Wait… is that the sound of jingle bells in the distance? Yes, friends, Christmas time is here, and with December comes not only presents and mince pies, but a whole bunch of astrological events, with the skies as busy as our social calendars. So, what are the astrological shifts you need to know about? Let’s run through it. 

On the first of the month, Mercury moves into Capricorn, giving our communication a more serious and authoritative approach. This is great for power plays, but it can intimidate people, so be aware of that. 

On 4 December, Venus will move into Scorpio, and Venus tends to struggle here. Scorpio energy loves deeply; so deeply that it can give a feeling of all or nothing. Be aware of the things you desire so you don’t go too far off the deep end emotionally. 

Two days later, Neptune stations direct in Pisces, giving us more awareness of the unseen and providing opportunities to practise trusting our gut. Then, on 12 December, we will have a new moon in Sagittarius, which will expand our emotions to the next level. Prior to the full moon, you may have experienced frustration, but by the time of the new moon, you will realise this frustration is connected to a sense of disillusionment. Use this time to ground yourself with knowledge and wisdom from others.

On 13 December, Mercury will station retrograde, pushing us to reflect on our personal disciplines and responsibilities (and messing with communication and travel, so double-check emails and train tickets…). 

On the 22nd, we will have the December solstice, the beginning of the winter season, the longest night of the year and the beginning of Capricorn season. This is a perfect time to express your interests in any goals and aspirations you have. You never know: someone may have an opportunity for you that can take you far. The same day we will have a Mercury cazimi – when Mercury is at the exact degree as the sun. You will be inspired to brainstorm for 2024 to make sure it’s the best and most successful year yet. Take advantage of this energy, especially because the next day mercury will move backwards into Sagittarius again, which can shift our mental gears from practical action to explorative play. 

On the 27th, we will have our last full moon of the year, and the moon will be at home in Cancer. Although it may be an emotional time, it will be reflective as well. We are getting in tune with how we felt in 2023 and how we can remedy it for 2024. On the 29th, Venus will move into Sagittarius, making our eyes bigger than our stomachs and wallets. This can bring a lot of fun but can hurt the pockets, so be careful while you play. 

Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Jupiter goes direct in Taurus, giving us hope and excitement for the new year. All the tight-knit plans we have created since autumn can now be executed for 2024.

Whew. Told you it was a busy time. And that’s just your general overview – for your star sign’s December horoscope, read on.  

21 March to 19 April

You’re fully focused on your career goals and big life vision this month. Whether it’s figuring out what you want or actually going ahead and executing it, December will be all about wanting what’s in your mind to be out in the world. 

You’re realising, however, that this is not a journey you have to do all alone – you might want to join forces with someone brilliant to get things moving. Who to choose? Of course be prepared with your checklist of must-have qualifications and whatnot, but don’t be afraid to lean into your intuition, too. Your gut will lead you to someone you really mesh with. 

In mid-month, Mercury will go retrograde, pushing you to slow things down and think before taking further action. There’s something you’re missing. Pause and keep your eyes open for what that might be. 

By the end of December, you’ll feel a pull towards healing some insecurities. It’s time to embark on a new journey of learning to value yourself and appreciate inner beauty rather than external achievements. 

20 April to 20 May

Oh, Taurus. Has cuffing season come for you? You’ve been desiring cosy, intimate relationships recently, and we get it, but make sure you don’t rush into anything without thought of what you really want. And don’t overlook the relationships (romantic or otherwise) that you already have – now is a great opportunity to deepen and nourish those. 

You’ll have an opportunity for adventure towards the middle of the month. This might take the form of travel opportunities or an adventure of the mind through learning something new. Whichever avenue you go down, this adventure will be your main focus and a great source of joy in the coming weeks. Enjoy this time and allow yourself to be inspired. 

There may be some secret information that flew over your head from the past and the end of the month is the perfect time to think back on anything collaborative you’ve been a part of. You could be missing out on some shared resources that you deserve. Often, when we feel like we’ve missed out on something, we start to question if we deserved it in the first place. Taurus, don’t go down this path. Fact-check those insecurities and keep going. By the end of December, you’ll find what you’re after. 

21 May to 20 June

How’s that collaborative project going? There’s a lot of pressure around teamwork this month, and you and your collaborator both need this task to be a success. Brace yourself for some ups and downs, but the key word to get through this time is ‘peace’. Find ways to bring tranquillity to both of your day-to-day lives and the whole process will go smoothly. Don’t worry, you can absolutely grumble… but do so privately, and keep the peace when you’re hard at work. 

This month will have you reflecting on collaboration as a theme. Perhaps you’ll get some ideas on how to work with people in a better way. Using a close person in your life to brainstorm ideas with will prove to be successful at this time. 

This collaborative vibe will extend outside of work, too. December is a good month to spend time with those closest to you and hash out any issues that have been bubbling under the surface. 

21 June to 22 July

Communication is going to be a big theme for you this month. You’ll be inspired to let people know how you really feel… and communicate some necessary boundaries. Prepare for an a-ha! moment, too, that will make you want to reset your daily routines. Embrace this and you’ll see the payoff, with more romance and fun attracted into your life. 

Be warned, though. Towards the middle of the month all that fun communicative energy comes to a screeching halt. It feels as if people are determined to misunderstand you. Blame Mercury retrograde if you wish, but there’s likely to be a practical solution: address what needs to be addressed. Fair mediation will be the best way to get everyone’s thoughts and feelings out there and to find resolution. 

On 27 December the full moon will be at home in your sign, allowing you to feel comfortable to express all of your feelings – good and bad. It’s so important to let those emotions out. This cathartic energy can help you reach some big realisations about what’s going on and how to heal. What a way to end 2023 and begin the new year.

23 July to 22 August

All fun and no play makes Leo dull, dreary and despairing. You’re bored and very ready for a change. That might come in the form of a big declutter and rearrange at first, but then you’ll realise you’re seeking something deeper. What isn’t working for you? What needs to change?

If you ignore that need for change in favour of festive partying, frustration will build up towards the middle of the month. To deal with this, restore balance. That means rest and solo time, not just running yourself ragged going to every party and pub you’re invited to. 

Be prepared to take a step back from the stuff that fills your day-to-day for a moment. That’s the only way you’ll have a clear vantage point so you can see exactly what needs changing. 

23 August to 22 September

Look at you go, Virgo. At the beginning of the month, your creativity is on fire. Everything’s flowing, whether that’s conversations with pals or crafting something with your hands. Take advantage of this energy and explore your talents to feel fulfilled in December. 

Be warned, though, that as we go into the middle of the month things might slow down a bit. What seemed clear may now be foggy. This isn’t a crisis, but it is a call to take things easy and be more mindful in what you’re doing. Don’t forget your emotional needs when you’re putting everything into creative work. 

While you’re in this restful, mindful state, you might realise there are some goals or friendships that are no longer serving you… at least not in their current state. You need to do some deep reflection and work out which are worth saving (and tweaking) and which should be dumped. Allow your feelings to surface so you can face them and heal. That’s how you’ll know if the decision made was the right one. 

23 September to 22 October

You are noticing a need to strengthen your emotional foundation. A lot has been going on lately and you want to be able to handle the ebbs and flows with ease. Spoiler: working on your self-worth is always a great place to start. You will have a desire to empower yourself through realising your strengths and taking time to not only admire them but to build on them. You’re not used to focusing so much on yourself, at least not lately, so it will take some getting used to, but trust us, this is much needed. You cannot pour from an empty cup. 

During this emotional renewal, you may feel the need to tap more into your family connections. Over the festive season, carve out space to enjoy time with your loved ones and learn from them. They could have some handy knowledge.

Throughout December you’ll also be thinking about your legacy and reputation. Who are you? That’s a big question that’ll be on your mind this month, Libra. 

23 October to 21 November

Your mindset hasn’t been the most positive lately and you want to make changes. You are very much aware that ‘what you think is what you become’ and you’re trying to align to your best self. This will be the theme of the month: doing what’s necessary to be the best version of yourself. 

You’ve been itching to express yourself more, and this month is the time to do it. Let go of worrying about being the ‘best’ and get your creativity moving. The more you do it, the more fun you will have, the more confidence you will build, and the more you’ll learn about yourself.  

Connect with your circle this festive season for some moments of realisation. Be open and chat about everything – no fear of vulnerability here. Do this and you can expect some beautiful interactions. 

22 November to 21 December

It is your solar return and as the light shines on your sign, Sagittarius, you have been in a new year, new me mood. A word of warning: self-improvement is great, self-loathing is not. Quit picking yourself apart and instead remind yourself why you’re so wonderful. Everyone has great qualities, and you need to remember yours. Use the new moon in your sign to heal the old and renew the new and improved you.

Strengthening your self-worth may take some time and work but it is absolutely worth it. Towards the end of the month, you’ll find yourself ready to let go of the past and move forward into a more empowered space. This might be a painful process. But keep pushing forwards and the results will be transformative. 

22 December to 19 January

Capricorn season starts in December, and so you’ll be using this time to focus on being your best self. One area of focus? Your inner circle. You’re going to be super mindful of the company you keep, and that’ll come up when you make some new connections in December. Not everyone is right for you – use your intuition to figure out who’s worth your time.

All eyes will be on you the closer it gets to your birthday. Although your birthday tends to be overshadowed by the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ be sure to set some time to celebrate you here. You’ll feel speedy on your feet intellectually this month – take advantage of that and let the ideas flow.

By the end of the month, you will be letting go of some aspects of important relationships or even the relationship as a whole. Know that this is for the best. The clues of who or what you need to let go of will be subtle but keep your eyes open and trust your gut. You will be on the right track.

20 January to 18 February

You’re getting introspective this month, Aquarius. Probably because you’re spending most of your time bundled up under blankets at home (and there’s no judgment for that here). You’re reflecting on yourself and your relationships. Keep an eye out for who is genuinely happy and supportive of you and who isn’t… and consider if the ones who aren’t cheering on your successes should be kept so close. The new moon will attract new people to you; some with good intentions, some not so much. Protect yourself. 

This might be a frustrating time. It’s not fun to think people might not be there for you. But this period is necessary practice for the future. You’re going to be mega successful, obviously, and as a result you will encounter people who are truly there for you and people who just want to leach your energy. Now is a time to sharpen the skill of seeing who’s who. As a result, you’ll appreciate your true friends so much more. 

You’re also going to be aware of some habits that might be holding you back this month. There are abundant opportunities for growth, but you need to reach out and grab them. Any limiting beliefs and self-doubt need to be dealt with – speak your mind, share your ideas, and address those deep-seated worries so you can flourish the way you deserve. 

19 February to 20 March

Hey, Pisces, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been feeling a bit rubbish about not being further along on your long-term goals. We get it, but be gentle. Sure, there may be things you can do a little differently, but beating yourself up for a lack of progress won’t help. Instead, use this energy to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t, and to motivate you to try new ways of doing things. 

You might need to adjust your plans – that’s OK! Allow yourself the space to think creatively about what you want for the future. Make sure you don’t share these thoughts with any naysayers. Now is a time for positivity and joy, not anyone who’s going to drag you down. 

By the end of December, you’ll be ready to race into new routines and be an improved version of yourself. Take it easy, Pisces. Remind yourself that life is about balance, and you can’t always be flat-out busy and super productive Allow yourself time to rest, relax and have fun too. Nail this balance and you’re going to thrive in 2024. 

Images: Getty; Stylist