Capricorn (December 21 to January 20)

by: Alfred F. Seward

In appearance the people born in the sign of Capricorn are rather below the average height, and usually have dark complexions and hair, with very beautiful expressive eyes, and usually wear glasses.

This being the head sign, the intellectual side of the nature is apt to be emphasized. These people are thinkers, reasoners, and philosophers, and aspire to the leadership or headship of whatever enterprise, association or undertaking them may be connected with.

Capricorn people are naturally inclined to study and research and devote much attention to mental culture.

When fairly educated they have a consuming desire for further learning and knowledge, and cannot rest contentedly until they have acquired the highest intellectual development with their power.

Most of these people become thoroughly conversant with natural laws, and are very helpful in the business of this strange old world. The rest of us would miss them very greatly if they were all removed.

With education and cultivation they are broadminded, liberal and tolerant, and are capable of accomplishing the great things of the world.

They throw themselves with much enthusiasm and energy into great projects and enterprises with promise material returns proportionate to their magnitude, and the superior mentality of the Capricorn nature, its fixity or purpose and contagious activity, usually bring these huge undertakings to successful completion.

These people have positive executive ability in large degree and being determined in their tendencies they naturally aspire to be recognized as the head or leading spirit in every activity in which they engage. If this leadership is denied or impossible of achievement, they are more than likely to lose interest in the matter.

They feel instinctively their sense of fitness for position or rank about the common level; they feel that wealth and power should be theirs in bountiful measure.

It is unfortunate if they chance to be born to poverty, for failing to receive or achieve those things to which they believe themselves entitled, and not being inspired to effort by results that might seem sufficient to others, they permit themselves to sink to the lowest depths of despondency.

Frequently after having met with reverses of fortune these people positively refuse to adapt themselves to changed conditions, but spend recklessly until their resources are completely exhausted.

They are proud, independent and high minded, and indisposed to labor with their own hands, unless it may be, possibly, to accomplish some task that will lead to higher opportunities.

They are better contented and more successful, usually when engaged in business for themselves than when employed in the service of others.

They are extremely industrious, but are likely to undertake too many different things at the same time.

As entertainers the Capricorn people have few equals, the diversion they provide being of an intellectual order. Their fund of amusing anecdotes and appropriate stories is always ample, and they know how and when to introduce them into the conversation.

As might be expected, some very eloquent public speakers, profound philosophers, eminent actors and men of deep learning have come from the sing of Capricorn. Clay Clermont, Sir Isaac Newton, Daniel Webster, and Wm. E. Gladstone are among those whose birth was in this sign.

In is noteworthy, also, that the very best teachers come from Capricorn. They are naturally patient, careful of details, and usually gentle and kind. Students always make rapid progress under them, studying hard and striving to advance because of their desire to show their affection and admiration for their instructor.

No matter what pursuit they may undertake, Capricorn people go about attaining excellence therein with a calm, quiet determination that is well nigh irresistible. So cautious is their advance that they may seem to be making not the slightest progress; but in the end they will usually be found to have reached the goal for which they started.

When these people become aware of the true ideals in life, and strive to attain them, they frequently become tireless, enthusiastic and effective workers in the cause of religion, being most valuable members of the church of their choice.

Flattery, even the most subtle and skillful, is wasted on people of this sign, and they not only scorn but are apt to resent it. They are highly magnetic, and people are attracted to them without effort on their part.

They do not act on impulse, nor are they very demonstrative, being generally cool-healed and deliberate yet they know their real friends, appreciate their friendship, and are never at a loss to distinguish between flattery and sincere commendation.

The women of this sign are extremely sensible and even better managers than the men. In money matters they are discreet and prudent, and are especially qualified to arrange and manage their homes. They are well fitted for the duties of housekeepers in hotels or public institutions where numerous servants are employed.

These women prefer social power to love pretty dresses to pretty speeches, and high social standing above all else. They stand solidly aloof in their own conscious intellectual superiority, silently reminding others of their defects and shortcomings. In their presence the ordinary mortal cannot long remain unaware of his uncouthness of manner, his inelegant diction and his deficiency of booklore.

The desire of the Capricorn nature to maintain prosperous appearances and to keep pace with fashionable aristocracy frequently causes them much embarrassment and distress.

They are fond of travel and are veritable globe-trotters if their means permit.

They love harmony and beauty, and musical talent is sometimes given them in abundance. These traits should be cultivated, especially that for music, as music is extremely beneficial to the Capricorn nature. The sign has produced a number of very famous composers and performers.

These people are often very successful in business affairs. They deserve to succeed, being conservative, secretive, and disposed to mind their own business very strictly.

It sometimes occurs that Capricorn people are eccentric an incautious in their charities and investments. This depends on their mood. They are either highly cheerful optimists or deeply gloomy pessimists. They see the world through glasses tinted either with the rosy glow of hope or the somber blue or drab of despair. And their temporary fame of mind imparts itself to their dealings with others.

Education and culture are essential to proper development of the Capricorn nature, but must be supplemented by strong desire and resolve to live in the higher atmosphere of the spirit, if all possible good may follow.

The natural faults of this sign are selfishness, lack of concentration, distrust of self, pride and vanity. When these faults are analyzed it will be seen that they arise mainly from too constant mental dwelling on the material needs and desires, and from considerable self-love.

These people seem to imagine their worries and anxieties to be not only of the most importance, but also that they are of great interest to others. Then they are led to indiscretions of speech as to quantity and manner, which cause them considerable trouble.

Those who make careful and critical study of themselves, thus discovering their weak points, and who then set diligently to work to overcome those weaknesses, are the people of this sign who achieve success and honor.

When the higher nature dominates the organism, checking and subduing the lower animal tendencies, the faults and defects of character melt away as mists beneath the morning sun.

Then they possess all that is truly worth living. They become illumined with spiritual light, and their power for good has no bounds. It may require severe and prolonged effort to attain this blissful state, but the reward is more than ample, for there can be no happier or more truly prosperous person on earth than the Capricorn born who have come into their heritage.

In contracting marriages, people of this sign should seek alliances with those from Taurus (April 19 to May 22) if they wish vigorous offspring. Marriage with Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 23) or Virgo (Aug. 22 to Sept. 23), also Cancer (June 21 to July 22), are also usually harmonious and congenial.

Children born under Capricorn are peculiarly constituted, and require peculiarly careful training and government. They very readily reflect their surrounding conditions, and for that reason should not be permitted to associate with any but refined and good mannered companions. If not controlled, these little folks will become haughty, arrogant and troublesome, yet parents should never permit themselves to display any temper in their management of the children. They may be trained only by intense love and tenderness combined with unyielding firmness.

Simple tastes should be inculcated early in life, in dress, in habits, and in eating especially, and they should learn that outward display is usually low and vulgar.

Capricorn people of all ages and both sexes are especially rich in the planetary influences and solar fluids which perpetually surround. These influences, rightly understood and employed, are beneficial in the highest degree. To achieve success, it is only necessary for the Capricorn person to make choice of some congenial occupation, profession, business or art, concentrate their energy and purpose on that pursuit, and march straight ahead to victory, aided by the mysterious forces that are at their command.

This sign represents the dark side of the earth. It is the historic occult sign of solitude and meditation. This is perhaps the most brilliantly intellectual, as well as the most temperamentally depressed sign in the Zodiac.

These people are particularly fitted for the management of large enterprises. They are good judges of character, shrewd and calculating; quick to recognize possibilities and take advantage of the weak points of the opposing forces; excellent bargainers, and gifted with remarkable foresight in money matters. Often display much caution or prudence, and when once they have made up their minds to do a thing, they follow their course with great persistence.

As lecturers, preachers or lawyers they show rare ability and skill in the preparation of their briefs or sermons; as bookkeepers it might be said that their books are models of accuracy, although to others their peculiar system may seem strange or complicated. Often labor patiently for hours to locate an error.

The diet of Saturn people should consist largely of heating and stimulating foods. Born as they are during a cold, dry and barren season, their system naturally requires such foods.

In this sign there is great danger of mental depression and melancholia and for this reason all morbid tendencies, despondency, discontent and the like, should be most strenuously guarded against.

Care should be take of the skin, and cosmetics avoided, as they are likely to be injurious and cause irritation.

These people are susceptible to heart trouble, nervousness, affection of the eyes and trembling of the knees, which are brought on by overwork, worry, and too great anxiety to succeed. They frequently suffer with chills, cold in the head and chest, poor circulation of the blood and rheumatism. They are also troubled with indigestion and constipation, caused from excessive dryness and lack of oil in the system. Cheerful company, bright and congenial surroundings and a fair amount of physical exercise are necessary to keep the system in good order.

The occupations to which Capricorn people are best suited run along commercial lines. They have a wonderful keen knowledge of money values, are excellent bargainers and can always make ends meet, as they naturally practice thrift and economy. In their expenditures they are spasmodic, at times giving generously and then again being close and penurious. To achieve success it is only necessary for them to make a choice of some congenial occupation, for with their unyielding tenacity they are capable of bringing their undertakings to a successful completion.

About the Author

Alfred F. Seward

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