Sagittarius, December 2016

Saturn's gloomy glare might be messing with you and encouraging you to be more frugal and uptight than usual, but your energy level is high and things are looking optimistic on December 1, when Mars in Aquarius connects with Jupiter in Libra.

Warrior Mars is in friendly, inventive Air sign Aquarius, where it will be igniting the communication sector of your chart until December 19. This is a very key time around communication and information collecting for you. Lucky planet Jupiter (your ruling planet!) is in relationship-oriented Libra until October 10, 2017, bringing blessings to the friendship and community sector of your chart.

There's no doubt that Mars and Jupiter meet, you'll have some exciting stuff happening in your social life and that important messages will come your way! This is a great day for networking or for sending an important letter—especially if it's one that you need major confidence to send. Mars is fearless, and Jupiter believes in miracles, so today's the day to be bold!

On December 2, Mercury will enter materially minded Earth sign Capricorn and activate the financial sector of your chart. Mercury is all about communication and the mind, so this is a fantastic time to have discussions about cash and worth (this includes emotional worth, in addition to financial). Capricorn is a very practical, realistic energy, and security is important to you right now (who would have ever though that would happen, Sag?).

Venus enters Aquarius on December 7, which will bring lots of lovely messages your way! Venus rules love and peace, beauty and art, and, of course, money, so conversations about all these themes will come up. Aquarius's vibe is detached and logical; Venus isn't very cuddly in this sign, but Venus is very open-minded when it's in the water bearer, so expect to have interesting discussions for sure.

On December 9, the Sun (which is in your sign, Sagittarius!) will connect with Jupiter, putting you in a very social mood. This is a great day for networking. Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion, and, as we discussed earlier, it's in charming Air sign Libra, activating the sector of your chart that rules friendship and community. This is a lucky day to meet new people or join an organization. This astrological pairing will feel a lot like the good vibes you received on the 1st when Mars and Jupiter connected; however, the spotlight will be more on you this time around, since the sun is in your sign!

December 13 brings the full moon in Gemini, which will be very illuminating for your relationships. Full moon are always emotionally exhausting, but this time around it won't only be you processing feelings—it will be you and your partners! Gemini is the sign of the twins. With whom are you joined at the hip? Because your sign is the sign of abundance, you're more likely a part of a triplet or quadruplet situation, but anyway: Who are you sharing your time with, and how is it working for you, Sag? Is there a fair give and take? Is the relationship built on lies, or is it built on respect?

This full moon will bring to light all your relationship issues. Gemini is a sign that, like you, doesn't know when to stop talking, so expect lots of communication around this time. You have a tendency to ignore details, choosing to focus on the big picture instead, but you won't be able to do that now.

Sure, your lover is really hot and has the body you've been praying for, but do they ever show up on time? Sure, your collaborator has great connections, but have they ever really shared them with you? Stop idealizing, stop thinking about what could be, and stop overgeneralizing what's going on. Be real about what's happening right now. Big confrontations are likely to go down at this time, and you can bet it will be emotional.

December 19 is definitely a day to mark in your calendar. Not only will warrior Mars enter sensitive Water sign Pisces, but Mercury will also go retrograde in Capricorn! We all know Mercury retrograde sucks. This is a bad time for communication, but a fantastic time to run into an ex. People from the past love to show up during Mercury retrograde! Avoid making important purchases, making travel plans, or signing contracts. Expect delays and miscommunications. However, do take advantage of the Mercury retrograde to slow down, catch up on old projects, and unwind. If there were ever a time to slack off, it's now. Mercury's not moving forward, so neither should you.

This Mercury retrograde will take place in Capricorn, a creature with a goat's head and a fish tail. Capricorn is a very driven, success-oriented sign, always climbing toward the top of the mountain—but what about its fishy roots? The top half of Capricorn (the goat end) symbolizes the Earth element: physical, material, practical, and stable. Worldly achievement is Capricorn's goal, but during this Mercury retrograde, perhaps we should consider the back end of this sign— the tail.

The fish tail is most at home in water, and, astrologically speaking, the Water element is related to feelings, intuition, and flow. Water is slippery, tricky, and moody. Tides go in and out. But mountains stand there firmly, forever. Is the goat's head the "true" end of Capricorn? Both ends are equally important, I think. Your past mustn't define your future; however, your past does inform your talents, your dreams, and your goals.

During this Mercury retrograde, you will experience a lot of bullshit concerning cash—please don't buy anything important or invest in any crazy businesses—but you could use this time very wisely by reflecting on why you have the spending (and saving) habits that you do, or by meditating on your sense of self-esteem and your relationship with money and security.

Mars, the planet of action, will enter fishy Water sign Pisces on the same day Mercury begins its retrograde, during which time it will activate the home and family sector of your chart. You're going to be very motivated to work out problems concerning these issues during this time. You're going to be very protective of your personal space as well, and boundaries will become a big topic.

On December 24, Saturn will connect with wild Uranus—this will be a day to remember! Expect sparks to fly in your love life and in your creative, artistic endeavors. Uranus is the sign of invention, and Saturn is all about structure. Something fantastic and unexpected is being built in your life, Sag! The energy today is powerful, energizing, and supportive. Take a risk today and do something different: The universe has your back. In fact, you have your own back. Again, Saturn is currently in your sign, making you too smart to make a stupid risk, so trust yourself—you know what you're doing!

One of the most important days for you this month is December 26 when Jupiter in Libra opposes Uranus in Aries. Issues that have been waiting to blow up will do so today. Jupiter is over-the-top, and Uranus is unpredictable—but let's be real, Sag, you saw this drama coming. You just didn't realize it would be so big, so loud, or so extra. This opposition stimulates the sector of your chart that rules your love life and your social life, so good luck with that. This is an important time to be open to compromise and to act honestly.

The winter solstice begins with the Sun entering Capricorn on December 21, and soon after, we have a new moon in Cap on December 29. New moons bring new beginnings, and 2016 has been a shit year. You're the optimist of the zodiac, but Capricorn is the pessimist. You shoot your arrows toward the moon; as the zodiac wheel turns, Capricorn's at the top of the mountain, watching your arrow land somewhere in the bushes.

We won't always get things right. But we can always try to act with integrity, gratitude, and respect. This new moon in Capricorn reminds you to count your blessings, and it will probably also slip you a belated birthday card with some cash (do expect some good news around money!). Have a great month, Sag, and see you in 2017!