You have been working very hard, and what you need most is a happy holiday. This will happen, dear Cancer, so have faith. You may doubt me at the start of the month because most of the month you will feel the pressure to meet deadlines and perform to almost impossibly high standards.

Part of the problem will be that a tough trend involving your day-to-day work projects was put into motion last month on November 29 at the new moon in your sixth house. That new moon came conjunct Saturn, a serious, weighty vibration – just the opposite of the mood of the season. You might have a seasonal job that always makes life super-busy at holiday time. Or, it may be that you’ve done everything right all year and you will be needed to deal with all the new business that you developed and that is walking through the door. Then again, it may be that you will be dealing with a skeleton crew and not have enough people on hand to help get things done. No matter. It’s nice to have a job, don’t you agree? So many people, especially at this time of the year, would love to be you. If you are a Cancer who happens to be out of work, the new moon of November 29, still strong now in December, will be strong enough to get you work.

That new moon will color the entire first third of December, so if you want more work, or want a new job similar to the one you had before (not a step up), then you need to look immediately, for you are likely to unearth something interesting. I know what you are saying to yourself, that no one finds a job in December. You will be the exception to the rule. Don’t listen to the naysayers, and stay optimistic.

I should tell you that Mercury will be retrograde from December 19 to January 8, so hopefully, you can get your new job prior to these dates, in December’s first week, or, later in January. The problem with Mercury is that it causes all kind of communication errors; it makes us rush and be forgetful or distracted; and Mercury retrograde makes us all prone to making bad decisions. If you want to know more about Mercury retrograde, go to the menu on my homepage of Astrology Zone (under my logo). Go to Learn Astrology and read the article I wrote, “All you need to know about Mercury Retrograde.” It is also found on my homepage in the lower left hand corner.

You will start to feel the slowdown of Mercury by December 5 or so, and it will extend beyond Mercury’s turnaround date of January 8, to the real date of strength, January 27. This is because Mercury, like people, need a bit of time to return to former strength after napping or lounging for three-and-a-half weeks. I would prefer you take a job in late January, and that might be possible because good jobs take time to win. January 27 happens to be the new moon in your solar eighth house of commission. If you work on a commission basis or depend on licensing fees, royalties, or a year-end bonus, that new moon will be doubly special for you.

Let’s go back to the start of the month and see what’s in store for you. Last month I talked about the sweet interplay between Mars in Aquarius and Jupiter in Libra. This would be an ideal day – December 1 – to take action on a property / real estate situation. For example, you may want to sign a lease, close on a house or condo, or buy new furniture or a new mattress. All home and family-related actions will be blessed on December 1.

December 6 will be an interesting, very positive day, for Mars in your workaday sixth house sector will link to Uranus in your tenth house of honors, awards, and achievement. Here, in other words, your everyday work will add up to something big, for VIPs will be noticing your fine performance on this day. When you are hot, you’re hot, dear Cancer.

One of my favorite days of the month (there will be others) is December 9, when a dream situation involving home and real estate will unfold. It is alternatively possible that you will see in very clear, possibly financial, terms just how much your family loves you. If you get a bid on a house you are selling, it will be one of the best you have received (or likely WILL receive anytime soon). You will need money to make the home-related changes you have in mind, and on this day, the money flows to you too. It’s a win-win on all sides.

The weekend of December 10-11 won’t be easy. You need to slow down and rest. This is a day that happens once a year on different days when Saturn will oppose the Sun. If you were to feel worn to the bone, and even deflated because you can’t seem to meet someone’s impossible standards and expectations, this is the weekend it will happen. You may be criticized, and although the criticism will have some merit, it would be delivered in a way that falls on you like a lead brick. In other words, you are likely to be much too sensitive when you hear what this person has to say, and that will be that way simply because you are tired. This is the reason why a little extra sleep will be so valuable this weekend.

By Monday, December 12, you may get good news about money and your earned income, for it is likely to come to you like lightning, perhaps when a new assignment comes in out of the blue. Uranus is visiting your tenth house of fame and honors, and will link to the mighty Sun, the ruler of your second house of salary.

The full moon of Tuesday, December 13 is always a key part of the month, but this one occurs off stage, out of sight in your chart, at 22 degrees Gemini. The fatigue you may have felt over the weekend of December 10-11 may lead to full blown exhaustion by the full moon, which is influential for an additional four days.

Do all you can to keep your strength up, which is easier said than done in a month you will be under such pressure at work. Having a holiday that involves high spending, gifts, food, wardrobe, and a deadline – December 25 – doesn’t help. (I am joking here.) Again, Saturn will be very prominent, so it seems a person near you – a male or female – may not be well, and you may want to assist. Or, it may be that you are feeling overwhelmed and a little depressed with all the pressures on you. Again, I will say that sleep will be your best antidote. If you need to get something off your chest, do it, for you will feel great release.

Jupiter and Uranus will help you at the full moon, December 13 plus or minus four days, even as Saturn presses on you. You will get help from family and praise from VIPs at work, and that is no small comfort. I know this full moon is a mixed outlook, but life is often that way – a crazy quilt of different tones and colors. Also at the full moon, a secret may come to light that you may find very useful, possibly for work. Keep your antenna up.

You seem to be going though quite a bit of money since last month for any number of reasons, but that spending will abate after December 19 when Mars moves out of Aquarius into the divine sign for you, Pisces. Mars in Pisces may coax you to think about taking a long trip to a location near water, ice, or snow. You might take a cruise to Alaska, or go to a warm beach in Bali, or go skiing in Chamonix, France. The world will be your oyster, so just think of the possibilities.

The whole month will turn special for you by December 19 when Mars goes into Pisces. Your work will become lighter and happier, for Mars rules your house of fame. The fact that Pisces blends so well with Cancer is clear evidence of how joyful you will be.

Christmas and Hanukkah will fall on the same date this year, December 25. The day after, December 26, will be Kwanzaa, a fixed date. Many people of the world will be celebrating peace on earth and good will toward all men, for the vibrations of these days will be uplifting and lyrical. This year the holidays will be incredibly beautiful.

On December 24, Saturn and Uranus will be in ideal harmony – this almost never happens! Saturn rules your natural house of partnership, and Uranus rules your career. It appears that a middleman will be very helpful to you, not only on December 24, but all month and throughout 2017. Saturn takes 29 years to revolve around the Sun, and Uranus takes 84 years to make the same journey.

When you have outer planets that move this slowly, when you have a significant aspect like this, it spreads like warm maple syrup all over the month. Uranus is known for its sudden changes to create a better future. The minute Uranus deems something of no future use to you; he throws a lightning bolt and in the blink of an eye, takes it away. You will put something better in its place, so stay cheerful. Saturn will provide solidity and long-term strength and structure to what you create.

This is the first of three such passes between Saturn and Uranus. The first will happen this month, December 24. The second and third pass will happen May 18 and November 11, 2017. As you see, the entire year of 2017 will feel this vibration. After the last meeting on November 11, Saturn and Uranus will not be back in the same harmonious aspect until 2047.

Here is a really brilliant set of aspects that will happen on December 25. Venus will meet with Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn. How wonderful! Jupiter brings happiness to everything it touches, and because Venus rules all that embellishes and beautifies, you may be given a valuable gift, possibly of jewelry, or something else you will treasure. This day will be filled with surprises. On the same day, December 25, Venus and Saturn will work together to be sure promises are kept, possibly forever. As you see, Venus will work with Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn all on the same day! Wow!

A day later, December 26, Mars will contact the Sun, suggesting more good news will come in about your status in the industry, for it appears that all that hard work was done with polish and professionalism. This will be clear now.

In a month that has everything, we have ANOTHER event, a new moon, December 29 in Capricorn at 8 degrees. This new moon will light your house of commitment, so no doubt many Cancer couples will get engaged, even though I wish this would happen after Mercury turns direct. I know – it’s more romantic to get engaged on the top of the Eiffel Tower on New Year’s Eve than on an ordinary day. It worries me that Neptune and Mars will be conjunct on December 31, making couples get a bit carried away with a dream that may or may not fit reality. Promise your love, but get engaged on Valentine’s Day.

If your birthday falls on June 29, you will feel this partnership-oriented new moon the most, and benefit from it. The same is true if you have Cancer rising, or the moon, or a natal planet in Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn at 8 degrees, plus or minus four degrees – you too will feel this new moon’s benefits and opportunities directly.

You have a busy month ahead, but you may have already sensed this to be true. You seem to work in a seasonal business where your attention to current business activity is critical to the success of your job, or if you are self-employed, to the long-term growth and reputation of your business.

Many Cancers enjoy running their own shop, because you have the sign of entrepreneurial Aries at the very tip top of your solar chart, guarding your prestigious career sector. Having autonomy is important to you, and because Cancers are also known to be wise with financial matters, you are well suited to managing your own business. If you have not yet opened the doors of your own company, you might still do so. (The days following the new moon March 27 would be a perfect time to launch a new business.) I talk about this because you are apparently quite a self-starter, and this month, especially in the first half, you will see evidence that you are capable of being successful without being managed by others.

Guard your health at the full moon, December 13, when you may feel the effects of working long hours earlier in the month. If you feel a cold coming on, rest immediately. At this time, you may hear of someone’s secret, or you may cook up a secret of your own. If it is the latter case, be careful, as the light of a full moon is capable of bringing hidden confidences to the surface. If you hear of someone else’s secret, it looks like you will be able to use that information to your advantage in business.

You may find this to be an expensive month, with Mars zooming through your eighth house of credit and loans. You might say everyone has an expensive month in December, but you seem to experience more spending now than most other signs. This may give you the motivation to earn more money, too.

Despite the high expenses you seem to be facing, you will have extraordinary help from the full moon, December 13, and from Jupiter, now based in your solar home sector, suggesting family support for your goals will be very strong – you might be able to receive a loan or outright cash gift from your family. Or, if you have to rent, buy, or sell property, you should do well at this full moon and get the best deal possible.

Still, Saturn will oppose the moon and conjunct the Sun, so you will be very aware of the seriousness and long-range implications of the undertaking that you appear to be involved in now, and the future responsibilities you will shoulder.

Mercury will be retrograde from December 19 to January 8, but you will feel the undertow of Mercury out of phase earlier, as soon as December 5. Stores will run low on stock, and being the thrifty creature that you are naturally, you won’t want to pile on the added expense of express couriers. Shopping early for gifts will keep your holiday stress free.

The new moon appears in your partnership / marriage sector on December 29. You may be surprised by a beautiful proposal in the days that follow this new moon. The new moon will be influential for nearly two weeks, and you can plan an engagement, but I will advise you not to act just yet. Mercury will be in retrograde until January 8, and will be in less-than-strong-shape until January 27. Valentine’s Day would be a better day to get engaged. If you are already married, this new moon may be the ideal time to think about a positive new future – something you can do together.

If you want, you can also use this new moon of December 29 to form an official business alliance, such as with a business partner, writing partner, acting coach, agent, publicist, lawyer, or other specialist. This new moon is well aspected – it will give you gifts from Pluto (power), Jupiter (money, expansion, happiness), and Neptune (creativity).

See how you can use this new moon to fit your needs. Keep in mind that with all but one of the heavenly bodies in our solar system on the Western side of your chart, the key to your progress will be to work with others in a collaborative way. This is not the time to fly solo.

New Year’s Eve may be wildly romantic. The Sun and Neptune will reach perfect harmony by December 30, but that vibe will be felt the next day too, December 31. With planets gathering in your ninth house of travel, you may be yearning to get out of town to a glittering location far from home. Romantically, those who are attached, will, of course, be in the spotlight, but singles will have fun too, especially if travel forms part of the plan in late month.