As I embark on my first ever trip to the Caribbean which will be had under the most extraordinary of circumstances (so fitting my life experience of Libran extremes), the oracle of the day is: A Group Of People Outfitting A Large Canoe At The Start Of A Journey By Water. I suppose you could call it a canoe and the group of people will be an eight-person crew. As intimated “resource” is a Capricorn notion—as opposed to its so-called opposite sign of Cancer which is source itself. That cardinal water sign is a well-spring of potential, promise, hope and emotionality. The cardinal-earth sign of Capricorn, the SeaGoat, combines the reservoir (experience) of water (emotion) while it symobolizes the need to climb a mountain which might contain that alpine lake, a source of life and conservation, through Capricorn’s wintery month. Using (a Capricorn word) natural resources is endemic to the sign, whether those resources are environmental or personal. We are dealing here in common enterprise, and the homogeneity of the group might be all the more startling as it ventures out. Those assembling on our boat today are combining under a common schema and purpose, if only to achieve a week’s respite away from the norm of northern hemispheric life.

The sign of Capricorn also rules this oracle in a twelve-fold sequence, so we experience a double-barelleled dose of conservative energy. Implicit in the Capricorn experience is status and authroity, so even though this is an oracle of collective experience, it will have been dictated from an executive point of view. Somebody is definitely in charge here. There is privilige and socio-political expediency—which may account for our being fast-tracked by a ship’s captain through customs and passport control. The keynote here is a need for change which the group activity is bend on affecting, whether the individuals involved are conscious of this fact or not.

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A Human Soul, In Its Eagerness For New Experiences, Seeks Embodiment is what awaits us at 3° Capricorn, suggesting a strong yearning for that which will increase the scope of one’s contacts with other living beings. Growth and understanding on the keynotes, here, both attributes of the sign of Sagittarius which rules this symbol in a twelve-fold sequence. We can take this oracle literally, depending on your beliefts—the metaphysical notion that we shoose the instant of our conception and the precise moment of our borith, thus the exact organization of the constellations—but we can also view this symbolically as well, in that we can, at any moment, be reborn in certain embodiment of our beliefs or self-imagination. Ask any Sagittarius person and they will tell you that they have a strong will toward new experiences, whether they be constructive or destructive remains to be seen. But here in the sign of Capricorn, whose motto is “I use” this experience will not be wasted of frivolous, it will be fully absorbed and utilized. Even if there is a destructive aspect, the lesson learned will not be for nought, but fully assimilated into the consciousnesss. What is at the core here is the desire to prove to oneself, not to others, contained Capricorn energy ruling the former impulse, whilst expanisive Sagittarius may govern the latter.

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At 2° Capricorn we encounter Three Rose Windows In A Gothic Church One Damaged By War which follows the previous sign whereby one claims central power to wield for the collective. Ruled by Scorpio in a twelve-fold sequence, we here see that sign’s element of destruction—ruled by Pluto, named for the god of demise. One will lose some elements of that which characterizes the spirit of the collective in the assumption and display of power. The ntegration one seeks to maintain will be compromised via any display of vioulence. The rose window represents the three-fold spirit of man, and in making any violent move, that which will be destroyed is not just the target of man’s violence but the part of himself where his love and compassion “lives”. Waste is the keynote of this oracle which is the flipside of the Capricorn motto “I use”—Capricorn is the sign of preservation and resource and it makes one ultra aware of what is being squandered or wasted.

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An Indian Chief Claims Power From The Assembled Tribe is the oracle at 1° Capricorn. The transpersonal power of the previous oracle has now become the power to lead a community. The “we are” of this sign’s Libra rule is implicit. Authority and status are Capricorn elements and this first oracle of the sign sets up the importance of heirarchy and when this degree is present we see the need to assume power over others for the benefit of all. Taking on the power is also something of a sacrifice as we leave ourselves open to be scapegoated in the process for the collective failure as well as success.

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At 30° Sagittarius we find The Pope, Blessing The Faithful. This would be ruled by Virgo in a twelve-fold sequence. I’m not a big fan of the Pope, even this one who seems nice. I just don’t like appointed pontiffs as a rule. Imagine accepting the position to play the role of God’s representative on earth. How does one get that job. It’s all politics I suppose which seems to defeat the purpose. The oracle asks us if we are ready to play a transpersonal role as a symbol. I’m going to say I’m not.

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A Fat Boy Mowing The Lawn Of His House On An Elegant Suburban Street is about the need to attend to everyday tasks which both ensure social worth or respectability, and benefit one’s constitution. I think of Tom Sawyer painting his fence, or rather getting others to do it. Tom Sawyer is an archetype of Leo, which rules this oracle, at 29° Sagittarius, in a twelve fold sequence. A well maintained front lawn is meant to signal to others a certain wealth and standing, while the fat boy could use the exercise. I know another fat boy who could use the exercise and that’s me. I would love to have a lawn to mow again. I use to have acres and a push more, with no motor, which which I would trim the entire thing. It was fun. I feel disconnected from having and I wonder why it is that I don’t go in for material things as much as most people I know and love. Of course I know a lot of starving artists, but not many of them love me. I’m feeling very much at a crossroads at this point in my life. I’m not interested in those in love with their poverty, but I also can’t stand being around conspicuous consumers. I’m about to go on a sort of fantasy vacation which is so beyond anything I would ever be able to afford in this or most lifetimes, all courtesy of a very kind and loving (and wealthy) friend. I wish I looked better in my swimsuit.

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An Old Bridge Over a Beautiful Stream Is Still In Constant Use was the symbol for Sagittarius 28° which points to the enduring elements in a society which reveal its ability to significantly link the genius of its individuals to the everyday needs of the collectivity. The mastery of a few trained individuals allows the community to remain well integrated. This symbol was for this past Sunday—it’s now Thursday and I’m playing catch up. We had our show at Joe’s Pub that day and then travel and holidays and it’s a runaway train. It’s all about craftsman furthering culutre; and we also see human know-how working with and around nature. That is all.

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A Sculptor At His Work is the image at 27° Sagittarius. It’s 5:35 AM and I’m about to jump into a car to head to NYC to rehearse our holiday show so I’ll make this brief: Today is about the “ability to project one’s vision upon and to give form to materials.” If this degree is activated in the Zodiac, we see the individual creatively expressing his own particular individuality. Using materials available, one reveals ones inner life and purpose. This image is ruled by Gemini, in a twelve-fold sequence, a sign that is hinged on making an indelible individual mark, bringing something to market, that might serve to insure a small slice of immortality. Indeed, a fine piece of artwork seems imbued with the spirit of the maker, the artist pouring his life into his work, so that life might last longer than his or her own. Today is about projecting oneself into one’s work.

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Just yesterday I made an announcement regarding my resolution, a very Capricorn word, for New Year’s which falls into that sign. What it boils down to is: I want to limit my social, professional and personal sphere and experience to those who embody the Golden Rule and understand the nature of true abundance and the importance of giving (back), whilst eschewing any one or thing that smacks of self-servingness. Et voila: Today, at 26° Sagittarius, we see A Flag Bearer In A Battle who has nobly accepted subservience of the individual to collective values and goals, also known as a being a mensch. Taurus rules this image in a twelve-fold sequence and that sign embodies the power of passivity as well as giving voice to attributes of its native second house of values and goals—bull’s eye. Taurus people tend to me more obsesssed than others in terms of what they’re going for, which can make them myopic on the shadow side. But this is still a Sagittarian oracle and we must read it in that context.

The flag bearer is, of course on horseback. He represents the highest-minded ideals of the collective around which his side in rallied in battle; paradoxically, though he is unarmed. He at once the integrity of the group, and a most vulnerable target. He has laid himself open, given himself overto the experience. His life and welfare are sacrificed to the greater whole, and that sacrifice is the group’s ultimate strength, if not literally then morally. When this symbol arises in our astrology we are being asked if we are ready to accept a challenging role and do we have the ultimate willingness to consecrate ourselves to an ideal. Can we do battle for it. The Centaur in mythology is both shaman and fierce warrior, a powerfully wise but dangerous figure to those who challenge the high-minded ideal of its embodiment. That is what we are being asked to be—a combination of courage and conviction. Sagittarius is a fire sign, lest we forget, and fire equals spirt. The standard bearer is the spirit of the collective around which all others rally. This takes a purity of vision as well as a total subjugation of personal ego. Sounds like a goal to me.

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The first thing that strikes me about the image at 25° Sagittarius, A Chubby Boy On A Hobby Horse, is how literally Centaur-like this is. We are also back to the first sign of Aries, in a twelve-fold sequence, claiming rulership of this oracle—Aries rules the first seven years of a person’s life. And that age-group perspective is central to this symbol in that it hinges on the anticipation of powers one can only as yet pretend to. The horse is a symbol of power and the sign of Sagittarius is archetypally associated with being at full power. It’s planetary governer is Jupiter named for the king god (Greek: Zeus) who was mighter than all the other gods put together—just as all the planets in the solar system could fit inside Jupiter the largest of them all—the female archetype being his sister-wife, June, (Greek: Hera) who is queen of heaven and goddess of both women and, you guessed it, of power. In bribing Paris during his eponymous Judgment as to which of the three goddesses—Athena, Aphrodite, Hera—were most beautiful, Hera promised Paris worldly power, which was her province to bestow. Celebrating the goddess at full power was the ritualized display of lady on horseback—the ride of Lady Godiva (or Goddess-Diva) commemorated Juno’s power of blinding radiance, putting out the eyes of the peeping Tom, and, think about it, she is the very embodiment of the Centauress.

Horses are also symbols of sexual power and energy. The horse provided greater possiblity in terms of (saving) time and (expanding into) more space. The chubby boy rhythmically rocking back and forth on his horsey is also pretending to the sexuality that will some day be a powerful possession. All that stored fat will turn to fuel. The peeping Tom was actually Thomas Rhymer, his name an echoing of the rocking rhythm of the horse’s movement and that of sex. The boy maybe lost in the throes of his imagination, projecting himself into the future, when he might be riding a real horse (or lady or man for that matter.) Sagittarius is all about connecting the higher mind and imagination, symbolized by the human half of the centaur, with the wild organic nature of the body and its own dictates, symbolized by the horse. The rocking back and forth, physically, while the imagination wanders and alights on its wildest visions, is a manifestation of that electric connection taking place. Rock and roll, jazz, beat poetry, stream of conscious writing all fall under Sagittarius rule as human expression becomes one and the same with what are undercurrent energies, bipassing the too-conscious mind, and emanating more from a sort of super concious. In this way we might see that the chubby child is channeling, invoking, summoning, conjuring his future.

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