As we enter the final month of 2024, a little guidance can help us cross the finish line. With the winter solstice and holiday season approaching, it’s crucial to make the most of the energy around us to wrap up the year on a high note. This year has been emotionally intense, and compassionate insights are essential for closing it on a peaceful note and setting the stage for a positive new beginning. The cosmos is active with significant transits and aspects, and I’m here to explore how these energies can support our highest good as we move forward.
The astrological signs of Sagittarius and Capricorn share the month. Sagittarius is a fire sign that ushers in the holiday party season with lots of enthusiastic energy, spontaneity, and optimism. Later in the month, earthy Capricorn steps in, offering a grounded and realistic perspective to kick off the new year with stamina and clear, long-term goals for what we hope to achieve. It is a time when we can begin to turn our dreams and faith-driven ideals into a realistic and goal-oriented future.
What better way to start the month than with a New Moon in Sagittarius on December 1st. This New Moon provides us with optimism and a sense of adventure. New Moons are always about new beginnings, and the seed that is germinating is all about welcoming a fresh start and expanding life’s possibilities through learning, traveling, and opening our minds to new beliefs and philosophies. Allow yourself to make positive changes by reflecting on the past year, your emotions and thoughts during this time, and then letting those things define a positive new direction in your life.
Later in the day the Moon moves into a conjunction with Mercury retrograde. Allow this to help you slow down, reflect, and possibly create some emotional healing. It can provide you with the opportunity to have some important self-discoveries, such as understanding and adjusting your basic emotional patterns.
On December 2nd, the Moon in Capricorn is in a conjunction with Pallas Athene. Pallas is an asteroid discovered in 1802 and is one of the four major asteroids, Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, each discovered within a few years of each other. These asteroids were named for female goddesses and their discovery has been aligned with the rise of the women's movement ever since.
Pallas, the goddess of wisdom and self-defense, is often known as the warrior goddess. While I don’t typically focus on asteroid influences, her perfect 0-degree conjunction with the Moon is worth noting. This alignment greatly enhances your ability to tap into intuition, emotions, and intellect. Trust your gut as various life issues come up; this connection strengthens your capacity to blend intuition with rational problem-solving when making decisions. It’s an especially supportive energy for resolving conflicts, particularly within interpersonal relationships.
From December 4th to December 14th, the Sun in Sagittarius will form a square with Saturn in Pisces. With Saturn in Pisces, there's a strong focus on tuning into your inner voice and trusting your intuition, aligning well with Pallas’ influence. However, Saturn is also the planet of discipline, boundaries, and responsibilities, so this transit may bring a sense of duty that feels restrictive. You might experience blocks to self-expression or feel like your true self isn’t finding an outlet. To find balance, ask yourself some key questions: Who are you becoming? What steps do you need to take to move forward on your life path? And what parts of yourself might need to be released to make room for growth?
On December 6th, Mars turns retrograde in Leo until February 23, 2025. During Mars retrograde your energy may feel more internalized and introspective rather than outwardly active. You might notice a slowdown in your plans and goals, which can lead to feelings of frustration. Instead of pushing against this slower pace, use this time to prioritize inner reflection and focus on your emotional and psychological well-being. Align with your own rhythm, practice mindfulness before reacting to triggers, and cultivate compassion for yourself and others. By the end of this retrograde, you’ll likely gain greater clarity about your path forward.
There are four major transits occurring on December 7th; Venus enters Aquarius, Venus in Aquarius conjuncts Pluto, Neptune stations direct, and the Sun is in opposition to Jupiter in Gemini.
Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, and harmony, guides our relationships and connects us with the feminine essence. As she moves into Aquarius, expect to feel a boost in social energy, with a particular interest in broader societal issues. This transit encourages you to experiment with new approaches to love and connection, making it a great time to explore how you relate to others. You may feel drawn to more unconventional relationships and a stronger sense of independence. Embrace this shift as a chance to learn about your outlook on love, commitment, and the freedom to express your unique self.
At the same time, Venus and Pluto form a powerful exact conjunction in Aquarius. Pluto adds a powerful energy to matters involving relationships and how we form close personal attachments. Pluto does not play small. When he teams up with Venus it creates a magnetic, all-consuming energy. Be mindful of potential power struggles in partnerships and watch for any controlling or manipulative tendencies, whether from yourself or others. This transit may have you balancing the desire for deep, intimate connections with a fear of losing yourself within them.
Neptune having been retrograde since July 2nd of this year, finally stations direct on December 7th. During retrograde, we hopefully had more clarity about our lives, our relationships, and inner selves. In fact, it may have provided a little too much realism. As it moves back into a direct motion, allow yourself some periods of escape and appreciate your ability to dream and fantasize. Try to operate from a place of faith that all is unfolding just as it should be. Neptune’s intent is to dissolve boundaries and limitations so that you are able to receive inspiration and lean into your creativity.
Lastly, we have the Sun in Sagittarius opposing Jupiter in Gemini. As opposing signs on the astrological wheel, Sagittarius and Gemini both emphasize the mind and communication, but in different ways. Gemini, the logical and analytical sign, relies on reason and practical thinking, while Sagittarius is more about big-picture insights, intuition, and higher understanding. Both are curious, restless, and eager to connect with others and hear their stories. This opposition may lead you to feel scattered or pulled in many directions. The key here is finding a balance between your expansive dreams and the practical steps needed to bring them to life.
December 8th brings the First Quarter Moon in Pisces. This is the half-way mark between the New Moon and the Full Moon. Anything that you began to think about and develop at the New Moon phase on December 1st, is getting closer to actualizing when the Full Moon phase occurs. However, at this phase, now is the time you may begin to have doubts or start to question yourself or your ideas. Watch out for stumbling blocks but persist in your goal visions. At this time, start to have conversations with others about your intentions and get the ball rolling. Getting feedback can turn your doubts around.
On December 12th, the Goddess of Love opposes the God of War as Venus and Mars face off in opposition. Though opposite in nature, these two share a unique, complementary relationship. They actually rely on each other and work together sharing a special relationship. Venus represents what you desire, while Mars shows how you go after it. With Venus in Aquarius (an Air sign) and Mars in Leo (a Fire sign), this transit may bring a push-pull dynamic to your relationships. You might find yourself torn between a desire for closeness and a need for freedom, trying to balance your own needs with those of your partner. The key is to find middle ground—acknowledge and respect each other's differences, and make sure to communicate openly about your thoughts, feelings, and needs.
On December 15th, we experience a Full Moon in Gemini, just as Mercury, Gemini's ruling planet, stations direct after its retrograde phase that began on November 25th. This Full Moon shines a light on themes of learning and communication, encouraging us to examine our belief systems and philosophies with fresh eyes. What are you truly seeking? This lunar event invites us to remain open to new perspectives and to reconsider how we view the world. In a conjunction with Jupiter, the Full Moon enhances feelings of love and generosity, opening our hearts and minds. You may find yourself drawn to explore deeper spiritual and philosophical questions, inviting profound insights and growth.
With Mercury going direct just as the holiday season hits its peak, travel plans should flow more smoothly, gifts will hopefully arrive on time, and connecting with loved ones will feel easier. Expect lively conversations and a joyful atmosphere as we dive into the festivities!
On December 18th, the Sun is in a square aspect to Neptune in Pisces which can create some confusion and a lack of mental focus. This aspect does increase your imagination and creativity, yet you may not see the reality of things as clearly as you’d like. It will be really important to practice ways to ground yourself during this time and practice self-care. Journaling and spending time in nature are great ways to do this.
The next day, December 19th, Venus in Aquarius makes a harmonious trine aspect with Jupiter in Gemini. This is a lovely connection between the two most kind, generous, loving, and altruistic planets in the Universe. You will feel more relaxed, making it an opportune time for holiday socializing and expanding your personal life. It’s also a great time for romance and dating as your heart center opens and you welcome connection with others.
On December 21st, the Sun enters Capricorn, marking the winter solstice. This day brings the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year, symbolizing the start of the winter season. Yet, it also represents a celebration life’s rebirth, as from here on, the days will gradually grow longer and the Sun will shine brighter. The winter solstice reminds us of renewal, instilling faith and hope that spring is just around the corner. It’s a perfect moment to reflect on our life’s direction and consider the changes we’d like to make as we approach the new year—a natural time to set intentions and envision new possibilities.
Capricorn season, lasting from December 21 to January 19, is governed by Capricorn’s ruling planet, Saturn, which encourages us to plan with discipline and foresight. This period is ideal for setting long-term goals and learning from the past year’s experiences to help shape new strategies. Consider the areas where you want to grow or make changes in the coming year. Begin by writing down your intentions and creating a to-do list, outlining the steps needed to manifest your goals.
On December 22nd, the Moon enters her last quarter phase in Libra, marking the halfway point between the Full Moon and the New Moon. This phase represents the gradual shift from the Full Moon's bright illumination—when everything feels ready for manifestation—toward the dimming light of the New Moon. As the Moon’s light decreases, it invites a time for reflection, release, and preparing for new intentions in the upcoming lunar cycle.
The last quarter Moon very often creates a “crisis of consciousness” or more simply, a sense of confusion or a disconnect between your actions and your core values. During this phase, try to be aware of your own truth and moral principles. Your sense of right and wrong. Reflect back on the month to evaluate what is worth keeping and what no longer serves you. It is a time to make space for new and fresh ideas to enter your life as the New Moon phase rapidly approaches.
On December 24th, Jupiter in Gemini is in a challenging square to Saturn in Pisces. There are creative and inner tensions at play during this time. We have the optimism and abundance of Jupiter squaring up with the structure and limitations of Saturn. A positive way to work through this is by combining discipline and hard work with faith and imagination. You might feel highly driven to accomplish your goals right now, but could encounter some obstacles along the way. Even though certain limitations may arise, remain open to finding ways to work around them.
As Jupiter in Gemini opposes Mercury in Sagittarius on December 26th, expect your optimism and visions to begin to take off. Just make sure you ground your grand plans with a healthy dose of realism. While you are extremely confident and excited to share your ideas, it is equally important to deliver your message with humility and openness to other opinions and viewpoints. You may be looking more at the big picture and over-looking the fine details so keep things in perspective.
You will want to keep these things in mind as Mercury squares Saturn on December 27th. This aspect wants to keep you stuck or fixated on a certain way of thinking. It can create a rigid mind-set. You will absolutely benefit from other people’s viewpoints, as well as allowing yourself to be open and flexible to new ideas and perceptions. Journaling, writing down notes, and creating structure in your thought processes, is extremely helpful in getting through this transit.
On December 28th, Venus in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus. You may experience some challenges within your relationships and perhaps changing circumstances in where you find your value and self-worth during this transit. There will definitely be some tension as you try to navigate between the desire for more freedom, a curiosity and exploration of unconventional connections, and what makes you feel desired and valued. Uranus in Taurus truly supports your need to “march to the tune of a different drummer” or to experiment with different life choices.
The month ends with a New Moon in Capricorn on December 30th. In keeping with the energy of Capricorn season, these next couple of weeks are a great time to really think about what you want to achieve going into 2025. Be explicit with your goals and intentions. This is all about preparing for the future and focusing on ways to develop self-discipline and understand commitments and responsibilities. Free yourself from whatever limiting beliefs you have about yourself and focus on what truly matters.
As the final days of December unfold, take this time to reflect on the year’s journey and honor the growth and lessons it brought. With each planetary alignment, the energies around us encourage introspection, renewal, and a sense of purpose. Embrace these opportunities to set meaningful intentions for the year ahead, making space for fresh perspectives and positive change. Prepare to welcome 2025 with an open heart and a clear vision for the future. Happy Holidays!