Welcome to Indy Maven’s monthly astrology column coming by way of Kelli Jenkins and Hayley Trussell, better known around Indy as the Spellsisters. Check out their website and Instagram feed for even more info from the world of horoscopes and tarot, or to book a private reading.
December 2021 OVERVIEW
Things that have been stirring internally and building tension all year are finally coming to a head this month. The recent New Moon Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius forced us to confront the fact that we want more than we have been getting. Eclipses, which occur several times a year, demarcate significant moments in our lives. This one brought what’s been brewing in your subconscious to the surface and into focus. You’re artfully crafting your own narrative, so be mindful of your wishes and dream big.
What you think is outside the realm of possibility is not—eclipses pull your wildest dreams within your reach. On top of that, Sagittarius pushes the limits of possibility and encourages deep desires to materialize as truths. As we move into 2022, it is time to set new goals and practice what you preach (notoriously difficult for Sag). The subscriptions you hold with the Universe are up for renewal and you know you don’t want to waste another year on old, dusty dreams. You’re ready for more: you’re ready to take a risk.
The intensity is palpable for us all in December, with Pluto (lord of the Underworld: death, sex…the whole gamut of the unknown) involved in a complex astro configuration with multiple planets. You’re lit up… in a hot way, but friction has the capacity to spark a wildfire. Even with the heavy Sag influence dictating expansion, you might feel the urge to shut down and conserve your energy for bigger things. Trust your instincts: not every battle is worth your attention.
Mid-month, Venus and Pluto join in Capricorn to spend the rest of the year together, granting us the opportunity to mend toxic patterns—around money, responsibility, and relationships that we’ve outgrown. Where Pluto typically drudges up trauma, Venus provides a creative solution, softening the brutality. Mischief will be managed and old issues that were previously volatile will get smoothed out under Venus’s influence.
The Full Moon in Gemini on the 18th encourages us to release circumstances that we have unconsciously outgrown. The Full Moon following an eclipse portal is especially transformative. Eclipses always have the potential to feel monumental, but the blazing wildfire you were prepped to extinguish turns out to be a little bonfire that’ll burn out on its own. It’s entirely possible for you to bring about the endings you need in your life this month—with a little patience.
Old habits die hard but December has us evaluating how we exchange the energy of abundance—financially, romantically, and how we relate to our own personal power. Shifts to money and the currency of love are majorly highlighted. Expect shifts to the ways you feel about and expend of all kinds of abundance. This is a good time to reflect on the walls you put up to protect yourself.
At the end of the month, tricky planetary ~moments~ between Uranus and Saturn could bring about a power struggle between conservative, self-preserving thought patterns and modern, collective consciousness. We can expect large-scale political progress along with collective healing. Those that have been in power, enjoying the fruits of others’ labors, will be exposed and the dynamic that has enabled them to benefit from others’ hard work will be challenged. Energy is re-focused towards the collective and what is best for the greater good.
Shortly after, Jupiter finally settles in Aquarius, which it has been flirting with for the past year. After this long period of inner reflection about how we collectively expand, the conversation about how society moves forward becomes solely focused on inclusivity—who has access to what and why are some left without while others have every opportunity to thrive? The lines between sides are blurred, and individually we will become an indivisible part of the center, no matter which side we’ve been on in the past. Now it’s time for real transformation: true and tacit change will become actionable.
Finally, with Mercury, Venus, and Pluto aligning in Capricorn on the 29th, plan for dramatic, emotionally-charged events. Serious and intense communication is highlighted: you need to get your point across and there’s no mincing words. There is an intense romantic charge that could veer off into anger, giving way to fights, new sexual encounters, or people you once loved dramatically coming back into the picture. December will be transformative. Pluto is forcing its agenda, creating a culture of change and inspiring us to take a deep look at the darkest parts of ourselves and incorporate them into our own self-love and care routines as we reinvent ourselves for 2022.
BIRTHDAY SPOTLIGHT: Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Everyone loves a party but you might like one just a little too much. Sag, it’s your birthright to act like every day deserves to be celebrated, but consider a) setting boundaries, b) asking for help, and c) cutting yourself off from pleasure (maybe not all the way, but maybe it would be helpful to just, like, curb your inclination to indulge yourself). We know—it’s not what you want to hear but it’s without a doubt for your own good. Not to get all maternal on you or anything, but small changes can go a long way. It’s not like you need to go completely cold turkey into a life of purity at the monastery, and you can actually have your cake and eat it, too. But where’s the magic in having an entire cake every night (or a full bottle of wine, or tons of casual sex, or a diet that consists exclusively of carbs, etc., etc.)? If you’re noticing lately that nothing feels sacred, that’s probably because you’ve been treating it all as if it’s so sacred you need it all at once all the time. It sucks to have to report this, but, unfortunately, feeling good and becoming the person you want to be might require some sacrifices. Like, sometimes, it can be a good idea to forgo the champagne at nine a.m. brunch in favor of, idk???, some water?! If you deny yourself nothing, everything loses its luster in the end. Well, anyway, happy birthday, lol.
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AND NOW FOR THE REST OF YOU...
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
You are oddly, uncharacteristically, super warm and tender right now. Who are they?! But we wonder: you wanna be soft but why so serious? You tend to struggle with the lack of control that comes with vulnerability. No matter what you do, you cannot control how they react, but that isn’t a good reason to cut yourself off from your feelings. The eclipses cracked something open within you and this version of you is meant to be expressed now. Don’t fight it, don’t question it, but just allow yourself to ride the wave of emotion until it’s all over. It looks good on you! Roll with the punches and allow people to have strange reactions. Nobody is more surprised than you are but then again, remember that they aren’t used to seeing you this way, either.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Progress has been hard to come by recently, and you’ve been neglecting some really important things (namely: yourself, especially). Luckily, the recent eclipse portal was like an alarm going off, smacking you back into reality. This is your wake-up call. There’s so much to be done, but you’re not making progress because you’ve been so busy charting your progress instead of just doing the thing. Nothing changes if nothing changes, you know? All of this ends up feeling like a mountain you’re climbing, but going in circles with yourself, worrying about all the moving parts leaves you feeling like you’re still just standing in the foothills. All you actually need to worry about are your first steps and the rest will take care of itself. Set the ball rolling and make new habits this month. This time, they stick.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
You’re at the precipice in the middle of a threshold on top of the liminal space. It’s a peculiar position to be in–it feels like anything can happen, and it will because you’re not attached to a particular outcome. You can’t see where you’re going and you have no idea where you came from but you know eventually you’ll have to take action. You have the power to choose where you focus your energy. How Piscean. If your mind is set on worrying, let the chips fall where they may. But if you decide you’re meant for something bigger, start choosing the bigger life and watch as it materializes. Let this month be a waiting room outside the doctor’s office of your desires. You’re not ready for what you want but at least you know what it is.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Newsflash: Not everything crumbles without your attention. Overwatered flowers will die and some plants actually thrive when you forget to water them and simply leave them alone. Don’t get it twisted: December is not a time for you to be lazy. It’s just that being a little hands-off-ish is more the move for you right now. Instead of forcing things to bend the way you want them to, you might need to listen to your gut this month. You need to determine what actually requires your effort versus what you are trying to twist in your favor. And then, voila, effortlessly, events conspire to light the way. Your intuition is illuminating the path that is meant for you and only you. Put your ear to the ground.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
You know the right answer but you’re beyond the point of no return on a commitment you’ve already made. Oopsie, no take-backsies. You’ve been here before, so you know how to handle this situation—lean in harder and double down. Over-committing is sacred ground for your security-minded sign. You are wonderful at turning lemons into lemonade and making the best of something that seems too difficult to fix. If it’s not too late and you can swing it, remember Taurus, it’s alright to cut some losses: you’re gaining enormously from what you DON’T do in December. Make the best of a bad situation or get out while you still can.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
The last time you felt this manic-pixie-crazy may have been earlier this June—that’s when the stars aligned in your sector of individuality. Gemini, get ready for a little off-rising as you move forward on the track of your fated destiny. The harebrained ideas and insights that alight you might sound absolutely incoherent to everyone else. You have the foresight of a visionary right now. There is so much that you’re still figuring out, but none of it can be untangled ahead of time. The picture cannot be deciphered until the puzzle is complete. Be brave and start questioning what you always knew before it’s too late. Don’t miss the call that is your calling.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
You always focus on others, but you’re starting to realize how toxic that pattern truly is. Letting go of your pet projects (ahem…people?) could lead to a more healthy balance and a refreshing sense that you are investing in yourself first from now on. This December, you aren’t letting circumstances and guilt derail you from the growth you’ve been afraid of for ages. Your “shadow work” includes investigating what you get out of situations that leave you feeling like the victim. Why do you keep indulging in them? The gem is in your interpretation of the circumstances and not in how they make you feel. You can change it all in post. Just take the picture.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Your magnanimity knows no bounds—EXCEPT when your heart has been wounded. Where you were once expansive and joyously open, you’re suddenly cold and closed up like a clam. Your first line of defense is to start looking for the nearest exit (even if you just exit your body and disappear into your thoughts–we don’t recommend trying this at home). You need to challenge your own desire for revenge and allow forgiveness to settle what has you stirred up this month. Once you’ve got your mind set on revenge, it’s hard to change tracks, but take a step back. Why is your heart wounded? Take a practical stance with yourself and consider that maybe the undertone of insult you heard being directed at you wasn’t actually there. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your own inner peace.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
It’s time to build an alliance and drop the rope on going solo. Contrary to your trust issues and your general hatred for groupthink, you’re actually a lot better off working with the opinions of other people vs trying to perfect your agenda all on your own this month. It’s easier to come off more polished when you’ve got another set of eyes and a second brilliant mind to bounce ideas off. You can and should let yourself riff off someone else’s outline…. more importantly, let them riff off of yours. You hate to invest in something you didn’t build from the ground up, but why is it so important to beat your head against the wall when the ball you want to get rolling is already set in motion elsewhere?
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
You’re used to abandoning yourself when there’s a disagreement or just saying, ‘yes,’ when you can’t make up your mind. This month you’re learning that you have access to more personal power than you could have ever imagined if you only allow yourself to stand your ground. It’s literally impossible for you to simply go with the flow all of the time. Even the most powerful duos and strongest relationships are sometimes challenged. Pretending to be okay with things you’re very much not okay with is just going to set you back. Your desires are both powerful and persistent this month: don’t blow them off. Outside events may force you to take yourself more seriously in December.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
The only way out is through. At least that’s what they say. You’re in the middle of a humbling moment, bb, and for a while, it might be a little tough to look yourself in the eye, but it’s all for the best. You can reclaim awareness of your own divinity this month by getting raw and vulnerable (we know, gross). Trust in the power of surrender; it actually is truly powerful and transformative. Give up on the illusion that you have control over others. Nobody is under a spell. Control is a story you tell yourself so you can avoid having to face yourself in all your humanity. It chases you, though, and you never get away from it irl. You’re too tired to proceed the way you usually do: You have to focus on feeling better to actually feel better.
Photo by Schwebach Photography.
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