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.