December tends to fill up before it has even started. Work deadlines, people to see, and the feeling that everything needs to be wrapped up before the year ends. The sky is busy this month too, but much of it moves slowly, and that’s worth remembering when everything around you seems to speed up.
After an autumn of retrogrades, things start to move again. Saturn and Neptune turn direct within two days of each other in mid-December, and plans that have felt stuck or unclear since the summer may begin to gain momentum. Nevertheless, it will happen gradually, not all at once. In the same week, Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo and asks you to finish what you’ve started before you reach for something new.
The month ends with the winter solstice and an emotional Full Moon in Cancer, which is worth planning around.
Venus in Scorpio and the final square to Pluto
Venus returns to Scorpio on 4 December and retraces the ground it covered in October, before the retrograde pulled it back into Libra. If something about trust, intimacy or shared money was left unfinished, then it may come back now. However, this time you’re likely to know more about what you want.
On the evening of 9 December, Venus makes its third and final square to Pluto in Aquarius. Venus–Pluto squares can bring up jealousy, a need for control, intense attraction, or a sense that something has to change. As the last of the three, it may also show you how far you’ve come since the first.
If an old issue comes back, write down what has changed since October before you respond. Save the angry message or big money decision for the next morning. And if you notice you’re holding on to something out of fear rather than love, you don’t have to do anything about it yet. Noticing it is enough for now.
Mercury and the New Moon in Sagittarius
Mercury enters Sagittarius on 6 December, making conversations more direct and optimistic, and sometimes a little blunt. The New Moon in Sagittarius on 9 December is a good time to think bigger picture, like, for example, what you want to learn, where you’d like to go, and what you’d like the next chapter to look like.
Sagittarius responds better to a direction than to a detailed plan, so keep your intention to a sentence and take one small step within a couple of days. That might mean looking up the course, checking flight prices or sending the email you’ve been putting off. Be honest in conversation, but think about how your words will land before you say them.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct
Saturn and Neptune met at 0° Aries in February, starting a new cycle of around 36 years. Both have been retrograde for much of the second half of the year, and this month they turn direct two days apart, Saturn on 10 December and Neptune on 12 December.
Saturn is about structure, effort and commitment. Neptune is about dreams, intuition and uncertainty. Between them, they’ve been asking a simple but challenging question: what do you want to build, and is it based on something real? If you’ve felt stuck or unsure of your direction this year, the coming weeks may bring some clarity. Planets move slowly around their stations, so expect a gentle shift rather than a breakthrough. Pick one stalled plan and take one concrete step the week after the 12th. If something still feels unclear, give it until January.
Jupiter stations retrograde in Leo
On 13 December, Jupiter turns retrograde at 27° Leo and stays retrograde for roughly four months. Jupiter is the planet of growth, and Leo rules creativity, play, romance and self-expression. The retrograde gives you time to make the most of the opportunities you already have. Choose one half-finished project to complete before spring, and try saying no to at least one new commitment this month.
The winter solstice and the Full Moon in Cancer
The Sun enters Capricorn on 21 December, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. From here, the days start getting longer, and Capricorn season turns attention to goals and long-term plans.
Three days later, the Full Moon at 2° Cancer lights up home, family and our need to feel cared for, opposite the Sun’s focus on duty and responsibility. Neptune, newly direct at 1° Aries, squares both closely. In plain terms, feelings may run high, and the gap between how this time of year is supposed to feel and how it actually feels may be hard to ignore.
Lower the bar for yourself. Keep an hour that day just for you, like a walk, a bath, or a film on your own. If a difficult family conversation needs to happen, find a calmer moment. Eating properly, sleeping and getting outside in daylight may sound basic, but they help more than you’d think.
Mercury enters Capricorn on 25 December, so leave your planning for the quiet days at the end of the year, when it will likely come more naturally.
What December means for your sign
Read your rising sign first, then your Sun sign for another perspective.
Aries
This month, you may start to trust yourself again.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your sign on 10 and 12 December. This year has asked you to rethink who you are and where you’re heading, which can be unsettling for a sign that likes to move fast. By the second half of the month, you may find you know more about what you want than you did in the autumn. If you’ve been circling a decision about 2027, the week of 14 December is a good time to make it.
Before that, Venus returns to your eighth house of shared money and intimacy and squares Pluto in your eleventh house on 9 December. A friendship or group situation may raise questions of loyalty or money. If something feels off, ask about it rather than assume. The New Moon in your ninth house that same day is a good moment to plan a trip or sign up for something you’ve wanted to learn.
Jupiter’s retrograde in your fifth house brings you back to a creative project or hobby you set aside. From 21 December, your career is in the spotlight, but the Full Moon in your fourth house on the 24th asks you to be properly at home. That means putting the work phone away.
Taurus
A month to deepen your closest relationships and rest more than you think you need to.
Venus, your ruling planet, returns to your seventh house of partnership on 4 December. Relationship questions from October may come back, and this time they may be easier to settle. The Venus–Pluto square on the 9th puts your relationships and your career at odds, so for a day or two they may pull against each other.
Mercury and the New Moon fall in your eighth house, making this a sensible time to sort out joint finances, debts, or anything you’ve been avoiding with a partner. An hour’s honest conversation about money, without blame, could make a real difference. Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your twelfth house, and you may feel quietly lighter, as if something you’ve been carrying has started to loosen. Protect a couple of evenings this month with nothing planned.
Jupiter’s retrograde in your fourth house asks you to slow down on any home plans. By late December you may feel restless and want to get away. The Full Moon in your third house on the 24th may bring an important conversation with a sibling or neighbour, so read your messages back once before you send them.
Gemini
People are the focus this month, as your ruling planet moves through your relationship house.
Mercury, your ruling planet, enters your seventh house of partnership on 6 December, followed by the New Moon there on the 9th. It’s a good time to start a collaboration, have the honest conversation you’ve been meaning to have with someone close, or meet someone new. Venus in your sixth house squares Pluto in your ninth on the same day, so a difference in values or beliefs may cause friction at work.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your eleventh house of friendships and future goals. You may feel clearer about which people and plans belong in your next chapter. Jupiter’s retrograde in your third house may bring old ideas or messages back to you. Go back through your notes, as one of those ideas may still excite you.
From 21 December, shared money and intimacy come into focus, and the Full Moon in your second house on the 24th highlights spending. Set a budget before the 20th, and you’ll be glad you did.
Cancer
The Full Moon in your sign on 24 December makes your own needs a priority.
Venus returns to your fifth house of romance, creativity and joy on 4 December. A romance or creative project from October may come back, this time feeling more settled. Venus squares Pluto in your eighth house on the 9th, which could raise deeper questions about trust or money.
Mercury and the New Moon in your sixth house support new routines. If you’ve been meaning to sort out your sleep, your eating or the structure of your working day, start with one small change around 9 December, something you can keep going through the end of the year. Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your tenth house, so career plans that have felt foggy may start to clear.
The Full Moon in your sign on the 24th may leave you feeling tender, tired or emotional. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It means you need looking after too, not only the people around you. Let someone else host or cook for once, and take time for yourself when you need it.
Leo
As Jupiter turns retrograde in your sign, look at how much you’ve grown.
Jupiter has been in Leo since the summer, and on 13 December it turns retrograde in your first house. Think of it as a pause, not a step back. It gives you a chance to see how much you’ve grown and to look after yourself before the next stage. Write down a few of the ways you’ve changed since June — you may be surprised!
Early in the month, Venus returns to your fourth house of home and family and squares Pluto in your seventh on 9 December. This is when your needs for home and partnership may clash. For this reason, try to say what you need instead of keeping the peace and resenting it later. The New Moon in your fifth house that same day supports romance, creativity, and fun, and Jupiter’s retrograde suggests finishing one creative project before starting another.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your ninth house, so plans for travel, study or publishing may move forward again. The Full Moon in your twelfth house on the 24th may leave you wanting more quiet than usual, so let yourself have it.
Virgo
The New Moon in your fourth house brings home and family into focus.
Mercury, your ruling planet, enters your fourth house on 6 December, followed by the New Moon there on the 9th. It’s a good time to make plans for your home, start a small new tradition, or make your space feel more like you. Venus in your third house squares Pluto in your sixth on the same day, and a conversation may touch on how much you’re taking on at work. If you can hand off one task, now is the time.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your eighth house, so financial agreements, debts or trust issues that have felt unclear may start to settle. Jupiter’s retrograde in your twelfth house asks for more rest and reflection than you usually allow yourself.
After 21 December, the Sun and Mercury bring fun, romance and creativity into focus, so enjoy the break without planning every detail. The Full Moon in your eleventh house on the 24th highlights friendships, and you may notice who is really there for you.
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Libra
With your ruling planet in your money house, look at what you’re worth.
Venus enters your second house of money and self-worth on 4 December. Spending, earning and what you believe you deserve all come into focus. The first week of the month is a good time to go through your subscriptions and regular payments. If you’re due a pay rise or need to raise your rates, start preparing your case now. Venus squares Pluto in your fifth house on the 9th, prompting an honest look at how much you’re giving to a romance, a child, or a creative project.
Mercury and the New Moon in your third house favour learning and writing. Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your seventh house of partnership. Relationships that have felt uncertain this year may become clearer, and commitments may feel firmer.
Jupiter’s retrograde in your eleventh house asks you to review your friendships and long-term goals. The Full Moon in your tenth house on the 24th may bring a work matter to a head just before the break, so wrap up what you can, then set your out-of-office and actually switch off.
Scorpio
With Venus back in your sign, you may feel more like yourself again.
Venus returns to your first house on 4 December, after a retrograde that began in your sign. You may feel more confident in how you look, what you want and how you show up in relationships. Do something just for you that week, like get a haircut, try a new outfit, or take an afternoon on your own. On the 9th, Venus squares Pluto, your modern ruler, in your fourth house, and family dynamics may stir strong feelings. If someone gets under your skin, wait a day before replying.
Mercury and the New Moon fall in your second house of money. It’s a good time to start a new savings habit or think about what you charge for your work. Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your sixth house, and routines you’ve struggled to stick to may become easier.
Jupiter’s retrograde in your tenth house asks you to review your career direction before you take on more. The Full Moon in your ninth house on the 24th may get you thinking about travel, beliefs, or what gives your life meaning.
Sagittarius
The New Moon in your sign gives you a fresh start.
Mercury enters your sign on 6 December, followed by the New Moon there on the 9th. This is one of the best times of the year to set intentions for yourself, like your health, your appearance, your direction. Write them down while your energy is high. Venus in your twelfth house squares Pluto in your third on the same day, so feelings you’ve kept to yourself may come out in conversation.
Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your fifth house of romance and creativity, and things that have felt uncertain may start to move forward. Jupiter, your ruling planet, turns retrograde in your ninth house on the 13th. If you’re unsure about a booking or contract, read it again before you commit.
From 21 December, money comes into focus. The Full Moon in your eighth house on the 24th may raise questions about shared finances or closeness. Talk about it, but leave big financial decisions until the new year, and agree on a gift budget with family or your partner before the 20th.
Capricorn
Your season begins at the solstice, but rest comes first.
Venus returns to your eleventh house of friendships on 4 December and may warm up your social life. Venus squares Pluto in your second house on the 9th, so don’t mix friendship and money and hold off on lending or engaging in shared purchases for now. Mercury and the New Moon fall in your twelfth house of rest, making this a good time to write down what you don’t want to carry into 2027.
Saturn, your ruling planet, turns direct in your fourth house on 10 December, followed by Neptune. This means that plans around your home, your family, or where you live may start moving again. Jupiter’s retrograde in your eighth house, on the other hand, asks you to review debts, investments and shared resources.
The Sun enters your sign on 21 December, and Mercury follows on the 25th, so your energy and focus may start to return. Save your 2027 planning for the last few days of the year. The Full Moon in your seventh house on the 24th brings your relationships into focus.
Aquarius
With Pluto in your sign, a work relationship may ask you to stand your ground.
Venus returns to your tenth house of career on 4 December, and work relationships may improve, especially if October was tense. On 9 December, Venus squares Pluto in your sign, which may test your boundaries with a boss or client. If you need to say no, decide what you’ll say beforehand, then keep it calm and clear. There’s no need to over-explain.
Mercury and the New Moon fall in your eleventh house of friendships and future plans. If you’ve been meaning to join a group or community, now is a good time. Saturn and Neptune turn direct in your third house, and projects or ideas that have felt stuck may start moving again.
Jupiter’s retrograde in your seventh house asks you to revisit a partnership before making new commitments. From 21 December, you may want a quieter end to the year, and the Full Moon in your sixth house on the 24th reminds you not to overdo it, so leave a rest day between social plans.
Pisces
Neptune turns direct in your money house, and your finances may start to feel clearer.
Venus returns to your ninth house of travel and study on 4 December, bringing back plans that may have changed in October. On the 9th, Venus squares Pluto in your twelfth house, and old feelings could resurface around a plan or a belief. Mercury and the New Moon in your tenth house make this a good time to set a career goal. Tell someone about it, because it will feel more real once you’ve said it out loud.
Neptune, your modern ruler, turns direct in your second house on 12 December, two days after Saturn. If money has felt a bit confusing this year, you may start to get a clearer sense of what you earn, what you spend and what you are worth. Spending an hour going through your finances in black and white after the 12th could help a lot. Jupiter, your traditional ruler, turns retrograde in your sixth house, so it is worth reviewing your workload before taking on anything new.
From 21 December, friendships and groups take centre stage. On the 24th, the Full Moon in your fifth house shines a light on romance, creativity and children. Enjoy it, and give yourself permission to do less.
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