December 2026 is a busy month in the sky. There is a new moon in Sagittarius, Saturn and Neptune turning direct within days of each other, Jupiter turning retrograde, a full moon in Cancer on Christmas Eve, and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. This guide lays out the dates, explains what each event is, and suggests how to use them without letting the month run you over. All times below are AEDT.
The key dates at a glance
9 December: New Moon at 16 degrees Sagittarius, 11.52am. 11 December: Saturn stations direct at 7 degrees Aries. 13 December: Jupiter stations retrograde at 27 degrees Leo, and Neptune stations direct at 1 degree Aries. Around 22 December: the southern hemisphere summer solstice. 24 December: Full Moon at 2 degrees Cancer, 12.28pm.
Check exact times for your city at timeanddate.com, particularly the solstice, since the exact moment depends on your time zone. The planetary dates above are as listed in the ephemeris data supplied for this series, and you can cross-check them against Cafe Astrology’s event calendar.
9 December: New Moon in Sagittarius
Mercury cleared its post-retrograde shadow at the end of November, so this is the first clean new moon after a messy stretch. Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign linked with travel, belief, learning, risk and big-picture thinking. A new moon here is good for intentions about study, travel, publishing, and widening your life.
It is also the new moon closest to the end of the year, which makes it a natural place to set the tone for the next twelve months. Choose one theme and write down one concrete step toward it.
11 December: Saturn stations direct at 7 degrees Aries
Saturn is the planet of structure, limits, responsibility and time. In Aries, the sign of beginnings and self-assertion, Saturn is asking what you are willing to take responsibility for starting. When Saturn turns direct, plans that were slow or stalled often get a clearer path. If you have been working on a long-term commitment, a business, a skill or a boundary, the next few months are when the evidence builds.
It is a slow station, and Saturn does not reward rushing. Make a short list of what you have been building, and look at what has held up.
13 December: Jupiter retrograde and Neptune direct
Two stations land on the same day. Jupiter turns retrograde at 27 degrees of Leo. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, growth and opportunity, and a Jupiter retrograde is traditionally a time to review what you are expanding. In Leo, the themes are creativity, visibility and self-expression. Treat it as a period for refining and deepening rather than expanding for the sake of it.
Neptune stations direct at 1 degree of Aries. Neptune governs dreams, imagination, illusion and dissolving boundaries, and in Aries it is only just beginning its stay in that sign. Direct motion tends to bring clearer perception and a little less fog. If something has felt unreal or hard to pin down over the past months, you may find it easier to see now.
The southern solstice
The December solstice falls around 21 to 22 December, depending on your time zone. In the southern hemisphere it is the longest day of the year and the start of astronomical summer. In the wheel of the year it is Litha, the midsummer festival. We covered the full calendar in the southern hemisphere Wheel of the Year. Northern writers will describe this date as Yule, and it is a different festival with different themes.
For us, it is the peak of light and heat. It suits working outdoors, honouring the sun, making cooling, bright and protective things, and celebrating what you have grown. It also lands in bushfire season in much of the country, so keep fire-based rituals safe and check local fire restrictions before you light anything outdoors.
24 December: Full Moon in Cancer
The full moon falls on Christmas Eve at 12.28pm, at 2 degrees Cancer. Cancer is the sign of home, family, memory and care, and it makes sense that it appears at the point in the year when many people are gathering. A Cancer full moon brings up feelings about belonging, who you are caring for, and where you feel safe.
It lands with Jupiter newly retrograde and Saturn freshly direct, so the questions are about both growth and responsibility. For some people the holiday season is joyful. For many it is complicated. A Cancer full moon is a good time to be honest about both, set a boundary around what you can manage, and give yourself a quiet evening if the day demands it.
How to use the month
If you only do three things, do these. Set one intention at the Sagittarius new moon. Use Saturn direct to commit to one long-term structure. Use the Cancer full moon to review your year and take rest seriously.
If you are building an altar or buying supplies for the season, Australian shops are the quickest source. US suppliers such as Mountain Rose Herbs, Sage Goddess, Lucky Mojo and Mineralism are popular, but order early and check Australian biosecurity rules on plant materials, since December shipping is slow.
Before December arrives
The build-up begins with the double station on 14 November and the Gemini full moon on 25 November. Read those first, since they set up everything that follows.
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