December is the month when Saturn, the great teacher, changes signs and moves into Capricorn, just before the solstice on December 21. The last week of December makes the best time for New Year’s resolutions – and with Saturn changing signs, you don’t want to limit yourself to one year goals. Aim higher! Focus on your vision for the next 3 years – this is how much time Saturn will spend in his own sign, Capricorn. There has never been a better time to put your long term goals into action!
Saturn transit in Capricorn is extra potent because whenever a planet transits its own sign, it manifest the themes of the house ruled by Capricorn in your natal chart. A planet in its own sign transits the same house it rules!
Let’s take an example. If you have Capricorn ascendant, then Saturn rules your 1 house. When Saturn was in Sagittarius, it transited your 12 house. So you had the ruler of the 1 house transiting the 12 house. But now, when Saturn moves into Capricorn, you will have the ruler of your 1 house also transiting the 1 house. This is a double whammy and means that Saturn is not only twice stronger, but is also focused on one thing – the particular house that it transits.
That’s why Saturn Capricorn is great news for all of us, as it will help us finally manifest the area of our life ruled by Capricorn.
Are you a Cancer Ascendant? Saturn is the ruler of your 7 house and it will also transit the 7 house, manifesting the themes of the 7 house. So Saturn will bring you new relationships, or it will bring commitment in existing relationships. The focus is clear: relationships.
This does not mean Saturn will manifest the themes of the house overnight. Saturn is the planet of Time. Saturn always manifests his promise, but slowly. With Saturn, you won’t get it right away. Saturn asks for discipline and patience. But if you take it slowly, if do every day a little more, step by step, you will eventually succeed.
On December 1 we have good news and bad news: the good news is that Venus leaves Scorpio, the sign of her detriment, and enters flamboyant Sagittarius. If you found it difficult lately to give and receive love, you can expect an overall improvement in your relationships with Venus’ entrance in Sagittarius.
Love needs faith, and in the open, generous Sagittarius, love can flow more easily. You will especially benefit from this transit if you have your Venus in a Fire or Air sign.
The ‘not so good’ news is that Mars opposes Uranus in the same day. This is an explosive combination which can bring erratic and even aggressive behavior, so try to stay away from any kind of altercations.
On December 2 we have the first Jupiter Neptune trine – the other two trines will take place in 2018. Jupiter trine Neptune is one of the most important transits of 2018, because it involves two slow moving planets.
Jupiter trine Neptune is a wonderful transit favoring spiritual and artistic endeavors. Jupiter will increase everything Neptune stands for – higher love, spirituality, being one with the universe, while Neptune will make Jupiter more accessible. Jupiter stands for abundance, growth, living in integrity, the truth. So Neptune will make it easier for us to benefit from Jupiter’s grace.
You will especially benefit from this aspect if you have Sagittarius or Pisces ascendant, or if you have planets in the middle of the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). This 1 trine is at 11° Scorpio (Jupiter) and 11° Pisces (Neptune).
December 3 is one of the most important days of the month: not only we have a Full Moon at 11° Gemini, but the Full Moon’s ruler, Mercury goes retrograde in the same day. Mercury retrograde is also approaching a conjunction to Saturn in the last degrees of Sagittarius. Not to mention that the Full Moon is square Neptune – all happens in the same day! The Full Moon takes place on the Gemini/ Sagittarius axis, the axis of Truth.
This Full Moon in Gemini will let you know what Saturn in Sagittarius was all about – in a way, it marks the ‘final chapter’ of Saturn in Sagittarius. But the message is not so clear, although it comes from the Galactic Center (Mercury and Saturn are conjunct the Galactic Center). The Full Moon squares Neptune. You might not want to hear the truth…or at least, not yet. Who wants to listen to Saturn?
Ultimately, if you do listen, you will finally figure out what is stopping you from aligning yourself with the truth of who you are. What lies have you been telling yourself? What do you have to open your eyes to see today?
On December 5 Chiron goes direct at 24° Pisces. Chiron is the archetype of the wounded healer. When retrograde, Chiron digs into his own wounds and aims to heal himself – when direct, Chiron becomes a healer himself. If you have planets around 24° Pisces or you have a strong Chiron in your natal chart, you will become more in touch with the healer inside you.
On December 6 Mercury retrograde will conjunct Saturn at 28° Sagittarius. This is the 2 Mercury Saturn conjunction – we had the 1 one on November 27 when Mercury was still direct. The 3 conjunction between Mercury and Saturn will take place on 13 on January, but this time the conjunction will be in Capricorn.
Therefore, December 6 is your last chance to revisit the Saturn in Sagittarius lessons, before you move on. Mercury conjunct Saturn will bring the culmination, the resolution of the Saturn in Sagittarius transit, before you move on to greener pastures. It has been a long journey – but all journeys come to an end. Or at least, a very important milestone has been reached.
Pay attention to the events, news, thoughts that come your way on December 6. What makes the Mercury Saturn conjunction truly special is that it takes place very close to the Galactic Center – bringing you divine insights. The Universe will whisper you something very important – just listen!
On December 9 Mars enters Scorpio, which is the sign of his domicile. This is great news! Mars represents our drive, our assertiveness, and in Scorpio, Mars finds the strength and focus to channel his energy into what is important for him. No more “let’s compromise”, “let’s leave it like this for a while”….Mars in Scorpio goes for what he truly wants, and so will you. If you have planets in Scorpio, you will get an extra boost of energy from Mars’ transit.
On December 13 Sun and Mercury meet for an interior conjunction and a new Mercury cycle starts. Because this Mercury cycle is connected to Saturn in Sagittarius, now is time to bring your best message, your most important learning, to reveal your greatest masterpiece to the world. Sagittarius represents higher knowledge and the truth. What is your truth? What can others learn from it? Bring your greatest insight forward.
On December 15 Mercury is conjunct Venus at 17° Sagittarius, and both planets trine the North Node in Leo. The big picture will become more clear to you right now, you will feel more enthusiastic about your prospects, about your ability to reach your goals. You know where you are going to, and most important, you know why you’re going there.
On December 16 Sun is trine Uranus. Sun (the self) in harmonious aspect to Uranus (the planet of freedom and liberation) will make even the most self-critical persons feel at ease, feel good about themselves. Sun trine Uranus brings a feeling or rightness. Everything flows easily and we will finally be able to feel comfortable in our own skin. There has never been a better time to be YOU. You will especially benefit from this transit if you have planets in the last decan of the fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius).
On December 18 we have a New Moon at 26° Sagittarius. The New Moon is conjunct Saturn, Venus and the Galactic Center, and it is also trine Uranus. After a challenging Full Moon on December 3, we now have a wonderful New Moon on December 18. This is the New Moon you were waiting for to set intentions which will eventually become a reality.
Saturn and the Galactic Center will do the trick. Whatever you start right now it is in full alignment with the womb of the universe. It will be very, very difficult for you to get it wrong this time. The Universe has your back!
December 20 is the big day. Saturn changes signs and moves into Capricorn. What makes this particular planetary ingress so special is that it happens – literally – hours apart from the solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere). The winter solstice is one of the 4 key dates of the year, corresponding in astrology to the 0° of the Cardinal signs (we have the equinoxes at 0° in Aries and 0° Libra, and the solstices at 0° in Cancer and 0° Capricorn).
I’ve seen it over and over again, from my own experience and from my client’s experiences – whatever seed you plant at the time when the Sun is at one of these 4 key positions – it will sprout! It is magic how nature works. I met my partner years ago exactly at the summer solstice (when the Sun was at 0°00’ Cancer) and I started the Astro Butterfly site at the equinox (when the Sun was at 0°20’ Libra).
So make sure you take advantage of this extremely potent energy. Don’t forget, Saturn is the manifestor. Saturn has the patience and the diligence to make things happen, to turn abstract goals into reality. I prepared something for you to help you with the Saturn transit, more details in the coming weeks, stay tuned!
On December 21 Sun enters Capricorn, marking the winter/summer solstice, and immediately after, he meets Saturn at 0° Capricorn. The area of your life ruled by Saturn, that thing you need to focus on in the coming 3 years, will suddenly be brought to your awareness – depending on how well you embrace it, it can feel like a slap in the face or like a breakthrough “I knew it all along”. Sun with Saturn is manifestation in action. Now is time to set that goal, to make the plan on how you are going to climb that mountain.
On December 23 Mercury goes direct at 13° Sagittarius and life will go back to normal. Mercury will exit the shadow zone on January 11, when it will also change signs and move into Capricorn. So you still have two more weeks to fully digest and integrate Saturn in Sagittarius’ lessons.
On December 25 Venus enters Capricorn. In Capricorn, Venus wants to become the best version of herself. But Venus in Capricorn is also pragmatic and realistic – she wants to make sure her goals are attainable. Venus in Capricorn is as cardinal as Venus in Aries, but in Capricorn, it’s not only about her. She knows that only those goals, whose aspirations which are aligned with the socio-economic context, with what the world wants from us – are attainable.
On December 26 Venus also conjuncts Saturn at 0° Capricorn. This is a highly active transit because it takes place at the 0° of a cardinal sign, one of the four most active degrees of the zodiac. After you figured out what is going to keep you busy in the coming years (with Sun conjunct Saturn) now it is time to align your goal to your wants and beliefs.
On December 27 Mars is trine Neptune. Mars is our assertive drive and Neptune is the spiritual “no borders” planet. Mars in positive aspect to Neptune will make you feel more optimistic about your prospects for success, you will be more likely to go for what you want, to pursue your dreams. Mars trine Neptune also increase your desire to lose yourself into another, to merge with another person. You will benefit from this transit if you have planets around 11° in Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).
December is a very important month – events are likely to happen again and again. On the 3 of December avoid any rash decisions, as you may have a hard time in discerning personal truths from facts. Better to wait for the New Moon on 18 of December, or even better, for 20-23 of December, when we have the solstice, Saturn changes signs, and Mercury goes direct. The last week of December is the time to commit – and act. The sky is the limit!