sometime symbol, Capricorns strive to climb to the top of mountains, but in a practi-
cal, cautious, self-sufficient, step-by-step manner. Capricorns are known as planners
and organizers, capable of infinite patience. They tend to be reserved, conservative,
sober, and highly motivated. Typically, they view pleasure-seeking as an idle waste of
time. Capricorns can be intensely loyal and will go out of their way to repay a kind-
ness. Few astrologers have pointed out that this sign’s fish tail (indicating water, the
symbol of emotion) indicates that there is a highly sensitive side to Capricorns, which
is hidden underneath their reserved exterior.
The sign that the Sun was in at birth is usually the single most important influ-
ence on a native’s personality. Thus, when people say they are a certain sign, they are
almost always referring to their sun sign. There is a wealth of information available on
the characteristics of the zodiacal signs—so much that one book would not be able to
contain it all. Sun-sign astrology, which is the kind of astrology found in newspaper
columns and popular magazines, has the advantage of simplicity. But this simplicity is
purchased at the price of ignoring other astrological influences, such as one’s Moon
sign, rising sign, etc. These other influences can substantially modify a person’s basic
sun sign traits. As a consequence, it is the rare individual who is completely typical of
her or his sign. The reader should bear this caveat in mind when perusing the follow-
ing series of sun sign interpretations.
One traditional way in which astrologers condense information is by summa-
rizing sign and planet traits in lists of words and short phrases called keywords or key
phrases. The following Capricorn key words are drawn from Manly P. Hall’s Astrologi-
cal Keywords:
Emotional key words:“Inhibited, feelings are often turned upon native
himself resulting in self-pity, unforgiving, cold, irritable, timid in
action, the mind rules the heart too completely.”
Mental key words:“Powerful, concentrative, laborious, forceful, cau-
tious, economical, conservative, thrifty, scrupulous, trustworthy,
detailed thinkers, fatalistic, stubborn, domineering, good friends and
bad enemies, brooding, egotistic.”
At present, there are various astrology report programs that contain interpreta-
tions of each of the 12 sun signs. A selection of these for Sun in Capricorn has been
excerpted below:
Extremely serious and mature, you are capable of accepting responsibil-
ities and do so willingly. Others expect you to be dutiful as a matter of
course. You may get angry when people are rewarded after not having
worked nearly as hard as you have. Goal-oriented and an achiever, you
are justifiably proud of the tangible results of your efforts. You are not a
fast worker, but you are thorough, and you are known for being unusu-
ally persistent, tireless and tenacious in reaching your goals. When
you’re working, you tend to have a kind of tunnel vision that allows
you to block out extraneous matters that would distract others. Your
power to concentrate totally on the matter at hand enables you to be
practical and efficient at managing and structuring complex, ongoingCapricorn
[122] THEASTROLOGYBOOK