By Narayana Montúfar
When the sun’s rays begin illuminating the skies of Capricorn on December 21, you enter a four-week window that is all about shifting timelines. As you officially begin winter, it’s pretty clear that your focus should be on realigning your life to match your evolving priorities. While retrograding Mars’ shift into Cancer on January 6 brings a deep nostalgia focused on processing the past, this season sheds light on the life themes that are fading away as new ones begin to emerge. After all, Capricorn’s practical and orderly influence is all about removing any obstacles that might be preventing you from climbing the ladder of success.
The wheel of fortune is active between December 21 and December 27, as the Capricorn sun activates the lunar nodes of destiny. Whoever or whatever comes into your orbit now might redirect your path, perhaps challenging you to shift your stance concerning an important situation. The lunar nodes are scheduled to perform their once-every-eighteen-month shift as they leave the Aries/Libra axis to enter the Virgo/Pisces axis on January 11, wrapping up old themes and giving birth to new ones. Starting now, the mystical themes of personal karma and collective evolution adopt a new flavor—we’re no longer focused on leaving behind relationships as much as elevating our sense of wellness and intuition.
On December 24, the two social planets—Jupiter and Saturn—clash for the second time this year, inspiring a full revision of your growth strategies, perhaps taking you back to something that began around August 19. By the time the moon renews itself in diligent Capricorn on December 30, you’re gaining clarity around the strategies that need to be either revamped (or completely canceled) between now and the ultra-potent January 13 full moon in Cancer. Communication master Mercury—also in diligent Capricorn starting January 8—will be lending you a helping hand as you practice objectivity and discernment. Within this process, pay much attention to the events that transpire at the January 1 and January 2 epic clash between retrograde Mars and Pluto. Signs and messages about how to move through the increasingly shifty landscape of 2025 are everywhere—a trend that continues once the futuristic Aquarius season arrives on January 19.
Aries
Even with your planet, Mars, being retrograde all month, you’ll still be very focused on making strides in your career, Aries. Your intuition is your biggest asset, especially during the December 24 Jupiter-Saturn meetup, so you must listen to your inner voice. The December 30 new moon might initiate an ambitious project, but you have to stay mindful of not overworking yourself this season, as you could truly hit burnout by the time the January 13 full moon arrives.
In the end, you’re closing an eighteen-month cycle during which you received immense celestial support in the realization of your goals and dreams. As the lunar North Node leaves your sign on January 11, your focus should be more on cultivating mindful practices like meditation and a deeper connection to your intuition as your means of personal growth for the next year and a half.
Taurus
Prepare to feel powerful forces that will fuel your sense of ambition, Taurus. As you strive toward building the career of your dreams, especially between December 21 and January 1, it’s crucial to take the obstacles you run into as opportunities for growth and self-mastery. This will be particularly true around January 2 and the January 13 full moon, which are the highlights of this month’s Mars retrograde influence.
Your biggest ally, of course, will be Venus, traveling in its favorite place in the sky (Pisces) between January 2 and February 3. Venus will ensure that you receive all the support you can get from both business collaborators, as well as friendships. January 18, in particular, could be when an agreement gets defined or when a cherished dream materializes.
Gemini
Cultivating a deep sense of focus over the next four weeks will be incredibly important, Gemini. With Mars retrograde in your communication sector between December 21 and January 5, you must express yourself carefully and strategically. You will need to review many of your career-related strategies around the time Jupiter activates Saturn in your work sector on December 24.
Know that the effort you invest in your career now will plant the seed of your future success. You might even feel this as soon as Venus brings positivity to your work life between January 2 and February 3. Still, you might feel the need to review your financial situation once retrograde Mars enters your zone of money, from January 6 to February 23.
Cancer
Capricorn season will be a time to embrace the inner quest, dear Cancer. The beginning of the season brings serious conversations around money and finances as Mars and Pluto prepare to clash on January 2. This trend is supported by the December 30 new moon, which might instigate a revision of the boundaries within an important relationship.
The second part of the season sees you adopting a more “me” focused approach when retrograde Mars enters your sign. Between January 6 and February 23, you will be embracing a deep sense of introspection with the finality of reassessing your desires, your ambitions, and even how you carry yourself through the world. Within this process, the January 13 full moon, which happens in your sign, will be deeply revelatory of the behaviors to cultivate and changes to make in 2025.
Leo
Capricorn season tends to be a productive time work-wise, Leo—but due to Mars retrograde in your sign until January 5, you might decide to take things more lightly this time around. During the January 3 Mars-Pluto clash, especially, it’s time to listen to your body by resolving to slow down.
Once Mars enters your zone of intuition, you begin several weeks of deep introspection, lasting until February 23. There are important changes taking place in your life right now regarding how you see yourself as well as within your relationships, so this is a very necessary process to embrace as you prepare for an epic reinvention. Pay attention to your dreams around the potent January 13 full moon, which promises to reveal a lot of information regarding how your desires are evolving.
Virgo
Your planet, Mercury, might be moving direct, but that doesn’t mean that the period of revision is over, Virgo. The December 24 Jupiter-Saturn square-off heralds a time to review your career-related strategies. This is especially true if you have a business partner or work with clients one-on-one. However, you can expect to experience more movement right after the December 30 new moon, especially once Mercury enters Capricorn on January 8.
This is also a season that provides a lot of insight into your future as the South Node enters your sign on January 11. Over the next eighteen months, the celestial currents will inspire a deep transformation within you, removing anything from your life that no longer aligns with a true sense of authenticity.
Libra
Prepare to know who your real friends are, Libra, as retrograde Mars heats up your social sector between December 21 and January 5. Starting January 6, some collaborations either pass or end during this time, which in turn instigates a change within your career-related priorities. Starting now, you’re in for some big aha moments regarding what you would like to achieve in this area of your life.
A very gratifying piece of big news is the end of an eighteen-year cycle during which the cosmos inspired a deep change in your life. Starting January 11, the South Node leaves your sign, wrapping up a huge process that involves shedding your old skin. The January 13 full moon promises to be emotional, offering you a moment of release, as you wrap up one of your most transformative times yet.
Scorpio
Seek balance this season, Scorpio. The ongoing Mars retrograde puts pressure when it comes to achieving a good work-life balance this season. You might feel this strongly around the January 2 Mars-Pluto clash and then again around January 15, as the sun in Capricorn reactivates it. You’re a tireless achiever, but remember that even you require rest during Mars’ backspin, as the red planet is an important force in your astrological chart. Luckily, you might feel things getting lighter once Mars enters Cancer on January 6.
On a more fun note, lover Venus graces your sphere of romance, creativity, and joy between January 2 and February 3. This influence will be really helpful when it comes to making more fun social plans, creating space for little breaks, and perhaps planning a couple of weekend getaways.
Sagittarius
This year, you’re bound to feel Capricorn’s serious influence, dear Archer. A lot of your focus will be on your finances, especially if you share bank accounts or budgets with someone. You might decide to make some adjustments under the December 30 new moon, diving even deeper into numbers and analytics over the next two weeks, by the time the potent January 13 full moon rises.
A close relationship might also come under focus as retrograde Mars enters your intimacy sector on January 6. Starting now, you could be focused on delineating the boundaries within your connection, and things might get heated between January 12 and January 16. Give yourself time to arrive at a conclusion, as the retrograde of Mars is truly a slow burn, ending on February 23.
Capricorn
This solar return comes with exciting twists and turns, Capricorn! Between December 21 and January 11, events that hold a fated flavor could transpire in your life. You’re now closing an eighteen-month cycle that involved deep changes to your workflow and career. Without the pressure to weather the ups and downs, the December 24 Jupiter-Saturn square-off inspires you to look at your past lessons in preparation for the future.
Relationships will also be one of your strongest focuses this season as retrograde Mars clashes with Pluto on January 2 and enters your relationship sector on January 6. Along these lines, the December 30 new moon in your sign is the perfect moment to have serious conversations around finances and resources either with your romantic or business partner. Give yourself two weeks at least to arrive at conclusions, as the January 13 full moon will be very telling of the changes that need to be implemented in 2025.
Aquarius
The next four weeks will be loaded with powerful insights as you get deeper into the inner search. The December 27 square-off between Uranus in Taurus and Venus in your sign deepens your awareness of how much your close relationships are changing. By the time retrograde Mars clashes with transformative Pluto in your sign on January 2, you might decide to begin walking a different path concerning either a romantic or a professional connection.
You’re also bound to feel a deeper connection with your intuition on December 30 as the moon becomes new in your subconscious sector—an influence that deepens as communicative Mercury enters the same area of your chart on January 8. You realize that to create the life of your dreams during a time of enormous collective change, you must first go within.
Pisces
Welcome to your future, Pisces! Mars retrograde might slow down your productivity, especially between December 21 and January 5, followed by the need to review important projects when Jupiter squares off with diligent Saturn in your sign on December 24.
Still, you have so much to look forward to—especially as lover Venus occupies your sign between January 2 and February 3. The sun harmonizes with Saturn on January 4, bringing a fortunate day to either ask for a raise or express your sentiments to someone special. However, the most positive news of the entire season is the North Node entering your sign starting January 11. Over the next eighteen months, the universe is going to set the stage for you to materialize your deepest dreams. Now the question is, will you dare to do it?
Narayana Montúfar is a Mexican-born, California-based astrologer, writer, and Akashic reader who finds inspiration in the symbolic language of the cosmos. She is the author of ‘Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power’, the resident astrologer for House of Intuition, and a guest writer for Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Refinery29, and Parade. Find her on Instagram at @narayanamontufar or at her website naromon.com.