JACKSON, Wyo. — Dec. 26 marks the last full moon of 2023, when the Cold Moon will rise in the sign of Cancer. Because Cancer is ruled by the moon, emotions and needs will be fully at the forefront of end-of-year transitions.
This full moon also falls within the last occurrence of Mercury in Retrograde of 2023, when communication is likely to be disrupted by delays, restlessness, misunderstandings and uncertainty. While everyone is affected by Mercury in Retrograde differently, leaning into the feelings that may be more available to your awareness could be the key to starting 2024 with decisions that best serve your interest.
Read below for the best way to optimize emotional intelligence under your own sign:
Aquarius
Digital Detox: For these air signs to fully experience the depth of how feelings can inform creativity and intelligence, reducing time on phones, social media and other digital platforms is necessary. Too much online stimulation can cause idealistic Aquariuses to ignore their core needs in favor of a more detached sense of self and ego, but getting back to the immediacy of reality can inspire and soothe.
Pisces
Artistic Alert: Now is the time for these water signs to allow the year to culminate in self-expression. Art can take many different forms; by picking a project, these creative Pisces should find a way to visualize what feelings have collected in the 2023 self. From there, the emotional recognition can help inform self-compassion and improvement for 2024.
Aries
Give Gratitude: There’s a sense of nostalgia and reflection this time of year, but these fire signs need to find a sense of grounding through giving gratitude. By letting others know how they’re appreciated and acknowledging the help that’s been given, these passionate Aries will be able to establish a solid springboard of support for the adventures and risks they’ll take next year.
Taurus
Hello Healing: This is a really powerful time for these earth signs to allow the emotions that have been building all year to be recognized. With enhanced connections to friends and family around the holidays, these hardworking Tauruses have the chance to open themselves up to sharing stories, closeness and emotional vulnerability. Giving hugs and leaning into honest conversations can help move them through their feelings.
Gemini
Extra Exclusive: To make sure these air signs don’t get overwhelmed by indecision or impulsivity amid the end of the year, picking one or two priorities is essential right now. While whimsy is a hallmark of this sign, scattered attention can make curious Geminis feel insecure in their identity and confidence. Becoming highly intentional about where they put their energy will help avoid starting the year burnt out.
Cancer
Make “Me” time: The moon in its home frequency is illuminating a lot of feelings for these water signs, which can become draining very quickly. Because caring Cancers invest themselves in their relationships so much, they can risk adopting the likes or dislikes of their closest connections. It’s time to take some me-time in their sacred emotional space and prioritize their true needs for the new year.
Leo
Spirituality Search: The end of the year should welcome some redirection for these fire signs. While loving Leos thrive in their connections to others, some attention to more elevated connections is needed to make sure ambition and attention don’t inflate the ego. Exploring what religion, spirituality or other practices fill personal needs will allow the validation or invalidation of others to have less power over their optimism.
Virgo
Affection Abundance: It’s the perfect time for these earth signs to seek out the spaces to recharge their social battery. Going out with close friends and small groups will help support industrious Virgos as the amalgamation of mental energy spent on the past year catches up with their perfectionistic and self-critical tendencies. Affection and affirmations are the keys to keeping up a stride going into 2024.
Libra
Intentional Indulgence: What better time of the year than now for these air signs to celebrate themselves? While sometimes indulgence can feed the aesthetically oriented Libras’ vanity, it can also be warranted as a self-soothing and nurturing technique. Pouring effort into the diplomatic and idealistic can be exhausting, but seeking the experiences, purchases and conversations that feel fulfilling are the best remedy.
Scorpio
Go Getaway: Now is the time for these water signs to find a way to get out of town, or at least get out of the house. These intense Scorpios feel emotions very deeply, and being able to create more emotional perspective through traveling locally or somewhere more exotic will help reduce jealous or judgmental triggers. To feel more in control of feeling out of control, creating a context of adventure will help.
Sagittarius
Weighing Worth: Coming out of Sagittarius season, it’s the perfect moment for these fire signs to explore the realm that’s accessed through their intellect and artistry. Identifying what holds the most intangible worth for them will assist these independent Sagittariuses in judging which trails to blaze in the new year. Spontaneity is most powerful when paired with core values and self-trust.
Capricorn
Safe Space: While these earth signs typically thrive in an ambitious headspace, soothing and nurturing tendencies are important to support all the emotions that may not have been fully considered or expressed throughout the year. Relationships with people, places and ideologies should be considered by these goal-oriented Capricorns, so they can move into the spaces that feel the most calming to recover before the new year.
This original horoscope was created by the author, who has over two decades of astrology and horoscope experience.
