Everything in life comes around in time.
Sometimes we have big visions and goals, but lack concrete structure for accomplishing them.
On December 1, 2023, we start a two-month journey of building foundations for our big ideas as Mercury, the planet of planning, enters Capricorn, the sign of persistence and achievement.
2023 started with Mercury in Capricorn, and this transit may recall how we began the year. It might be that a goal that seemed unattainable then now has new potential thanks to your growth and skill development.
Just like the start of the year, this Mercury in Capricorn transit will involve a Mercury retrograde. This time, the messenger planet will retrograde back to Sagittarius, giving us an opportunity to review our biggest ideas and check in with what is still aligned.
Here are 5 things you need to know about Mercury in Capricorn and how to make the most of this transit.
(1) Logistics: Moving Forward and Backward
Here are the logistics, so you can plan accordingly:
- December 1, 2023: Mercury enters Capricorn
- December 13, 2023: Mercury stations retrograde in Capricorn
- December 22, 2023: Mercury Cazimi in Capricorn is a moment of clarity
- December 23, 2023: Mercury retrogrades back into Sagittarius
- January 1, 2024: Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius
- January 13, 2024: Mercury re-enters Capricorn
- February 5, 2024: Mercury leaves Capricorn
(2) Significations of Mercury in Capricorn
Through the lens of astrology, every planet represents an archetype that exists within us. The signs of the zodiac represent the “conditions” or environments in which the planet does its job.
Mercury is the planet of ideas, communication, commerce, planning, learning, and travel.
Even if you’re typically “not a planner,” there is a part of you that can plan — under the right conditions.
Capricorn is a sign that provides those conditions. The tenth sign of the zodiac is a cardinal Earth sign that is symbolized by the sea goat. The sea goat diligently climbs the mountain until it reaches the top, step after plodding step.
Capricorn known for its practical realism and its persistence in pursuing goals over the long term. Like the other earth signs, Taurus and Virgo, Capricorn encourages a systematic, methodical approach to pursuing goals.
Mercury in Capricorn represents a sobering vibe after Mercury in Sagittarius. In Sagittarius, Mercury is focused on the big picture and expansive visions that might sometimes be fanciful and unrealistic.
In contrast, Mercury in Capricorn is practical, precise, logical, realistic, and organized.
This is the time to get out your spreadsheets, make your lists, and time block your schedule.
(3) A Blueprint for the Foundations of Your Big Dreams
With Mercury in Capricorn, we will have extra cosmic support to break down a big vision into doable action steps, to get realistic about our schedule, and time-block our calendar to actually get things done.
In Capricorn, Mercury takes the big ideas from its time in Sagittarius and breaks them down into a plan of actionable steps.
Capricorn is where we build foundations under the sandcastles in the sky that we dreamed up in Sagittarius season. Mercury here helps us create the blueprint for those foundations.
(4) Make Use of Your Resources
Capricorn is also a resourceful sign — it will find a way to get the job done by using what is has.
As Mercury transits through the sign of the sea goat, it reminds us that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel in pursuit of our goals.
Before you enroll in that next course, download another new app, or embark on yet another shopping spree, consider what resources you already have that can support you in your climb up the mountain.
You may not have the ideal tool or app, the perfect content, or all the skills you ideally want, but you most likely have a tool or app that can work, some form of the content you need, and enough skills to get yourself a little further down the road.
Sometimes your own experience is the best teacher and your best asset.
(5) Mercury Retrograde: Review, Reflect, Reassess, and Realign
The best way to plan moving forward is to pause and reflect on the past. Reviewing what worked and what didn’t work can give us crucial information to avoid the same mistakes again.
Mercury retrogrades are ideal times for this type of review.
Before you get all gung-ho on planning for 2024, keep in mind that Mercury will station retrograde in mid-December. This retrograde comes at the perfect time to do your year-end review of 2023.
As Mercury retrogrades back to Sagittarius, it will give us an opportunity to review our big dreams and plans, and to reevaluate what is truly resonant and aligned.
Once it rolls back into Capricorn in January we can get to work on creating the road map and blueprint to bring those big Sagittarius visions into practical form.
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