The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender. William Booth
Defeat is a state of mind. No one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality. Bruce Lee
A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. Chinese Proverb
An unjust peace is better than a just war. Cicero
Failure is nature’s plan to prepare you for great responsibilities. Napoleon
You don’t always win your battles, but it’s good to know you fought. Marjorie Holmes
But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated. Ernest Hemingway
Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory. Norman Vincent Peale
When I stand before thee at the day’s end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing. Rabindranath Tagore
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear. Mark Twain
I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don’t deserve that either. Jack Benny
January's Capricorn new Moon falls on January 11 in the United States and January 12 in Australia. This new Moon is one of knowing when to fight and when to let go - when to stay in the game and when to change course - to decide what battles are worth fighting and what one's are not worth the time and energy one expends.
The Sabian Symbol for the new Moon is Capricorn 22: A General Revealing Nobility Of Character By Accepting Defeat Gracefully.
There’s an old saying: Winning or losing doesn’t matter as much as how you play the game. Through the acceptance of ‘Defeat’, one can often discover important and valuable life lessons. Merely making excuses can lead to the same mistakes being made again and again, when there is no longer any point in pushing matters. At a time of “surrender”, it is the way the situation is handled that will be remembered the most. It is how ‘Gracefully’ you handle ‘Defeat’ that will be the measure of your inner worth both to yourself and others. Sometimes it is wise to concede when the “victory” or the “prize” is more valuable for your opponent than yourself. Admitting that one has lost or is prepared to give up can free you up to get on with your life and more rewarding adventures. Learning from ‘Defeat’ can bring strength of character. On a deeper level, ‘Defeat’ shows us that we are neither perfect, nor indestructible. Is the objective, battle or conflict really worth winning or pursuing? Going for revenge, greed or glory can often prove to end up badly as things can turn sour. Sometimes pushing your agenda can hurt your cause and it’s better to back off and hold your tongue. Struggling to have your point made or accepted may be self-defeating. This can happen in simple everyday situations such as conversation with others not understanding what you’re saying or doing. Realizing that you’re not going to change others can lead to being able to ‘Accept’ things in a better light.
Keywords: True inner worth. Being a “good loser”. Learning that every minor skirmish in life is not a major ‘Defeat’. Being prepared to start again. Sacrificing things for the benefit of others. Nobility of character. Letting go of the “charge” around anger. Surrendering. Knowing when to let go.
The Caution: Being a “bad loser”. Feeling everything is going to come out badly. Reliance on self-limitations. Seeing the negative in everything. Losing what’s been worked for. Making excuses to get out of tight situations. Betrayal and loss. Loss of support. Surrendering too early. Giving up on life.
Of course, not all is about 'defeat' at this new Moon - in fact you may not experience any defeats at all - there are successes, gains and promises of rewards and breakthroughs. Life seems to be asking whether we need to see everything as a battle, or, is it time to put the sword down and to move forward with confidence, forgiveness and compassion?
The Karmic Condition (the degree before) this new Moon is Capricorn 21: A Relay Race. This degree talks about knowing when to do all the work (run the race) yourself, and when to pass on the baton and let others do it. There can be a struggle, particularly as it's Capricorn, around letting go of control to someone else, or trusting them to do the job, or there can be issues of having to work with others when you'd rather just go it alone.
Also, one might like to ask the question of whether some of the battles we're facing worth dying on that hill for? And through attitudes do we often snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?
Rewards are inherent in this degree as the Quest Degree (the degree following) speaks of breakthroughs and awards. It's Capricorn 23: A Soldier Receiving Two Awards For Bravery In Combat. These two Symbols may feel like they are contradicting each other, but they aren't necessarily - it is a matter of your perspective. As we know, it is often through the way we handle things that the good things in life come to us.
When I stand before thee at the day’s end, thou shalt see my scars and know that I had my wounds and also my healing. Rabindranath Tagore
One should use praise to recognize what one is not. Elias Canetti
Try to get all of your posthumous medals in advance. Anon
Keywords: Desperate striving for recognition. Rewards for involvement in tough situations. Medals and trophies. Tributes, acknowledgments and benefits given or showered. Award ceremonies. Posthumous awards. Giving thanks. Compensation. Insurance and legal claims. Recompense for taking action.
The Caution: ‘Awards’ as Band-Aids to assuage guilt produced in war. Expecting money or other rewards for doing anything that one doesn’t want to. The ills, social and otherwise, of combat fighting. Neurotic seeking of praise or acknowledgment. Rejection lines. Bribery.
Saturn, which being the ruler of Capricorn is the ruler of this new Moon, is on Scorpio 11: A Drowning Man is Being Rescued
This Symbol shows the ability, or the necessity, of helping others, being on hand when they need it along with a sense of 'rescuing' and bringing a sense of life back. It can show a rescuing nature of some kind, a counselor, therapist, life saver, etc. However, of course, it could be that you need “Rescuing” in some way, whether it’s through counseling, getting a much needed loan, or having stress and strain lifted so that you can breath freely again. This Symbol often shows someone overpowered or overcome by their inability to cope emotionally. Often we feel like we are being suffocated; by our marriage, job, friendships, life path or the lack of these things. Know that help is at hand and soon you'll be able to ‘breathe’ easily again.
Resuscitation. Regaining one's breath. Being rescued. Finding life renewed. Salvation. Finding help in times of crisis. Ventilators. Oxygen. Dependence. Last minute reprieves.
The Caution: Panicking to draw help rather than learning how to cope. Unrealistic reliance on others. Getting into deep water on a regular basis. Not wanting to save yourself. Rejecting emotional realities.
The trick is that this is Saturn in Scorpio that we're talking about and some may not want to be rescued... some people feel the need or the urge to sit in their pain, their discomfort, their lack of knowing or being able to believe and they may not want to budge an inch. Others, of course, are working hard at finding solutions to issues that cause them discomfort, a shortness of breath, and feeling the need to make changes so they can breath freely again. Big deep breaths and signalling (to yourself if nobody else) that you want to be pulled out of the mire can bring about a release and a healing. After all, Saturn can have us 'treading water' for a very long time if we're attached to our version of quicksand.
Mercury is three degrees earlier in Capricorn and will pass over the two degrees described above within the week following the new Moon. This means we will get a chance to really integrate what this new Moon is for us on a personal level, no doubt as well as seeing it on the world stage.
Mercury is on Capricorn 18: The Union Jack Flies From A New British Warship
This Symbol shows the ability - or the need - for supervision, border protection and control. There can be a feeling of having to oversee a large ‘empire’ where reliability and leadership are vital. This can be a tiring responsibility, but there can be an awareness of the protection of those around you, particularly those who depend on you, along with 'all who went before'. However, political and social restraints from the past could be causing you to feel that you’ve somehow got to ‘wage war’. Issues to do with the government can come up, whether you agree with what they do or not. At times in your life you’ll be confronted with having to make your presence felt and guard your territory. Effective supervision can help you to relax.
Colonialism. Protectionism. Nationalism. Border patrols and border protection. The ruling elite. Empires. The mother country. War games. Pitting people against each other.
The Caution: Artificial shows of strength. Being armed. Strong-arm tactics. Flags. Republics. Issues of statehood. Getting out the big guns. Rebellion. Social disintegration.
Mercury quickly moves on to Capricorn 19: A Five-Year Old Child Carrying A Heavy Load Of Groceries.
Keywords: Being the one everyone counts on to do the job. Feeling weighed down. Having to carry the “bag”. Lifting heavy weights and bearing the consequences. Taking on things above and beyond what one should. Acting the grownup. Maturing quickly. Looking after paperwork. Running errands. Providing food and sustenance for everyone.
The Caution: Overloading the innocent and the inexperienced without thought of the consequences. Taking on too much. Not allowing for fun and carefree activities. Never being “off-duty”. Joint, back and shoulder problems. Growing up too fast. Having a serious attitude. Lack of childhood. Dropping the bundle. Carrying the family's responsibilities.
So, some people will be feeling the need to protect (or bolster) their boundaries, perhaps to show their 'spoils' or possessions or what they've built up over the years. For some, this can be a tiring responsibility unless there's a true sense of feeling at home and calm and protected in one's life.
As with the last few months, again, the degrees for this lunation are quite militaristic.
Venus implies a desire, or the need, to travel with others, to join in on a journey, an adventure, a venture, a possibility with others. The Symbol is Capricorn 4: A Group Of People Entering A Large Canoe For A Journey By Water
This degree shows the ability, or the need, to “Journey” with others. Each person brings with them their individual stories, their needs and wants. They come together to accomplish something, to set out for somewhere. To embark on a journey with a number of people is to embark on an emotional discovery, along with learning the rules of society about interacting with others. With cooperation, and everyone heading in the same direction, there can be great success. You may find episodes when different and separate aspects of your personality come together to explore where you’re going.
Cooperation. A shared goal in sight. Being on a journey of destiny. Traveling or living together. Travels on the water. Rowing together. Workshops. Sharing destinations.
The Caution: Uncoordinated energies. Not wanting to go along with anybody. Rocking the boat. No one navigating. Lack of a realistic agenda or itinerary. Lack of privacy.
Very soon after the new Moon, Venus moves onto Capricorn 5: Indians - Some Rowing A Canoe While Others Are Dancing A War Dance
Keywords: Some getting on with their lives whilst others are not. Vehicles of discovery versus arguing and bickering. Threats and intimidation. Making a show of power and mobility. Cooperation bringing release from difficulties. Mobilizing forces. Psyching oneself up. Group efforts. Traffic.
The Caution: Making one’s case whilst having to be continually on the move. Being emotionally charged. Arguments and bickering that halt forward movement or growth. Intimidation. Moving targets. Superficial shows of strength for display purposes. Making a lot of noise. Pulling faces. Gestures that threaten. Accepting no opposition to progress. Aggression. Divergent motivations leading to confusion. Road rage.
The trick is to keep rowing and to pick those who are on the same path as you so you're heading in the same direction with the same visions of the future.
Mars also speaks of journeying, or heading, in a particular direction. It's on Aquarius 14: A Train Entering A Tunnel
This Symbol shows the ability, or the need, of being able to go straight ahead, towards your objectives without being distracted or lead off your path. The “Train Enters a Tunnel”, it is on one track that leads in a certain direction and it doesn’t deviate or stop to assess where it’s going; it simply keeps going straight ahead. You may need to cut through the obstacles in your life and go straight ahead, regardless of the unseen hazards you may encounter along the way. You have a great deal of drive and many others are likely to be with you, so plough on. Push through with what you need to do, making sure that you pay attention to others' needs along the way.
Deep penetration. Cutting through detail. Persistence. Shortcuts to a desired end. Going for the objective. Near death experiences. Heart bypasses, physical, emotional, spiritual.
The Caution: Being overcautious. Taking the long way around. Tunnel vision. Cutting people off. Having a one-track mind that doesn't allow for detours or deviations. Cold.
So, both Venus and Mars talk about journeying with others and with Mars having just been on Aquarius 13: The Barometer, there may have been a pause to figure things out before steaming ahead.
Jupiter has been on the striking workers' degree for the last several weeks, so, many have had a chance to look at what they are and aren't prepared to do or to put up with. Jupiter is retrograde and travelling slowly. It's now on Gemini 7: An Old-Fashioned Well
This Symbol implies going into the depths of people, places and things in order to find nourishment or satisfaction. There is always a plentiful supply for all those who draw on the well with sincerity. You are able to access this through your faith and emotive confidence in yourself. You don't need to employ your thoughts as much as your beliefs in this situation. The inner wisdom you seek has been tapped by others long ago. Tapping into the 'Well' may require a long rope and patience but it is worth the effort. Compassion and love allow one to plumb the depths of people and situations with certainty.
Being supported by people and your environment. Clarity of thought and perception. Deep and sustaining links to the past. The pool of universal experience. Water.
The Caution: Not trusting advice based on established ideas. Not seeing the depths of others. Shallow emotions and responses. Muddying of issues. Stagnant water. Poisons.
Uranus is sextiling Jupiter, bringing with it a desire for freedom, innovation, change, renewal. It's on Aries 5: A White Triangle Is Seen; It Has Golden Wings
This Symbol shows the ability to be able to lift yourself above the ordinary, using your natural gifts to find a new perspective, an uplifted view; to expand your awareness. This can picture an eagerness for spiritual integration or a capacity to escape from reality. Try to ground the vision, but allow yourself the free flight of vision. There is often a strong spiritual nature that expresses itself through purity of thought and insight.
Inspiration and zeal. Feeling elevated and inspired through spiritual or creative efforts. Flying to a greater perspective. Self transcendence. Angels and their messages.
The Caution: Not noticing your down-to-earth needs or those around you. Escapism. Forgetting about the needs and desires of the body. Losing the plot.
Neptune is on a degree that can have people feeling like hiding away. It's on Pisces 2: A Squirrel Hiding From Hunters
This Symbol shows the need, or the ability, to be able to sense when to be moving and when to stop, when to be out in the world and when to be “Hiding” away. There can be a heightened sense of awareness or alertness, and, possibly, an ability to hear or perceive subtle things in the environment. At times in your life, there may be aggression in the air with you probably one of the smaller players. You may feel threatened sometimes; and this can come from out of the blue. Not watching the news and not listening to negative stories can be one way of “Hiding” away. To be cautious is wise, but hiding oneself away can lead to missed opportunities for nourishment. Be wary of being bullied or "holed-up".
Tactics to ensure survival. Hiding away. The media spreading fear and loathing. Security systems. Limit or restrict movement. Creative solutions. Refuges. Hunters. Guns.
The Caution: Being bullied. Giving those 'out there' more power than they deserve. Fear. Not wanting to socialize. Not speaking up for fear of being shot down. The NRL.
Pluto is on the Ancient Mariner degree. It's on Capricorn 10: An Albatross Feeding From The Hand Of A Sailor
This degree shows the ability, or the need, to overcome fears or superstitions or limiting thoughts. One of the ways of overcoming fears is through gentleness and a readiness to let down your guard and interact with people or animals without feeling afraid or vulnerable. Putting up a wall between you and other living things can cause alienation or the loss of the rewards that can come from truly relating. Even seemingly natural ‘enemies’ can realize the possibility of interaction. You may feel that you can deal with someone with whom you have usually kept your distance – possibly even help each other.
Feeding one's higher nature with good nourishment. Banishing worries, so that one can fly ever higher. Empathy and sympathy. The Ancient Mariner story. Overcoming fears.
The Caution: Manipulating events or people. False nourishment. Superstitious beliefs that keep one stuck. Fear of things like snakes and spiders or other living things. Dependence.
Pluto here is asking how long do you want to go through life with sadness, unsatisfactory conditions, feeling cursed, having something that you no long want hanging around your neck and dragging you down or back into the past? How long will you put up with that thing that just debilitates or reminds you of things that are no longer useful to you or just plain smells bad.
The Moon's north node is on Scorpio 25: An X Ray Photograph Helps With The Diagnosis
This Symbol shows the ability, or the need, to be able see into areas or realms that others generally don’t even take any notice of. You may find yourself looking for a deeper understanding of situations and you need to peel away the layers in order to get to the truth of the matter. You may need to employ both the emotions and the intellect. Ask yourself: what do you want to find and what is being done to reveal the structure or the nitty gritty of situations? Looking inside for clues. Being able to see through layers into the reality of things helps you to be able to make a “Diagnosis” - dia which means "by", and gnosis which means "knowledge"
Penetrating insight. Having the eyes and the intuition to see. Evaluations. Photographs. Radiation. X-ray vision. Connecting the dots. Finding causes. Insight and revelations.
The Caution: Disregarding the truth. Invading people’s mental, physical or psychic space. Being intense and meaningful. Not knowing when to relax. Undressing others.
Chiron (The Wounded Healer and The Stories We Tell Ourselves) is conjunct Neptune and square Jupiter. This brings a time when we can look at the stories we have built up over the course of our lives and to see which ones we need to jettison.
Chiron is on Pisces 7: Illuminated By A Shaft Of Light, A Large Cross Lies On Rocks Surrounded By Sea And Mist
This Symbol shows the ability, or the need, to be able to stay firm in one’s faith and belief in life even when one’s hopes and dreams take a battering. There may be feelings of chaos and misplaced loyalties in your life, like something has been sacrificed for no real cause and some things have come to nothing. At times in your life, you may want to see if perhaps your aim was too high and things came crashing down as a result of a lack of care, by yourself or others, or through people opposing your objectives or success. Having faith and a positive end in sight, you can experience a wonderful spiritual awakening - reconnecting with your spiritual ideals. Concentrate on the "Shaft of Light" as this can show you that white light is all around you.
Renewed dedication after loss. Signs of recovery and hope. Coming to terms with loss or failure. Important, substantial sacrifices. Finding the way through the dark. Faith and hope.
The Caution: Losing faith. Hopes completely dashed. Unable to see through the fog. Scorn, persecution or attack through religious or social reasons. Sacrifices, sometimes for nothing.
Chiron asks that we examine our 'wounds', along with the types of stories we want to put in place in our lives. If you've been feeling a bit 'dashed on the rocks' and are spent, concentrating on finding faith and hope again can really make a difference. You may feel it necessary to watch where you're putting your trust and faith, but do reach out for a renewal of hope.
This new Moon seems to be speaking about navigating the game as best as you can with a sense of dignity and pride. Rewards will come in ways that you might not expect - as always!
For my readers on the east coast of Australia, I have Gary Goldschneider, the author of The Secret Language of Birthdays, coming to stay with me from the 14th January until the 8th March. If you're on the east coast and would like to have Gary and I come and do a lecture, workshop or readings, please do drop me an email at sabiansymbols@gmail.com
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