December 2026 Astrology: Saturn and Neptune Turn Direct, Jupiter Goes Retrograde

December 2026 is a month in which the year's big planets change direction. Saturn and Neptune, retrograde in Aries for months, turn direct two days apart in the first half of the month, and Jupiter in Leo stations retrograde right after, on December 13. The personal planets are moving too: after its retrograde, Venus re-enters Scorpio, and Mercury ends its long stay in Scorpio and moves into Sagittarius. The month closes with the Sagittarius New Moon, the winter solstice and a supermoon Full Moon in Cancer. The key question this month: which big plans are ready to move forward, and which need a little more time to mature inside?

The Big Picture: The Outer Planets Change Direction

On December 1, the Sun is moving through the 8th degree of Sagittarius. Mercury is in the last degrees of Scorpio, and Venus is approaching the final degree of Libra. Mars stays all month in Virgo, which it entered on November 26. Jupiter is slowing down at 26° Leo; Saturn and Neptune are retrograde in Aries, Uranus is retrograde in Gemini, and Pluto moves direct in Aquarius.

The turning point of the month falls between December 11 and 13. First Saturn, then Neptune turns direct; a few hours later Jupiter begins its retrograde. So while part of the collective pace turns forward, the planet of expansion turns inward. By the end of the month, only Jupiter and Uranus will be retrograde. This suggests that long-stalled structural work may start moving again, while it may pay to be more selective about growth and risk.

December 4: Venus Back in Scorpio

On December 4 at 08:13 UTC, Venus moves from Libra into Scorpio. The Venus retrograde began in Scorpio on October 3; Venus slipped back into Libra on October 25 and turned direct in Libra on November 14. Now it re-enters Scorpio, covering again in forward motion the path it walked backwards during the retrograde, and stays there until January 7, 2027.

Venus in Scorpio highlights depth, loyalty, intimacy and shared resources. Relationship patterns or questions of value you reconsidered during the retrograde can now be handled moving forward and with a clearer will. On the shadow side are jealousy, possessiveness and the urge to control everything; saying openly what you feel can be healthier than storing it up in silence.

December 6: Mercury Enters Sagittarius

On December 6 at 08:34 UTC, Mercury moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius. This ends Mercury's journey through Scorpio, which began on September 30 and included a retrograde. The deep, read-between-the-lines tone of mind gives way to a broader, curious and outspoken one.

Mercury in Sagittarius is good ground for seeing the big picture, learning something new, planning travel and voicing ideas boldly. On the shadow side are skipping details and making promises before thinking them through. Mercury stays in Sagittarius until December 25.

December 9 Sagittarius New Moon: A Beginning That Widens the Horizon

On December 9 at 00:54 UTC, a New Moon takes place in Sagittarius, with the Sun and Moon meeting at 16°57' Sagittarius. A Sagittarius New Moon is traditionally a good time to set intentions around learning, travel, belief, honesty and freedom. With Mercury having entered Sagittarius three days earlier, it may be easier to put those intentions into words. Starting a course, planning a long-postponed trip or setting a goal that adds more meaning to your life all fit the spirit of this lunation. For a detailed reading and ritual ideas, see our December 9, 2026 Sagittarius New Moon article.

December 10-12: Saturn and Neptune Turn Direct in Aries

Around the turn of December 10 to 11 (UTC), Saturn turns direct at 8° Aries. Saturn is the planet of responsibility, structure, time and effort; the long-term plans and rules you reviewed during its retrograde can be pushed forward again after this date. Saturn in Aries asks courage to team up with discipline, learning to sustain as well as to start fast.

Neptune turns direct on December 12 (UTC) at around 1° Aries. Neptune is associated with dreams, inspiration, intuition and dissolving boundaries. With Saturn and Neptune turning direct in the same sign a few days apart, this is a good period for building bridges between dreams and concrete plans. Because the outer planets' stations unfold very slowly, their effect may be felt across several days before and after, not on a single date.

December 13: Jupiter Stations Retrograde in Leo

On December 13 at 00:56 UTC, Jupiter stations at 27°01' Leo and begins moving retrograde. The retrograde lasts until April 13, 2027. Jupiter is the planet of growth, optimism, luck and meaning; in Leo it has been amplifying creativity, self-expression, generosity and stepping onto the stage. During the retrograde these themes are processed more inwardly than outwardly: a chance to weigh again what you truly want to grow and which project really speaks to your heart.

Because Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Sagittarius, its retrograde is felt in the middle of Sagittarius season too. The spirit of this period is not to stop expanding but to make expansion more conscious and selective. For dates, the shadow period and the effects on each sign, see our Jupiter Retrograde 2026-2027 article.

December 21: The Sun Enters Capricorn, Winter Solstice

On December 21 at 20:49 UTC, the Sun enters Capricorn and the winter solstice takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. After the longest night of the year, the days start getting longer again. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign; goals, responsibility, structure and long-term achievement are its domain. After Sagittarius's wide horizon, Capricorn asks: how will you make this happen? Saturn, Capricorn's ruler, having turned direct mid-month gives this season a concrete foundation.

December 24 Cancer Full Moon: The Year's Last Supermoon

On December 24 at 01:30 UTC, a Full Moon takes place in Cancer, with the Moon in Cancer and the Sun in Capricorn facing each other at 2°14'. Like November's Gemini Full Moon, this Full Moon is one of 2026's supermoons. The Cancer-Capricorn axis brings the balance between home and career, emotional security and social responsibility to the fore. The cycle that began with the December 9 Sagittarius New Moon reaches its peak with this Full Moon. As the last week of the year begins, feelings about family, roots and how you see yourself may become more visible. For details, see our December 24, 2026 Cancer Full Moon article.

December 25: Mercury Enters Capricorn

On December 25 at 18:23 UTC, Mercury follows the Sun into Capricorn. Mercury in Capricorn supports planned, realistic and results-oriented thinking. These are good days for writing down your goals for the new year, reviewing your budget and tying your next step to a concrete schedule. Mercury stays in Capricorn until January 13, 2027.

Mars in Virgo All Month

Mars stays all month in Virgo, which it entered on November 26, and slows down; it will station retrograde at 10° Virgo on January 10, 2027. Mars in Virgo supports building order, developing skills and improving daily routines. In these months before the retrograde, finishing what has been left half done and checking the details before launching a new project can be a productive way to use Mars's energy. If you are curious which sign Mars occupies in your chart, our Mars sign article is a good place to start.

The Rhythm of the Month: What to Watch and When

• December 4: Venus back in Scorpio; depth and candor in relationships.
• December 6: Mercury enters Sagittarius; good for learning, planning and sharing ideas.
• December 9: New Moon in Sagittarius; a new intention that widens the horizon.
• December 10-11: Saturn turns direct in Aries; stalled long-term plans can move again.
• December 12: Neptune turns direct in Aries; a bridge between dreams and plans.
• December 13: Jupiter stations retrograde in Leo; time to be more selective about growth and risk.
• December 21: The Sun enters Capricorn; winter solstice.
• December 24: Supermoon Full Moon in Cancer; a peak around home, family and emotional security.
• December 25: Mercury enters Capricorn; time to make the new year's plans concrete.

December 2026 is a period in which the sky's big wheels are being reset in the last month of the year. Saturn and Neptune turning direct opens room for structures and dreams, while Jupiter's retrograde opens room for an inward review. For last month's events, see our November 2026 article. Astrology here is not a prophecy; it is a tradition that calculates where the planets are and when, and builds interpretation on top of that calculation. The color of that interpretation is set by your own chart and your choices.