DECEMBER 2024 HOROSCOPES
✰ Don’t forget to book your 1:1 astrology reading with me for the month of December!
There are only two planets changing signs this month. Two!
Which is a little strange because we typically have about four planetary ingresses each month, on average. Last month, we had five. December’s astrology feels… quiet, ironically, after a year full of very noisy astrological moments. Maybe this month’s astrology is somewhat chill because it’s introducing Mars retrograde, a transit I’ve been anxiously anticipating and warning my clients about for over a year. Or maybe the cosmos are finally showing us some mercy, since Mars retrogrades tend to demand a lot of our attention. I’m not sure, but what I do know is that December’s astrology is a taddd unusual. There will even be two new moons this month instead of one. This happens on occasion, but it’s always worth paying attention to.
December’s astrology feels brutally honest. With Mercury and Mars both retrograding through fire signs, it’s time to face the music and be honest with yourself and others. What hard conversations have you been avoiding? What action have you not been taking? December’s astrology isn’t exactly encouraging us to hit the ground running with new endeavors (that’s what March 2025 is for), but it is an opportunity to take inventory. Are you proud of what you’ve accomplished, specifically in the Leo-ruled house of your birth chart? For some, December may be a time to hang your hat on your achievements, sit back, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. For others, it’s a time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Mars retrogrades are interesting, because while they tend to cause delayed action and initiative, it’s a time when I personally tend to work the hardest. It’s the same reason why people who have an afflicted or debilitated Mars in their birth charts tend to be some of the most ambitious, hard-working people on the planet. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, was born during a Mars retrograde. Retrograde planets force us to get more creative with how we do things, and since Mars is the planet of drive and motivation, it’s a chance to experiment with a different plan of action.
Major transits taking place in December 2024:
✰ December 1: Sagittarius new moon at 9°
✰ December 5: Sun-Mercury cazimi in Sagittarius at 14°
✰ December 6: Mars stations retrograde in Leo at 6°
✰ December 7: Venus enters Aquarius and conjoins Pluto at 0°
✰ December 15: Gemini full moon at 23°
✰ December 15: Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius at 6°
✰ December 21: Sun enters Capricorn
✰ December 24: Jupiter in Gemini squares Saturn in Pisces at 14°
✰ December 30: Capricorn new moon at 9°
Similar to November, this month’s astrology starts off on a new moon, taking place at 9° of Sagittarius on December 1. It’s the first of two new moons happening this month, both of which will have some kind of Saturnian influence. Sagittarius new moons can be a time of increased optimism, adventure, and hope, since Sagittarius is a Jupiter ruled sign. However, since Jupiter is currently retrograde and in detriment, it may not feel as positive. This new moon will also be tightly square Saturn in Pisces, the planet of reality, refinement, and discipline. To me, this new moon feels like tempered faith. You may have a good feeling about what you’re kicking off the first week of December, but you may still be proceeding with a sense of practicality.
There’s opportunity for growth and development, but it won’t be without its challenges, and it won’t grow legs without commitment and hard-work. The Sagittarius and Pisces-ruled houses of your birth chart is mainly where this conversation is being had, but the dialogue may not be super clear because Mercury is still retrograde in Sagittarius. This lunation feels like a good time to double down on your beliefs, even if things feel bleak or uncertain. Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces risings can expect to be the most affected by this lunation.
The brain fog lifts a bit once Mercury enters the heart of the sun on December 5. Sun-Mercury cazimis happen halfway through a Mercury retrograde and can signify a moment of clarity after a period of delays, confusion, and miscommunication. If you’ve been awaiting news, developments, or important information, especially as it pertains to the Sagittarius-ruled house of your birth chart, you may get it on this day. We won’t be out of the woods yet when it comes to Mercury retrograde mishaps, since Mercury won’t station direct until December 15 — but it’s a moment of clarity in the midst of confusion, especially for Gemini and Virgo risings.
One of the most notable transits of the month rolls around by December 6, as Mars stations retrograde in Leo at 6°. Mars will only spend about one month retrograde in Leo before it ingresses back into Cancer on January 6, where the retrograde will continue until February 23. Mars retrogrades tend to affect people two kinds of ways. For some, it’s a time when life gets really busy. You might start a new job that’s fast-paced and demanding, or you could become more physically active and be experimenting with a new workout regimen. For others, it can be a time of increased exhaustion, lack of motivation, and burnout.
Overall, Mars retrogrades are a time when physical energy and vitality are the focus in one way or another. Since Mars will initially be stationing retrograde in a fixed, fire sign, this will be a time when we may feel more inclined to act from a place of ego or pride. The desire for your own efforts to be seen and acknowledged may spike, or you may find yourself more concerned with external perception and validation. I plan on making a more in-depth post about Mars retrograde very soon, so I’ll save many of my thoughts about this transit for a future post. This transit will primarily affect the fixed rising signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) as well as Aries and Scorpio risings, and those that have planets in Leo.
Relationships briefly intensify by December 7, as Venus enters Aquarius and immediately conjoins Pluto in Aquarius. Venus, the planet interested in forging bonds, alleviating differences, and seeking justice, has a more detached approach in Aquarius, where she at times is more concerned with collective connection than close, one-on-one relationships. But when Venus connects with Pluto, she’s prone to more extreme acts of intimacy than usual, which can prompt obsession or more intense displays of affection. Since Pluto tends to bring the uglier, more hidden sides of something to light, this may be a time when the less rosy aspects of a relationship are revealed. There may also be more of an inclination to assert one’s desire for power or control in a relationship. This transit is brief, so it shouldn’t stir up too much trouble — but the Venus ruled rising signs (Taurus & Libra) will probably notice its impact the most, as well as the remaining fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius).
The Gemini full moon takes place on December 15 at 23°, the same day that Mercury, the ruler of this lunation, stations direct in Sagittarius. This feels like a good day to pay attention to any information that comes to light, especially as it pertains to the Gemini-ruled house in your birth chart. Full moons often bring a specific topic or concern into immediate focus, and in Gemini, this feels like a time when we’ll collectively be engaging in some important conversations. However, since this full moon will be closely square Neptune, the planet of deception and muddled information, I’d double-check any news you receive today. It could be inaccurate or entirely false, due to Neptune’s influence and Mercury’s slow speed in the sky. Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces risings will be the most affected by this lunation.
The sun enters Capricorn on December 21, marking the official beginning of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Capricorn, a cardinal, earth sign, cares about slow and deliberate success. It’s a sign focuses on realistic yet consistent action, since this is a Saturn-ruled sign. During this time of year, you may feel more compelled to set a new goal for yourself that requires commitment and self-discipline, especially in the Capricorn-ruled house of your birth chart. If I’m in need of some kind of reality check, I usually get it around Capricorn season. Cardinal rising signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) tend to be the most affected by the sun’s shift into Capricorn.
Another major transit of the month takes place on December 24, when Jupiter in Gemini squares Saturn in Pisces. This transit also happened back in August, so it may be helpful to look back on that month to understand which themes were relevant to you back then. When these two planets square each other, there is tension between trying to expand and develop a plan versus being up against an obstacle or mental blockage of some kind. Since Jupiter is currently retrograde and in detriment in Gemini, figuring out how to effectively expand on a concept or an idea may be more of a challenge right now, and Saturn’s sobering influence is only acting as a continuous reminder of the fear, worry, and limitations that may exist.
I’d use this Jupiter-Saturn square to head back to the drawing board to ensure that the plans and ideas you’re trying to move forward with are as airtight as possible. When a planet is retrograde and in detriment, it can signify a lack of confidence. Since it’s Jupiter, it can indicate a lack of faith, hope, or trust in one’s own ideas and intellectual abilities. Now is a good time to consider how you can strengthen the skillsets that exist in the Gemini-ruled house of your birth chart. What information are you lacking? In my own chart, Jupiter’s transiting my twelfth house and rules my ninth house of knowledge, language, and foreign travel. I’ve recently been learning Spanish (ninth house themes) but have been feeling insecure in my Spanish-speaking abilities (twelfth house, Jupiter retrograde/in detriment themes). The square from Saturn is reminding me that in order to reach mastery, I must be willing to dedicate more time to studying and practicing speaking the language. This transit is likely to be a subtle one for some, but Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces risings can expect to notice its effects quite a bit.
The month ends with a second new moon on December 30, at 9° of Capricorn. Honestly, nothing about this lunation concerns me too much, aside from the fact that the moon doesn’t exactly love being in Capricorn. Since it’s the sign opposite her rulership (Cancer), it can be a time when lunar-like things like emotional regulation can be more of a challenge. Capricorn new moons are usually a time when things feel very serious since the sun and moon are both in Saturn’s sign. Because of this, this lunation will probably spotlight more serious topics like governmental systems and traditional rules and framework. In your own life, you may feel the need to take action in spite of your emotions, or what your gut may be telling you. On one hand, Capricorn lunations can help us get our shit together, but on the other, they may cause us to bypass our instinctual moods and feelings for the sake of “getting the job done”. If you can, try not to take yourself too seriously during this new moon. With a new year on the horizon, it’ll be easier than ever to get wrapped up in resolutions and plans for 2025. Feel free to lock in on your goals, but don’t neglect your emotions, your body, and your overall wellbeing in the process.
As we head into the new year, I’d love a chance to chat with you about what the cosmos have in store as it pertains to your own birth chart — so if you’d like a more in-depth understanding of December’s astrology, 1:1 readings are now available to book!
Now, let’s get into the December 2024 horoscope for each rising sign: