March 29, 2024
Ask Astrology

While December 18th to December 23rd are the days when the Sun can change signs, the Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp date range extends from November 18th to November 24th. If you happen to be born on one of those days, you are “on the cusp” of Sagittarius and Capricorn.

Leading with Sagittarius

If you happen to be born “on the side of” Sagittarius, then Sagittarius traits lead your Sun sign expression. The symbol for Sagittarius is the centaur (half-man/half-horse) archer. As the Mutable Fire sign, these individuals adapt by deepening their knowledge, committing to a belief, and exploring the world. They are at their best developing expertise, being the authority regarding knowledge or skills, and teaching others. They must learn to “map their travels” and record their knowledge to manifest their best results. Being near Capricorn makes them more serious and dutiful, which helps these Sagittarius individuals be more productive and results-oriented.

Strengths of Sun in Sagittarius on the Cusp of Capricorn

Unlike full-on Sagittarius individuals, these people can be more practical and driven to help others succeed. Positively, they will be more capable of translating ideas into actions, which can help them get engaged in more realistic solutions than what you might see with a typical Sagittarius.

Weaknesses of the Sun in Sagittarius on the Cusp of Capricorn

A Sagittarius Sun near Capricorn can pick up some of the ruthlessness and tyrannical behavior that plague the shadow side of Capricorn, which can rob Sagittarius of his or her natural willingness to bring about idealistic change and higher truths to the world, leading to manipulation of the truth for personal gain that a full-on Sagittarius would not pursue.

Leading with Capricorn

If you happen to be born “on the side of” Capricorn, then Capricorn traits lead your Sun sign expression. The symbol for Capricorn is the goat, and more traditionally, a half-goat, half-fish (goat head, fishtail) creature. As the Cardinal Earth sign, these individuals initiate by taking responsibility, setting lofty goals, and producing for compensation. They are at their best testing themselves against standards, pursuing achievements, and getting results. They must learn compassion to manifest their best results. Being near Sagittarius makes them more adventurous and philosophical, which helps these Capricorn individuals be more thoughtful about their role as providers for society and family.

Strengths of Sun in Capricorn on the Cusp of Sagittarius

Unlike full-on Capricorn individuals, these people can be willing to pursue high ideals and positive goals over profits. Positively, they will be more inclined to use good ideas with integrity as the basis for prosperity, which can help them be very good political leaders, making them much more socially engaging than what you might see with a typical Capricorn.

Weaknesses of the Sun in Capricorn on the Cusp of Sagittarius

A Capricorn Sun near Sagittarius can spend too much time trying to turn a profit on a bad idea, which comes from the shadow side of Sagittarius and can rob Capricorn of his or her natural ability to recognize what will and will not work out in the world, leading them to misinform others for their own selfish gain that a full-on Capricorn would find distasteful.

The Points Involved: Jupiter and Saturn

Each sign has a ruling astronomical point. Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Saturn rules Capricorn. So, the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp individuals merge or blend Jupiter/Saturn.

Jupiter represents your Way of Exploring. Its placement in a Sign and a House reveals how we expand and go out into the world to learn from experience.

Saturn represents your Way of Structure. Its placement in a Sign and a House reveals how we want to structure our lives and where we face restrictions that we must overcome or accept.

These individuals will have a more balanced masculine and feminine energy instead of leaning heavily into the masculine energy of Sagittarius or the feminine energy of Capricorn. They can move more comfortably and fluidly with the management of their need to explore and expand (Jupiter) and their need to do what is right and necessary (Saturn).

 Sagittarius-Capricorn Cusp Compatibility

Cusp individuals can work very well in relationships because they have a connection to two energies as part of their natural design. Imagine that each sign has its own language. A “pure” Sagittarius individual talking to a “pure” Capricorn individual may really struggle to communicate, the same way someone who only speaks English might struggle with someone who only speaks Korean. The cusp individual is bilingual and can speak both languages, which makes them very valuable society. Essentially, they can translate between signs.

Here we discover why the simple model of compatibility or incompatibility is insufficient to explain real relationships out in the world. There is a good chance that “cusp sign” individuals are involved where two signs that should work well together do not, and two signs that should struggle together, actually work.

In the first case, the influence from one of the extra signs causes friction; and in the second case, one of the extra signs smooths out the friction. Therefore, basic compatibility measures are just starting points for understanding how any two people might relate.

The Sagittarius-Capricorn individuals have a much wider range of compatibility because they can work well with fire and earth signs. And they can complement air and water signs. If they happen to lead with Sagittarius, they will favor the fire and air sign connections (Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini). If they happen to lead with Capricorn, then they will favor earth and water connections (Taurus, Virgo, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces).

The Bridge Between

One useful way to understand the progression of the signs, starting with Aries and going all the way through to Pisces, is to see them as a series of evolving steps. Sagittarius is the “I explore” sign of the Zodiac and Capricorn is the “I produce” sign. Individuals with Sun signs in the middle dates and degrees of the sign are here to work on the central energy of that sign. But individuals born on the cusp are here to work on the transition from one energy to another.

Therefore, the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp individuals are here to learn how to “find and share” their beliefs with the people they meet and “be productive contributors” to society. On the positive side, this “in-between” cusp energy gives them a broader view. On the negative side, they can feel “caught” in-between, making it harder for them to find a place that is a perfect fit.