As Mercury retrogrades back into a square to Saturn in Aquarius, the Sun joins it halfway through its retrograde, bringing with it insights into hidden motivations. Jupiter is also halfway through its retrograde opposite in Taurus, bringing further insights and clarity. Yet mid-points are not end points and we shouldn’t draw any conclusions.

Everything seems to be lining up at year’s end for a dramatic finale, but one that is an absolute cliffhanger. It may feel like a docuseries that doesn’t seem to have an outcome.

Venus and Mars oppose by December 12, after Venus has conjoined Pluto on December 7. There are many opposing factors and fractions at this stage. Everything may feel like on a knife edge. Mars is finding its strength in Cancer while retrograde, fuelling up again after being depleted. It’s time for round two.

We’re more likely to see extremes as Mars retrogrades in Cancer, in all kinds of spheres, including in weather forecasts and fighting wars. Rahu’s aspect from Pisces, which is itself conjunct Neptune, adds further extremes in water-related damage and confusion.

Rahu and Neptune in Pisces are also adding another strange development, that of the U.S. government claiming UAPs are to be found in our oceans! Wait, you said what now?!

Mercury’s retrograde in Scorpio may not help getting to the truth of the matter right away. Its muddled way of expressing itself is ill-timed. By mid-month, Mercury has stationed direct, while the Sun moves out of a tense square to Saturn and into Sagittarius. We may have more of a sense of what to think about it at this point.

The year ends with the Moon in Scorpio, conjoined Mercury, which remains in Scorpio until the New Year, and Mars continues to retrograde.

Going back over the year 2024 may feel like weighing up the pros and cons, of which there are many.