Astrology of December 2024

I love this time of year - the winter solstice. I love the smell of spices, of pine, and the nighttime coming early. I love snuggling under my blankets. I love not having to deal with the NYC snowstorms anymore (but the Bay Area rains are truly something else).

What I don't love about this season is the consumerism, the pressure to be gathering with people you don't like out of obligation, and the inability to slow down and rest when clearly nature is demanding it. We're still in a pandemic and more and more people will get infected, reinfected, and deal with long COVID because our culture of individualism combined with the lack of support and resources on COVID mitigation means that the American death cult is fueled further and further. There's a contradiction of this time of year.

The astrology for this month reminds me of the feeling you get when you look out over a cliff, wearing something cozy and warm against the sea winds. The waves underneath the cliff are tumultuous, dangerous even. You might see a sea creature in the waves, moving along, with a different set of skills to navigate these waters. There's an element of vastness. There's a drowning out of other sounds besides the sounds of the sea. Nothing is still. Yet, you can take in the sea, the sounds, and the tumult because it's right in front of you. You're around things much bigger than you, and you're also recognizing your place within it all. Do you climb higher to see more of the sky? Do you stay still and enjoy the feeling of being above the waves and smelling the sea air? Or do you wander below - maybe stick your feet in the water? Whatever you choose is right - but choose.

December 6th - Mars stations retrograde in Leo

Our energy gets fucky wucky during Mars retrograde. If we've been leaning on shame, guilt, or negative self-talk to keep us motivated through the energy suck that is capitalist labor, then these issues will come to a head. This is also a great time to reassess how you show up in conflict. Do you need time to process? Do you become defensive? Do you allow yourself grace (but not excuses)? Conflict can be dysregulating for our nervous systems AND it is an inevitable part of deepening relationships.

Visually, Mars is the closest it is to earth. It's visible in the night sky during the retrograde. While I don't recommend connecting with Mars magically during this time, I do recommend learning how to breathe through frustration. As impatience courses through your body, how to you balance your desire to move forward, with the situation itself maybe at a standstill, or even backwards. This would also be a great time to work through compulsions - do you reflexively call a friend when you need to self-regulate? do you suppress your desire to directly communicate, only to lash out in ways you can't control?

Mars goes direct on February 24th 2025. If you can, treat your projects you'd like to get off the ground like you're incubating them. Trial runs and testing. Messy first drafts. Then when Mars goes direct, you can hold the projects to higher standards.

December 6th - Venus ingresses into Aquarius

Venus in Aquarius is a little intense. Between the 6th and 11th, Venus will be enclosed between Pluto and Mars retrograde. The social lubricant is now less of an astroglide... and more of an icy-hot. Uncomfortable and challenging, we might see some of the more anti-social and irritable parts of ourselves emerge. This is a good time to pay attention to who you unmask around - and whether it's healthy.

After this enclosure, Venus then makes a trine Jupiter in Gemini. This returns Venus to a softer expression. Jupiter allows Venus to have some excitement, some buoyancy. To keep with the lube comparisons, this is the sweet strawberry lube of her time in Aquarius.

After this trine, Mercury will go direct in Sagittarius and will enter a sextile with Venus. This creates some ease from those Mercury retrograde snafus. An apology might come, or maybe a donation to replace the electronic that has died during the retrograde.

December 15th - Mercury goes direct

This is a breath of relief, AND there are still going to be issues around clarity when Mercury stations direct. I think there's an impulse to do all the things when Mercury retrograde is over but I encourage you to do the bare minimum. Hunker down. Rest.

December 15th - Full Moon in Gemini

The full moon reaches peak luminosity at 1am PST on December 15th. This is a moon of contradiction, separation and longing. With this moon in the sign of the twins, an aspect of closeness is also understanding the parts of yourself that need to be seen in connection. What happens when the people who see those parts of you are busy? Are you able to see yourself? Thinking back to when you were a child, are there parts of yourself you've lost when becoming an adult? Connect with parts of yourself that you've lost, that you long for others to see, and build towards bringing that forward. It's not going to be immediate or automatic, but this full moon will illuminate that there is a possibility for re-connection.

December 26 - Mercury in Sagittarius opposes Jupiter in Gemini

Even though Mercury feels uncomfortable in Sag, and Jupiter doesn't love being in Gemini, this is a good time transit. They're in what is called a mutual reception. This means they see each other, and can understand each other because Mercury is in a Jupiter ruled sign, and Jupiter is in a Mercury ruled sign. In the digital age, I see this as a time of gallows humor. Things are so serious right now, and yet we survive through laughing. Bring some levity in the feelings of doom and gloom, share some memes, cackle with friends.

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Horoscopes

Sagittarius - Happy birthday! Loyalty and love is the name of the game for December. Are you loving someone who is receptive to what you're putting on the table? Who actually deserves your loyalty? Being loved by you is a gift, remember that. It's important to honor what that gift is worth, and gather with those who cherish and support you.

Capricorn - Redwoods soften the earth around them as they grow. Who softens you Capricorn? Who do you feel safe letting your inner child play with? Let distrust melt off of you - and let your discernment and intuition lead you to play, joy, and creativity. You deserve to feel safe Capricorn, but you need to work towards that vulnerability rather than looking at the laundry list of reasons why you can't, or shouldn't. Create a feeling of hope in your connections rather than seeking solace in a past that no longer exists.

Aquarius - Ritual and release are your allies this month Aquarius. Sweep out the old stagnant energy, the ties that are holding you back, and the energy you've put into dead ends. If you feel like you're going in circles with someone, stop being nice. Stop giving people a million chances because that's "what's right". Passivity isn't what's right. Let people know they're pissing you off so they leave you the hell alone, and free up time for the connections and activities you enjoy.

Pisces - You're here, in this moment, for a reason. What prayers and affirmations do you need to remind yourself that you are valued, and needed? Your purpose isn't to serve this system. It isn't to be a passive cog in the machinery of heteronormativity, cisnormativity, and what you're "supposed to be". You decide that. Show up honestly and see how your life blossoms.

Aries - Mars retrograde is going to be rough on you babe - and that's okay. You're strong, you can do this. Take this time to build up new skills, to meditate, to let go. Things simply will not happen on your timeline and you need to be okay with that - so make a plan for the meantime.

Taurus - Taurus, are you in denial about a person or situation in your life? The fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) sometimes choose people, and then even if the signs all point to "exit", we hold on, because that is "my person". Be brave, face reality, and honor that clarity as a gift that will help you move forward in life.

Gemini - If you haven't made an altar yet, now is a great time to work on that. This is a time where you're connecting with your more spiritual side, because sometimes you need to make moves without knowing the outcome. In order to do that, you need to build trust with the universe.

Cancer - It's time to fight. Whether the fight looks like a confrontation, or disinvesting your labor from a situation that is harming you, you need to stand up for yourself. Mars retrograde is going to be back in Cancer, meaning that situations you've might have seen brewing, will now bubble over. Sharpen those claws and don't be afraid to pinch in order to protect yourself.

Leo - There's nothing wrong with being a threat. Let yourself be dangerous. We, our ancestors, have not survived for generations and generations by being passive. If other people want to de-fang you, pay attention to how that serves others and not you.

Virgo - Have you listened to that Solange interlude: "Do nothing without intention". That's the advice for you right now Virgo. Ground. Move with integrity. Honor your boundaries and don't go with the flow.

Libra - You need to make space for the gifts you're given instead of being envious of what other people have. It's so easy to fall into the trappings of scarcity. There is love and sweetness available to you Libra, it is infinite and abundant. The more you hold tightly, the less you'll be able to experience, so make space and let the gifts flow in.

Scorpio - Spiritual hygiene is key for you Scorpio. You need a fresh start, new rituals, Clean your sheets, spritz your wardrobe with some fabric freshener, and bring new energy to old projects. Wash your floors, tidy your room. Give yourself mental space to declutter.

astra datura najma (they/them) is an astrologer, herbalist, and birthworker based on occupied unceeded ohlone land. they’re currently a steward at temple of earth apothecary, offering astrology and tarot readings on their website, and their astrology based medicines exclusively at the apothecary.