With all this emphasis on Capricorn with Jupiter and the recent conjunction of Saturn and Pluto, I’ve been thinking about the myth of Sisyphus.
You know about him.
The guy that keeps pushing the boulder up the mountain, only to have it roll back down once he reaches the top. It’s a story often used to illustrate the meaninglessness and punishment of work. It’s an image of mythic proportions of the punishing nature of ‘nose to the grindstone’ and meaningless in work.
Sisyphus was a cruel Greek King who was punished by Zeus for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and for deceiving death. The punishment of rolling the boulder up the mountain for all eternity is the definition of futile work (Sisyphean.) Before his death, Sisyphus was the embodiment of avarice, crooked ambition, and deceit. The maddening nature of his punishment was linked to his hubris in believing that he could be smarter than Zeus. When it comes to mythology, we know that when arrogance shows up, the gods will most certainly push back.
But there’s another reason why Sisyphus comes to mind.
While we have all been faced with situations in our lives that seem Sisyphean (up the mountain, only to fall right back down), we can take a sideways look at this story.
It’s about consistent focus that the task at hand.
It’s about endurance and persistence despite the absurdity of the situation.
From the focus and endurance, comes a feeling of acceptance of the situation at hand — a form of realistic acceptance to one’s fate.
Granted, this isn’t the most pleasant of images, but I’ve been thinking about it in light of Saturn + Pluto Capricorn dance.
The time for bullshit and grand ideas without concrete steps to make it happen will be out of tune with the cosmic times. We are in the midst of a wake-up call against our collective Ego Inflation towards ever higher, bigger, more epic desires. We have been riding the big, better, epic train for quite some time. Behind the facade of living out all my desires, lies the shadow aspect where one is never enough. (I’d love to have a conference/workshop where the theme would be: YOU ARE ENOUGH! Now, stop moaning and go ahead and get it done!)
It is a collective bursting of our Ego Inflation bubble.
I’m not saying that good things won’t take shape, that we shouldn’t go for our desires, but the nature of Capricorn, especially Saturn + Pluto and the reverb of their union, is a come to Jesus moment. Meaning: less talking, more doing. Less self-aggrandizing and more working with the tools and resources you have at your disposal – right now.
Remember that the ancients looked to ways on how to negotiate with the gods/archetypes – thus the sacrifices and prayers.
So in light of Saturn + Pluto ask yourself this question when in doubt on what to do with your life or business:
- What must I learn in this situation? How is it related to my life purpose?
This is your boulder up the mountain. - What should I give to this situation that will help me achieve what is asking of me?
What resources do you have now that you can use? - What circumstantial disappointments must I surrender so I can push forward?
Stick with the big picture and release the inner drama and pity party. - What failures must I accept?
Wipe the tears, clean the scrapes, and get back on it. - What achievements can I welcome?
Honor the trickle! However, small, say: thank you, more please!
No matter what, continue taking one step in front of the other. Don’t sprint. Just take the baby steps that fit you and your boulder. Whatever you do, don’t back down. Stay focused. Small is better than gigantic leaps. Saturn teaches us the power of time and of not skipping steps.
My mother is a wise and true blue Capricorn. She is a retired educator and teacher. She always told me (again and again!) that one should never skip steps. It upsets the foundation.
Laying down the foundation of your castle
Castles are quintessential Saturnian/Capricorn buildings. Rock upon a rock, standing the test of time. Even in ruin, they have a certain beauty about them. But then again, I’m a castle lover.
Think of your business, creative project, or whatever other situation you are handling now as castle building, and you are the one carrying the rocks and laying down the foundation. 2020 with this emphasis in Capricorn, is all about: CREATIVE ENDURANCE.
This decade is chock full of new planetary cycles starting:
- Jupiter + Pluto, Jupiter + Saturn (in 2020)
- Jupiter + Neptune (2022)
- Jupiter + Uranus (2024)
- Saturn + Neptune (2026)
It’s a busy decade in terms of changes and collective restructuring. We are living through times that are akin to the New/Crescent phase of the Moon, which is about building strength, overcoming doubts, and laying a solid foundation. Collectively, we are all laying down the stone foundation of a new epoch.
Saturn + Pluto is just the beginning.
So we need to work on our endurance – inner and outer. Your work in the world is necessary, but you need to get out of your own way. We all do that, it’s part of the process of evolution, but we are now in times that require us to step it up, make a move, and show up. No time for pie in the sky, beautiful ideas, if we aren’t going to do the work.
