Cosmic Glow-Up: Your Astrological Toolkit for December’s Wild Energy and a Powerful 2025 Reset
At first glance, December serves up some of the most challenging astrology of the year. And yet, when you take a closer look, you can see this month as an invitation to “know the dark” (in the words of poet Wendell Berry). He said, “To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings.”
December opens with a new moon in Sagittarius, a sign of expansion and freedom. What wild adventures are calling to you? Whether it’s literal or figurative travel, honor your need for movement and a little mischief. And with Mercury, the planet of communication, in retrograde in Sagittarius through mid-December, embrace nonlinear time. Find the humor in the hiccups and avoid making impulsive decisions. This month will feel like holding Boat Pose and letting it all shake.
What can we learn when we ride the edges of our discomfort?
On December 6th, the red planet Mars turns retrograde, and it will remain until February 23rd, 2025, beginning in the sign of Leo. Mars is the planet of action and desire. It represents our ambition and aggression. When it backspins, our cosmic warrior turns inward, and outward pursuits give way to inner reckoning. Rather than defeat, this transit is a time to tend our embers before bringing new flames to life. When you can no longer rely on the sunshine for energy, how do you become the light?
With two fire signs in retrograde, the cosmos is creating the conditions for you to synchronize your actions to your deepest intentions. As a society, we have become increasingly obsessed with growth and optimization. We glorify novelty, speed, and scale. We all feel caught in cycles of reactivity, distraction, and consumption that leave us drained and disempowered.
December’s compounding retrogrades are forcing us to confront our addiction to winning and our relationship to control.
Mars retrograde, in particular, is an opportunity to reevaluate how you use your energy. Take note of your triggers and let your anger and envy give you insight into both your repressed desires and resentments. Instead of judging either, use this month to get real about what you want and what you’re ready to release.
On December 15th, Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius, gradually restoring a sense of clarity. On the same day, we have a full moon in Gemini, bringing any communication or media-related projects to a culmination. Be open to spontaneous invitations to socialize and mingle. However, with Venus moving in Aquarius and the Sun moving into Capricorn, we may oscillate between celebratory and reflective moods all month.
After the expansion of Sagittarius comes the contraction of Capricorn.
When I think of the interplay between these two signs, I think of the phrase “cruel optimism,” coined by scholar and cultural theorist Lauren Berlant. A relation of cruel optimism exists when something you desire is actually an obstacle to your flourishing. This can range from pursuing a crush who rejects your affections to evangelizing the American Dream even when your reality contradicts its promise.
Sagittarius can be vulnerable to self-help myths, believing that it can create its own luck through faith and goodwill. Capricorn knows manifestation takes sustained effort and is more attuned to the sinister schemes of people in power. Lauren Berlant’s work on cruel optimism asks us to consciously redefine “the good life” by questioning the definition we inherited.
December is a ripe time to ask yourself: How do I define a meaningful life? Which desires help me flourish? Which desires betray me?
The month ends as it begins, with a new moon. However, this time it’s in Capricorn. As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to set intentions for our sacred callings. This new moon asks: to whom and to what are you most devoted? We express our devotion through our enduring commitment and care. Capricorn invites us to examine our foundations before rushing to build.
The astrology of December is precisely about surrendering to the messy process rather than clinging to any outcome or reward. Don’t panic when the lights go out. Give your eyes time to adjust to what these conditions make visible. May we all enter 2025 with renewed vision.
Some resources to navigate this Retrograde are:
Read further and find out what the stars have in store for you this December:
(Read for your Rising and Sun signs)
Aries
Go slow to go fast, Aries. With both Mercury and your planet-ruler Mars in retrograde, this is a month to look before you leap and prepare before you strike out on a new path.
Feeling restless? Sign up for a class or workshop on a subject or skill you’ve been wanting to learn. And if you’re feeling spontaneous, book a weekend getaway to switch up the scenery. If you do travel, challenge yourself to block out intentional time to journal, reflect, and journey inward. Observe when you’re tempted to avoid sitting with yourself by staying busy.
This month is more about being than doing. In fact, you may experience an unusual lack of motivation and fatigue, which can be disorienting for a sign as passionate and determined as yours.
Cultivate patience and equanimity in times of stagnation and delay. Think of December as an invitation to sit with discomfort. It is as if you’re holding an extended static pose in yoga, breathing deeply through the shakes. Let this month catalyze a season of training for the version of yourself you want to become.
Taurus
Taurus, you’ve been balancing your need for both autonomy and intimacy. December continues this tightrope walk between self-worth and shared resources. As a security-oriented sign, you can be seduced by comfort at the expense of your own growth. Take stock of which relationships make you feel safe and free.
This December, you’ll also be reflecting on how familial patterning contributes to your expectations in relationships. Initiate heart-to-hearts with family members to get to the bottom of your own attachment style and early beliefs. You may also be moving homes or contemplating a future relocation.
Ask for help if unexpected challenges throw a wrench in your plans. With a spotlight on your public roles and reputation, use this time to make your purpose clearer. What’s your deepest intention with your work?
Don’t be discouraged if your soul yearns for a less conventional and linear path. Write down your own personal definition of success. Trust your unique visions for the future and let your values inform which opportunities you accept and deny. Let your star rise while staying rooted in your truth.
Gemini
Gemini, what’s coming up for review in your relationships? Who and what are you committed to, and why? When we choose a partner in love or business, we unconsciously choose a reflection of ourselves.
This month is a meditation on this dance between our self-identity and our partners. Whether you’re coupled or single, spend time re-connecting to your erotic through play, date nights, and even signing up for courses like Esther Perel’s Play with Desire.
Feed your insatiable appetite for curiosity, connection, and brain candy. If you feel tongue-tied or argumentative this month, drop into your body through movement, acupuncture, or even meditation.
Give yourself permission to be less social and generate from within. Bust out the tarot deck that’s been collecting dust and schedule a reading with an astrologer. In December, you may find yourself more drawn to the spiritual realm than the local bar. Tune into any intuitive downloads that give you clues about your next evolution.
Cancer
Cancer, bring balance to your busy schedule by making time to pour into yourself. Take stock of your daily routine and make adjustments to support your overall health. Are you getting at least 7 hours of sleep? Don’t skimp on balanced, nutritious meals and exercise as we journey deeper into winter. Even if you’re juggling a demanding season at work, prioritize self-care.
As a caretaking sign, generosity is second nature, but sometimes it leaves you depleted. What do you need help with? Practice asking for support from your trusted circle and observe how receiving care can be equally as restorative as giving it.
Spend this month reviewing your finances and forecasting your first-quarter earnings for 2025. If money feels tight, come up with a game plan to curb your spending. Opt for heartfelt letters instead of expensive gifts for the holidays, and trust people will understand. Brainstorm creative ways to make more money, whether it’s recruiting new clients or upgrading the services you offer. Use December to plan and prepare for the year ahead.
Hold out faith that things will come together soon.
Leo
Leo, set intentions for your artistic and creative practices at the top of the month. What are you excited to put out in the world? Who is your desired audience? What impact are you hoping to create with your work? Write it down and be specific.
If you’ve been scattering your energy, use this month to bring intention, focus, and discipline to your daily routine. Start small and build consistency over time. Take yourself on weekly artist dates to stoke the fires of inspiration and nourish your inner child. If you find yourself low energy or irritable this month, prioritize rest and play.
December is a month of reflection, preparation, and laying a solid foundation for the coming year. By mid-month, your social life picks up, and more opportunities crop up to connect with friends. Say yes to spontaneous invitations and be open to mingling with different people. The time is ripe to expand your network!
If you’re coupled, consider scheduling a weekly time to check in. You’re at the beginning of a major transformation in your committed partnerships, which will force you to confront any fears, anxieties, or power struggles. Don’t let resentments simmer this month. Remain transparent, vulnerable, and patient.
Virgo
Virgo, your foundation is up for review. Whether you’ve been spending time with family or deliberately opting out, you’re being asked to reflect on your roots. What is your relationship to home? Perhaps you’re in a period of transition, and you’re feeling disoriented and nostalgic for a deeper sense of belonging. How is connecting to your roots related to your greater mission in the world?
Are you being asked to move to a new job? Spend time evaluating if the place you currently live is in alignment with your purpose. Pay attention to any messages that come through your dreams. If you feel overwhelmed or irritable, prioritize the daily practices that ground and nourish your soul. Prioritize rest and eating healthy, balanced meals to resource yourself during a month of twists and turns.
Libra
Libra, it’s time to revamp how you communicate with the world. Use December to update your website, experiment with social media, and find creative ways to share your story with your audience. And for you, Luddites, get out into the world and make new connections at local community events. Work the room with your signature Libra charisma and be intentional about expanding your network.
With the cosmos heating up your artistic and creative expression, you’re preparing for a personal renaissance. Spend this month laying a solid foundation for the springtime blooms to come. Which areas of your life need tending and strengthening? Where do you need to be more bold and assertive? Design a customized training program for yourself to fortify the parts of yourself that still feel shaky.
Scorpio
Scorpio, with your birthday season in the rearview, it’s time to step more fiercely into your personal power and purpose. First, put your finances in order and honestly assess if what you’re currently earning reflects both your values and your self-worth. Although you’re one of the most determined signs of the zodiac, you are prone to sabotage your own success by internalizing self-limiting beliefs.
Read (or re-read) Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance” and use December to draw on your inner wisdom. Once you compost any residual fears or insecurities around your earning potential, you’ll be able to start next year more empowered and independent.
This month is also a ripe time to review your career goals. Write down specific aspirations you have for 2025 related to your public roles and reputation. Who are your dream collaborators? What creative projects or offerings light you up? If you experience delays in this area, don’t be discouraged. Instead, use this time to skill up and refine your visions. Tap into your Scorpionic reserve of patience and resilience. Your time is coming.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius, revel in the joy (and chaos) of your birthday season! Indulge in party mode while carving out alone time to reflect on the past year. What lessons did you learn? Whether you’re single or coupled, which relationships did you deepen, and which ones did you release?
The first week of December is a potent and powerful time to set intentions for the next 6 months. Write them down and be specific! With your planet-ruler Jupiter camping out in your opposite sign of Gemini, relationships are at the top of your mind. Use this month to look deeper at your relationship patterns. Bring more intention, awareness, and discernment to your committed connections. How does your self-worth reflect in the relationships you choose?
Embrace a slower pace to journey inward and channel any restless energy into mundane magic. Rather than go broke on an expensive vacation, find an adventure closer to home. Look up a local hike, book a psychic reading, or sign up for a cooking class. Appreciate the small joys and let them carry you through December.
Capricorn
Capricorn, surrender to rest at the top of the month. It’s normal to feel emotional and reflective before your birthday. If you recently moved, ended a relationship, or experienced a significant transition, give yourself maximum grace. Don’t hesitate to ask your trusted few for additional support, affection, and care as you ride the waves of change.
As you prepare for your solar return, look back to the last year and write down a few memorable experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs. What are you most proud of? Or still grieving? What new growth are you seeding? Make a list of the daily practices that nourish you.
December is also a month to take stock of both your personal finances and any shared resources with a partner, romantic, or business. Set clear financial goals to set yourself up for success, and seek wise counsel if you feel overwhelmed or stuck.
Ask yourself if your earning potential reflects your self-worth. It’s time to cultivate a more honest and direct relationship with your symbolic and material worth.
Aquarius
Aquarius, the cosmos is initiating you into a profound personal transformation. Trust whatever is falling apart, even if it’s painful. Allow for endings to create room for new growth. But first, let yourself grieve and feel the ache of change.
You are hard-wired to jump to solutions before fully experiencing the depth of your emotion. However, in order to properly heal, you must sit with what hurts. Try not to self-isolate and hide while you shed dead skin. Let your closest friends into the messy process and remember that vulnerability deepens intimacy. You may even grow closer with the friends you allow to witness your ups and downs. How is the person you’re becoming impacting your closest relationships?
Prioritize the connections that support your glow-up. If you’re single, write down a list of the qualities you want to cultivate in yourself to attract an aligned partner. If you’re coupled, write down a list of new experiences you want to share with your partner in the next year. Be open to messages or intuitive downloads that visit you in your dream. Enjoy this temporary chrysalis.
Pisces
Pisces, set intentions for your public roles, reputation, and purpose. Write them down and be specific about what you want. It’s time to step into your power with conviction. December is inviting you to take steps toward actualizing your big dreams.
Sometimes, you unconsciously self-sabotage by escaping into fantasy worlds instead of participating in reality. You may also swing in the opposite direction and get bogged down in the details, stifling your signature powers of manifestation. Try to find a balance in practical magic.
This year has taught you how to cultivate better boundaries, allowing you to protect your energy and get in touch with your innermost desires. Use this month to clear out any residual fears, insecurities, or self-limiting beliefs to set yourself up for success. Find a therapist or seek out trusted spiritual guidance to support your inner work. Remember to ask for help, and you’re not alone.
