We enter December winding down from a destabilizing autumn season, searching for comfort. You aren’t alone if you’re feeling unsure about where you are in life and what’s to come. The good news is that December will help us reorient ourselves with renewed faith and optimism, making way for new doors to open in the year ahead.
December kicks off with Mercury and Venus finishing their stay in Sagittarius, where the sun will remain until the winter solstice on December 21. Sagittarius season is one to take advantage of before the winter cold truly settles in—Sagittarius teaches us about faith, enthusiasm, optimism, and the fire and zest of intellectual and philosophical thought. We’re invited to renew our spirit in the weeks before darkness takes over, holding onto the fact that we will see the light renewed once again in the spring. Soak up all of the good vibes you can this month, packing it into your spiritual knapsack to carry with you through throughout the season. Planning future travel is a great way to channel this energy. If you’re already traveling this month spend extra time appreciating the places you’re experiencing.
Throughout this time, there are a few key dates to watch out for. The first full moon of the month takes place on Wednesday, December 7, with a full moon in Gemini exactly aligned with the planet Mars. Be sure to look up at the sky that night, wherever you are—you'll likely be able to see our red neighbor Mars beside the bright moon. This full moon coincides with the mid-point of the Mars retrograde (October 30 to January 13). Mars’ retrograde in Gemini has presented many different options and pathways that you could head in. Whether it's in relation to your career, your relationships, or your travel destinations, you’ve likely been burdened with the need to choose a direction. This full moon brings an acute awareness to the decisions that need to be made, and implores you to keep digging, and researching, to come to a decision down the line. Beware that another element to this full moon is its antagonistic nature, so brace yourself for sharper, cruder communications around this time, especially while traveling and attempting to speak different languages.
Then, as Mercury and Venus enter Capricorn, followed by the Sun, the energy shifts, becoming more grounded, practical, and focused on hard work. Capricorn is all about setting long-term goals and building structures and systems with integrity and longevity. The Capricorn new moon on December 23 invites you into a new cycle for putting in the hard work necessary to reach your goals. We end the month with a Mercury retrograde in Capricorn, beginning on December 29, and lasting until January 19: This period isn’t the best for booking travel, but it’s a great time to do research and begin planning. If you’re traveling during the retrograde (maybe for a New Year's Eve trip), be sure to give yourself extra time and space for delays and miscommunications. You can still have a blast—especially if you don’t sweat the small stuff.