Capricorn Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Make your move, Capricorn! The first three weeks of the month, the bold Libra Sun moves through your 10th house of success, making this prime time for you to get ahead on the career front. Your industrious sign lives for these moments, when the seeds from all the hard work you’ve been doing start growing into tangible results.

This positive trend couldn’t come a second too soon. After all, it hasn’t been easy getting here! On October 6, taskmaster Saturn leaves Libra, your house of career, after what may have felt like an excruciating three-year tour. Since Saturn is your ruler, you often feel his stern influence more than others. So the fact that Saturn is changing zodiac signs is front-page news for you, Capricorn. And since Saturn is departing Libra, ruler of your career house, you’ll soon be shedding this astrological albatross. The last time Saturn was in Libra was 1980-82, back when the only “work” you did may have involved finger paints…if you were even alive yet. But Capricorns old enough to have been holding down a job in the early ’80s might want to reflect on any trials or growth periods that happened back then. Perhaps there was some familiar resonance, or a continuation of a hard-won lesson?

Since October 2009, you’ve been revamping your professional path, bit by bit. One Capricorn we know has worn a million work hats: dog walker, CEO of her own start-up, purveyor of sandwiches, dispenser of free advice, cosmetics maven. Chances are, you’ve found yourself in a similar quandary, wondering where your work groove went and how can you get it back. No doubt, you relied on your capable, competent nature to get you through the tough times, as you swallowed a bitter pill or two (in the name of lessons, of course). Perhaps you were able to take on new responsibilities and become more intentional as you carved out your professional identity. If you struggled with a boss from hell, the real culprit of the situation could be your own skewed relationship with authority. Capricorns tend to like hierarchies, and if you worked someplace without a clear one—or perhaps at a company TOO mired in bureaucracy—you may have felt ineffective. This, however, was Saturn pushing you to claim your own authority instead of waiting for some grizzled old CEO to bestow it upon you. And if your identity was mired in your job title, perhaps Saturn knocked you down a peg, reminding you that the questions “who are you?” and “what do you do for a living?” should not be totally interchangeable.

So you’ve suffered some losses, hard knocks and ego blows. Or you’ve taken on a title of great responsibility with shoes that felt daunting to fill. Whatever the case, it’s over. You made it. And you’re all the more rock-solid for stepping up to the challenge. Mid-month, you could get a sweet reward, too. On October 15, a Libra new moon brings an added boost to your already-shifting career path. You may receive word of a promising new opportunity or a positive development on the career front, such as a long-awaited promotion or the green light on a high-profile project. You may receive an award or some other recognition of your masterful work ethic. Whatever the development, you’re ready for your close-up. Grab that brass ring, Capricorn. You earned it!

Once Saturn moves into Scorpio, your 11th house of groups and social networking, his lessons won’t feel so stiff. For one, Saturn won’t be forming a a challenging “square” (90-degree) angle to your Sun anymore. From October 6, 2012, until September 17, 2015, you’ll be called to, well…make more friends. That should be a breeze comparatively, even if you ARE the antisocial type. With heavy-duty Sturn here, you’ll gravitate toward the power players, bringing your A-game to networking events, and hanging with the who’s-who. Saturn’s lessons may involve learning how to delegate, upping your technical skills, and being a better team player. Do you really need to be stamping every last envelope for the benefit, just to prove your loyalty? Probably not. Around this time, you will also scan your group of friends with a more discerning eye. Have you been keeping old acquaintances around out of obligation or need, as opposed to common interests and mutual affection? If so, prepare to weed away over the next few years.

On October 29, the full moon in Taurus, your fifth house of romance and self-expression, provides a perfect outlet for all the changing tides. You may find yourself having a passionate moment, under the stars, on the dance floor or in the dark of your boudoir. Feelings you’ve been suppressing may bubble up from the surface. Let the emotions fly, and revel in the unabashedly sensual experience that this full moon brings.

LOVE & ROMANCE
Love globally! This month, you’re all about “le international language of love,” as magnetic Venus moves through your ninth house of cross cultural connections and travel. If you’re single, keep an open mind to a new “type” of love. Perhaps you’ve been closing yourself off to the One because you only date doctors, lawyers and Republicans. Now, you just might find the real thing with a heady, left-leaning philosopher, or a go-getter entrepreneur who moonlights as bassist in a cover band and plans to help reelect Obama. Pure affection transcends all boundaries, even cultural ones. You may meet a hottie visiting from overseas. Or if you’re coupled, this would be an excellent time to plan a romantic vacation with your sweetie. Pick a dream destination and hop onto Kayak.com to search for deals.

All month, spicy Mars is in Sagittarius, your 12th house of hidden agendas and the subconscious. Projecting much? Be on the lookout for anger issues that appear out of nowhere—like when you go from zero to sixty because your honey forgot your parents’ wedding anniversary or that your favorite color is blue, not yellow (DUH!). Before you blow, take a deep breath and count to three. If you’re feeling resentful, recognize that you may have some unresolved issues with your love, or even a past love. Passive aggression is a distinct possibility—so check yourself before you start dropping loaded comments in response to some well-meaning advice your partner gives you, and lashing out in response.

If you’re going to judge, at least be up front about it. You might not even realize just how aggressive your special brand of “passive aggression” is. So take this opportunity to quit the martyr schtick, Capricorn. The world will, in fact, go on, if you don’t drop everything to be the “selfless” lover. In lieu of the “How could you do this to me?” speech you’ve been perfecting, take an honest appraisal of your own behavior. Assume responsibility where appropriate. Perhaps you’ve been careless or neglectful of the one you love, unwittingly taking him or her for granted. Yikes! While that’s never a fun realization to come to, know you can get yourself back on track with a little humility. Maybe you’ve been trying to pin down the one who was never relationship material in the first place. Better to own your part of the equation, rather than hosting a pity party for one.

At month’s end, you’re ready to let all the pent-up emotion loose. The October 29 Taurus full moon in your passionate, expressive fifth house pulls the pin on that grenade. Watch out world, because when you unleash the floodgates, your normally-controlled sign means business. If you have a beef with a love interest, be careful not to explode or dump your feelings on the other person. However, do take the moment to open up about how much you love and appreciate the one you’re with. Grab the metaphorical mike as you wear your heart on your sleeve. A simmering attraction could explode into a full-on fling, maybe one that lasts for the long haul. Or perhaps you’ll just create a spicy memory, one that will always inspire a secret smile when you recall your own brazenness.

MONEY & CAREER
Congratulations, graduate! You now have a degree from the School of Professional Hard Knocks. Yep, for the last three years, serious Saturn has been paving a tough new road through your career house, forcing you to mature in that area. For some Capricorns, this was a good thing: you tend to get stuck in a groove too easily, and Saturn challenged you to push past your own limiting beliefs.

Ever persistent, you have not been taking this matter lying down. Maybe you left a longtime job that had become your complete identity or simply stopped offering any opportunities for growth. No matter how hard it was for you to cut the cord, you did it—even if the universe had to force your hand. You learned some valuable lessons as a restul. For some Capricorns, you just couldn’t find your professional groove. Along the way, you’ve figured out the supreme importance of valuing yourself and your extraordinary contributions on the job. You’ve become a veritable fence-builder, putting boundaries in where required (turns out you actually DON’T have to work after 7 pm five nights a week). After Saturn’s transit, you feel more whole in yourself, both when you’re on and off the clock. You are not your job anymore. You’re an awesome person who happens to excel at work, no longer putting so much stock in the question, “So what do you DO, anyway?”

Now with structured Saturn moving into the 11th house, you’re ready to get more serious about building your network. Not to be calculating, but the old adage of “it’s who you know” definitely rings true here. So make an effort to be friendlier and more forthcoming—which can actually be hard for more reserved Capricorns. If you find yourself wanting to share some quasi-personal information, like, say, your favorite comfort food as a kid, go right ahead. You usually err on the side of professional, anyway, to the point where you can come across as a little uptight.

This is a time to loosen your rigid boundaries. If you’re the kind of Goat who only accepts success after giving your blood-sweat-and-tears all, it might be hard for you to realize that success can be as simple as sharing your ideas and talents with the right folks. Elbow grease matters, yes. But the bottom line is about contributing your unique gifts to the world, not bragging about how hard it was for you to get to the top. So be willing to go to those networking parties you love to hate, and challenge yourself to enjoy them. You may just find some surprising depth in the most superficial-seeming places. If you’ve received excellent service, offer up a glowing testimonial or reference. And don’t be shy about asking for the same. Since the 11th house rules technology, you may be lured to all things electronic during Saturn’s next stint. Take up a new skill, experiment with videos and podcasts. Launch a cool new blog that delves into the more substantive aspects of your work, or build a website to showcase and promote your talents.

Meantime, get organized. On October 4, Jupiter goes retrograde (backward) in Gemini, your sixth house of efficiency. This slowdown lasts until January 30, so get set for an extended review of your systems. You may encounter setbacks with your support staff. Perhaps your assistant starts bickering with you, or the babysitter quits without notice. Or administrative details become the bane of your existence, as scheduling snafus abound. Use this time to evaluate your processes, streamlining your regular routine to make them more effective. If you keep catching a certain employee perusing The Knot, tell the bride-to-be she can find such “work” elsewhere. Now is the moment to get rid of all slackers.

For your MVPs, boost morale with a work retreat. Let the star players let them know just how much you value them. Truly, you could not do your job without them. So give credit where credit is due. Or, if you’re in a more service-oriented role, make sure that you’re not being treated like an appendage. Don’t accept sub-par conditions because you don’t feel like you’re going to do any better. Now is the time to make the connection between your self-confidence and how you’re treated in the world. If you’re not adding true value, it might be time to hit the road. If you’re unaware of just how spectacular your talents are (and you have the dwindling bank account to show for it), read Barbara Stanny’s “Overcoming Underearning” to boost your earning (and self-worth) mojo.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
Chances are you haven’t had a whole lot of regular “me time” lately, especially since sober Saturn has been moving through Libra, your 10th house of structure, for the last three years. With a hyper-work focus, you haven’t had much time to hit the gym or go for your usual power walks. Sticking to a fitness routine has proved downright impossible for many Caps. How many times did you look at the clock and think, Oh, well…there goes another yoga class? The only namaste moments you’ve had were with a bag of Cheetos and your computer screen. This month, that ends, making it easier for you to find some work-life balance. Whew!

Now that Saturn is moving into Scorpio, your 11th house of groups, you’ll not only find more windows of free time, but you’ll also thrive in group settings. If you’re looking for camaraderie, sign on for a spin class, or head off on a meditation retreat, where you can commune in silence. Consider going in with a couple of pals to hire a trainer. (Bonus: reduced rate.) The buddy system will help you stay on track, especially on those mornings you’re not feeling like getting out of bed at 5:30 am to hit the gym.

You’ll surely need that extra push because your motivation around health and fitness could start to take a backslide now (despite the positivity of the Saturn shifts creating more room in your schedule). Starting on October 4, benefic Jupiter goes retrograde (backward) in Gemini, your sixth house of health and exercise. For the next four months, you’re invited to tweak your fitness routines. During this time, you’ll need to find ways to keep yourself inspired to eat healthy. You may need to simplify a bit, reducing stressors. If any element of your wellness stresses you out—your trainer, the gym location, difficulty finding a babysitter—now is the time to work it out.

On October 6, motivator Mars slinks through Sagittarius, your 12th house of healing, closure and sacrifice. Kick that martyr routine to the curb. You are not Joan of Arc, so stop acting like her. Cut off the energy vampires once and for all. If you suppress what you really want to say, an otherwise innocuous situation can turn into a big deal it’s just not. Draw lines where you gotta draw them…just don’t get caught in the trap of feeling like other people’s problems are yours to solve. Just because you’re good at it, doesn’t mean you’re required to save the world. Instead, express yourself and be clear about what you need. By communicating, you’ll get to the root of what’s ailing you more quickly. Since it might be displaced frustration, take time to check in with yourself first, before firing off any heated emails or picking up the phone in a huff.