optimism, the light that shines in the darkness, to know that even with death there is life. And now Capricorn brings us the practicality to find solutions, reconstruction, restructuring in order to reach our goals.

What does this mean for us on a personal level? It is natural for us to self-evaluate ourselves during the fall when the energy of Scorpio so wants us to transform, and then to make those resolutions to make that change. The energy of Capricorn allows us to succeed. Now, of course, there is always the shadow side to any energy, and that of Capricorn can be pessimism, cynicism and fear, and that is the energy that we tend to succumb to. “I can’t do this.” “It’s too hard.” “What a bunch of hogwash.” “I’m too depressed to give up my sweets.”

Sometimes reconstruction of that which we are trying to let go of can bring suffering and hardship. It requires us to be vulnerable to that which is deep within our hearts. But isn’t that what ultimately success is all about? Success comes by not getting discouraged by our brokenness but by rising above it using discipline and perseverance! Whatever personal journey we are experiencing, when faced with feelings of discouragement we ought to try to just keep chugging along. We need to keep in mind the story of The Little Train That Could, where the Choo-Choo kept saying,  ‘I know I can….I know I can.’

And know, too, that Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, is the ruler of Time (the Ancient Greeks referred to Saturn as Chronos, the Lord of time). So patience! Time is going to pass no matter what. Why limit ourselves by our concept of time? Maybe we ought to let go of the expectations of failure/success and just keep choo-chooing along. We WILL get there if we have made a determined intention to do so. Discipline, perseverance and patience, combined with action, and voila…we have the ingredients for success in whatever endeavor we choose. If we allow the dark side of the energy of Capricorn/Saturn to discourage us to the point of giving up, what will we be left with? Regret, creating even more fears and setbacks?

Staying in our present moment awareness is how we can create the environment for success. “Mindfulness!“ Practice mindfulness meditation during this time. Be mindful of every thought, word, and action. Become the experience of every moment. The past is gone…..the future is not here….it’s only NOW that exists.

In our practice of yoga, bring attention to “time” for alignment in poses. Saturn/Capricorn rules over our skeletal body. And so “structure” your poses. Make sure to avoid strain or pressure on the knees or any other vulnerable skeletal areas of the body (low back, neck, shoulders.) Listen to the instructors when they give cues for alignment and adjust accordingly.

One other thing about Capricorns….they are funny! Laughter is sometimes a very effective way to overcome our fears. Try it! And take your time! Take your time eating, walking. Feel every moment experienced.

With that….enjoy an abundantly successful New Year 2016!

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