As we approach the end of the year, you might like to get ahead of the curve and start planning for 2024 now. One way to do that is with the Astro Journal 2024 – available in paperback, Kindle, and EPUB. A big thank you to those who have already bought their copy and I hope you find it helpful! For everyone else, you can get the paperback and Kindle from Amazon here, or the EPUB and PDF from my Payhip store here.

December is when we move from Sagittarius to Capricorn energy which shifts your attention from the search for meaning and wider horizons to working on practical goals for success and self-mastery. The month begins with Jupiter, Chiron, Uranus and Neptune retrograde, while Mercury joins them in the second week. Neptune stations direct in the first week, followed by Chiron in the fourth, and Jupiter on the final day of the year.

The Sun, Mercury and Mars start the month in Sagittarius, while Venus is in Libra, although Mercury enters Capricorn on the first day and returns to Sagittarius by the end of the month. Venus enters Scorpio in the first week and the Sun enters Capricorn at the Solstice in the third week.

The first lunation is the New Moon in Sagittarius on 12th December which is conjunct Mars, square Neptune, and trine Chiron conjunct the North Node (see image below). This continues the playful and optimistic mood with a desire for open horizons, whether physical, mental or spiritual. Mars adds energy and the drive to act, while Chiron offers the possibility of healing.

The square from Neptune may soften the bombast of Sagittarius and add sensitivity and imagination, but also the desire to escape through fantasy or addictions. But you can also use this energy for creative work or spiritual practice, supported by Mercury and Venus and their aspects to Jupiter.

Mercury in Capricorn is focused on reality and wants serious, practical communication, while Venus in Scorpio is sensitive, with great emotional depth and intensity of affection. The Jupiter opposition to Venus adds optimism and expands your perspective but could also increase obsession or possessiveness. Mercury can help to channel this extra passion into creative work by giving it form and structure. Jupiter also encourages Mercury to be more positive and philosophical, creating meaningful conversations that open up creative possibilities.

The next day Mercury stations retrograde in Capricorn in almost the same configuration, although the Moon is no longer conjunct Mars or trine Chiron and only squares Neptune and trines the North Node. This is the moment when the energy of Mercury turns inward and the mind slows down so you can rethink how you relate to the Capricorn part of your chart.

Creative projects or ideas that came up at the New Moon may need to be revisited and thought through in more detail before you can continue with them. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re bad ideas, just that they need a little more work. Mercury in Capricorn should have no difficulty with this, and when he re-enters Sagittarius on 23rd December you may receive fresh ideas and inspiration that takes your thinking in a new direction.

On 22nd December the Sun enters Capricorn at the Solstice while conjunct retrograde Mercury and trine the Moon conjunct Jupiter, sextile Saturn and square Neptune, and trine the North Node (see image below). Capricorn season brings a desire for order and structure, with a focus on working towards practical goals. Your thinking may also be serious and focused on results and the steady Taurus Moon reinforces the down-to-earth feeling.

Jupiter adds optimism and encourages a positive perspective, but could also lead to laziness or overindulgence in food and drink. But the sextile from Saturn to the Sun Mercury conjunction and the Moon Jupiter conjunction should balance this out, providing a constructive approach to feelings and ambitions and reinforcing your willingness to work hard to achieve your goals.

The square from Neptune to the Sun Mercury conjunction adds sensitivity and imagination with the potential for confusion and the blurring of boundaries. But with so much emphasis on earth and the harmonious aspects to Saturn, you should be able to keep your feet on the ground. Mars injects creative energy and enthusiasm, while Venus is getting jolted by Uranus, giving a greater desire for freedom which could trigger sudden changes in relationships or finances.

Later the same day the inferior conjunction of the Sun and retrograde Mercury becomes exact with almost the same configuration as the solstice, but now the Moon is no longer conjunct the North Node or sextile Saturn or square Pluto. This is the halfway point in the Mercury retrograde cycle and the moment to gather inspiration, plant seeds and make intentions for the plans or changes you need to make once Mercury stations direct in January 2024.

With the Moon now free from the intensity of Pluto your feelings may be clearer and you can ground yourself in the stability of Taurus combined with the practical and structured thinking of Capricorn. Neptune is still dissolving boundaries but you may receive visionary inspiration that helps you to find a way forward and make solid plans for the future.

On 27th December the Full Moon in Cancer sees the Sun in Capricorn opposite the Moon in Cancer with the Sun trine Jupiter and sextile Saturn, and the Moon sextile Jupiter and trine Saturn (see image below).

This lunation continues the focus on working towards practical goals and creating order but introduces a conflict with your feelings and the needs of family life. The Moon is sensitive and nurturing, while the Sun is serious and ambitious. You can find a balance between these areas of your life through the optimism of Jupiter and the discipline and patience of Saturn.

Mercury retrograde and Mars are united in their desire for adventure and excitement and are feeling playful but also restless. Mars energises your mind making you more talkative and perhaps argumentative. The square from Neptune may confuse and befuddle and lower your energy levels, but could also inspire visionary imagination and entertaining daydreams.

The square from Saturn to Venus encourages a serious approach to relationships and finances, although he could also inhibit your feelings with doubt. Two days after the Full Moon Venus joins Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius increasing your desire for freedom and excitement and a need for meaningful relationships with a love of adventure, travel, philosophy and religion.

Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius on 2nd January 2024 when you can act on the plans or changes you need to make as a result of the retrograde cycle. If you have already made changes by then, the results should start to come through and any seeds planted will bear fruit at the next superior conjunction with the Sun in February 2024.

Here is a breakdown of the month by date:

• 1 Dec – Mercury enters Capricorn
• 2 Dec – Mercury sextile Saturn
• 3 Dec – Venus square Pluto
• 4 Dec – Venus enters Scorpio
• 5 Dec – Venus trine Saturn
• 6 Dec – Neptune stations direct at 24°53’ Pisces
• 8 Dec – Sun trine Chiron, Mercury trine Jupiter
• 10 Dec – Venus opposite Jupiter
• 11 Dec – Mercury sextile Venus
• 12 Dec – New Moon at 20°40’ Sagittarius
• 13 Dec – Mercury stations retrograde at 8°29’ Capricorn
• 15 Dec – Sun trine true North Node, Mars trine Chiron
• 17 Dec – Sun square Neptune
• 18 Dec – Mercury retrograde trine Jupiter
• 21 Dec – Venus opposite Uranus, Mercury retrograde sextile Saturn
• 22 Dec – Sun enters Capricorn, Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury at 0°39’ Capricorn – inferior conjunction
• 23 Dec – Mercury retrograde enters Sagittarius
• 24 Dec – Sun sextile Saturn
• 25 Dec – Mars trine true North Node, Venus trine Neptune
• 27 Dec – Full Moon at 4°58’ Cancer, Chiron stations direct at 15°27’ Aries, Mercury retrograde square Neptune, Sun trine Jupiter
• 28 Dec – Mercury retrograde conjunct Mars at 24°21’ Sagittarius, Mars square Neptune
• 29 Dec – Venus sextile Pluto, Venus enters Sagittarius
• 31 Dec – Jupiter stations direct at 5°34’ Taurus

Note: these dates are for GMT/UT. Check the details for your time zone at Astro-Seek where you can also look at the charts for all the alignments.

Get ready for 2024 with a copy of Astro Journal 2024 – available in paperback, Kindle, and EPUB! It contains interpretations for all the major transits for the year and monthly delineations that go into more detail than in these posts. You can get the paperback or Kindle from Amazon here, or the EPUB from my Payhip store here.

More info on Astro Journal 2024 here.

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