Mercury turns direct again at 22° Capricorn degrees on February 1

The interesting trick is that the 'karmic condition' of Capricorn 23 is Capricorn 22: A General Revealing Nobility of Character by Accepting Defeat Gracefully. This degree often talks of the need to let go of something, to say sorry, to accept a situation as it is, to know when to quit the fighting, to accept what is and what isn't. By showing 'nobility of character', we get the 'two awards for bravery in combat'.

SABIAN (CAPRICORN 22°):

"BY ACCEPTING DEFEAT GRACEFULLY, A GENERAL REVEALS NOBILITY OF CHARACTER."

KEYNOTE: The realization that one may grow through defeat as well as, and perhaps more than, through success.

While the preceding symbol referred to the drive toward success in culturally organized collective endeavors, this one presents us with the possibility of turning apparent external defeat into an inner spiritual achievement. Much depends on the quality of the will and the inner integrity of the person.

At this second stage we find what seems to be a paradox, but the spiritual life is always paradoxical.

SABIAN (CAPRICORN 23°):

"A SOLDIER RECEIVING TWO AWARDS FOR BRAVERY IN COMBAT."

KEYNOTE: The reward offered by society for the fulfillment of individual responsibility.

The fact that "two" awards are emphasized makes us believe that this may refer subtly to the recognition by the community that, whether he succeeded or failed, an individual who discharged his duty nobly under unusual circumstances is entitled to the respect and appreciation of the collectivity he served so well. What is implied here is a constant give-and-take between fans and the individual person. Each one should be able to trust the other.

This third symbol of the fifty-ninth five-fold sequence extracts, as it were, a common element from the two preceding scenes. The Keyword here is RECOMPENSE, i.e. a compensation for a well-done performance — a balancing of accounts.

We often need to be acknowledged for the issues or causes we’ve fought for and the battles we’ve endured, whether we come out on top, or not. In your situation, your efforts may be recognized with some show of appreciation or compensation. It may be that you need to recognize another’s achievement, behavior, or ‘Bravery’. Perhaps someone actually made it through by admitting defeat and pulling out when the time was right. If we’ve been wronged by society in some way, and shown ourselves to be strong and able to stand up to difficult or threatening situations, there may need to be reparations paid, money or rewards of some kind to make up for any trauma, lost opportunities or loss of calls (officials).

There’s a warning though, of the feeling of being desperate to win, regardless of the cost. Sometimes people will fight over who is the most deserving for being battle-scarred and who’s the braver or the stronger or there’s a struggle over who deserves the ‘Award’; who put in the most effort, and who has come out the victor in a situation. It can be discouraging and disappointing if we feel we have to go into ‘Combat’ to prove the merit of our deeds, our life or our beliefs. Sometimes we have to cut our losses before we end up plunging into ‘Combat’ once again. Was the outcome worth what went into it? If you can see the ‘Awards’ in a rewarding light, however they manifest, you can turn your life into a victory showing your power, strength and bravery.