The four-week phase of Capricorn season welcomes winter, puts the focus on tradition and places your ambitions front and center. Set those far-reaching goals and resolutions, but with caution, thanks to Mercury retrograde!

Every 30 days or so, the Sun visits a new zodiac sign. During this “season” everyone feels the energy of this prevailing astrological sign, no matter what your Sun sign horoscope may be. Here is everything you need to know about Capricorn season.

When is Capricorn season?

And the winter solstice date

Winter is coming! Wednesday, December 21, 2022, marks Earth’s return toward the light, and the solstice coincides with the Sun’s transition to can’t-stop-won’t-stop Capricorn.

Capricorn season begins December 21, 2022, and ends January 20, 2023. It arrives right after Sagittarius season and before Aquarius season. The winter solstice always coincides with the Sun’s move into grounding, elegant Capricorn.

Winter solstice occurs when those living in the Northern hemisphere see the shortest amount of daylight all year. As the winter season begins, in the spirit of the sensible Sea Goat, conserve your own “light” and move at a slow-and-steady pace. With live-out-loud Sagittarius season drawing to a close, allow your energy to settle down.

Were you born on the cusp of Capricorn? If you know your birth time, you can solve the mystery of your Sun sign for once and for all by doing a free birth chart here!

Capricorn season 2022 comes with a side of Mercury retrograde

The last Mercury retrograde cycle of 2022 begins at the end of the year, on December 29. Mercury will backpedal in Capricorn until January 18, 2023.

Capricorn season and the New Year are traditional times we eagerly set resolutions, turn fresh pages in areas of our life. This Mercury retrograde cycle’s timing could cause some delayed satisfaction with annual goal setting. Is it better to hold off until the Mercury cycle ends? Read more in our article: The 2023 New Year’s Mercury Retrograde Puts the Cork on Party Plans and Stalls Resolutions

Where will you be lucky in 2023?

Find out in The AstroTwins 2023 Horoscope and plan it by the planets all year long!

GET YOUR 2023 HOROSCOPE

Capricorn characteristics

Capricorn is and earth sign with cardinal energy

Capricorn is the third of the zodiac’s three earth signs and part of the “cardinal” quality (or triplicity). Cardinal signs are leadership-driven, discerning, and can even be a bit entitled at times. (The others cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, and Libra.)

Cardinal signs begin every season, so they’re known as times to take initiative and pioneer. During Capricorn season, you’ll work hard—and you’ll want the best. Visualize classic Capricorn chanteuse Eartha Kitt singing “Whatever Lola wants—Lola gets!” Temper the Alpha attitude because no one likes being strong-armed. Instead, motivate the troops with an inspiring mission statement. Your power plays won’t turn into power struggles if people feel included in the decision-making process.

Saturn is Capricorn’s ruling planet

The energy of Saturn is serious, self-punishing, cautious, hardworking, but can be repressed.

Saturn—and people with a strong Capricorn influence in their birth charts—can be as inventive as they are diligent. This planet can keep us ahead of the curve while also reminding us to adhere to tradition.

What does it mean when it’s Capricorn season?

As the mythical Sea Goat, which the head of a goat and the tail of a mermaid, Capricorn doesn’t just ascend to the highest peak, it achieves new depth records in the emotion ocean.

It was Capricorn-born twins Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees who sang the classic, “How Deep is Your Love?” Remember, even though things maybe be moving slowly now, none of your dreams or goals are too grandiose. As you are planning, building and thinking about the New Year, tap into this sign’s introspective powers.

What will Capricorn season 2022 bring?

It’s beginning to feel a lot like solstice! The Sun enters Capricorn, marking the shortest day of the year for those living in the northern hemisphere. Under the cover of darkness, turn inwards and scan the landscape of your subconscious mind.

Carve out space to meditate, reflect and find gratitude for the high points of your 2022. Then, clarify what you’d like to leave behind as you enter 2023—and what evolution you’re most proud to bring with you into the New Year.

And since the celestial Sea Goat is the governor of goal setting, how perfect is it that we get to make our resolutions under these solar flares every year? Get a running list going in your Notes app for now, so you can enjoy the holidays pressure-free. Capricorn season rallies on until January 20, so you’re not going to lose your momentum

(or your “high pro glow”) if you start building your supersized visions early next year.

Capricorn season in love

Tradition, tradition! After four wild weeks, Cupid slips into an old-fashioned groove. There’s a reason why conventional rules of romance, like honesty and fidelity, have lasted through the ages. Whether you’re staunchly monogamous, proudly polyamorous or “monogamish” (as sexpert Dan Savage calls it), integrity is key to any successful union. Get honest about where you stand with people, even if a good one slips away because you want totally different things.

In a rock-solid relationship? Now’s the time to honor your bond by creating cherished memories—and memorializing the ones you’ve already shared. Assemble photos of your greatest moments into an album or have matching jewelry engraved. (Hello, holiday gift ideas!) Did you break a promise to the one you love? Start making it up to them in tangible, measurable ways. You’ll be back in good graces in no time.

Here are 7 ways you can channel the ambitious spirit of Capricorn season

1. Focus on one goal at a time

Capricorn is ruled by steady and structured Saturn, which governs linear time. Fun fact: In Greek mythology, Saturn is called Chronos; it literally means “time.” During Capricorn season, you’ll thrive by doing things in—yup—chrono-logical order.

Break every big goal into individual steps and consider how long you’ll need to finish. Reverse engineer your dreams: Start by picturing your ultimate destination, then work backward. How many days, weeks or months do you really require to pull this off? Write out any big milestones you’ll reach (and celebrate) along the way, then set them to a timeframe. Identify what kind of budget and people power you might need.

You don’t have to elevate ten different things at once!

Too much pressure is a recipe for Capricorn’s shadow side of melancholy. Instead, draw inspiration from Capricorn Stan Lee. His modest comic book business grew slowly over many years into the Marvel Universe—and changed popular culture along the way.

A word to all you adrenaline junkies: Capricorn season’s plodding methodology can seem pedantic or straight-up boring at times. But think of this sign as the zodiac’s architect, drafting the blueprints for a solid structure. You’ll decorate later—first, get the basics in place. Plus, the success this sign brings is the kind that lasts. Persist, but be patient, and you’ll win the long game.

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2. Don’t take all the spontaneity away

During Capricorn season, it’s important to get things done. But don’t get so serious that you zap all the joy out of your mission. This cycle can easily veer into “all work, no play,” so notice when you’re starting to get tunnel vision. In those moments, stop and go do something active. Try a fitness class or bundle up for a walk in the crisp air (something this earth sign loves).

Consider putting together a playlist of music by Capricorn artists like Patti Smith, Dolly Parton, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, David Bowie, Mac Miller, David Grohl—and so many more—to keep you energized while you get down to biz. Don’t forget that hard work deserves to be rewarded. Otherwise, what’s the point? Set up milestones along your mission and give yourself a truly epic prize as you crush each goal.

Pump up our Capricorn season playlist to stay motivated and inspired!

3. Align your spine during Capricorn season

Since Capricorn rules the spine and bone structure, make an effort to stand up proud and tall as you close your eyes and envision your grandest plans coming to fruition. After all, good posture cultivates the confidence needed to go after what we really want in life. You can harness the earthy energy of Capricorn season by rooting yourself in a grounded yoga pose like Tadasana (Mountain Pose) to align your structure.

Try this move

Our friend, astrology and asana teacher Andrea Rice, instructs:

Simply stand up nice and tall, with your feet hips-width apart.
Draw your shoulder blades together behind you as you spread your collarbones wide and lift your heart.
Extend through the top of your head and feel one long line of energy running from your crown chakra all the way down through your feet.
Engage your quadriceps and stand with a neutral spine by inviting a gentle C-shape curve into your lower back.
Bring your hands to your heart and bow your chin to your chest as you set powerful intentions for your dreams.
Bonus points if you live somewhere warm where you can dig your bare feet into the earth!

4. Be your own guide

Capricorn is the sign of mastery, so mentors and experts fall under the Sea Goat’s domain. This is a favorable time to seek the counsel of wise and experienced people. Just be careful not to elevate them to superhuman status. Whether it’s your boss, your doctor or your yoga teacher, nobody is all-knowing—not even famous Capricorn prognosticator Nostradamus.

For the next four weeks of Capricorn season, be careful about falling under the spell of authority figures or getting too starry-eyed over status. Just because someone occupies a leadership role doesn’t mean you should hand them all your power. Sure, people deserve respect for paying their dues and honing their craft. But remember, we are all only human.

5. Honor thy father figures

Capricorn rules the zodiac’s tenth house of masculine energy, fathers and anyone who identifies with the pronouns he/him. This can be an important time to connect to the male-identified folks in your life. However, there could also be a few Beyoncé-style “daddy lessons” in store for us, since Saturn’s karmic energy is at the helm.

Capricorn season can help us sort out the valuable guidance we’ve learned from the father figures in our lives, and what we want to do differently. (Fascinating fact: Both of Bey’s parents Tina and Matthew Knowles were born with Sun in Capricorn, making them the ultimate momager-and-popager to shepherd her from child star to top entertainer.)

It’s also a time to get in touch with the “Divine Masculine” energy that exists within all of us, regardless of gender. Check out The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine, by Capricorn theologian and author Matthew Fox.

6. …but challenge the patriarchy

Capricorn is the sign of the patriarchy. It rules governments, big businesses, old-school masculinity and hierarchies. This is especially palpable as neoconservative forces continue to polarize populations, a return to a law-and-order world governed by xenophobia and fear-mongering. Capricorns Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Richard Nixon, and Kim Jong Un all model the imbalanced use of this star sign’s power. The need to question age-old rules and structures is more resonant than ever.

7. Conserve natural resources during Capricorn season 2022

Capricorn is an earth sign, and a conservationist by nature. During Capricorn season, look for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Walk to local errands, use less water, turn off the lights when you leave a room. If you feel safe doing so, shop local (BYO bags!) instead of having everything delivered (those trucks and planes emit fossil fuels). For a year-end tax write-off, donate to an environmental cause or an organization combatting the disastrous effects of climate change. Check out CharityNavigator.org for a list of ideas, organized by issue.

Take in natural wonders

Since Capricorn is associated with mountains and the desert, take advantage if you’re near either. Go take in a view of some natural wonders. Bask in the privilege of enjoying Mother Earth during the season ruled by Father Time. And take heed to the warning of Capricorn Stephen Hawking: “We are at the most dangerous moment in the development of humanity. We now have the technology to destroy the planet on which we live, but have not yet developed the ability to escape it…we only have one planet, and we need to work together to protect it.“

Maybe that’s even more reason to keep following in the solar-powered wake of Swedish Capricorn Greta Thunberg, who was 2019’s Time Magazine‘s Person of the Year. Born January 3, 2003, she became the valiant leader of the Youth Climate Change movement.

In addition to rebuking world leaders for ignoring the alarming evidence of the crisis, the young Capricorn mobilized the largest climate strike to date with more than 4 million people participating on 7 continents and in 163 countries. Said the teen of her unwavering activism, “Sometimes we just simply have to find a way. The moment we decide to fulfill something, we can do anything.“