Capricornus

The name "Capricornus" is Latin for "horned goat." It derives from the Greek "aigokeros," also meaning goat-horn. This constellation represents the mythical sea-goat, a creature with the forequarters of a goat and the tail of a fish, symbolizing the union of earthly and aquatic realms.

The 10th sign of the Zodiac (Makara in Sanskrit), considered, on account of its hidden meaning, the most important among the constellations of the mysterious Zodiac. It is fully described in tlie Seen t Doctrinr, and therefore needs but a few words more. Whether, agreeably with exoteric statements, Cai)ricornus was related in any way to the wet-nurse Amaltha'a who fed Jupiter with her milk, or whether it was the god Pan who changed him.sclf into a goat and left his impress upon the sidereal records, matters little. Each of the fables has its significance. p]verything in Nature is intimately correlated to the rest, and therefore the students of ancient lore will not be too much surprised when told that even the seven steps taken in the direction of every one of the four points of the compass, or — 28 steps — taken by the new-born infant Buddha, are closely related to the 28 stars of the constallation of Capricornus. Cardan, Jt'mnh . An astrologer, alchemist, kabbalist and mystic, well known in literature. lie was born at Pavia in 1501, and died at Rome in 1576. Carnac. A very ancient site in Brittany (France) of a temple of Cyclopean structure, sacred to the Sun and the Dragon; and of the same kind as Karnac, in ancient Egy]>t. and Stonehenge in England. (See the "Origin of the Satanic Myth" in Archaic Symbolism.) It was built by the prehistoric hierophant-priests of the Solar Dragon, or symbolized Wisdom (the Solar Kumnras who incarnated being the highest). Each of the stones was personally })laced there by the successive priestadepts in i)ower, and commemoratt-d in symbolic language the degree of power, status, and knowledge of each. (See further Secret Doctrine II. 381, et scq., and also "Karnac".) Caste. Originally the system of the four liereditary classes into wiiich the Indian population was divided: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vai.sya, GLOSSAKV 69 and Sudra (or (U-secndants of Braliina. Warriors, Merchants, and th»' lowest or Afrriciilturalists >. Besides, tlu-storig

Blavatsky's mention of Capricornus, the Sea-Goat, as the "most important" zodiacal constellation hints at a profound esoteric significance often obscured by exoteric astrology. This symbol, the tenth sign, marks a critical juncture in the soul's descent into manifestation, a point where the aspirational climb of the goat meets the fluid, often overwhelming, currents of the material world. The creature itself, a composite of land and sea, embodies this tension: the goat's horns reaching upwards towards ambition and spiritual ascent, while its piscine tail grounds it in the subconscious, the emotional depths, and the very substance of existence.

The "hidden meaning" Blavatsky alludes to likely concerns the inherent challenges and necessary discipline required to navigate this phase. It is a sign that speaks to structure, responsibility, and the long, arduous path of building and achieving in the physical realm. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and the sacred, often discussed the symbolic importance of thresholds and liminal spaces. Capricornus, as the tenth sign, can be seen as such a threshold, a point where the individual must confront the density of the world and forge their identity through effort and perseverance.

The reference to the "seven steps" taken by the infant Buddha, related to the twenty-eight stars of Capricornus, suggests a cosmic order underpinning earthly actions. This connects to the ancient idea, explored by thinkers like Ananda Coomaraswamy, that the material world, despite its apparent limitations, is a stage for profound spiritual realization. The seemingly mundane act of birth and the initial steps of a spiritual aspirant are mirrored in the celestial map, implying that the very fabric of existence is imbued with divine purpose. For the modern seeker, Capricornus offers a potent reminder that spiritual growth is not solely an ethereal pursuit but is deeply interwoven with the practicalities of life, the cultivation of patience, and the unwavering commitment to one's chosen path, however challenging the terrain. It is in the arduous ascent, the disciplined effort, and the integration of our earthly desires with our higher aspirations that true transformation is forged.

RELATED_TERMS: Saturn, ambition, discipline, manifestation, karma, material plane, earthly plane, zodiac ---