December 2021 Horoscope: Aspects & Transits
We end off another challenging and unprecedented year with (unsurprising) intensity, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a lot happening this month and it might feel like a rollercoaster. I get the sense there will some dramatic blow-ups and teary endings, while also tapping into a gentle faith and sweetness in the things that really matter—and no, I’m not just saying that because it’s the holidays. While there are some major things that could really make our daily lives feel extra chaotic, there is a lot shifting beneath the surface that can help us ride it all out if we just take a moment to breathe. The most significant happenings are the Total Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius on December 4th, Venus going retrograde on December 19th, and the North Node entering Taurus on December 22nd. We also start off this month with Neptune going direct in its domicile sign Pisces on December 1st, which honestly feels pretty cozy, but can also make it easy to relapse, slip into old habits, or detach from reality. Finally, Saturn in Aquarius is forming its third and final square with Uranus in Taurus on December 29th, which is really making us feel confined by things that are just not working for us and providing us incentive to change.
The total solar eclipse on December 4th is the final eclipse in the Gemini-Sagittarius cycle that began in May 2020, before the North Node and South Node shift respectively into Taurus and Scorpio on December 22nd. The nodes represent where the eclipses occur and portent major spiritual lessons and themes. One way to interpret the North Node in Gemini is an abundance of misinformation, conjecture, conspiracy, and a greater need for discernment. While the New Moon in Sagittarius is ordinarily considered a good time to do manifestation work, the potency of eclipses typically lead astrologers to advise against it. Generally speaking, eclipses are times to attune to the shifts the universe has in store for you. Meditate, reflect, and give space for change. Eclipses can be felt for up to six months—until the next set of eclipses occur. Consider what has ended or changed six months ago in May when we had a lunar eclipse in Sagittarius, as there will likely be new developments or a new start here. If you would like a better sense where these beginnings may be occurring in your life, check your natal chart for the house this eclipse is occurs in and if any of your planets will be near or aspect it. This New Moon solar eclipse occurs at 12° in Sagittarius.
Venus, the planet of love, beauty, wealth, and abundance goes retrograde in Capricorn on December 19th until January 29th. We actually entered the pre-shadow phase of this retrograde on November 19th, and its influence has likely already rippled into many of our lives. Venus in Capricorn is more concerned about our long-term stability than romance or whimsical pleasures. December is setting a mirror up to our relationship dynamics and will become crystal clear by January into February as we play catch up in the post-shadow phase of Venus retrograde. Struggling partnerships might finally crack under pressure, while other bonds grow stronger through effort and communication. Old lovers may return into our lives, which is more often about closure than reconciliation. This retrograde is especially intense with Venus forming a conjunction with Pluto for most of the month, especially around the 11th and 25th. The simplest way out of any difficult emotion is allowing yourself to sink in to the experience. Stop distracting yourself from grief, accept that the past is in the past, and open your heart for something new. It may sound like a cliché, but self-love is especially important during this time. Create a daily practice of checking in with yourself and figuring out what actions you can take to exercise self-care.
As has been the case for most of the year, finances will be especially prominent this month, particularly in the wake of the Full Moon lunar eclipse in Taurus we had on November 19th—which incidentally was the day Venus entered its shadow period. Our economy and supply chains have been shaken up by Uranus, and will likely produce some major tremors throughout next year with the addition of the North Node in Taurus. Saturn in Aquarius is also sparring with Uranus for the third and final time this year, which has come with its own financial and moral implications: think restrictions, Great Resignation, and anything that could lead one to feel dissatisfied with the current systems in place. We should note that the United States will also be in the most exact degrees of its Pluto return throughout 2022, which will prelude major changes for the rest of the world when it enters the critical 29° in Capricorn before entering Aquarius in 2024. We are truly living at the end of an era, and it is up to humanity for what gets put in its place. The Age of Aquarius will support the birth of a more humane and advanced society… but for now, the astrology is helping us shine the light from within.
December ends on a high note as this particular New Years’ will be an especially powerful time to set resolutions with a trine between the Sun in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus, helping us change our daily lives and start taking action towards our long-term plans. We enter into a dreamy, romantic, and spiritual period as Jupiter begins its transit through Pisces on the 29th. Beyond just setting goals for the next year, really give yourself something that you can look forward to.
Aspects & Transits for December 2021
Neptune in Pisces stations direct on December 1st.
Venus in Capricorn sextile square Neptune in Pisces on December 1st.
Sun in Sagittarius sextile Saturn in Aquarius on December 1st.
Venus in Capricorn square Mars in Scorpio on December 1st.
New Moon & Total Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius on December 4th.
Mars in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn on December 6th.
Mars in Scorpio square Jupiter in Aquarius on December 7th.
Mercury in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces on December 7th.
Mars in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn on December 7th.
Mercury in Sagittarius sextile Jupiter in Aquarius on December 11th.
Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on December 11th.
Sun in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces on December 12th.
Mars enters Sagittarius on December 13th.
Mercury enters Capricorn on December 13th.
Full Moon in Gemini on December 18th
Venus in Capricorn stations retrograde on December 19th.
Chiron stations direct in Aries on December 19th.
Sun in Sagittarius sextile Jupiter in Aquarius on December 20th.
Mercury in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus on December 20th.
Sun enters Capricorn on December 21st.
North Node enters Taurus & South Node enters Scorpio on December 22nd.
Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus (Rx) in Taurus on December 24th.
Venus (Rx) conjunct Pluto in Capricorn on December 25th.
Mercury in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus on December 26th.
Mercury conjunct Venus (Rx) in Capricorn on December 29th.
Jupiter enters Pisces on December 29th.
Mars in Sagittarius sextile Saturn in Aquarius on December 30th.
Sun in Capricorn trine Uranus in Taurus on December 31st.