What Being Born on the Cusp of Capricorn and Aquarius Means for Your Personality

Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs.

Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or the very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor.

Now it’s time to give those on the Capricorn Aquarius cusp the dedicated astrological spotlight they deserve, and Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author ofSurviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, is here to illuminate us. Below, Weiss (who is available for 2020 readings), explains what happens when practical, overachieving Capricorns (December 22 to January 19) mix traits with the free-minded, genius-leaning Aquarius babies (January 20 to February 18).

It is, legitimately, the dawning of the age of Aquarius. Or okay, not the age of Aquarius, but for sure Aquarius season, and that means it’s a really fun time to let your hair down, so to speak. Aquarians have the energy of a nutty genius: Someone with out-of-the box ideas and a desire to explore the weirder paths that this world offers. That’s why I’m curious about those born on the Capricorn Aquarius cusp, because despite being celestially close, conventional Capricorns seemingly couldn’t be more different than their radical neighbor.

“When solid, hard-working Capricorn steps into the airy world of Aquarius…all the travails and accomplishments of Capricorn season give way to intellect and innovation.” —astrologer Stefanie Iris Weiss

“When solid, hard-working Capricorn steps into the airy world of Aquarius, we stop climbing the proverbial mountain of the goat to take a deep breath and think about the future,” says Weiss. “All the travails and accomplishments of Capricorn season give way to intellect and innovation.” And so, this a cusp of contradictions—which, on the bright side, helps blur each sign’s sharp edges. Let’s unpack:

Just to backtrack, here are the common traits to Capricorns

The actual symbol of a Capricorn is a horned goat with a fish tail, which is actually the only directly bizarre feature of this all-business star sign. Capricorns are interested in world domination, but they’re quite methodical about it. Because they’re so disciplined and well-mannered, they reach their goals with measured, polite steps up a gilded staircase.

And Aquarius signs generally have these traits

While Caps are all business, water-bearing Aquarians are artistes. Not necessarily in the literal sense, but they do tend to have a profound and utterly unique sense of creative genius. An Aquarian may be a deep and sharp thinker who churns out ideas that are about 40 years ahead of everyone else. That being said, they likely have little patience for the somewhat mundane aspects of everyday life. Basically, they’ll feel trapped if you try to take them out for a Bed Bath & Beyond run on a Sunday. These traits can also determine Aquarius’ most and least compatible zodiac signs.

So, what does being on the Capricorn Aquarius cusp mean for your personality?

If you’re a late-degree Capricorn, you’re not as focused on propriety as your mid-season counterparts. That’s because a late-degree Cap is less rigid and more open to ideas, even when those ideas skew more bonkers. “Capricorns born close to the cusp tend to be more willing to forgive themselves for perceived failures, as they recognize that the whole community is responsible for outcomes, and it’s not all on their own sturdy shoulders,” says Weiss. “Capricorn natives born toward the very end of the sign tend to want to give the very best of themselves to efforts that can save the world—they’re less obsessed with status and more obsessed with revolution. ”

Meanwhile, early-degree Aquarians are less spacey and detached than those born later in the sign. “With all that close-to-the-cusp Capricorn energy, they’re more grounded and slightly less rebellious than their late-degree Aquarius sisters,” says Weiss. “These cusp-y water-bearers will spend less time contemplating a futuristic idea because they’ll want to dive into the nuts and bolts right away. The outcome is as important as the journey, and they have a bit of the ‘must-go’ energy of a Capricorn. Then tend to enjoy the good life, whereas later-degree Aquarians have a bit more [relaxed energy] in them.”