Edie’s Astro Report for December dives into powerful cosmic shifts, including Mars and Mercury Retrogrades. This month invites reflection, growth, and opportunities for transformation.
To dive right in, we'll talk about two way pivotal astrological movements for December, and get into how that affects us, and how we can work with those energies.
Mars Retrograde, starting in Leo, ending in Cancer. Third Mercury Retrograde this year, this time in Sagittarius.
Mars is about forward movement, while Leo embodies creativity, even fun, as well as the type of leadership that inspires others. Yes, while Mars deals with forward movement it's also about how we deal with conflict & aggression. With the latter, there are a couple considerations: Don't start drama fueled by anger because you're way more "in your feels" than you might normally be. That's the pitfall. I'd go as far as to say consider creatively how you might engage in conflicts in healthier ways. That's a more empowered way of using this energy. The highest function of this energy is in the former, forward movement, and at the heart of Mars in Leo, questions of what you have thought about, but not yet brought into existence. Why haven't you brought this into existence, to offer as your contribution to the world? Then as Mars moves into Cancer, which embodies home, family, and understanding the inner clockwork of people -others AND yourself- we can expand on the questions from the Leo positions to questions like "What home spaces, or even routines in my life do I need need to change and curate so I'm more inclined to want to bring these ideas to life?"
We already know that there are typically three Mercury retrogrades every year, spring, summer, autumn, and that every Mercury Retrograde acts as a magnifying glass calling into focus what ongoing work we're doing on our growth and healing. With the three, we can largely consider the "function" of each as such:
Mercury Rx in Spring gives us hints for what might come up in the retrograde season coming up that year. Things coming up here encourage you to start thinking how you'll focus on healing and growing beyond these concerns.
Mercury Rx in Summer is a time to re-tack your healing course if needed, key into what else might be coming up, and making sure you're addressing what needs to be addressed for this year.
Mercury Rx in Autumn. I often encourage folks to think of this as a look-back at what came up this year, this retrograde season. What have you learned, how will you be applying what came up during the next year so you can be more in alignment with the life you want to live, and the world you want to see exist. This one in particular is the look-back of all look-backs. Not only are we looking back through this year, and this year's retrograde season, but look further back on your journey for the past three years, as we wrap up the 3-Year "Dark Night Of The Soul For The Entire World," and even further back: Your journey since 2019, 2020. What came up for you back then? How have your beliefs and values changed since then, become more focused? What did you need to heal and grow past? What are you still processing through as you become the most potent version of yourself, with each passing year? How will you stick to the path of making this happen next year, in the years to come?
And as I still, to this day, see a lot of people operating on autopilot during Mercury Retrogrades, I feel that it bears repeating that, of course, basic procedures during Mercury Rx still apply: Communication, Problem-Solving, and Moving Parts could be impacted; be patient, compassionate, and gentle with comms, breathe before letting hostility turns into arguments, short travel (commutes) and long travel (trips) could be wonky, try to avoid entering contracts, agreements, even new relationships during this time (as things could take an unpleasant turn from what was initially expected), "move forward by looking back," and of course, consider any blockages, delays, interruptions, or issues as the universe pointing you out to something that needs to be addressed with any given process before you can move forward with more open road ahead. Remember! It's nothing to be worried about! Just move with a little bit more thoughtfulness, intent, and care. It's no different than carrying an umbrella with you on a day it might rain.
The Retrogrades of Neptune and Chiron end in December. This collective change as these go direct is to think about who you are in this unfolding world, who you intend to be, and what you are changing in your life to make it so. Neptune going direct will be nudging you to reinvigorate (or begin to explore if this is new to you!) your routines of spiritual hygiene. Intuition may be trying to give you clues to navigation, decision making, revealing options you may have previously closed yourself off to. Consider what might be coming up, give the “what if’s” a chance to breathe. You may be experiencing more intense dreams at this point. Listen to them. Search “aunty flo dream symbolism” as a starter for becoming more fluent in the language of dreams.
I know that we’re in the thick of the Holiday Season, but try giving a bit more space in your thoughts for these things. When we talk about manifesting, the core mechanic behind “actually manifesting" is allowing your subconscious to believe you're already on-track for what you want. We can want with our conscious minds all we want, but under those active thoughts, if we don't believe it, if we aren't allowing ourselves to feel resourced enough to believe it, we will continue to confound ourselves.
That's why I've been talking a lot about self-care during this season, as well as “bio-hacking” the body to FEEL more resourced.
To start with, try to let go of any guilt you might feel for picking up something for yourself amidst the gift-giving season. We all do it every year, and even with the most confident justifications, we can still have some dunk residual guilt. Consider less impulsivity, and more intent: In thinking of the transits and planetary energies available at this time, get yourself something which will support your manifestation journey in the year ahead. Or get yourself something to help give you more balance and resources to mitigate any stress that might be coming up for you during this time. If you're planning on celebrating on New Year’s Eve, consider planning for aftercare & restoration in the days after.
"What We Do Is Who We Are"
Consider next year, decide where you want to be. Consider what journey you've been on this year, these past few years. What has come to light, as these Neptune Retrogrades cleared out illusion, lies, obfuscation, all the things we'd told ourselves so we can keep avoiding the work of making change, which of course is upon us now. What truths have you seen now? How do those suggest and inform how you become who you're supposed to be?
Zodiac Season Morning & Evening Focus for December
Remember that the Morning and Evening “rituals” help focus the wider astrological aspects down to a very “rubber-meets-the-road / daily-life translation” of how you working with these energies can show up in effective and empowering ways.
Sagittarius Season - "I see, I explore."
Began on November 22, and runs till December 21.
Sagittarius embodies wisdom and travel, belief systems, and philosophy.
Hopefully you can see that the points we'd mentioned earlier in regards to Mercury Retrograde are "seasoned" by the flavor of Sagittarius, here. And considering the long-arcs we've been moving through, and continue to move through, really consider this month the journey you've been on, and choose the journey ahead that you'll want to co-create with the universe, and with the world as we come out of siloed thinking and start to re-focus on community.
Again, as we’d mentioned in last month’s article, for the rest of Sagittarius season, continue working with the Morning and Evening rituals to bring more daily intention to how you might work with the Astrology of this month:
Morning - read inspiring quotes to keep on the "dashboard" of your mind for that day. Or try writing inspiring quotes, if you’re one who has ears that look to you for support, wisdom, and inspiration.
Evening - Wind down the evening with something like a Guided Meditation. Consider it a journey of wisdom through “travel.” Even if you don’t feel like you can give yourself permission to carve out time for a Guided Meditation, approach the idea of listening to an audiobook that feeds your soul, or gently (that is to say doesn’t feel like work or study) expands your knowledge on something that’s interested you, but you’ve not yet looked into.
Capricorn Season - "I structure, I plan."
Begins on December 22, and runs to January 19.
Capricorn embodies goals, and our role in community, long-arc visualization, and the steps we take towards stability - both the short-term steps as well as long-term milestones we make for along the way.
As we transition from Sagittarius season to Capricorn season, consider what lessons Sagittarius season taught you (as well as the rest of the seasons this year, if you can identify what associations might have corresponded to what zodiac seasons). Then, as Capricorn rises, think of how this will prepare you for the seasons ahead, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, etc. - each building upon the steps and lessons from each consecutive previous zodiac season.
Consider, too, that when we talk of “quarters” (especially in project management) the autumn and winter months of Quarter 4 is the time to plan what major movements you’d like to make in the year ahead. Personally, I picked up the MAGIC OF I planner link for 2024 and found it was INVALUABLE for anchoring actions, events, and due-dates to the astrological energies and transits for the year - work that I would typically do “by hand” burning at least a few days EACH month to stay on course. Having the planner was SUCH a time-saver for my own practice that I’ve already picked up my 2025 Magic Of I planner and have started to pencil in the “big rocks” for this upcoming year.
Morning - Think over, reiterate your long-term plans, then the short-term plans you’re sprinting for, then what you’re doing today, tomorrow to build towards them. Engaging in this daily ritual will help give focus to the planetary energies that we are moving through, and moving beyond.
Evening - Set any alarms or digital calendar reminders in the days ahead that will help you reinforce the work you're doing to bring about your goals, EVEN, and rather especially alarms that prompt you to stop work, drop out of the hubbub, and take a break or a breather, refill your cups.
December Ritual Ideas
Many of us are familiar with the tradition of eating black eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day for prosperity, but there are also a few other considerations to weave in for inviting in abundance and goodness for the year ahead.
Citrus, especially in various Asian origin spiritual traditions and practices symbolize luck, prosperity, good fortune. Gifting citrus or citrus plants is a classic way of putting into the world what you’d like to see come back to you tenfold. Even using citrus during holiday dishes, or leaving citrus as offerings on your altar can be powerful to work with. Consider where you can add citrus to dishes or celebration drinks Portland Citrus Passion Syrup, Earl Grey & Orange Blossom Syrup; if you’re a person who likes the taste of chocolate and orange, add that to your “hot cocoa” beverages this year.
Alternatively for any chocolate based beverages, consider Peppermint, as Peppermint is another one of many herbs whose spiritual significance corresponds with abundance.
Finally, there is the ritual of coins & cinnamon at the threshold of your home. On New Year’s Day, sprinkle some coins along the inside threshold of your front door. Then, scoop a bit of cinnamon powder into a cinnamon stick, and while standing outside, facing in, envision abundance, opportunity, financial windfalls, while you blow the dust INTO your home. The cinnamon is the representation of abundance “blowing its way into your home,” and the coins will become a daily reminder to draw in abundance, as you are “stepping over money (because you’re so abundant)” every time you leave or return home.
"What We Do Is Who We Are"
Consider next year, decide where you want to be. Consider what journey you've been on this year, these past few years. What has come to light, as these Neptune Retrogrades cleared out illusion, lies, obfuscation, all the things we'd told ourselves so we can keep avoiding the work of making change, which of course is upon us now. What truths have you seen now? How do those suggest and inform how to become who you're supposed to be?
When we say “What we do is who we are” this is our thought prompt to consider what history, what story you are writing yourself into: What do you spend your thoughts on? What actions do you take, what do you bring into existence?
With love Edie and the whole Twisted Thistle Team