Astrology Forecast: December 2023 🗓
Featuring Capricorn season and the last Mercury retrograde of the year.
2023 is finally coming to a close. Personally, I’m excited for a reset. Maybe it’s my 4th House profection year coming through (iykyk), but 2023 has been full of growing pains. The Work™️! It turns out you never stop needing to do it, even as you get older!
Luckily, December’s astrology creates space for us to reflect on the past year and deepen our relationships with the people we love. It’s exactly what we need to prepare for 2024.
Keep reading for an overview of the transits this month. For a personalized look at how these alignments will impact you, stay tuned for our full horoscopes next Friday, December 1. They’re only available to paid subscribers — to access yours, pledge your support.
Happy holidays, friends!
Friday, December 1: Mercury enters Capricorn
Mercury in Capricorn loves a good game plan. The Messenger Planet’s trip through this Saturn-ruled earth sign helps us think practically and communicate matter-of-factly. Things will get wonkier as Mercury approaches its retrograde station on December 13, so take advantage of this energy earlier in the month. (A word to the wise: Book your holiday travel plans ASAP.)
Tuesday, December 5: Venus in Scorpio trines Saturn in Pisces
Venus enters Scorpio on December 4. This isn’t Venus’ favorite place to hang, but her time here does start off with a beautifully supportive trine to Saturn in Pisces. In water signs, this alignment is all about emotional safety in our relationships. It reminds us that deep intimacy, the kind that stands the test of time, requires vulnerability. And it’s bound to feel especially stabilizing after Venus’ intense square to Pluto on December 3. If there’s something you haven’t shared with a loved one because you’re scared of “rocking the boat,” this transit may help you open up.
Saturday, December 9: Venus in Scorpio opposes Jupiter in Taurus
On December 9, our newsletter’s namesake also opposes Jupiter in Taurus. Oppositions can be tense, but with the two benefic planets involved, this transit is unlikely wreak havoc. In fact, it may bode well for our relationships. Just be wary of compromising on your convictions — or spending beyond your means to win people’s affection.
Tuesday, December 12: New Moon in Sagittarius
The first lunation of the month occurs in optimistic Sagittarius. With a square to Neptune in the mix, this New Moon could leave us feeling spacier than usual. Daydreaming is great, but to actualize our dreams, we need to take aligned actions, too. Don’t forget to do both.
Wednesday, December 13: Mercury stations retrograde in Capricorn
The last Mercury retrograde of 2023 begins on December 13 and lasts for the rest of the month. During this time, you can expect all the classic Mercury Rx inconveniences: miscommunications, technological malfunctions, travel plans gone awry, etc. Mercury will also square Neptune again once it regresses back into Sagittarius, adding another layer of murkiness. This transit won’t be catastrophic by any means, but it could make holiday travel more inconvenient than usual.
As a general rule for retrogrades, it’s worth jotting down the two dates when the planet in question changes directions (in this case, the 13th and January 1). Since they punctuate the whole transit, these pivots, or stations, can be especially loud. Pop astrologers don’t emphasize them enough, in my opinion!
Friday, December 22: The Sun enters Capricorn
Happy Capricorn season! The Sun’s yearly stay in this pragmatic earth sign helps us ground ourselves and get shit done. It’s no mistake that the start of Cap season aligns with the Winter Solstice. We’ll all feel more empowered to stand firm in our boundaries and strategize for the year ahead.
Wednesday, December 27: Full Moon in Cancer
December’s emotional Full Moon in Cancer marks the culmination of a cycle that began in July. It’s also the final lunation of the year, making it ripe for reflection. What began in your life in the latter half of 2023, and how have those things evolved over the past six months? If retrospecting gets some tears flowing, let them fall. A good, cathartic cry could be just the cleanse you need right now.
Thursday, December 28: Mars in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces
In larger-than-life Sagittarius, Mars inspires us to make big, bold moves, but this square to Neptune could complicate the process. Don’t be surprised if the path forward you’ve been eyeing suddenly resembles a maze. The year will be winding down, anyway, so let this transit serve as a reminder that life is rarely linear.
Friday, December 29: Venus enters Sagittarius
Venus enters Sagittarius on the 29th. She’ll square Saturn in Pisces right away, which could introduce some momentary harshness in our relationships, but the vibes will be more buoyant as this transit unfolds. When Venus moves through this fervent fire sign, we love big; our enthusiasm knows no bounds. It’s a great time to express your admiration, whether that means wooing your partner with a grand gesture or sending some heartfelt fan mail to your favorite artist.
Sunday, December 31: Jupiter in Taurus stations direct
Jupiter went retrograde in early September; come December 31, it finally stations direct. That pro tip I mentioned earlier about paying attention to planetary stations? It applies here, too. Personally, I love this pivot as a segue into the new year. Bountiful Jupiter encourages us to dream big, so put that hopeful energy to good use as you set intentions for 2024.
The winter holidays are fast approaching, and you know what that means: gift giving. Consider gifting a paid Venus Gays subscription to your favorite stargayzer. Or astrology skeptic. Honestly, we’d gag.