Scale: New Moon in Capricorn

A guide to nurturing your creativity during Capricorn season

Welcome. Creative Contemplation is our monthly practice of connecting to the energy of the seasons to nurture our creativity. Each new moon letter includes creative prompts, a tarot reading, a special playlist, and a vision board to help guide your path. Read the whole series here.

If you haven’t already, download the accompanying journal with our monthly new moon themes, affirmations, and creative prompts for free here.

Hello.

I love the energy of tenacity I feel, coursing through my bones. There’s a sense of determination, of can-do, against all odds.

As we near the end of the astrological year (beginning again with Aries season in March), we’ve gained a sturdiness and inner trust in ourselves. We are resourceful. We are resourced by Spirit and our life experiences.

We know what we want now and can begin to scale our personal mountain, knowing that this height will inevitably lead to another valley and new heights beyond. Capricorn season (December 22, 2023—January 19, 2024) is in a cardinal earth sign, infusing us with the courage to make our dreams a physical reality with actions of integrity.

Capricorn is not afraid of hard work; it knows self-reliance is a power move, yet cautions us not to fall for the trick of separation. As we enter 2024, Pluto (the planet of transformation) will be finishing its transit in the sign of Capricorn that began in 2008. What lessons around security, legacy, work, or your long-term commitments and relationships have you learned since then? This might be a good time to review the area of your chart with Capricorn placements for additional reflection and guidance this season (you can use a free birth chart resource like this one).

The new moon (January 11th) is an opportunity to tell a new story when it comes to our belief systems around duty, self-determination, and our right to belong on the physical plane. Last month, the New Moon in Sagittarius helped us envision our future with hope. Capricorn season answers that call with a practical plan to make our dreams come true.

Our affirmation this month is, “I am tenacious in my ability to overcome obstacles, I will climb this mountain one step at a time.”

As the opposite sign of Cancer, Capricorn (ruled by Saturn), is often seen as the Father of the signs, a more rigid and minimalist archetype. Cancer on the other hand is perceived as the nurturing Mother—watery, emotional, and fiercely protective. While working with the energy of Capricorn, it may be useful to reflect on how our perception of the Father/Mother figures in our lives have influenced us and how we can choose to parent our inner child in ways that nourish our growth.

What does all of this mean for our creative practice?

Keep reading for this month’s tarot reading, collective playlist, vision board, new moon blessing, and creative inspiration and prompts for further exploration.

Creative Inspiration

“The value of doing something does not lie in the ease or difficulty, the probability or improbability of its achievement, but in the vision, the plan, the determination and the perseverance, the effort and the struggle which go into the project. Life is enriched by aspiration and effort, rather than by acquisition and accumulation.”

-Helen Nearing

Living the Good Life: How to Live Sanely and Simply in a Troubled World, was written by Scott and Helen Nearing and self-published in 1954. It’s a book that’s made a mark on many, especially those interested in back-to-the-land movements. Yet, what I love about their experiment and the life they constructed is its simplicity paired with dedication to the work. Their objectives for establishing a homestead were intentional and the ripples of their earnest endeavors still create ripples today.

They valued self-sufficiency, but not without community. They focused on their health and understood the importance of connection to the land and eating homegrown, organic food. Their purpose was also social and ethical.

“We were against the accumulation of profit and unearned income by non-producers, and we wanted to make our living by our own hands, yet with time and leisure for avocational pursuits. We wanted to replace regimentation and coercion with respect for life. Instead of exploitation, we wanted a use economy. Simplicity should take the place of multiplicity, complexity, and confusion. Instead of the hectic mad rush of busyness, we intended a quiet pace with time to wonder, ponder, and observe. We hoped to replace worry, fear and hate with serenity, purpose and at-oneness.”

-Helen and Scott Nearing

Whether you agree with their methods or not, the long-term effects of their beliefs prove that the energies embodied by Capricorn can indeed be radical in their efficiency. Much like Virgo, Capricorn reminds us that there is something of the sacred in the mundane and holy in the minimalist.

This commencement address by Neil Gaiman is another great framework to consider during Capricorn season, especially for artists. Rather than having everything figured out (or trying to, anyway!) he advises that we have a vision for our life (or creative path) and just keep taking steps towards our personal mountain.

“Something that worked for me was imagining that where I wanted to be – which was an author, primarily of fiction, making good books, making good comics, making good drama and supporting myself through my words – imagining that was a mountain, a distant mountain. My goal.”

“And I knew that as long as I kept walking towards the mountain I would be all right.

And when I truly was not sure what to do, I could stop, and think about whether it was taking me towards or away from the mountain. I said no to editorial jobs on magazines, proper jobs that would have paid proper money because I knew that, attractive though they were, for me they would have been walking away from the mountain. And if those job offers had come earlier I might have taken them, because they still would have been closer to the mountain than I was at that time.”

-Neil Gaiman

Tarot Reading

The Devil is the traditional card associated with Capricorn. I think the connection is seen best when evaluating what old stories, beliefs, or ties we need to release in order to have the stamina to answer our soul’s calling and scale the mountain. We can’t move forward if we’re weighted down by self-imposed limitations, addictions, or fears.

This month, Aloneness (The Hermit) in Reverse, Breakthrough (Justice), and The Burden (Six of Swords) in Reverse¹ also showed up as energy to contemplate.

The Hermit in Reverse cautions us that self-sufficiency is not the same as isolation. Sometimes tapping into our resources means asking for help and following in the footsteps of those who’ve blazed the path ahead of us. Wherever your journey takes you, you bring your unique light and essence, leaving an energetic trail behind you. Open yourself to the energetic trail of those who’ve gone before, including the wisdom of your body to know when it’s time to stop and rest, when you need to take a detour, or when you need companionship for the next stretch.

Breakthrough (Justice) is about owning our innate power to overcome obstacles, both real and imagined. It speaks of fairness, of right action, and the Universe’s willingness to balance the scales on our behalf. Yes, there are moments of hardship in life and it’s not always just, yet in times of injustice we gain knowledge and skills, and we learn how to become resilient.

Breakthrough is that moment when we can no longer stay in our smallness. There may be anger, frustration, or even a release of shame, but this is meant to liberate us and free our inner strength so we can tap into a new energetic and scale new heights.

The Burden (Six of Swords) in Reverse echoes the message of The Devil in our need to honestly assess the baggage and attachments we’re unwilling to release. When climbing a mountain, the less weight you carry, the easier your journey. It’s not impossible to do with the current burdens you’re carrying but is it necessary to undergo the amount of suffering it will take?

If you’d like an overview of the year 2024, check out my New Year Tarot Reading below. I’m also offering one-on-one readings and would love to work with you. See all of my offerings and book a reading here. For a limited time, receive a 50% “Friends and Fam” discount on 60-minute readings.

A year of growth and transformation 🌱⚡

Playlist

Resilient, energizing, with a taste of real #girlboss vibes, this playlist is a reminder of your strength. I’d love to hear your Capricorn songs so don’t forget to add them here to our collective playlist or leave a comment with your suggestion and I’ll include it!

Vision Board

Here’s a sneak peek of the Capricorn vision board. If you’d like to add pins for inspiration, use this link. Let’s see what we can create, together!

Creative prompts

1. Draw, paint, or sketch your mountain. What does it look like? What textures, colors, or energies are present? What stops do you foresee along the way? Make a map with “basecamps” you might stop at to resupply and fuel your journey.

2. Watch the movie Wild, The Way, or A Walk in the Woods. Notice what preparations they make for the journey and what happens when those preparations fail. How do they face the challenges and obstacles with fortitude? Make a list of lessons learned and apply them to your current journey.

3. Find a way to push your physical limits- whether it’s trying a new yoga pose and holding it just slightly longer than comfortable, trying a dance class, literally going rock climbing…find the edge just beyond your comfort zone. Notice how it feels to move beyond what you thought you were capable of. Can you apply this to other areas of your life?

New Moon Blessing

May you remember there is no shame in steady and slow and that the height of your mountain has no relevance to the height of another’s. May you stop along the way to enjoy the view and let your lungs fill with air, especially when your breath becomes staccato as the altitude rises. May you release all that’s unessential and embrace the bare necessities with pride, knowing the resources you need the most are carried within. May each step remind you how capable you are and that pausing to rest is not the same as quitting. May you choose to believe time is on your side. Go gently and with the inner knowledge of your magnificence.

All my love,
Mariah

P.S. As we wrap up our first year of Creative Contemplation (just two months left!) I’m imagining and beginning to create season two. What would you like to see next year? What are your favorite sections of the new moon letter? Your feedback will help me create a meaningful practice for all of us. Thank you for your input! ✨👇

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1. Images from the Osho Zen Tarot Deck