Your December 2023 horoscope is in, with a whole lot to sift through. If you’re someone who likes to spend this time tying up loose ends so you can move into the new year unencumbered, the good news is that you’ll be astrologically supported this month. Mercury enters Capricorn on the 1st and stations retrograde on the 13th, making a number of productive aspects along the way. Yes, this means the typical Mercury Retrograde rules will apply throughout the month—itineraries may need to be revised on the spot, traffic might be a bigger nuisance than usual, and airports may test your patience. But for the most part, this looks like the kind of climate that will support us in solving problems, fine-tuning our plans, and reorganizing our calendars for 2024, especially during the first three weeks of December.
On the 23rd, Mercury backtracks into Sagittarius, where it runs into some messy aspects with Mars and Neptune on the 27th. While the end of the month actually features some nice astrology (which means we do go out on a high note), there are some snags to contend with. Holiday travel might be more stressful and chaotic than usual, and we might blunder our way into arguments with loved ones, despite our best intentions. It won’t hurt to take an extra beat this month—before traveling, or speaking.
That said, there’s a heart-opening trine between Venus and Neptune on the 25th, a very cozy Cancer full moon on the 26th, a cautiously optimistic Sun/Jupiter trine on the 27th, then we end the year on a swell of anticipation as Jupiter stations direct on the 30th. There’s an abundance of good cheer (and holiday spirit) to make up for any stress we incur along the way, and there will be a palpable sense that we’re moving forward, despite our recent hardships. Wherever you happen to be in the world this New Year’s Eve, don’t turn down an opportunity to observe how far you’ve come, or to tap into the collective mood of celebration.
Below, find a complete December 2023 horoscope for every sign.
Astrologer's note: Below we refer to your signs as “rising” signs, also known as your ascendant sign. Horoscopes are more accurate when read this way—using your birth time and location, you can quickly find your rising sign online (it takes less than 30 seconds).
Aries Rising
As much as you might be eager to turn on your out-of-office reply and decamp somewhere warm for the rest of the year, you’ll probably be preoccupied with your professional life this December. For the first three weeks of the month, Mercury will be zigzagging through your 10th house of career. Maybe you’re up for your annual review with your boss, or maybe you’ll be busy putting together a presentation that summarizes your progress over the past 12 months. Maybe this is bigger than that, and you’re reconsidering your entire professional path or branding. Think back to what you were working on this time last year. You’re probably going back for phase two of the revision process that occupied your previous December and January.
Expect this rumination to begin in earnest around the 13th, when Mercury stations retrograde in Capricorn. On the 22nd, when Mercury conjoins the Sun, you’ll have a quick moment of illumination that moves you closer to a resolution.
Then, on the 23rd, Mercury backtracks into Sagittarius. It looks like you’ll be revisiting some of the travel setbacks that frustrated you in November when Mercury runs into some gnarly aspects with Mars and Neptune, particularly around the 27th and 28th. These could present as stressful travel days if you happen to be on the road, or potentially as a mini crisis of confusion around your beliefs. You might be questioning the way forward if certain long-awaited travel plans are no longer viable, or if your ethics around certain types of tourism are changing. If this feels like an existential quandary, it might be! Just try to trust it’ll all work out in the end, even if you’re not sure where to direct your energy at the moment.
Taurus Rising
December comes with some detours, but it ends with you taking off and spreading your wings in a pretty big way. But first, you might need to revise some of your travel itineraries in order to embrace the path of your greatest fulfillment.
Mercury spends most of the month criss-crossing through your 9th house of spirituality and long journeys, which means you’ll probably be busy with the logistics of changing your plans through the first three weeks of December, as well as looking for some higher guidance. Mercury stations retrograde on the 13th, which means some of the trips and reservations you book in the first half of the month might be tentative at best. Your best bet is to remain flexible this month, because there might be a bigger adventure awaiting you, and you’ll want the ability to pursue it when it beckons.
You may also be preoccupied with your relationships this month, especially after your ruling planet, Venus, enters Scorpio on the 4th. These next three to four weeks might find you feeling more vulnerable and insecure than usual, but this also comes with an opportunity to become more intimate with an important person in your life. Especially around the 9th, when Venus opposes Jupiter, look for ways to let the love in, and let yourself be changed by it.
All of this is building up to a pretty nice moment of personal lift off as Jupiter stations direct in Taurus on the 30th. You’ll be greeting the new year with a sense that things are moving forward in your life—maybe even a feeling that anything is possible. This is more than just a surge of momentum. It’s also a critical moment of integration in your personal growth, and an expansion of your self-concept. Cheers to all that, and here’s to everything that comes next.
Gemini Rising
Is it tax season yet, or is it just you? For better or for worse, you might spend a large part of the month combing through your financial records and settling some balances. Your ruling planet, Mercury, enters your 8th house of taxes and debts on December 1st, only to station retrograde a couple weeks later on the 13th. As Mercury crunches some numbers and checks its math a second time, you, too, might be sorting through the equation of what’s yours, and what’s definitely someone else’s. Shared expenses, shared responsibilities, and shared collaborations are all up for revision. If this feels like the sequel to a problem you were working through last December and January, you’re not wrong. Second time will be the charm.
As you renegotiate some of these terms, you may also be pulled into conversations that more directly address issues in your relationships. On the 23rd, Mercury backtracks into Sagittarius, your 7th house of significant others. From there, it runs into some tense aspects with Mars and Neptune on the 27th and 28th. Despite your best efforts to hear each other out, misunderstandings might arise, and you might stumble into disagreements because of the way you’re talking past each other.
Fortunately, some relief arrives on the 29th as Venus enters Sagittarius. This might help things along in the form of “giving each other the benefit of the doubt.” Life’s too short to focus on petty squabbles, and you’ll be more interested in any form of carpe diem that lets you bond more closely with others. Now that you’ve figured out how much you owe each other from the last weekend getaway, maybe it’s time to plan a new adventure together?
Cancer Rising
Although you seem poised to enjoy an especially cute holiday season with your nearest and dearest, it looks like there are unresolved issues to address in at least one of your close relationships before you can all be fully on the same page. Mercury will spend the first three weeks of December zigzagging through your 7th house of partnerships, which might find you getting down to brass tacks with a significant other or renegotiating the terms of a contract or agreement. Fortunately, this might be a relatively productive period for talking through things or making some pragmatic decisions together. As long as you can stay focused on the logistical side of things, you may both be able to walk away satisfied, and nobody’s feelings have to get hurt.
Although you might receive some stressful news about a work project around the 27th (or maybe your babysitter cancels at the last minute), for the most part, the end of the month looks kind of dreamy. The Venus/Neptune trine on the 25th amplifies the festive vibes, whether you’re throwing a party, touring a distant land, or treating yourself to a staycation. There’s also a Full Moon in Cancer on the 26th, which means it’s your turn to be celebrated (but more than likely, you’ll be acknowledging the team effort it took to get here, and sending the appreciation right back to your squad). A shared victory is much sweeter.
This last bit is significant, because it’s tied to Jupiter’s direct station on the 30th in your 11th house of community. You’ve been part of a pretty inspiring collective effort this year, and if something about your shared progress has felt stalled for the past couple months, that momentum is now gathering force again, and you’ll probably feel like celebrating this together. There are years to spend New Year’s Eve at home in your pajamas, but right now, it’s “the more, the merrier.”
Leo Rising
Things might be changing for you at work this month, and setting you up for a pretty powerful start to 2024 professionally. With Mercury retrograde in your 6th house of work and obligations, you’ll probably spend the first three weeks of December reorganizing your team, retooling your calendar, going back over the details of a project you thought was finished, or becoming your own project manager and revising your plan for how you’d like to tackle your goals in the new year.
This is mostly just the lead up to Jupiter’s direct station on the 30th, which gets stuck momentum moving again in your professional life as you ring in the new year. You’ve been on a growth kick since last May that has likely expanded the types of opportunities available to you, as well as your concept of the type of role you’re meant to play in the world. Some of that external progress may have slowed in September as you paused to digest and integrate. Now, your period of introspection segues into movement. What are the creative visions, collaborations, and inspiration that’s going to move with you into 2024?
To be fair, the end of the month might come with some opportunities for merry-making too, but your joie de vivre improves significantly after Venus enters Sagittarius on the 29th. Prior to that, you might be rethinking the way you pursue joy, and you might feel momentarily directionless or confused about what feels generative and life-affirming to you these days. Yes, this may involve travel to some extent, too. These are all good things to consider as you’re defining your resolutions for 2024, but don’t forget to say “yes” to the good time that’s available to you in this exact moment.
Virgo Rising
December is everyone’s favorite time to do end-of-year recaps and reviews, but yours might look less like a PowerPoint presentation and more like a Spotify Wrapped playlist. Mercury enters your 5th house of self-expression, enjoyment, and creativity on the 1st, and it’ll station retrograde here on the 13th. The first three weeks of December will be largely devoted to reviewing the things that have kept your soul afloat lately, and maybe even returning to them for a second hit of inspiration. Perhaps you’ll be dusting off an old hobby or creative project you had abandoned prematurely. You’ll likely be ending the year consumed with thoughts not of how to be more productive in the coming year, but how to squeeze in more joy and adventure. Yes, researching and moodboarding future trip destinations counts. Keep your notebook handy for any crystal-clear insights that might flood your morning pages on the 22nd.
After Mercury backtracks into Sagittarius on the 23rd, your attention may be diverted to troubleshooting issues around the house, or settling disputes within your family that you thought had already been resolved. Don’t let a momentary frustration derail your mood too much. Second time should be the charm.
There’s plenty of more affirming astrology to balance out the annoyances as we near the end of the month, and you’ll especially enjoy the sense of liftoff granted to you by Jupiter stationing direct on the 30th in your 9th house of travel, spirituality, and education. The last two years have likely accelerated things for you in these areas, and you’ve been able to access a lot of wisdom as a result, especially since May of this past year. Some of that external progress may have slowed down since September, but you’re finding momentum again as you ring in the new year. Make sure your resolutions include a couple bucket list destinations you’d like to finally visit in 2024.
Libra Rising
You may be more consumed with gift-giving and holiday shopping than usual this December, but there’s always a deeper layer to mine beneath the superficial activity. Starting on the 4th, Venus will be transiting Scorpio for most of the month, which finds you fixated on expressing your love and values through tangible items, as well as reading more deeply into the ways people give to you, and what it says about their feelings for you. You’ll be feeling especially generous around the 9th as Venus opposes Jupiter, or perhaps more willing to overextend yourself in order to secure someone’s affection. Know that there’s an increased propensity to take things too personally during this transit, but remain curious about the dissatisfaction that comes up. You might also be adjusting your spending habits to honor the financial goals you set for yourself last month, or to align better with your politics.
With Mercury spending much of the month retrograde in your 4th house, repairs around the home might need your attention, and perhaps there’ll be a conversation with someone in your inner circle that needs revisiting. If you’re traveling to see family for the holidays, it’s not a bad idea to double check that everyone’s on the same page. Misunderstandings may be afoot, and this can spiral into a literal or metaphorical traffic jam when Mercury runs into some stressful aspects on the 27th.
For the most part, though, it’ll be worth it, as you’ll end the month enjoying the company of your close kin. Venus enters Sagittarius on the 29th, which sets you up for four weeks of bonding with your best friends, siblings, and cousins, as well as pleasurable weekend trips out of town. Why not combine the two and plan a friend reunion in a cozy cabin in the woods somewhere?
Scorpio Rising
You’re still riding the high of the cosmic kickstart you received last month, and after Venus enters Scorpio on the 4th, you’ll also be feeling yourself (as in, feeling more like your best self). Although Venus’ charms will make you more magnetic this month—and will bless you with some good hair and outfit days—feeling yourself means feeling all of it—the good, the cute, and the ugly. In some ways, the added attention may have you feeling more vulnerable and exposed, and receiving compliments might unexpectedly bring up old wounds and insecurities for you. Consider it a toxin that needs to be metabolized so you can receive more love from the world around you.
You may also be in for some chaotic travel days in December as Mercury stations retrograde in your 3rd house of commutes and short-distance trips on the 13th. This is definitely not a reason to cancel that road trip you had planned—in fact, being in motion has a way of putting you in touch with important clues and messages from the past, and you might find yourself glad you reconnected with a part of town you hadn’t visited in awhile, or with an old friend, neighbor, or classmate you haven’t heard from in years. That said, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give yourself some extra buffer time while you’re commuting to work or on the road.
The month ends on a bit of a high note, especially if you’re eager to pull the trigger on that big trip you’ve been envisioning for 2024. On the 26th, the Full Moon in Cancer lights up your 9th house of travel and forms a supportive aspect with Jupiter, which will be in the process of stationing direct in your partnership sector. You might be excited about the potential for adventure in the new year, and especially thrilled about the person you’ll get to share it with. This is the right time to start taking those plans more seriously, and perhaps start researching accommodations and activities. It might be better to wait until after Mercury stations direct on January 2nd to book or reserve anything, but now is definitely the right time to feel inspired.
Sagittarius Rising
Every year, your birthday season finds you returning to yourself, replenishing your spirit, and making candlelit wishes as you meet another year with anticipation. This might feel especially true on the 12th, with a New Moon in Sagittarius tightly aspecting Neptune. Something about this upcoming twirl around the Sun demands the full engagement of your imagination muscle, even if (and maybe because) you’re so aware of all the ways you currently feel stuck. Your current reality may be far from ideal, but no one knows how to build castles in the sky like you do, and if you can balance being realistic with being the visionary that you are, you might be eating mangoes on a beach (or whatever the current dream is) before you know it.
But first, a Mercury Retrograde. Mercury stations retrograde in your 2nd house on the 13th, which means most of December might amount to an audit of your finances. Fortunately, this looks like a relatively productive period for getting organized. If you’ve experienced a lot of growth at work lately, it’s likely that you might need to adjust your budget accordingly, or reallocate some funds to make the next wave of expansion possible. Which is coming before you know it—Jupiter stations direct in your work sector on the 30th. You’ll be hitting the ground running in the new year and acting on some of the more inspiring visions you’ve been incubating over the fall.
For the most part, the mounting excitement toward the end of the month will be big enough to override any momentary frustrations, but you might be more prone to stumbling into confrontations or miscommunicating with family around the 27th and 28th. Mercury will complete its retrograde in Sagittarius, which means you might have to clarify your stance or double back on a personal choice you made recently. If the words come out wrong the first time, expressing yourself more deliberately might help you feel more solid in your decision.
Capricorn Rising
Yes, true, the weeks leading up to your birthday are naturally a time for pause and self-reflection in the year. But this December, the question of who you are, where you’ve been, and how you tell that story feels more urgent than ever, and you might be in the process of rewriting that script. Mercury enters Capricorn on the 1st, and it stations retrograde on the 13th. A large part of this month will amount to a personal review session. Think of it like an opportunity to update your understanding of yourself, given recent experiences and the new knowledge you’ve learned. You might find yourself feeling nostalgic, wanting to look through old photos and dig through old diaries. Mining the past for clues might give you the answers you’re looking for, especially because of how dramatically you’ve changed over the last several years.
The Sun entering Capricorn brings greater clarity, as well as a sense of waking up and coming back to life. Your natural radiance and no-nonsense outlook on life get their turn in the Sun, and it’s time to center your own happiness and self-expression for a change. When Mercury and the Sun conjoin on the 22nd, a powerful moment of self-recognition occurs—one that helps you cohere all those separate threads you’ve been trying to untangle.
Although it sounds like you’ll be consumed with a lot of navel-gazing this December, some of this digging will shore up new creative inspiration for your projects, a clearer sense of the kind of parent you’d like to be, or a renewed commitment to the things that feed your joy (like travel, among other things). As Jupiter stations direct on the 30th and heightens your expectations of fulfillment in the new year, you’ll be bursting with creative potential—and a lot of ideas for how you’d like to grow that particular garden in 2024.
Aquarius Rising
If you were looking for an excuse to take a bit of a retreat this month, you’ll be supported in doing so. Although you might be raking in appreciation and compliments for your achievements, you’ll also be preoccupied with reorganizing the clutter in the storage closet of your mind. As Mercury spends much of December crisscrossing through your 12th house, you may also be rethinking some of your biggest struggle narratives, reflecting on the past in order to better understand your patterns of self-sabotage, and reviewing your old dream journals, therapy notes, and diary entries in an attempt to see yourself more clearly. You can accomplish this just fine without ever leaving your house, but this could also be the right time to go on a silent meditation retreat, or a vacation that lends itself to quiet contemplation. You’ll be especially receptive to insights on the 22nd, so pay attention to the messages and transmissions that are landing in your awareness.
Speaking of compliments, though—after Venus enters Scorpio on the 4th, there’ll be more love coming your way for the work you do in the world (or maybe for that new website or fire set of professional headshots you’ll be dropping). However, attention can sometimes bring up complicated emotions. You might be feeling vulnerable or exposed, or maybe just extra sensitive to the appreciation you’re not getting for the revealing depth and provocative nature of your offering to the world. No one can do it quite like you, and your gift is that you bypass what’s palatable in order to locate what’s real.
The mood lifts a bit when Venus enters Sagittarius on the 29th. The next four weeks will be a rowdy, social time for you full of friend dates, festivals, and community potlucks. With Jupiter stationing direct in your 4th house on the 30th, you might also be in the mood to bring the party home and host a celebration or two. New Year’s Eve house party, maybe?
Pisces Rising
If you happen to have any travel planned this month, you’ll be much more susceptible to getting swept off your feet (by the location, or maybe by one of its inhabitants) as Venus transits Scorpio between December 4th and 29th. If you’re grounded for the time being, your soul will still delight in foreign films, music, and literature that are moody, psychological, and probing. Remain open to the buffet of new experiences and learning opportunities that beckons around the 9th, when Venus opposes Jupiter. If there’s a festival happening around you, don’t skip it. As the month moves on, you’ll also find yourself feeling more drawn to new flavors and genres that disrupt your personal status quo. If presented with an opportunity to taste the unexpected around the 21st (like deep-fried tarantula in Cambodia, or haggis in Scotland), put your game face on and let it open your eyes.
True, there’s a Mercury Retrograde happening this month, but it’ll probably be less of the “travel disruption” variety for you. Instead, there might be a greater focus on catching up with old friends you haven’t heard from in awhile, or reconnecting with a community that used to be important to you. In the spirit of looking back in order to look forward, you might stumble upon a key bit of information through one of your connections from the past. Networking might prove vital once Mercury backtracks into your 10th house on the 23rd, leading to some sort of update or adjustment to your public profile or professional path before the new year begins.
In general, you’ll be buzzing with excitement as you ring in 2024. The heightened anticipation of your ruling planet, Jupiter, stationing direct on the 30th will give you sustained momentum and inspiration as you hit the ground running in January. If there’s a book you want to write, community garden plot you’d like to cultivate, or just a daydream of having more picnics in the park, name those visions out loud.
Enjoyed your December 2023 horoscope? Look back on November to see how things lined up.