Capricorn in the tarot

Capricorn begins at the winter solstice, the shortest day, and climbs from there. It is cardinal earth — ambitious, disciplined, dry-humoured, willing to work for years. In the cards it is The Devil, the pull of the material and what binds us to it, and the early Disks of juggling, building together and holding on.

The Devil

Capricorn belongs to The Devil, card XV of the major arcana — attachment, shadow, the comfort in what binds. It is the card to choose for someone born under Capricorn, if you want a card to stand for them in a reading.

Its ruling planet, Saturn, is The Universe: limits, time, structure.

The three decans

The ten-day slices of Capricorn are three Disks, the suit of earth. If your birthday falls in one, that card is yours.

• Two of Disks — 22–31 December, the first decan: Jupiter in Capricorn. balance, adaptability, juggling priorities.
• Three of Disks — 1–9 January, the second decan: Mars in Capricorn. teamwork, skill, learning.
• Four of Disks — 10–19 January, the third decan: the Sun in Capricorn. security, control, conservation.

The court

Two court cards share Capricorn. The Queen of Disks — water of earth — rules its first twenty degrees, coming in from Sagittarius (12 December – 9 January). The King of Swords — air of air — takes its last ten and carries on into Aquarius (10 January – 8 February).