December begins with Jupiter retrograde in Taurus, Mars debilitated in Cancer, Ketu in Virgo, Sun, debilitated Moon, and retrograde Mercury all in the sign of Scorpio, Venus at the edge of Sagittarius, Saturn in his own sign of Aquarius, and Rahu in Pisces.
December Transits:
Venus moves to Capricorn on the 1st
Mars retrograde in Cancer on the 6th, neecha bangha
Annapurna Jayanti on the 14th
Sun in Sagittarius on the 15th
Mercury direct in Scorpio on the 15th
Winter Solstice on the 21st
Venus in Aquarius on the 28th
Full Moon in Taurus and Mrigashirsha Nakshatra on December 15th at 02:01 AM MT
Debilitated Mars goes retrograde in Cancer on the 6th, creating a neecha bangha effect. In my experience, this is not a complete cancellation of the debilitation. There may be some upliftment as Mars desires to express himself more, however, the inward pull remains. Mars is a fiery planet of action and karma. His debilitation in the water sign of Cancer douses his flame. Notice where you are being indecisive, resisting or avoiding taking action, and being complacent. Mars needs you to show up, even if it feels challenging.
Mercury goes direct just after the full Moon, allowing mind and money to start moving forward once again. Did you make use of the clean up cycle? The mind continues to navigate the depths of Scorpio for the coming weeks. Plenty of time to tend your shadow, darkness, and illusion. Are you going deep enough yet or just pretending?
Half way through the final month of the year, a nourishing full Moon in Taurus appears. The Moon is at 29 degrees, just leaving his favorite sign at the time of the full Moon. Sandhi Moon is delicate and vulnerable, as well as spiritually strong and powerful. Moon conjuncts retrograde Jupiter in Taurus, intensifying and expanding emotions and nourishment. Retrograde Mercury and sandhi Sun give their gaze seven houses away. Big emotions and sharp mind make for immense waves.
This December Full Moon arrives while Moon travels through Taurus and Mrigashirsha Nakshatra. Moon’s favorite sign is Taurus and he truly loves this constellation of Soma where he is considered in mulitrikona degrees, or his “office”. Full Moon in Taurus supports earth magic in the cycle ahead so be clear on what you are manifesting and bringing into form. This is an important time to create something new.
Mrigashirsha nakshatra falls in Taurus and is ruled by the personification of Moon, the god Soma. From a Vedic perspective, the Moon is Soma itself, the divine nectar of life. According to Ayurveda, staring at a full Moon will allow you to soak up Soma directly. The Moon glow can even heal your eyes. A drink of Moon’s Soma supports longevity, vitality and life force. The qualities of this constellation directly support increased Soma- on all levels of life. Soma is lord of the plants, giving them healing and nourishing qualities which are most potent in the waxing cycle.
Symbolically, the constellation of Mrigashirsha correlates to the deer and its antlers. Traditionally, deer antlers were ground into a fine powder and used as an aphrodisiac. The quality of the deer and its antlers is constant movement and growth, branching out, extending, finding new green grass, new food sources, more abundance. Mrigashirsha is a soft, gentle constellation with fickle and changeable inclinations just like the Moon and the deer.
This full Moon and the waning cycle ahead supports new growth, branching out, extending beyond your comfort zone and moving towards the new. Stagnation is a certain death for anyone born with this constellation placed prominently in their chart. A reminder to move in a new direction in the cycle ahead with conscious intention.
Use this cycle to focus and align with your path, purpose and the direction you want to move in. Take action steps and be clear with your intention. Move in a life supportive direction- one that honors your growth, health, vitality and deepest desires. Look for and seek out opportunities that increase your nourishment. Open up new channels and pathways that support life. Expand and branch out.
Are you moving in a direction that supports your nourishment?
Where are you moving closer to your joy? Where are you moving further away from it?
Where do you need to change direction or find a new path?
The emotional body is your resource for all that nourishes you in life. Are you awake enough to feel? The ability to touch your pleasure and pain is the basis of your creativity.
Lean closer and listen to what’s arriving.
Solstice arrives in the waning cycle ahead on December 21st at 02:19 AM MT. Considered a time when life seems to stop, or stand still, use this time for pause, meditation and silence.
“The term Solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, meaning ‘the Sun stands still’. This is because on this day, the Sun reaches its southern-most position as seen from the Earth. The Sun seems to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its direction. It’s also common to call it the day the Sun turns around.“ – Via Time and Date
As the still point arrives and the reversal of the light takes place, it is a powerful time for introspection and release. This is a time to attend to shadows, grief and undigested emotions. Clearing, purging and releasing lingering emotions from the past cycle will create space for the new, opening you to more life force in the months ahead.
What needs to be cleared and released? What is undigested from the previous year, decade? What are you making space for in your life?
New Moon in Sagittarius and PurvaAshada Nakshatra on December 30th at 15:27 MT
Mars continues his neecha bangha dance through Cancer. He still needs your attention and follow through- especially with action steps. Continue your heart work and gentle approach to action as Mars takes his long dance through his debilitation sign of Cancer. Pushing and forcing outcomes won’t be effective at this time. Slow and steady wins the race. What are you learning about your need for gentleness right now?
Moon is in Purvashada nakshatra and Sagittarius at the time of the new Moon.
“We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.” – Arthur Golden
This constellation is ruled by Apas, the water goddess, and is considered fierce- supporting harsh actions, choices and decisions. Venus rules this portion of the sky, which aligns with relationships, creativity, the feminine and life force energy. Since Apas is the ruling deity, your inner waters, health and vitality are a powerful part of this cycle. Movement arrives, through flowing, fluidity and waves. This can be gentle or severe.
What is your relationship with your inner waters? With the water ways of life? Are your channels of nourishment open to receiving? Is your grief flowing and releasing?
Symbolized by the tusk of an elephant, there is a connection with overcoming obstacles within this constellation, while also finding triumph. The support of Lord Ganesha, the remover of great difficulties on the path to enlightenment, can be a resource and ally of support at this time.
Use the coming weeks to transform challenges into resources, pain into healing, darkness into light. Allow yourself to be washed clean. Purify, awaken, seek transformation and renewal through the emotional body. Spend ample time in water, near water, surrounded by water. Detox gently, supporting release and letting go, while using your inner waters as a resource for this process.
Allow your inner waters to wash your heart clean- which will be supported through tears and purging emotions. Clear and organize your home space, the outer temple. Bring more sattva (purity) to your environment. Allow Spirit to be a resource for gathering clarity, wisdom and support while setting intentions for your health, life and soul purpose for the coming months and year.
Some may feel overly optimistic and miss the mark- becoming lackadaisical or lazy. Though there will be support for your efforts, don’t get complacent or over confident. Diligence, consistency and clear intention are required to move forward and find success at this time. A closure and release is possible as the collective closes another annual cycle. Be cautious, steady and patient. Use your emotions as a resource for healing, not for causing more pain to yourself and others. Allowing release is necessary, even vital, so don’t suppress feeling your inner waters.
Go slow, be gentle with yourselves and others. Relationships are a powerful source of healing in the cycle ahead- especially the relationship with yourself. Love yourself enough to tenderly care for your inner and outer needs through respect, clarity and intention. Learn through being. Treat yourself with tender loving care and let this be your new baseline from which you act. Align with your highest ideals and move towards your desires. There is a call to action at this time. Stay true to course!
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December and January Horoscope for Each Rising Sign:
*Based on your sidereal rising sign. You can check Moon and Sun sign as well.
ARIES: Dive into your depths for transformation and healing. The light begins to shine brighter for you in the coming months, but not without boundary work. Home and heart continue to be vulnerable.
TAURUS: Growth is happening, but requires your diligent effort, consistency and structure. Creativity and self expression may feel challenging but continue with slow, steady steps. Your power is being tested. Keep listening to your gut.
GEMINI: Finances, voice, and food require much attention and focus right now. The grief and trauma in heart and home feel unstable. Trust your steps and keep moving towards dharma. Ask your ancestors for more support.
CANCER: Body and life continue to be vulnerable and challenging. Relationships require more attention and focus. Saturn in your 8th house is one of the most challenging times of life. The only solution for you is dharma.
LEO: You are being pulled into your past, fears, and unconscious terrain. Relationships require you to look at your grief and use your voice. The answers you seek are found in the ancestral body. Ask them for help.
VIRGO: Life and body are extremely sensitive. Learn from relationships and firm up your boundaries. Diet needs your attention. Expand your dharmic path and refocus on your creativity.
LIBRA: Offering your gifts and wisdom feels challenging right now. There is an important transformation taking place with your material success. Less is more. The spiritual body holds the answers you seek. Clarify boundaries and ask your ancestors for support.
SCORPIO: Steady heart, steady mind. Learn from and listen to your relationships. Dharma is going through a transformation. What does your joy and pleasure tell you it needs?
SAGITTARIUS: Your offerings are changing rapidly. Keep moving towards your heart and land. You’ll need to learn new boundaries and take care of your gut. Heal the past, and honor the sadness and grief that has not been fully digested.
CAPRICORN: Relationships continue to prove challenging and tender. What are you learning? Get creative with your hands and heal the trauma around your dharmic path. Your power center needs more attention. Food, diet, and voice require more consistency.
AQUARIUS: Life and body require great consistency right now. Saturn wants you to focus on dinacharya, diet, and what you put into your body. Are you really listening to your heart and gut? The undigested trauma in your body is the real issue.
PISCES: Move towards self awareness and transform relationships. Your power and gut health need more attention. Get creative and use your hands. Refocus on dharma, sharing your gifts and making new friends.