Aquarius, December 2016

Mercury enters Capricorn on December 2, activating a very sleepy yet psychic sector of your chart. It's time to slow down, spend more time alone, and catch up on rest—and, most importantly, tap into your intuition!

Mercury will begin its retrograde on December 19, which will be annoying as fuck. Don't sign anything important or make any major decisions—you won't have all the facts, and you probably won't be thinking straight (sorry, you might be the genius of the zodiac, but even you get fuzzy-headed at times). This isn't a great time to travel, since Mercury retrograde brings delays and communication will be wonky. Don't purchase anything important, especially electronics, and expect your phone or laptop to crap out on you.

"Watch your back" is an incredibly ominous thing to say in a horoscope, but because this Mercury retrograde is occurring in Capricorn, the sign right behind you on the zodiac wheel, I do want you to consider what's happening behind-the-scenes in your life. Ask friends you can trust if they think certain people or situations aren't good for you, or talk to a therapist to work out how you've been shooting yourself in the foot with out even realizing it.

Long-lost lovers (especially the kind you kept secret) could reappear on the scene. In fact, any secrets could bubble to the surface. Don't worry about it, Aquarius. Just own it. Mercury retrograde doesn't last forever, and neither will your shame for hooking up with that weirdo from your temp job, or whatever secret it is you may be hiding.

If your secret is something more substantial, this Mercury retrograde would be a great time to seek support around it and find someone to talk to—use the Mercury retrograde energy, instead of having it use you! Also, use this time to rest and relax. Mercury retrograde is good for reflecting on the past and reviewing projects or conversations that you've put on the back burner.

On December 7, sexy Venus enters your sign. Expect plenty of attention, Aquarius. When Venus is in your sign, you'll take on an extra seductive, charming quality (not that you weren't already very cute and fun in the first place). Venus will be in Aquarius until January 3, 2017, so use this time to flirt up a storm or ask for a raise—everyone is going to think you're hot and will want to give you money (Venus rules both love and cash!).

Focus shifts to your social life when the Sun (which is currently in Sagittarius and lighting up the friendship sector of your chart) meets with Saturn on December 10 and connects with Uranus on December 12.

A full moon in fellow Air sign Gemini arrives on December 13! Full moons are highly sensitive and draining times, and this one is no exception. Expect drama in your love life, your creative life, and with your friends. Gemini is a sign that can't shut up, and you can bet this full moon will give people plenty to talk about! If a situation between you and a lover or creative partner has been waiting to explode, now is the time. But, on the plus side, you will gain a much clearer perspective of the situation (the light of the full moon is very illuminating!). If you're all willing to compromise, things can totally work out. The right attitude can solve any problem.

Your focus shifts to finances on December 19 when Mars enters Pisces, energizing the sector of your chart that rules cash, security, and issues concerning worth. Pisces is the sign of limitlessness, and indeed, the number of zeros in your bank statement is also limitless! With warrior Mars in Pisces, you will be very motivated to build your wealth.

Perhaps abundance is a better word for it—it's not just your cash flow that you're hoping to increase, but also the level of generosity, joy, and luck in your life. But do remember: Mercury will be retrograde, so don't expect deals to go through immediately. Give things some time, and don't worry if nothing happens overnight!

On December 24, the planet of stability, Saturn, connects with the planet of rebellion, Uranus. Obviously, this is a strange mixture of energy, but it should be exciting as well! Saturn is currently in Sagittarius, helping you sort out who your real friends are, while Uranus is in Aries, blessing you with an extra sharp mind and sending you unexpected messages.

When Saturn and Uranus connect, you can bet some exciting things will be happening in your social circle. This is a great day to network or to share some fantastic ideas you have about the future. Sure, Mercury will be retrograde, so perhaps the conversations you have today won't be immediately groundbreaking, but you are definitely planting seeds—seeds that will continue to develop as Saturn and Uranus continue to connect over the next year.

Saturn and Uranus will connect again on May 19, 2017 and November 11, 2017, and the themes you're working on at the end of this month in your social life (or around communication, or problem solving) will come up again for you to take even further on these dates (during which times Mercury will not be retrograde!).

One of the most important days for you to watch out for this month is December 26, when Jupiter in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries. A theory you've held on to for quite a while will be tested—can you handle the results? Expect to have your world altered today. You won't think of things the same way ever again. There's going to be big drama and big surprises—the energy is over-the-top. If you've felt pent-up or like your freedom is being squashed, this will be a huge turning point—you won't be able to take it anymore!

The Sun enters Capricorn on December 21, marking the winter solstice, and soon after we have a new moon in Capricorn on December 29. This is a powerful time for letting go, Aquarius. Exploring your hidden, shadow self is also a wonderful way to work the new moon's energy.

Capricorn is a very down-to-earth, practical energy; however, during this new moon, I want you to forget about reality. Focus on fantasy instead—whether that means binge-watching a TV show you can get swept away by or meditating and connecting to a higher dimension. Catch up on sleep and alone time: You need to recharge. By shutting down your logical mind, the new moon will help you reconnect to your soul, helping you find new inspiration and energy, as well as some new dreams and wishes to work toward. See you in 2017, Aquarius!