This December is a month where we build on what already exists. Not much new energy is introduced this month, but there is a lot of opportunity for restructuring and solidifying of what we previously established. 

The much-anticipated Mars retrograde begins in Leo on the 7th, and he spends the rest of the month re-treading terrain he has already conquered. The most notable aspect of this retrograde cycle, the Mars-Pluto opposition, doesn’t go exact again until early January, but we will feel it build again towards the close of the month. Mercury is, of course, already retrograde and will remain this way until the 16th. His inferior cazemi takes place on the 6th.

Mars retrogrades are a time when Mars’ normal function is attenuated and therefore seems more evident than ever. It’s interesting how the space something leaves in its absence can make us think of it more. Depending on where this transit hits in each of our charts, we might find our frustrations rise, while our drive, our actions, and ambitions are dampened or hindered in some notable way. It will likely be a time when tensions come to a head and become more obvious because of the inability to make headway in the way we were expecting. 

Mars’ themes like hot headedness, separation, and war usually seem especially apparent during Mars retrogrades, so wherever Leo and Cancer are in your chart, prepare for some prescribed burn offs. Sometimes we need to get rid of excess to fortify ourselves for the future. Remember, this is an effective way to reduce out-of-control fires in these parts of your chart in years to come, so whatever is lost during this time is for the best. This transit will likely be more manageable and productive for those born during the night rather than those with day charts.

In months dominated by retrogrades, it’s always nice to remember that Sisyphus may have spent eternity pushing the same boulder up a hill everyday, but we’re supposed to remember him as a happy man. Sometimes there’s something to be gained through tedious repetition and lack of external reward. 

There’s a T-square across the mutable signs involving Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury all month. Jupiter and Saturn’s second square of the year goes exact on the 25th, reinforcing the fact that events that have taken place over the last few months have monumental implications for the future of our society and the brave new world we’re in the process of creating. This Mercury retrograde is fundamental to setting up the life we want for ourselves for the coming decades. There has never been a more important time to get your proverbial ducks in a row. 

Venus is the only planet aside from The Sun that changes signs this month, entering Aquarius on the 7th. Shortly after her ingress, she makes her first conjunction with Pluto here in our lifetime. This conjunction is at the same degree as the great conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter from 2020, re-stating the very obvious theme of the year – that the future is here and there is no going back. The very foundations that comprise our society and its structures have been altered and we get to choose our own adventures in this new age of Air. 

As always, read from your rising sign or sect light.

All dates and times are in AEST

Sagittarius

There’s a lot about yourself that you’re reimagining this month. Ghosts from the past and old versions of yourself are bound to be on your mind or resurfacing in your life in some way. Sometimes it’s necessary to revisit memory lane and take stock of the progress you’ve made. 

The month kicks off with a New Moon in your sign, so go ahead and set some goals or intentions for yourself for the next six-month chapter. The angles of your chart are all emphasised at this time, so major change and restructuring is possible if that’s what you’re after. Make sure you’re making decisions for the long term now. 

Jupiter, your ruler, squares off again with Saturn on the 25th of the month, signalling the next phase of some major development in your home and living situation and relationships. It’s action time, you need to put one foot in front of the other now to get what you want in these parts of your life. 

Mercury and Jupiter remain in a tight opposition for much of the month, these are the planets that represent you and your significant other. Now is the time to negotiate, see things from each other’s perspective, and find common ground and mutual support. The 20th of December looks especially promising for this as Jupiter and Venus share a nice trine between your third and seventh houses, this is a really nice time for a day trip with a partner. This should make for a productive and wholesome holiday season. 

Mars stations retrograde in your ninth house on the 7th and will make his way back towards your eighth house during this transit. This period may cause some frustrations around ideology or travel. The next few weeks are likely not the best time to be engaging in long distance trips, or adhering to old dogma. Try to unstuck your mind and be open to new ideas, a fresh new perspective is in order for 2025. 

Capricorn

Venus spends the first week of the month in your sign before entering your second house on the 7th, once she arrives you may notice some financial wins, or get some nice new things. Her ingress coincides with her first conjunction with Pluto since he entered Aquarius, so take note around the 8th as this conjunction may illuminate what the long-term influence of Pluto in your second house has in store for you. Try to keep an eye on spending habits or your money mindset at this time and nip any toxicity you notice in the bud before it gets out of your control. 

The Sun squares off with Saturn on the 5th, followed by Mercury on the 7th. You have to take some action toward your long-term health – mental or physical, or your personal autonomy around this date. Sagittarius is your twelfth house, so The Sun’s transit through this sign may make you drawn inward or feel the call of solitude more than usual. That’s not a bad thing, especially if you can pencil in some time for some restorative practices. 

Mars stations retrograde in your eighth house on the 7th. Issues around shared assets, inheritance, or death may flare up at this time. This transit might play out in your partner’s finances or their world rather than your own. Either way, be aware that there’s added frustration and tension in this part of your life at this time and tread mindfully. 

Jupiter and Saturn complete their second square of the year on the 25th. This is a repetition of the same aspect that took place on August 20th signalling a major long-term alteration in the way you live your daily life and routines. Jupiter is calling for you to allow yourself to grow out of stagnant habits that have held you back. This is a major new chapter for you, don’t underestimate the power of small changes.

There’s a New Moon in your sign on the 31st which provides the perfect opportunity to set some meaningful and deeply personal New Years resolutions or goals you’d like to see the results of in six months.  Saturn will be in a new sign by then and your life will feel completely different, so spend some time considering where you’d like this next chapter to take you. 

Aquarius

Much of this month will be dominated by adjusting to your new normal – Pluto in your sign. Venus enters Aquarius on the 7th and makes a conjunction with Pluto upon entry. This should help you to better understand what this transit may mean for you. Due to Venus’ presence for the rest of December, you’ll likely be feeling magnetic, attractive and empowered for the holiday season. People might be more drawn to you than usual, and you might even rise in some power structure you’re part of. Use this wisely. 

Mars stations retrograde in your seventh house on the 7th. The next few weeks may bring frustrations or clashes of will with any close partners in life or business. This can be a tedious transit where you feel like it’s almost impossible to make progress in this area, but after the dust settles you’ll realise that this was a very productive time after all, and you have a much better relationship with yourself and others for it.  

The Full Moon on the 15th marks a creative or romantic milestone. This lunation is co-present with Jupiter, and you are able to reap the rewards of longer-term goals in these parts of your life. Let yourself have some fun. 

Jupiter squares your ruler, Saturn, again on the 25th. This highlights some financial or self-worth issues that you’ve long since grown out of. It’s time to move on from outdated views about yourself and what you are worth in the world. Lean into play, romance, and fun and let yourself expand and enjoy your new self. 

Pisces

The month kicks off with a New Moon in your tenth house of career and public image. Are you considering a new career or personal rebrand? Now is the time to get clear about what you want to develop here over the next six months. 

Jupiter, your ruler, and Mercury, who is currently still retrograde, spend the month doing a carefully choreographed dance in opposition to each other across your fourth and tenth houses whilst squaring Saturn in your first. This time is about getting settled in your home and living space or emotional life and building a solid foundation that you can work from to build the life you want for yourself. 

Saturn squares Jupiter on the 25th, which will re-emphasise the importance of asserting your personal boundaries to establish a balanced emotional state and living situation. There is so much power in saying no and removing things from your life at this time. 

Mars stations retrograde in your sixth house on the 7th. This transit can bring frustrations and conflict to your work life or health. Be careful not to overextend yourself physically during this time or you could risk an injury. Either way, you may have to slow down to speed up. 

Aries

Mars, your ruling planet, stations retrograde on the 7th of this month in your fifth house, Leo. The next ten weeks will likely bring some frustrations. You may find that it’s hard to feel like progress is being made, particularly in your romantic or creative life. You might feel burned out, uninspired, or just lacking in motivation. Rest assured that this time is productive, though it may not feel like it at the time. You need to take a step back and reevaluate what you want and need creatively, romantically, and also in your home and emotional life. 

You could see the return of previous romantic partners during this transit. Mars opposes Venus on the 12th, so there is the possibility for a love connection, or the rekindling of one this month if that’s something you’re after. Venus is transiting your eleventh house this month, so your social life is looking especially promising during the holidays. Put yourself out there and let others fill your cup. 

Mercury is still retrograde in your ninth house until the 16th, so keep your ducks in a row if you are travelling long-distance. You could also be mulling over and reevaluating your personal relationship with philosophy, politics or study during this transit. Mercury stations direct in a trine with Mars, so wherever this transit takes you, it promises a productive outcome. Expect to be able to make progress and decisions in these areas after mid month. 

Taurus

Venus, your ruling planet, enters your tenth house, Aquarius, on the 7th. Her ingress coincides with a conjunction with Pluto, who has recently taken up residence in this part of your chart for the better part of two decades. The conjunction on the 8th should inform you of what this long-term transformation of your public image, career, and legacy may entail. 

There’s a Full Moon in your second house on the 15th and you could see some longer-term goals around finance or assets come to fruition around this date. You may also feel especially empowered, or find an increase in your self-esteem. This is a nice time to appreciate the abundance around you and what you’ve already achieved. 

Mercury continues his retrograde in your eighth house until the 16th, until then you might find that you’re renegotiating the depths of a personal relationship, or some matters around death or shared assets. This may relate to a partner and their finances also. 

Mars stations retrograde in your fourth house on the 7th. This kicks off a ten-week chapter of possible frustration or conflict around your home and living situation, emotional, or family life. You may feel like you’ve worked hard in this area and it’s not yielding the results you desired. This is not a time for results, but a time for reconsidering your motivations and desires. Take a time out rather than letting it get to you and creating unnecessary conflict. 

Gemini

A Full Moon in your sign on the 15th helps you appreciate how far you’ve come in the last six months. You’ve grown and expanded in ways you possibly don’t even appreciate yet and you may see some of these ways culminate at this lunation. 

Your ruling planet, Mercury, is still retrograde until the 16th of the month. Use the remainder of the transit to focus on getting your relationships right. Even if communication isn’t straightforward at the moment, there is a way to show people you care that transcends language. 

This retrograde involves a T-square to Saturn and Jupiter who are busy pulling off a long term restructure of your career and public image, as well as your body and looks. You’ll likely look back on this chapter as one of the most formative times in your life, so give yourself grace. This is cocoon time, not butterfly season. 

Mercury makes his inferior conjunction with The Sun on the 6th. This date should provide you with a proverbial ‘aha’ moment, or a lucky breakthrough that makes the current chapter make sense. 

Mars stations retrograde on the 7th in your third house. The next ten weeks may make for some frustrating communication or transport-related challenges. You might also find yourself running into issues relating to siblings or family. Take a breath if you need to – this transit can be a frustrating one. Better not to say the harsh thing or it may come back to bite you. 

Cancer

You could find yourself caught up in your work and daily routines for much of this month. Mercury is still retrograde in your sixth house and the month’s first lunation, a New Moon in Sagittarius, also occurs in this part of your chart. Perhaps you’re rebuilding your fitness regime, or having to contend with workplace restructuring. This should ease by the 16th when Mercury stations direct. 

There’s a Full Moon in your twelfth house on the 15th, and you might find yourself seeing the logical conclusion of a longer-term personal project or spiritual practice. The Full Moon is co-present with Jupiter, so it brings some auspicious blessings or inner wisdom your way. Trust yourself around this time, your intuition is strong. 

Some developmental milestone comes to a head around Christmas when Saturn and Jupiter square off for the second time this year. You might find yourself confronted with some ideological issues that conflict with your spiritual persuasions, or encounter some travel-related issues. This could also have to do with some growing pains, or major action in your relationships as Saturn rules your seventh house. Either way, this is not the first time you’ve encountered this and it is a reminder that you’ve got some deep personal work to do. Consider all the times that you have got in your own way.

Mars stations retrograde in your second house on the 7th and will make his way back to your first house over the coming weeks. During the first part of this transit, you might encounter some financial frustrations or blows to your self-esteem. Remember that money is a renewable resource and this is nothing you can’t come back from. 

The month (and year) ends with a New Moon in Capricorn, your seventh house. The next six months will see some major developments in your relationships. Set some goals or intentions around this now and see where you end up in six months. You won’t believe how much things will change. 

Leo

Your focus this month is around fun, creativity, play, and romance (as it should be). You may even be encountering the return of some romantic partners or creative ideas from the past due to the Mercury retrograde in your fifth house. The first week of the month functions as a reset on these key areas of life. Think about what you want to create or how you want to play. The Sun, your ruler, squares Saturn on the 5th, giving you some insight into what actions you are personally accountable for to make these dreams a reality. Keep an eye out on the 6th for a moment of clarity or creative genius. 

Mars stations retrograde in your first house on the 7th and will make his way back to your twelfth house over the weeks to come. During the first part of this transit you could encounter some physical or personal frustrations and find yourself more easily fired up than usual. It would pay to find an outlet for this like exercise, just try not to push yourself too hard to avoid injury. 

There’s a Full Moon in your eleventh house on the 15th and you might reap the rewards of a longer-term project involving friends or your community at this time. The lunation is co-present with Jupiter and is a great time to get out and be social. This date might inspire your hopes for the future and get you dreaming of what’s to come

Virgo

Your ruling planet, Mercury, remains retrograde until mid-month. After that, you’ll likely feel like you’re able to make more progress. The 6th and 7th are key dates during this transit during which time you’ll be well placed to get very clear on what this introspective time spent mulling over your career and private life means for you in the long term, and what action is required to achieve your goals in these areas. Some major development, or new pressure may become apparent this month. It’s best to just knuckle down and do the work, even if you end up having to tweak it in the future. 

Mercury spends all month in opposition to Jupiter and a square to Saturn, meaning any actions you take during this time are setting you up for decades and altering the very foundations of your life in every key area. Take some time to consider what you want to gain from all your hard work. There’s a Full Moon in your tenth house of career and public image on the 15th that should help illuminate what’s possible, and give you some encouragement that the past six months have been productive after all. 

Mars stations retrograde in your twelfth house on the 7th. This will likely ramp up your libido, and potentially make you more prone to self-sabotage or bouts of anger. Sleep may also be an issue during this time. Rest assured that it’s only a few weeks before Mars re-enters Cancer and starts wreaking his retrograde havoc on your social life instead, so at least you’ve got that to look forward to. 

Libra 

Venus enters your fifth house of romance, play, and creativity on the 7th. Her ingress coincides with a conjunction with Pluto, who has recently also entered this part of your chart and will be completely transforming these parts of your life for the next two decades. Pay attention during the conjunction on the 8th to get some insights into what this long term influence has in store for you. You may meet a mysterious and powerful new love interest, or gain a potent idea for a creative project. This area of your chart also represents children and procreation, so if that’s something you’re invested in, now is the time to get focused on these topics. 

Mars stations retrograde in your eleventh house on the 7th, this transit may kick off some drama or frustration around your friends or community, or you could feel like you’re not making progress towards your hopes for the future in the way you thought you would. This is only a short term influence, and you’ll get a chance to rectify any issues when Mars transits Leo in his direct phase in 2025. 

There’s a really lovely trine between Venus and Jupiter on the 20th. Jupiter is currently in your ninth house, so this could look like making travel plans with a romantic interest, getting inspired about a creative path of study, or just enjoying some meaningful discussion or debate. 

The 28th brings a tense square between Venus and Uranus in your eighth house. This might bring up some sudden or unexpected issue around shared finances, death, or gambling. Uranus is always a wild card, so this could come out of the blue and truly surprise you. Keep your eyes open. 

Scorpio

Your ruling planet, Mars, stations retrograde on the 7th in Leo, your tenth house. Mars will work his way back though Leo over the coming weeks and enter Cancer in early January. Until then, prepare for some possible frustrations or blowups in your career or public life. This first part of the transit may feel irritating as you could feel like you’re not making any progress, or even going backward in these areas. 

You might feel like you’ve been charging forwards recently kicking goals, and this feeling disappears for a while or you have to revisit some of the work you’ve previously completed. Either way, this influence will only last a couple of months, and you’ll come out more well rounded and better off. Anything you are forced to revise now will be rectified in April next year when Mars transits Leo in his direct phase. 

There’s the potential for some financial wins this month through shared assets, gambling, tax, or inheritance. The Full Moon in your eighth house on the 15th could bring to completion any goals or intentions you set with regard to these topics six months ago. 

Mercury remains retrograde in your second house of finances until the 16th, it would be prudent to use this time to reestablish some good budgeting habits for the coming years, and curb any recreational spending that you may be prone to. The work now will set you up for the long term due to Saturn’s influence here. 

There is the potential for some sudden changes to your partnerships this month as Venus connects with Uranus in your seventh house twice, once via trine on the 3rd, and once via square on the 28th. Brace yourself for shakeups, or keep yourself open to wild possibility – it’s up to you to choose the adventure.

~

Image via: @thesanctuarybyrachel