Capricorn Season : Branded
This is an ongoing series where I create a moodboard for the current sun season, combining my knowledge of astrology with graphic design as a creative exploration. If you have a lot of Capricorn placements, feel free to use elements that resonate as a form of inspiration for your own brand. My end goal is to create moodboards for each sign as an artistic reference point.
Crested Butte by The Way of Plants, Edgewood branding by Lydia Wolter, Finca Los Agaves illustrations by Rowan Made, Tree photograph by Charlotte Lapalus, Live Oaks monogram by Rowan Made, Amie branding by Wave Hello Studio, Person by tree by Leisana Wee, Dining room by Lizzie Green, Man and his dog in Yosemite on National Geographic.
Growing up, I didn’t know or hear much about astrology. But I did know that I was a Capricorn. Over and over, horoscopes told me that this meant I was all work. Business this, business that.
It was as if the universe unveiled my destiny as “The CEO” in shimmery lights, only to find a blank face staring back. No thank you, I thought, that’s not me.
Obviously, I know now that our sun signs are only one part of our charts and that the experience of being human is more complicated than one singular archetype. But still, I AM a Capricorn Sun. And just as the Sun is central to our solar system, so too is the Sun central to our psyche.
But that CEO in the sparkly sky scraper wearing a fancy suit? That’s only one possibility. Capricorn energy is just as wide and vast as any other. So what’s the common thread?
Integrity and sustained effort. Capricorn sets their sights on a worthy to them goal (or goals) and, with absolute focus and self discipline, achieves it.
So let me paint a different, but still very Capricorn picture, sans suits.
A person grows up watching his grandparents tinker and build things in their basement. He’s fascinated by this and crafts his own sculptures out of treasures he finds in everyday life.
He goes to university for something unrelated, a path that promises more “stability.” But still, he likes to work with his hands and does so whenever possible.
Eventually, he has his own space and his own tools and once again, begins tinkering with pieces of scrap wood and metal and whatever materials he finds. He has a job that pays the bills, but spends evenings and weekends building this and that in the solitude of his workshop. It’s a lot of work. But, he loves it. It doesn’t matter that there’s no paycheck attached. Its his right mountain to climb. His great work to make.
As the years go by, his partner encourages him to sell some of his pieces at the local farmers market. He does, and suddenly, his work is visible. People like it. People buy it.
Does he still have his day job? Yup. But is his heart happy to be pouring so much care into his craft? Double yup.
The top of any Capricorn’s mountain, big or small, may be in the spotlight or it may not, but it doesn’t really matter. As long as their incredible effort aligns with their authentic values and interests, they will feel content. And that is perfect.
Just make sure, dearest Capricorn, to take care of yourself along the way. Climb the highest peaks. Swim the deepest seas. But don’t forget to eat.
SO LET’S MAKE CAPRICORN VISUAL
To me, Capricorn is the darkest of the earth signs, tonally speaking. In the northern hemisphere, this season marks the longest night of the year. Darkness. Winter. And so, it made perfect sense for me to lean into deeper earth tones and neutrals as a base for this moodboard. Charcoal and evergreen. Wood and sepia skies.
For imagery, you’ll see mountains and old growth trees. Self control, focus, and achievement. Some of those are literal and some of those are metaphorical. Either way, there’s a steadiness here. A person working long into the night, with only one light illuminating their focal point. Another taking a break after hiking a steep summit, content as can be. And then theres a home in the woods. Clean and simple. A place where someone can quietly tend to their craft. There’s not a lot of illustration in this board, but what’s there leans natural. Think plants, trees, and leaves.
For type, I skewed classic with good old sans serif or serif. Capricorn is known for its conservatism, but not in a way that’s gotten bogged down by politics. Simply put, Capricorn appreciates what works and leaves the rest. Traditional type will probably always be evergreen. And so that’s what I chose here. You’ll notice that some are bold and some are not. But what’s not tends to be all caps. Sturdy and strong just the same.
I don’t want to forget softness, though. Capricorn lies opposite of Cancer. And while this season is not devoted to Cancer by any means, the latter does supply rich medicine for Capricorn, especially as it gets lost in its incredible drive. Taking time to care for oneself is important for all, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it’s extra important for Capricorn, as they can so easily forget that they are indeed human. The LO monogram reminds me of that softness here, while still feeling very solid and grounded.
And that’s it for this season! As someone with a LOT of Capricorn in their chart, I feel this moodboard quite deeply and it was incredibly aligning to make. But when you take a look at my own branding, you’ll notice that it doesn’t quite reflect the darkness of this moodboard. Yes, I use a darker green and neutrals within my own palette, but there’s a poppy-ness about it, too, thanks to my Leo ascendant. I wrote about this here if you’re interested in seeing how different placements affect your overall color palette.
If you have any Capricorn placements within your own chart, let me know how this resonates AND how you’ve felt about conventional astrology’s “labels” of you historically. Maybe you’re a suit. Maybe you’re a CEO. Or maybe you’re just someone who is quietly working toward whatever higher mission means something to you, paycheck or not. All of it is okay okay okay.