newsletter archive: new moon in sagittarius: terms & conditions may apply

Sent: December 19 2025

Mars has spent the week separating from its square to Saturn that perfected back on December 8th and has just made its ingression to Capricorn on the 14th. This opens up a cardinal story of initiation that we’ll see in 2026 and the build to the Venus-Mars conjunction, Mars cazimi, and Mercury-Mars conjunction in January. Though first, we still have an astrologically active end of the year to contend with.

While we’ve made it through the harshest aspect of the month, the Saturn squares aren’t quite over yet. In talking to friends, family, and clients this week, it’s clear that we have collectively been called back to examine the last few years of Saturn in Pisces (since March 2023) as this season’s squares and lunations serve as the grand finale of the transit. Saturn represents lessons that take years of discipline and hardship to learn but the angles from Saturn, the other 3 signs within the same modality, are the sources of tests and conflict that reinforce and ultimately teach that lesson. So of course, during this final mutable season before Saturn enters Aries, we’ve had players from all sides between the Full Moon in Gemini, the nodes in Pisces-Virgo, and a stellium in Sagittarius.

Saturn in Pisces has emphasized: the lost, the unknown, the confused, the boundless, victim/martyr/savior complexes, spiritual disenchantment, sacrifice, surrender, grief, untapped or unrealized emotions, even substance abuse and physical/mental illnesses

Saturn’s job has been to bring structure to a sign that is quite slippery and untamable in all of its gray-area-glory. It has done this by assembling emotionally complex situations that require a kind of soul grappling as well as a deep acceptance for what is. When challenged by the other mutable signs, we are examining Mercury’s rulership of Gemini and Virgo and how we might effectively communicate, analyze, regulate, choose between, and mend the body-mind connection. Additionally, we examine Sagittarius who relates deeply to Pisces through Jupiter as their shared ruler. The pressure that Saturn has been applying to our jovial signs emphasizes the challenge of optimism and what expansion requires us to release or endure; paired with the Mars-Saturn rupture last week (Dec 8), it’s pushed hard on a trust wound of some kind whether that represents trust in other people, trust in a benevolent universe, or trust and belief in the self to move forward whether there is support available or not.

Now that Mars has inflamed the wound, the Sun (Dec 16), New Moon (Dec 19), Venus (Dec 20), and Mercury (Dec 29) in Sagittarius all run into Saturn in Pisces to reactivate and clarify the initial Mars-Saturn conflict. Saturn squares create an unavoidable awareness of our limitations, the inevitable “no” in life, where we reach the end of our rope somewhere. The planets in Sagittarius challenge the foundation that we have now spent years building in the Pisces sector and presents a chance to respond differently to the same problems that have shown themselves again and again. That maturation may be unique for each of us, for some, it is about speaking honestly, releasing gracefully, or falling back on newfound regulation tools. For others, it has been about less explanation and more silence, less interference and more unfolding– a Saturnian battle of stillness and surrender without falling into passivity or avoidance (there is a difference apparently).

// NEW MOON IN SAGITTARIUS //

As we approach the New Moon on the 19th with a cluster of planets gathered in this Saturn square, it’s a symbolic new beginning but with high expectations or demands for what needs to shift in order to call in the desired growth. At the end of a Gregorian calendar year, we are naturally reflective about the year behind us and how we may improve next year. This is the dichotomy between Sagittarius season as it fades into Capricorn, one is about recognizing the boundless opportunity ahead (Sag is our vision board sign) while the other calls forward the discipline required to make those opportunities a reality. With Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn, so involved in this New Moon, we are unable to forget these requirements even before the Sun’s ingression to Capricorn on the Solstice.

Transits to Sagittarius for the last 5 years have been lowkey kinda… doomed? That is to say, the belief, optimism, and faith signatures have been essentially put on trial between 2020-2021’s South Node eclipses, 2022’s Mars retrograde opposition in Gemini, and 2023-2025’s Saturn squares. I wouldn’t be surprised if December 2019 was the last time that intoxicating Sagittarian whimsy and cheer was felt– even if it was dipped in a bit of Neptunian delusion. This sign, natal houses, and planets have been put through the wringer and I’m sorry to report that we’re really not done with these developments yet. December 2026 features a pre-shadow Mars retrograde square from Virgo along with the Uranus oppositions that we’ll have for the next 7 years. Still I refuse to believe that the planets are against us, no matter how destabilizing their presentation, something profound is being shaped here. The affliction in this sign forces the development of trust that does not rely on external circumstances, freedom that is not false, growth beyond what was previously thought possible… it’s just that we’re experiencing real growing pains right now and over the last few years.

For this lunation square to Saturn (and let's not forget, Neptune too), new beginnings are forged through delay, confusion, limitation, apathy, disappointment, or the feeling of being pressed for time and resources. It's likely that right now, we don't actually know what things are going to look like or how they'll come together, but moving forward without certainty is still necessary. This is where we do need that certain level of surrender without completely avoiding or sinking back into passivity. It's worth mentioning, Mercury has now finally moved past its post-shadow degrees and is meeting within 1º of the nodal bendings at the time of this lunation. This is new territory for Mercury after so much reconsideration and focus in Sagittarius and, as it is such a big month for the mutable signs and the nodes (coming off that Full Moon two weeks ago), pivotal conversations are likely, information is shaken loose now to be considered with a fresh pair of eyes. I think it's helpful to consider each month's New and Full Moons in pairs, particularly when they are on the same axis, they tend to work as a more connected storyline with themes that build on one another. This New Moon and new beginning is initiated after much reflection, even if it is accompanied by some delay or adjustment. Whatever you've learned since Mercury first entered its pre-shadow back in October is relevant to what is starting now.

I would also like to point out that we do have one planet here holding it all together: Jupiter in Cancer, where it finds its exaltation. This is a stark difference from last year’s detriment Jupiter in Gemini ruling and making oppositions where it seemed there were only choices between a rock and hard place or themes of miserable rivalry. Jupiter in Cancer (who is still in deep harmony with Saturn btw, this really helps us out despite the squares) presents instead, the possibility for love, contentment, and finding a home of some kind. Jupiter is always aspirational, powerful, and is currently well resourced to go the distance for the house themes that it transits. In Cancer, it is likely that we are each personally inspired to nurture something that makes all of the Saturnian roadblocks worth it. Next month, as the insane Capricorn stellium and conjunctions take focus, that opposition tightrope with Jupiter may invoke the feeling of being torn between emotional connection and belonging with responsibilities and ambitions. Each will demand capacity and presence but for now, let us enjoy Jupiter as much as we can as our proverbial glue.

// CLOSING OUT 2025 //

We did already talk a bit about Mars in Capricorn, particularly the Mars cazimi that this transit will build to, and while there is truly so much more to say about it, the real action with this planet occurs in January. I think it would be more helpful this week to reflect on 2025, our numerological 9 year, and the Hermit archetype. The sentiment I’ve heard across the collective this month has been this “between identities” phase where so much has been lost, shed, or discarded but the new life hasn’t fully implemented itself just yet. Such anticipation of what’s next can create: boredom, melancholy, anxiety, doubt, hopelessness– but fear not, the “new identity” is what 2026 is here to create as a numerological 1 year where we step into the archetype of the Magician (supported by the Wheel of Fortune and the Sun as its numerological counterparts in the Tarot). If things are slow and mushy and annoying at the moment, take this as an invitation to deepen your understanding of the function of this calendar year as the first half of 2026 looks fast, furious, and full of twists and turns.

Here is an excerpt of an essay I wrote at the end of 2024 in anticipation for 2025, this is exactly how this year has gone!!

“Now knowing that the glory he sought before was built on rotten roots bred by fear and ego, he then embarks on the journey of The Hermit. He sheds his clothes and worldly possessions, trading them in for only a humble cloak, a staff, and a lantern– the bare minimum to keep him warm enough, sturdy enough, and really only lighting the way to see a few steps in front of him– he surrenders to the lonely spiritual path to grapple with all of these things he’s learned and to search for what is beyond all that was previously known.

Virgo’s archetype revolves around humility, transparent intention, necessity, isolation, digestion, introspection, service, penance, and sacrifice. If you’re enjoying the archetypal media examples: Jean Valjean’s character in Les Mis goes through this process after experiencing kindness from the priest he stole from, it has such a profound effect on him that he commits his life to a path of spiritual and physical service that leads to the adoption of a child along with other acts of service and graciousness. We can see the juxtaposition of this archetype with its lesson card– The Moon (Pisces)– who is not at all transparent, containing secrets, deception, and represents the great unknown that The Hermit walks beside attempting to translate and understand his whole life long.

Some examples of a hermit’s journey might include: sobriety, any project or course of study that requires full attention and focus, a commitment to health, dietary changes, spiritual exploration, celibacy, and foreign travel or immigration. And while I’m sure temptation could become a factor for anyone of the flesh, The Hermit is often so committed to this change that nothing and no one can sway him, this is not often something that has to be forced because he is willingly walking away from his past. He is shaken and transformed for good, this is the kind of year we are stepping into... Perhaps you've already had or are in the process of embracing this cumulative experience of epiphany and abandoning something that was misaligned.”

I am currently cooking on some 2026 outlines and predictions but for now, I think it's important to digest the year in review and look at what is right in front of us. The lonely Hermit year is one that served a great purpose but it's normal to feel a little stuck in the mud as we close this out, it's helpful to remember that it is not forever. One of my favorite things about astrology is that it is a constant reminder that things will inevitably change.

//NEW MOON HOROSCOPES FOR YOUR RISING SIGN//

Aries Rising

The New Moon in your 9th house revisits a long chapter of questioning what you believe in and why. Saturn in your 12th presses on faith itself, forcing you to confront disillusionment, loss, or exhaustion that’s made optimism feel naïve. You’ve been learning that trust isn’t a thought exercise but a daily practice of showing up even when clarity fails. This lunation brings a sobering kind of wisdom, one earned through patience with uncertainty. Jupiter in your 4th softens the process, reminding you that grounding in something familiar or sacred keeps hope alive while the next vision takes shape.

Taurus Rising

The New Moon in your 8th house highlights themes of security, intimacy, and shared resources that have tested your trust over the past few years. Saturn in your 11th has revealed the limits of community support or the instability of group efforts and future visions, showing that not every connection or plan is sustainable. This square challenges you to face where fear of scarcity or rejection still influences your choices. The discomfort is maturity arriving, learning who’s safe to merge with and who drains your reserves. Jupiter in your 3rd offers a stabilizing voice: communication and curiosity rebuild confidence where old insecurity once lived.

Gemini Rising

The New Moon in your 7th house brings partnership and collaboration into focus again, but Saturn in your 10th demands accountability for how your commitments have shaped your direction. The past few years have tested whether you can balance independence with shared purpose. Delays or friction now expose what relationships can truly endure responsibility. You’re redefining what it means to build something lasting with another person. Jupiter in your 2nd reminds you that self-worth anchors stability; the more you value your time and energy, the stronger your bonds become.

Cancer Rising

The New Moon in your 6th house continues a long refinement of your work, health, and habits. Saturn in your 9th pushes you to align those routines with a belief system that actually sustains them. You may feel slowed down or pressed to prove your consistency, but that’s Saturn testing endurance, not punishing effort. The reward for discipline here is clarity about what’s truly meaningful to maintain. Jupiter in your 1st lends heart and faith to the process, reminding you that structure and optimism can coexist when purpose and identity guides the schedule.

Leo Rising

The New Moon in your 5th house reopens your relationship with creativity, joy, and risk. Saturn in your 8th has been testing how much trust you can bring into love and expression, surfacing the fear that pleasure or love might cost too much. The roadblocks here are emotional, vulnerability feels dangerous after so many lessons in control. Yet this lunation asks for renewed faith in the act of creating itself, whether in art, romance, or courage. Jupiter in your 12th provides invisible grace, the kind that reminds you that the best things often germinate in private before the world sees them.

Virgo Rising

The New Moon in your 4th house signals a new chapter around home and belonging. Since 2023, Saturn in your 7th has led to relationships that mirror your need for structure and as such, commitments have felt both serious and limiting. Delays or responsibility in connection may feel discouraging, but this has been shaping something long lasting and reshaping what you see for your home and foundations long term. You’re learning that foundations built slowly are the ones that stand the test of time. There's been so much consideration around your future lately and Jupiter in your 11th offers a hopeful glance at what it could be through friends or other forms of support that remind you why the work of rebuilding is worth it.

Libra Rising

The New Moon in your 3rd house marks the start of a new chapter in how you think, speak, and move through your environment, but Saturn in your 6th reminds you that efficiency is earned through trial, not theory. For the last three years, you’ve been slowly mastering the art of pacing yourself. Delays in workflow, health, or communication have forced you to become more intentional about what deserves your energy. This lunation invites you to speak from that hard-earned clarity about what is truly healthy and sustainable, not from urgency. Jupiter in your 10th house adds an encouraging glimmer, showing that your consistency has been noticed and that steady progress will open real doors in the months ahead.

Scorpio Rising

The New Moon in your 2nd house revisits questions of worth, stability, and resource management. Saturn in your 5th over the last 3 years has been exposing where fear of failure or lack of confidence has shaped your relationship with creation and love. The tension between responsibility and pleasure reveals what you’ve been avoiding out of insecurity. Saturn’s demand is maturity in value: to recognize what you truly possess (and how great it is). Jupiter in your 9th expands perspective, restoring faith in possibility, exploration, and meaning. When you remember why you began, stability becomes more than survival, it becomes devotion.

Sagittarius Rising

This New Moon in your 1st house is a renewal of self, but Saturn in your 4th slows the process enough to ensure the roots take. Over the last few years, every attempt at growth has asked for deeper emotional accountability– what inner foundation supports the freedom you seek? What do you want to take from the past and carry forward vs. what patterns do you want to leave behind? Frustration is natural here, yet every pause has built stability for what’s next. Jupiter in your 8th reminds you that intimacy and shared vulnerability are strengths, just as much as risks, and that growth rarely happens in isolation.

Capricorn Rising

The New Moon in your 12th house begins quietly, behind the scenes of visibility. Saturn in your 3rd tests your patience with process, delaying clarity so that reflection can mature into insight. You’ve likely been learning how to hold faith through silence rather than explanation or alternatively, how to communicate the truth gently but without passivity. This lunation closes a long chapter of mental overexertion and opens a gentler approach to problem-solving. Jupiter in your 7th offers encouragement through relationship or support; someone’s presence restores hope where certainty once lived.

Aquarius Rising

The New Moon in your 11th house reignites your relationship with the future and your dreams, goals, or social circles that shape them. Saturn in your 2nd tests the stability of those visions, reminding you that every ideal requires tangible investment. The past few years have demanded maturity in contribution and reciprocity, forcing you to recognize what energy you truly have to give. The roadblocks now reveal which alliances can withstand accountability. Jupiter in your 6th encourages you to refine daily habits that support your aspirations; faith becomes real when practiced consistently.

Pisces Rising

The New Moon in your 10th house brings a sense of culmination in career or purpose. Saturn in your 1st underscores personal responsibility. Your identity has been the project so the structure must start with you. Over the last few years, effort and visibility has felt heavy, but this is the final exam in self-mastery before Saturn moves on. The square challenges your ability to lead yourself with maturity rather than momentum. Jupiter in your 5th brings the sweetness back, inspiring joy and creativity in the work ahead. Love is a motivator too.

Happy New Moon!

Your friendly neighborhood astrologer,

Katie

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