While the transits of summer and early fall were sharp, severe and sometimes draining, November’s transits were much more of a mixed bag—characterized by directional changes and traffic jams rather than by any particularly cutting combinations. The felt impact of this may have been one of confusion of direction, attention and purpose (and the frustration that can come along with that), as well as a need to accommodate the misdirection and changing itinerary that planets coming in and out of retrograde can bring.
While Jupiter’s exaltation in Cancer may have brought (and be bringing) blessings in its short stay between October 18th and and December 5th, the retrograde which began on November 11th may have complicated some of those blessings. And the pile up of planets in Scorpio (to increase this coming weekend) tends to create a pent-up feeling or sense of stuckness. Saturn’s recent direct motion, and the slow un-piling of planets from Scorpio, should help relieve some of that backlog throughout December.
This month we will see Jupiter move back into Gemini (where he was from spring of 2025 until October of this year) from Cancer, Saturn’s stabilization in the sign of Pisces after a long stay at zero degrees, many planets crossing the gandanta between Scorpio and Sagittarius (so that we end the month with four planets in Sagittarius, instead of the four planets in Scorpio we will have by later this week), and a handful of planetary wars and combustions. The month will end with what I call ‘relative stability,’ with only one major retrograde planet apparently impending progress and no heavy afflictions to speak of.
The sensitive period for this month will be the middle of it, when three planets are moving from Scorpio to Sagittarius, through the gandanta or ‘knot’ between the signs which tends to generate tension and uncertainty for the significations of the planets involved. The most intense period of gandanta will be the day before and after the transit itself listed below (for example, for the Sun this will be December 14th-16th).
The juncture between Scorpio and Sagittarius is considered the most tense of the three gandantas (the other being between Cancer and Leo and between Pisces and Aries), in part because Scorpio itself is a difficult sign associated with unseen and unknown influences.
Expect some instability and deep transformations for the next several weeks as three planets negotiate the tension that comes with this transition between fire and water signs. Physically, the Scorpio-Sagittarius gap is associated with the groin, external genitalia and anus. These areas are more vulnerable during this time, particularly if there are pre-existing weaknesses here.
The overall effect of the great migration of planets from Scorpio to Sagittarius should be an organizing of the energy that’s been building up for the last month or two into some type of purpose-driven action. This should feel relieving, with what’s been hiding in Scorpio finally having a chance to see the light of day and inform one’s larger position and goals.
More details on December transits:
Jupiter in Gemini 12/05-6/01 (retrograde until 3/10):
This transit allows us all to revisit some of the themes and growth which occured from 5/14-10/18 of this year, but at a slower pace and with more ability to tune to details, particularly related to communicating what may have felt difficult or overwhelming during that time—in part due to the pace at which things were developing. Whatever was new in your life around that time, expect that you will be able to re-approach it with a renewed ability to make adjustments and implement intended plans. This will be a natural outgrowth of an internally-focused and reflective energy that comes with the retrograde motion of Jupiter until March.
Saturn stabilizes at one degree of Pisces 12/05:
Saturn, and everything he governs, has been extremely unstable since early November, when his retrograde motion took him to less than one degree of Pisces, very nearly all the way back into Aquarius. A planet on the edge of a sign becomes vulnerable and weak, as if it doesn’t know exactly where it is or should be.
On December 5th, everything in Saturn’s domain can begin to regain whatever strength and direction it had been accumulating before early November, and possibly even before Saturn’s retrograde motion began on July 12th, which threw the planet and everything it controls into some substantial re-evaluation. Saturn’s domains include physical labor and strength, the hard and ‘menial’ jobs required to keep life moving, the implementation of plans and ideas, elderly, working-class and sick people. The ‘mundane’ details of life may have felt increasingly heavy throughout this time.
On an emotional level, Saturn governs depression, grief and psychological numbness or internal distance. Physically, Saturn rules the muscles of the body (which ‘get the job done’) and he can bring vata-type disorders like joint and digestive issues and overall deterioration and dryness of body and mind. These effects may have been accumulating during the retrograde motion, and only with Saturn’s direct motion became visible or perceivable.
Mercury in Scorpio 12/6-12/28
We recently saw Mercury in Scorpio from 10/24-11/23 before his movement back into Libra. You may revisit whatever themes were alive for you during that time, particularly those related to communication, organization and information. Honesty (especially in money-matters) is particularly important here.
Sun in Sagittarius 12/15-1/14 (in gandanta 12/13-12/17)
Sun’s month in Sagittarius gives us the opportunity to re-center ourselves around our guiding morals and principles (after a month in Scorpio, where we may have floundered a bit) and to re-ignite our sense of purpose and direction. Sagittarius is concerned with standing up for what matters, fighting against evil, and aligning the individual with their own beliefs.
Venus in Sagittarius 12/19-1/12 (in gandanta 12/18-12/22)
While Venus in Scorpio may have brought depth and deep desire into relationships, its transit in Sagittarius gives a broader view that can be useful in close partnerships (professional and romantic) for reassessing direction and goals based on current context and information. This holds for all things Venus, including one’s own experience of enjoyment, beauty, desire, and love. This transit presents an opportunity to zoom out and evaluate the role and state of these elements of experience in one’s life. (It is noteworthy that from the Vedic perspective, pleasure and enjoyment have an intimate connection with health and vitality, through the planet Venus—a deficiency in one generally translates to an issue with the other).
Mars in Sagittarius 12/07-1/15 (in gandanta 12/04-12/12)
Mars will be transitioning out his own sign Scorpio, where his intensity was right at home, and into Sagittarius, where the heat and precision of this planet can translate into a certain combativeness or righteousness that can cause one to act impulsively, particularly in matters related to beliefs and authority. The gandanta dates of Mars are especially delicate for injuries, accidents and outbursts.