The sun enters the sign of Capricorn at the Winter Solstice and stays there until Jan. 19.

This sign is represented by the goat and the wise old man, like the symbol of Father Time we sometimes see at New Year’s. Capricorns are sometimes thought to be “born old” as they tend to be very serious minded. They’re also known for their ambition. No one climbs to the top of the mountain quite like the goat!

The planet Saturn, father of the gods in Roman mythology, rules Capricorn, and the Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice as Saturnalia. Saturn is the taskmaster of astrology. Hard work is rewarded and luck plays no part in it, a lesson Capricorns usually learn at an early age.

Capricorn is a cardinal sign, meaning an initiator of action, and an earth signing, meaning down-to-earth, practical action. You won’t find many dreamers here, unless, perhaps, the natal moon sign is in Pisces or conjunct Neptune. Of course there’s always an exception. John Denver, Elvis Presley, Rod Serling and J. R. R. Tolkien were Capricorns. But then, Tolkien did write about Middle Earth, and John Denver’s most memorable songs were about the beauties of the land, Rocky Mountain High, for example.

When it comes to romance, Capricorns are considered to be most compatible with other earth signs, Taurus and Virgo, or the water signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. Of course, much depends on other aspects of the chart.

More famous Capricorns include Clara Barton, Robert Bly, Humphrey Bogart, Pablo Casals, Benjamin Franklin (talk about a wise old man!), Barry Goldwater, Alexander Hamilton, Lady Bird Johnson, Isaac Newton, Mao Tse Tung, Richard Nixon, Louis Pasteur, Edgar Allen Poe, Albert Schweitzer, Denzel Washington, Woodrow Wilson, and Loretta Young.

Happy Holidays!

Linda