I’m well into my fifties now, and it’s been 20 years since I had a living parent. But I’ll admit, there are still days that I miss being someone’s child. However much one is loved by a spouse, friends, or children, there’s something about having a loving parent that makes you feel you’ve always got a soft place to fall.
When I see friends my age coping with their ailing parents, though, part of me is relieved that I never had to watch my mother and father slowly falter, their memories disintegrating, their need for care exceeding their (or my) resources. It’s often said, and rightly so, that there is no worse fate for a parent than to outlive a child. But when I watch exhausted, worried adults in their fifties and sixties overwhelmed with care for aging parents, that doesn’t seem so great, either.
It’s a hard world, and some days it doesn’t feel like any of us really has a soft place to fall. And those who are the most capable, who have made good decisions and who always strive to do the right thing, are carrying some of the heaviest burdens. These are Saturn’s children, and if they occasionally grit their teeth and speak sharply, it’s not because they’re unfeeling, but because they’re doing what they must, against sizable odds.
A lot of truly horrid things have been written about those born with the Moon in Saturn-ruled Capricorn—that they are cold, unfeeling, or opportunistic. But what I’ve seen more often in practice is that this person did not receive a lot of tender nurturing. Some of the most responsible, self-reliant, and caring people I know were born with this Moon sign. But while they were often praised for outward accomplishments like good grades and a good job, they haven’t always received a lot of emotional support. In some cases, they didn’t really feel they got to be children.
The question posed by a Capricorn Full Moon is, how well are you succeeding—not just with taking care of business, but taking care of your heart?
This particular Capricorn Full Moon is in a tight conjunction with Pluto, with both opposed the Sun and Mars in Cancer. During the few weeks each year when Mars opposes Pluto, it is nearly impossible to get our way by employing physical might or sheer willpower. This aspect reminds us that only so much is within our control, however hard we work to change certain things or prevent others from happening.
Throw in the Full Moon and Sun connecting with this aspect, and most of us feel that we’re under a great deal of stress in some area of our lives. It might be problems with family, health, finances, employment – but everyone can probably point to some situation that feels out of their control and where they are receiving very little help.
These are tough times and tough planetary transits, and sometimes that makes us mean-spirited, impatient, and disdainful of weakness. But not always. Recently, I accompanied an elderly, ailing friend on an afternoon of errands. Everywhere we went, people went out of their way to be helpful to us by holding doors, giving up their place in line, or other small kindnesses.
Those who know me are used to hearing me declare (usually after an hour spent in traffic) that people are no damn good. But I’ve always suspected that if I were to keel over on the street, a half dozen people would immediately run over to see if I needed help. That’s just what happened recently when a light plane crashed on a Southern California freeway, and an onlooker rushed toward the flames to pull the passengers to safety.
It’s safe to assume that just about everyone you meet is carrying a heavier burden than they feel they can bear. We are tough with each other these days, because the world is tough, and so many of us are nobody’s children, with no soft place to turn to when we have failed or fallen. But we are still capable of astonishing kindness as well. We’re all trying to survive, and we’re scared we won’t, and that makes us hard. But we haven’t yet completely left behind the urge to break each other’s fall—and that makes us human.
With a Scorpio sun sign and moon in Cap this moon has been so powerful in my life. Many transformations all occurring at once have certainly brought a boat load of stress… nice article. It really hit the nail on the head. Blessed be sister
Sun in Cancer conjunct Saturn in Cancer conjunct Venus in Gemini- all within one degree, with moon in Cancer 12th house understands the burden of moon in Capricorn with the current aspects. It just ocdaughteto me that my mother had moon in Capricorn and she was a motherless daughter. Her mother died when she was 6 and she was removed from her mother’s family by her father’s family. Such sadness, which she never expressed.
Yes, it is a tough world out there. It’s nice to have the memory of a soft place, I think that is something special. There is a lot of people who do not have that comfortable memory to hold onto, so they have to search really hard within themselves to find the strength to go on, not to mention a sense of purpose. “Working without a net” finding the power when there does not seem to be an ounce of energy to spare above and beyond, has people feeling desperate and on the edge. Still, it is in times like these that our mettle is tested, as we strive to do and be our very best against all the odds, that we somehow seem to do our very best. I often wonder how and why that is. Perhaps, it is like you say, memories of what we had, keep the fires of determination burning, as we strive to build a better world for our children, leave a legacy of love to keep them warm in a future that is at best, challenging. I always get so much inspiration from your column. Thank you for passing the torch. Love and Light.
April: Well said. Being a Cappy sun, I do know that Saturn is a tough taskmaster. Our parents have a special place in our lives that no one else can fill. My mother died in her sixties, but my father made it to eighty. They were the same age. When my father passed, I felt unmoored for a few years.
I am lucky enough to have two amazing bff’s who are my soft place to fall. They will hear me out no matter how silly the grievance or profound the heartbreak with no judgment. I will do the same in return. I always love the wisdom you share here at Mooncircles. Thank you.
April,
You are a gifted writer and just keep getting better with each piece you write! All that you write here is true. I suspect you are going through tough stuff yourself as youJan take time for a compassionate glance toward others and try to give comfort. I have a Cap Moon with Cap Asc both on a grand cross. Very tough. Keep writing. You are insightful with compassion. You reach people.
Here, here.
Thank you.
Beautiful! And true of most everyone I know.
That was a wonderful article, Thank you