German-American's Guide to Capricorn Season

Capricorn season starts with the Winter Solstice, the day with the least light and the longest night. Which means Capricorn kicks off the season of light–each night a little more brightness. Two days later on December 23, we get the Capricorn new moon. So the beginning of Capricorn season might feel like beginnings and endings at the same time–Jupiter is ending its run in Pisces, Saturn finishing out its time in Aquarius, and Pluto ending its Capricorn era. 

A Capricorn new moon is a fabulous time to set intentions about what you’re investing in, your long-term plans and goals, and how you’re building to get there–what structures and systems you’re setting in place to get framework around where you’re headed.

On December 29 Mercury goes retrograde in Capricorn (through January 18), just in time for end-of-year reflections on all we’ve “accomplished”. Can I challenge you during this Mercury retrograde to not beat yourself up for not doing “enough” in the past year? And instead make a list of all the ways you persevere and showed up for loved ones, allowed yourself to be held by your community, all the ways you cared for your long-term mental, physical, emotional health despite being years into a pandemic and everyone having low energy and weird social skills? Mercury retrograde is a great time to reflect on what you’ve already set into motion, not necessarily the time to go full speed ahead when it comes to long-term plans.

Venus goes into Aquarius on January 4th–time to look at your values and how they fit you, not what you think you should incorporate into your values just because society tells you it’s the right path. When Venus, planet of love, money, and values is in Aquarius, it’s customization time! Not everything that works for others will work for you, and this month is a good time to think outside the boundaries of the stories you’ve been told or have been telling yourself about what it is you want and desire. 

The Full Moon in Cancer comes on January 6–the first full moon of the year, and one to reflect on your home, roots, where you come from, and how it helped to get you here, whatever your feelings about “home” and “family”.

After months of being retrograde, Mars finally  goes direct in Gemini on January 12th! While it will take a while for Mars to speed up to its usual pace, it might feel like all the thinking, obsessing, journaling, rethinking you’ve been doing could be forming clearer thoughts towards action you want to take. Mars is the planet of action, and it’s been appearing to spin backwards since late October, which means we’ve been reviewing action we’ve already taken, going back on decisions, having to reassess steps we’ve already gone through, and may have felt like we’ve been walking through mud. With Mars turned direct, it might feel like it’s easier to make moves.

How Capricorn season might show up for you:

• You might be looking towards this past year and making lists of how to improve in the coming year–what to do away with, what to double down on. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which is all about being realistic about how you’re spending your time, money and energy! This is a great month to review, refine, let go of commitments + expectations. 
• Capricorn asks us to look at what we’re investing in and what we want around for the long haul, and the work it’s going to take to get there. Capricorn season could feel more serious, or almost a hangover from all the fun of Sagittarius season. Every party must end, and Capricorn encourages us to hold on to the parts of the fun, extroverted times we want to carry over into the dark winter.

Ways to work with the energy of Capricorn season:

• If you work with tarot, put the Devil card on your altar, and take some time thinking about how you’re held back, what holds you back, how you hold yourself back, and where you need to have more fun. The Devil card isn’t scary–it’s really a look at all the earthly things that can trip us up, or by denying ourselves pleasure how we’re self-undoing.
• Put together schedules, to-do lists, think about the structure of things and how they could be improved or refined.
• On Saturdays (Saturn’s day), carve out some time to review your week/month and hone in on how you’re working towards your goals.

Dirndl designs for Capricorn season: 

• Capricorns often find themselves serious, yet patient so the apron fabric we chose for the Zodiac dirndl is a black/grey cotton batik. This is a fabric that often takes time to make requiring quite a bit of patience. 
• The corresponding colors for the bodice are shades of brown, dark green, and grey.
• To embody the determined nature of the Capricorn sign, there are pieces of suede in the bodice and being an earth sign we also incorporate hemp fabrics.

• Similarly, the Moon Rising Dirndl in Capricorn has brown and black ribbons with the apron ties.

Food & drink for Capricorn season:

To get in the Capricorn spirit (pun intended), you can whip up this infused liqueur with Capricorn and Saturn-ruled herbs: 

Capricorn Cocktail:

• 1 fifth (750ml/ 3 ¼ cups) vodka (80-100 proof)
• 4 grapefruits (just the zest)
• 1 cup honey
• Sprig of rosemary

Muddle the vodka, the zest of the 4 grapefruits and honey in a big jar and stir. Put it in a cool, dark place for about a week–until it smells very grapefruity. Strain it and drink with some sparkle water and add the rosemary for garnish if you’d like! 

Capricorn Mocktail:

• 1 grapefruit
• Honey
• Sprig of rosemary

This is an easy one, and brings some vitamin C for the winter season! This is really just grapefruit juice with some honey in it, or a virgin Grayhound! Mix in some honey to grapefruit juice and add a sprig of rosemary if you’d like!

Capricorn Recipe:

A great dish that I highly recommend to try your hand on is comforting and warm Cheese Fondue. Follow the instructions in this recipe from Dirndl Kitchen and you'll get yummy earthy dish that is ideal for sharing with your family and friends.