Inscribed by Zha Shibiao:”This is in the style of Huang Gongwang [Huang Kung-wang]’s ‘Autumn Mountain.’ Because the original no longer exists, people are not aware of its source.This is a painting made by me ten years ago. I did not put down the year. Now I put it down for reference. 1697, Shibiao [Shih-piao] at the age of 83.”
Huang Gongwang [Huang Kung-wang] (1269-1354) was a revered painter of the Yuan [Yüan] dynasty. {{PD}}

Dear Capricorn, this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, you may enjoy one of the most ‘together’ years of your life; your sense of integrity, your ability to live your values and ideals, and your willingness to dedicate your energy to those things that matter to you will exceed all previous personal standards–and so you’ll attract a similar balance and integrity in all that you do. Too, emotions will be in harmony with who you are, and thoughts and relationships will be on the same wavelength, all positive indicators for a healthy and happy year. What might the down side to all this copacetic living be? A tendency to stagnate; the inclination may be to luxuriate in your harmonious niche and avoid applying this energy in big, sweeping ways that can affect many. Usually we are so caught up in our own personal problems that we don’t have much to spare for big causes or the Collective, but this year, Cappy, the opposite is true for you, in spite of the other problem you may have, where the social sphere may not be as encouraging as you would like, and/ or a spate of deaths, separations, or departures could distract you from your aims. It’s your job to take advantage of your unique current ability to channel your energy outward, into a wide field, and have the kind of major impact most of us can only dream of. Happy Birthday, and good luck!

Down the road your goals will be scrutinized by those in power, Cappy–be ready, be open to what the influential can offer. Peter Paul Rubens – Portrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola Doria 1605 {{PD}}

The deepest, core intents of the Soul will align with the emotional perceptions to create exceptional internal harmony this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, dear Capricorn. You will know your priorities, know what matters, and act to honor those individuals (like the mate or parents) and those arenas (your home, causes to which you’re dedicated) that matter to you. This attitude will add focus and gravitas to all that you undertake–so do something important. That sounds like a lot of pressure, doesn’t it? Really, it’s not–it’s simply the same goals and focus you would normally have, with many of the distractions and irrelevancies stripped away–and that means it’s time to take advantage of such one-pointed attention, and make it work for you. Consider the way in which you’d like to make your mark in life; then go for it. Hints for success include throwing out the most radical or strange inclinations from the past–they’ll only take you off track–and be willing to have good relationships with those in authority, as soon, they’ll be looking directly at you–your moment to garner aid, a leg up, or elevated status will depend on you being open to (rather than resistant to) existing power players. Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!

N. Roerich ‘The Great Sacrifice’ Setting for I.F.Stravinsky’s Ballet «Sacred Spring» 1910 {{PD}}

You are in a kind of preparation phase this coming year, through to your next birthday, after which you will dedicate your life energies to some cause very meaningful to you, dear Capricorn; it may be that you have already begun to narrow your focus and get really serious about some pursuit or goal. You may have begun to get push-back from those in your world who want you to stay the same, who are afraid you won’t play the same role for them when you re-claim all your energy for yourself. What you need to remember is, that’s your energy, for your use–don’t hesitate to fulfill what you’re working toward, for the simple reason that this aim has a sacred intent–and that means you’ll be contributing to the Collective good as much as you will to your own. Don’t listen to what others say–you can’t rely on that–but watch what they do; that’s how you sort out the ones who will offer you support, should you need it. Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!

If it’s not in line with your Highest Self, it just won’t fly, Cappy. Charles Paul Landon-‘Icarus and Daedalus’ {{PD}}

Ambitions may consume you this year, dear Capricorn, through to your next birthday; eliminating obstacles will be a focus of your efforts, along with finding supportive partners/ audience/ others, honing your aesthetic senses, and finding an appropriate structure or ‘container’ for your goals. Of course, getting what you want can take myriad forms, depending on your outlook and aims, but no matter your endgame, you can at this time enjoy a creative and profitable approach that will get you at least part of what you desire–with one big caveat: whatever you go after, it has to be in line with and honor your highest priorities and values; if it violates any of the things you find sacred at a core, Soul level, it just won’t fly. That means that knowing yourself will be your most useful asset, as that will prevent you from wasting time going after something the Higher Self won’t approve of. Also useful: facing issues you may have put off dealing with. Otherwise, though, it’s full steam ahead! Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!

Władysław Ślewiński – {{PD}} 1896

Healing is what it’s all about this year for you, dear Capricorn–because, instinctively or otherwise, you know that healing yourself will bring about your empowerment, will confer a desirable status, and/ or allow for a cooperative venture that could take you to the top. How do you achieve this? Let go of any darkness you’ve been dragging around like Linus’ security blanket; any rage, destructive wish, or black feeling you’ve been harboring and seeing as a vital part of your identity must go. Healing is about finding out who you are without the trappings of response and victimhood we use as convenient identifiers; you are now called to accept your own power, and shape it into the person your Soul intends you to be–anything less just won’t do. Hint: start with what you care about, not what you tell yourself you care about. Admitting what’s important to you will take you far along the Path–and will give you an authenticity that can guide every other decision in shaping the ‘New You’. Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!

{{PD}} image provided by http://thegraphicsfairy.com/ Thanks, GF!

Dear Capricorn, you may go through the experience of the legendary Phoenix this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday: you may burn down to the ground, to ash and cinder, with only the Soul’s spark remaining–and then you may rise again, reborn, renewed, stronger, and much much wiser for the experience. What brings this about? The ending of something major in your life; if you don’t know what that is, it’s still coming, but I’d bet you have an inkling, an intuition, that tells you that a sea change is on its way–and that you will be required to deal directly with the storm. Please don’t see this as negative; change comes to all of us, and the best way to handle it is to treat it as a part of life, rather than as an anomaly that’s tricking you or ruining your otherwise perfect existence. This event or period is about giving you a new foundation from which to fashion your future Self; whether the transformative fire comes from a singular, split-second occurrence or from something slow and inexorable doesn’t matter–it only matters that you move forward and become who you were meant to be. Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!

Don’t be so intent on the power situation that you forget there’s a big wide world out there. Carl Spitzweg – Der Naturforscher – c1880 {{PD}}

You may be looking at yourself through a microscope this coming Solar year, dear Capricorn, inspecting the power situation and the effect you are having on your world–and how others’ power is affecting you–and the problem may be that you rarely look up from your myopic view of things. Too much concern over hurt, trying to even the playing field, and over your ability to change things (and especially to be taken seriously by those in your sphere) may consume you–and that’s both necessary (as a Soul expression) and destructive (in the way you may be tempted to do little else). The difficulty may lie in the way you will regard holding absolute power in any situation as the only truly effective way to be; if you can see that there are many ways to approach an issue, and that sometimes the quieter or more passive form may actually create more change than does an active approach, you might have a chance of actually creating an atmosphere were your actions truly matter, and where others give you a great deal of respect for your accomplishments–so do that, consider every option, even the ones you judge to be ineffective, before you make a move, and consider that making a positive impression on others may go a lot farther than trying to impress them through might or absolutism. Happy Birthday, Cappy, and good luck!