Monthly Predictions – Page 3

I start these predictions for December right after a nice star gazing session, admiring the Full Moon in November and taking a good look at Orion, my favorite constellation in the sky. December is an odd time, as we look both ahead and behind, ending the year and starting a fresh one. Looking at the skies is always a nice inspiration to think things over.

Going into the month itself, this is a packed month astrologically with many interesting aspects. We start the month amidst Mercury retrograde, which will be with us until December 15th. The usual precautions are advised, and in my November column for those that need a refresher on them.

Mercury retro will mean that Mercury will oppose Jupiter three times, one last month and two in December. Jupiter deals with the future, while Mercury is the eternal now. Jupiter is the grand scheme of things, Mercury is the small details. So this opposition always deals with a clash between the present and the future. Combined with Mercury retrograde, early in December, it can be hard to see the big picture. Late in the month, things will be clearer to understand.

The New Moon this month happens on the very first day, in Anuradha nakshatra. This is the star of friendship and devotion, dealing a lot with intense love or worship for causes, ideas and people. It happens with both Mars and Neptune stationary, with Mars going retrograde and Neptune going direct just a few days after the New Moon.

Looking at these energies, it’s a star that deals a lot about beliefs, combined with Neptune the planet of dreams and illusions. So early December becomes a time of ideology and intensity. As I mentioned last month, this is a time of strong declarations. With Mars stationary in Cancer, the red planet gets feisty, and extreme events and violence are possible now. With Mercury retrograde adding fuel to the fire, this can be a time of blockages or conflict.

It should also be noted that the Mars-Pluto influence, mentioned last month, remains in effect all through December and for the first half of January. Mars opposing Pluto shows power struggles and conflict between big institutions on a macro level. It also shows a time of anger, hostility and instability.

Events in December 2024

01/12/2024 01:21 New Moon in Anuradha 15°20’37” Scorpio
02/12/2024 01:27 Venus in Capricorn
06/12/2024 18:28 Mars retrograde 11°57’57” Cancer
- 23/02/2025 21:07 Mars direct 22°48’22” Gemini
07/12/2024 15:58 Sun Opposing Jupiter 22°03’03” Sco 22°03’03” Tau R
07/12/2024 20:01 Neptune direct 02°55’33” Pisces
- 02/07/2024 03:39 Neptune retrograde 05°44’00” Pisces
13/12/2024 00:54 Uranus in Aries
15/12/2024 04:02 Full Moon in Migrashira 29°40’31” Taurus
15/12/2024 11:41 Sun in Sagittarius
15/12/2024 15:57 Mercury direct 12°11’25” Scorpio
- 25/11/2024 21:42 Mercury retrograde 28°28’02” Scorpio
23/12/2024 02:27 Sun square Rahu/Ketu (in effect ~17/12-30/12)
24/12/2024 16:59 Jupiter square Saturn 19°49′ (Taurus-Aquarius)
28/12/2024 13:11 Venus in Aquarius
30/12/2024 17:27 New Moon in Purva Ashada 15°31’17” Sagittarius

On December 13th, Uranus retrogrades back into Aries, remaining in that sign until March next year. This is the end of the Uranus in Aries transit, started around 2017. This final whiff of Aries will deal a lot with the wars around the world, as well as protests.

On the 15th, we will have Mercury going direct, the Sun changing signs and a Full Moon. So it can be an eventful and emotional day, with many turns and things being walked back.

The Full Moon this month happens in Migrashira nakshatra, a star that deals a lot with exploration and discovery. Happening close to Jupiter, this can be a positive time to expand our mentality and discover new things.

Later on, around the 24th, we will have Jupiter square Saturn, the second of three exact aspects. The square is a step on the Jupiter-Saturn cycle, with a conjunction every 20 years, an opposition (half cycle) every 10 years, and the squares in-between.

The last conjunction happened around 2020, so the square tends to deal with a review of what happened around that time. In September, I discussed the first hit of Jupiter square Saturn, and how some issues of 2020 (like online censorship) were being discussed again and walked back. We will similarly see more 2020 issues coming back into focus, but on a fresh (many times critical) lens in the coming months.

Going back into 2024 and Jupiter square Saturn, we are likely to see some pushes in regards to these Taurus issues. An increase in usage of cryptocurrencies will tend to happen.

As quoted above, from my predictions on this aspect, made on January 2024 I mentioned that crypto would tend to grow. Interestingly enough, after Trump was elected, most cryptocurrencies had upturns in price.

A final interesting aspect this month is the Sun squaring the Lunar Nodes, which will be in effect throughout the second half of December. This aspect promotes a time of intensity, where karmic events are possible.

We have another New Moon to discuss this month, the final one of the year, starting the norm of 2025 with New Moons occurring towards the end of each month. This New Moon happens in Purva Ashada nakshatra, a star related a lot to rest, rejuvenation and creativity. It is a very good opportunity to start 2025 fresh. Anything relaxing is favored, specially activities near water, like going to a beach.

Summary and Predictions

December continues two transits of November, Mercury retrograde and Mars opposing Pluto. Along for the ride, Mars will turn retrograde, adding a lot of intensity early in December. Early December can deal a lot with blockages, conflicts and anger.

Looking at a timeline of things, Mars opposing Pluto will be with us until about half of January next year. So from November until late January becomes a time of conflict, power struggles, anger and anxiety. As I explained last month, this is a time of big talk and big declarations.

Mercury retrograde will only be with us until around the 15th of December. But with Mercury in Scorpio, a lot of what circulates right now in the media will lean towards the bitter, resentful and provocative. Again, making December a time of conflict and heightened tension. The days around the 15th can be very eventful, as a lot will be happening astrologically.

Many issues of 2020 will be revisited in the coming months under a new lens, we will tend to see that specially in late December and this January. This is the energy of Jupiter square Saturn, active since around August this year, and strongly with us until around June 2025.

With Mercury opposing Jupiter, another point that I would raise deals with online censorship. Mercury being communication devices, and Jupiter dealing with laws and regulations. After the US Election, many countries are rushing to enact laws and regulations regarding online censorship.

Intense talks will happen, specially in December. But I tend to believe these efforts will be ineffective. Measures taken now tend to be rushed and poorly planned, so the results will be similarly lacking.

Mars guide and Personal Predictions

I hate Mars in Cancer. This is a constructive statement that I whole-heartedly approve. In mundane astrology, Jupiter and Saturn are king in regards to a year’s energies, the outer planets deal with longer term trends, and Mars shows monthly trends.

The average motion of Mars is about 60 days (or two months) per sign, although the planet has a variable and erratic motion. In 2024, the average was about 39 days per sign. This is the faster motion of Mars, preceding the retrograde cycle.

Mars represents energy, action and lust. In transit, it shows the moods and passions of the masses at a certain moment of time. Although a fairly short influence, it is very noticeable, as we see the moods change through the months.

With the shorter transits, we get stronger turns and changes in mood. For some people, 2024 might have felt rushed or too fast. In contrast, retrograde means a slower transit, so we have more time to digest and feel a transit. Things don’t seem to change, the mood tends to remain the same and we keep mostly on the same mood.

With the retrograde, Mars will be in Cancer for about 5 months, between 2024 and 2025. Mars in Cancer is all about emotions. An emotional fire. People are less rational now, and more prone to vicious moods.

Jealousy, vengeance and resentment are strong themes for Mars in Cancer. It also deals with rushed and poorly planned actions (based solely on emotion), that tend to turn ineffective. It is not all bad, Mars in Cancer also tends to promote nesting, comfort seeking, home improvement and it can stimulate people to deal with their emotions.

However, this combined influence of Mercury in Scorpio and Mars in Cancer puts this end of 2024 in a very bitter zone. People are overly emotional, vicious, bitter and resentful. It is not the easiest of moods to handle. We have to be aware of that and tread carefully.

Editorial Note

I’m currently working on my 2025 predictions, which I intend to publish late in December, hopefully around the 20th. So check back around then.

Not much, but a lot. That is how I’d sum up November astrologically. The previous months were flashy and packed full of events, with Eclipses and many intense aspects going on. November has much less commotion in the skies, and yet the little commotion going on is very noticeable, and important for our times.

Where to start? First, addressing the elephant and donkey in the room, of the American election. I will talk about it ahead, in a dedicated section, just scroll down if you are in a hurry. On the rest of the text, I will discuss the general outlook of the month.

We start the month with Mars in Cancer, I discussed the unstable situation of Mars in this sign last month. Mars here tends to promote conflict, as well as cowardly actions. It deals a lot with lashing out, regardless of the consequences.

Mars starts the month approaching an opposition to Pluto, exact on the 3rd of November. This aspect will be in effect from around October 20th to November 25th, englobing most of November. Mars opposing Pluto indicates a time of intense competition, that can reach extremes. It also indicates conflict with powerful institutions or dominant characters, things ruled by Pluto.

Putting two and two together, with a weak Mars combined with a naturally turbulent aspect, November is a time of conflict. The wars around the world can intensify now, as well as protests and other types of conflict.

Events in November 2024

01/11/2024 08:47 New Moon in Swati 15°23’09” Libra
03/11/2024 06:37 Mars opposing Pluto (05°33′ Cancer-Capricorn)
06/11/2024 17:02 Venus in Sagittarius
15/11/2024 10:09 Saturn direct 18°29’19” Aquarius
- 29/06/2024 14:43 Saturn retrograde 25°13’46” Aquarius
15/11/2024 16:29 Full Moon in Krittika 29°48’31” Aries
15/11/2024 21:02 Sun in Scorpio
16/11/2024 21:45 Sun Opposing Uranus 01°02’14” Sco 01°02’14” Tau R
25/11/2024 21:42 Mercury retrograde 28°28’02” Scorpio
- 15/12/2024 15:57 Mercury direct 12°11’25” Scorpio

In the middle of November, Saturn will turn direct, after transiting retrograde since June. This puts Saturn stationary for most of November, but specially between the 10th and 20th of November. This usually tends to signal some slow downs, although I don’t see this being the case this time.

Saturn will turn direct near the Full Moon, the Sun entering Scorpio, and near the Sun opposing Uranus. Things will not be slow, they will be tense and noticeable.

The Full Moon happens in Krittika nakshatra, a warrior star, represented by fire and blades. It is a positive, yet fierce energy, dealing a lot with strong and transformative messages. Along with the other events going on close-by, I see the middle of November as a time of great change, big declarations and events.

Going a little more macro, Saturn also enters the final leg of his Aquarius transit, entering Pisces in March 2025. Saturn always reduces/blocks/limits the things ruled by the sign where he transits. Aquarius is the sign of disruption, related to anything that turns life upside down, transforms and changes society. It deals with politics, specially radical politics, technology, science, new discoveries and anything extreme or disruptive.

Saturn leaving Aquarius frees all of the areas mentioned above. For technology, this will show improvements and more freedom, as I explained on a recent text. In politics, it is a time of radical change. This also goes along with the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in the next few years, which will similarly represent a time of cultural and political change in the world.

This month ends with everyone’s favorite astrological event, Mercury retrograde. Mercury will be retrograde between November 25th and December 15th. The usual precautions for Mercury retrograde are recommended. Mercury is the planet of communications, so everything related to communications could be slowed down. Computer problems, miscommunications, delays in deliveries and other kinds of issues become possible. Avoid mistakes by double checking and confirming things, and try to be patient when problems arise.

But that is the boring part, I hate discussing Mercury retrograde, people over-hype it too much. To the interesting part! Mercury will be in Scorpio from October 29th until January 4th next year. This is a very long transit for Mercury, more than two months in the same sign.

Mercury in Scorpio deals a lot with vicious speech, specially combined with Mars in Cancer. So from now until early 2025, we will see a lot of exacerbated speech. Anger, frustration, plots of vengeance, blaming people (Scorpio loves finding the culprit of whatever afflicts him) and long vicious diatribes will be common in the media. In many ways, speech will be unhinged and emotional for this final part of 2024.

The New Moon this month happens in Swati nakshatra, a star that deals a lot with the winds of change, as well as achievement. This New Moon shows that we are bracing for change. If we get prepared, specially on an emotional level, we can go with the flow and improve with the change around us. If we are unprepared, we will feel very uprooted around this New Moon.

US Election

I tend to believe Trump will win the election. If that is all you wanted to know, you can leave now, goodbye!

Looking at the transits around and specially after the election, a lot tends to align with his political messages and the policy around him. Obviously, there will be anger and frustration about the result of the election. However, I tend to believe that things will quiet down in December.

Mars will turn retrograde in December, which tends to show things quieting down. It will also highlight a trend towards ineffective action. A lot of the protests between December and January will be symbolical, and not effective towards any actual result.

I will write later on about the future of the US, but I tend to see things improving moving forward. Saturn entering Pisces next year means the final portion of the Sade Sati transit for the country, which will represent an improvement in the country’s situation.

Outside of the US, various shake-ups are possible after the election. In many cases, this will be a time of desperate or rushed actions by other leaders. This is a time of big declarations and also a time of ineffective action, so expect big pronouncements with mostly empty results, specially in the long term.

Summary

Most of November is dominated by Mars opposing Pluto, an aspect that promotes intensity and conflict. Along for the ride, Mercury in Scorpio promotes vicious or exacerbated speech. So this end of 2024 can be a time of anger and frustration. Around the 15th, when Saturn turns direct and we have the Full Moon, we can have some important announcement or event.

Mercury retrograde late in the month and in December can show a lot of going back and forth, albeit not in an effective way. It is a time of venting, not a time of effectiveness. So speeches, raised fingers, annoyances and not much to show from it.

Personal

On a personal level, this month can be a time of anger. The Full Moon and Mars this month indicate that. Finding productive outlets for this anger, instead of lashing out at others is important now.

Besides the usual finger-wagging about Mercury retrograde, that I wrote earlier and that you can get from any other astrologer, a big thing this month is Saturn. Saturn direct, specially right after it turns direct again, is always a time to align ourselves with our responsibilities. Understanding our goals, what we want to do, and the hard work needed to achieve that.

This time around, this is even more prominent, as Saturn starts transiting the end of Aquarius. The end of a sign is always important for Saturn, representing the “results portion”, where we start seeing the great consequences or results of the developments caused by Saturn’s transit.

So this Saturn energy in November represents a good time to organize, think and plan ahead.

Category: Monthly Predictions (Page 3 of 14)

December 2024 in Astrology