Magical Elections for December 2025

Welcome to December! This month is tricky, not because of particular challenges–though we do have Mars squaring Saturn on December 8–but because no benefic planet outside of Jupiter has any particularly strong dignity, and Jupiter is retrograde throughout the month. Mars will come into his Exaltation halfway through December, which can be used for success, ambitions, and victories, however, Mars will be under the Sun’s beams at the time and not visible in the sky.

 

One great thing we have now, is the Moon waxing in the signs of her dignity, Taurus and Cancer. With this in mind, we return to our trusty Moon elections and find a cozy election just before the New Year.

Here is what we are working with in December:

• The Sun in Sagittarius until his Capricorn ingress and the Capricorn Solstice on December 21
• The Moon visits each sign, as always
  • Waxing from 16Aries to 13Gemini
  • Waning from 14Gemini to 28Sagittarius
  • Waxing again from 29Sagittarius to 9Gemini
• Mercury begins the month in Scorpio until they return to their Detriment in Sagittarius on December 11.
• Venus is in Sagittarius until December 24 when she ingresses Capricorn
  • Venus will be under the Sun’s beams throughout the month of December
• Mars is also in Sagittarius until his ingress to the sign of his Exaltation, Capricorn, on December 15
  • Mars spends his time in Capricorn under the Sun’s beams
• Jupiter is exalted in Cancer and is still retrograde.
  • Jupiter will station direct again March 10, 2026
• Saturn remains direct in Pisces all month.

For a review, we are looking for a basic election with the planet of choice well dignified, rising or culminating during their own hour and preferably day, and for the planet and the Moon to be unafflicted.

Our election finds the Moon in the sign of her Exaltation, Taurus, and ruling the chart, which has a Cancer Rising. This also places the Moon in the 11th House of Good Daimon (Good Spirit). Jupiter is on the Ascendant, and though retrograde, Jupiter is Exalted, in his own terms, and ruling the terms of the Moon as well as the hour. This election aligns well with the themes of the traditional New Year’s anthem, Auld Lang Syne.

Here is an overview of the chart calculation and ritual process:

December 30 at 6:07pm ET

(NOTE: Moon at 21 Taurus applying to Jupiter at 21 Cancer. Be sure to check the degree minutes to ensure she is still applying to Jupiter!)

Example Intentions (source: William Lilly):

• Honesty
• Growth
• Safety
• Presence

Optional Ritual:

• Prepare ritual space, using 9 White candles and dressing in similarly colored clothes.
• At elected time, light the candles and burn aromatic incense or Frankincense.
• Meditate on desired outcome or perform the elected action

Orphic Hymn to the Moon (credit: Christopher Warnock and www.renaissanceastrology.com):

Hear, Goddess queen, diffusing silver light,

Bull-horn’d, and wand’ring thro’ the gloom of Night.

With stars surrounded, and with circuit wide

Night’s torch extending, through the heav’ns you ride:

Female and male, with silv’ry rays you shine,

And now full-orb’d, now tending to decline.

Mother of ages, fruit-producing Moon,

Whose amber orb makes Night’s reflected noon:

Lover of horses, splendid queen of night,

All-seeing pow’r, bedeck’d with starry light,

Lover of vigilance, the foe of strife,

In peace rejoicing, and a prudent life:

Fair lamp of Night, its ornament and friend,

Who giv’st to Nature’s works their destin’d end.

Queen of the stars, all-wise Diana, hail!

Deck’d with a graceful robe and ample veil.

Come, blessed Goddess, prudent, starry, bright,

Come, moony-lamp, with chaste and splendid light,

Shine on these sacred rites with prosp’rous rays,

And pleas’d accept thy suppliants’ mystic praise.