New Moon in Sagittarius: Following the Thread of the Quest
Labyrinth at Chartes Cathedral, Dreamstime.com
The Sagittarius New Moon on December 19 points us toward what feels meaningful right now. Sagittarius is a fire sign connected to vision, purpose, and the kind of motivation that comes from feeling called toward something, even if the details aren’t clear yet. This New Moon is a time to notice what’s pulling at you and where you feel ready to grow. Because Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, there’s momentum here—an urge to move toward something that feels honest and aligned.
The New Moon chart also carries a strong pattern: Saturn and Neptune square the New Moon from Pisces, which can bring uncertainty, doubt, or the sense that something needs to be adjusted before it makes sense. Uranus forms an inconjunct, adding sudden changes or shifts in direction. These influences can create pressure, but they also help us sort out what’s real, what’s possible, and what needs to be reworked. Sagittarius III, the decan of the 10 of Wands, highlights effort, endurance, and the point where we recognize what we’re carrying and what we might need to set down.
If you take a little time around this New Moon, you may notice early signs of a new direction or a project that wants your attention. The energy may feel stretched, but it can also clarify what’s worth committing to. This New Moon may feel strongest for people with placements in Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, or Pisces near the end of those signs. You can watch my full talk about this New Moon, including what it means for all twelve rising signs, in the video below. If you’d like to understand how this New Moon may be working in your own chart, you’re welcome to book a reading with me using the link below.
Transcript (Revised and Expanded)
Hi, this is Cathy Gnatek. On December 19th, we have a New Moon in the sign of Sagittarius, the sign of the quest. It’s a sign connected to trying to understand how we relate to the larger meaning of life.
I’m not going to lie—this New Moon has a little bit of tense energy. We have Neptune and Saturn forming a square from Pisces, which can bring some confusion, and Uranus is in the background potentially shaking things up. At the same time, Venus, the goddess of love, is there bringing some sweetness.
In this video, I’m going to talk about all of that in more depth, and I’ll show you the tarot cards associated with Sagittarius, in particular the 10 of Wands, which corresponds to the part of Sagittarius where this New Moon falls. Then, if you stick around, I’ll explore how this New Moon might impact you personally depending on where your rising sign is. If you don’t know your rising sign, that’s fine—check out my video below where I show you how to pull up your chart on astroseek.com. There’s a lot to explore. I hope you enjoy the video, and if you do, it would be great if you could like and subscribe.
So, let’s talk about what a New Moon is, just to ground us in the energy. A New Moon happens when the Sun and the Moon come together in the sky. It’s the seeding of a new cycle of what might unfold over the next month, and it can also relate to a larger 27‑month lunar period. Here’s an article on that: Lunar Gestation Cycle. If you’re like me—I’m a Scorpio rising—you may enjoy taking a deep dive.
The New Moon is an opportunity to set an intention. I’ll talk about how you might do that in a few minutes. At the New Moon, we get a sense of what may begin to unfold, and we can choose how we want to relate to that, how we want to align with the energy. Then at the Full Moon, we see what has actually unfolded. We never quite know at the New Moon exactly what’s coming. It’s a little like when you’re pregnant with a baby—you can have all kinds of hopes and ideas, but it’s only when the baby is born and you get to know its personality that you get the real sense of it. The New Moon works a bit like that.
We’ll talk about the aspects you see here in the chart in a moment, but first let’s look at Sagittarius to ground us in the energy of this New Moon. Sagittarius is a fire sign. All the fire signs are connected to inspiration. They’re passionate and bold, with creativity and enthusiasm. They can also be a little impulsive, the way fire jumps from one place to another, but there’s a dynamism and forward‑moving quality in fire signs.
Sagittarius is the third of the fire signs. Aries is the first. Aries is the fire sign about the individual breaking out into the world—“I’m here, and I need to shine.” Leo is the second fire sign. The Sun rules Leo, and all the planets revolve around the Sun, so there is something about Leo that says, “Look at me,” with the sense of wanting to light the world of another person. It’s relational, connected to how being oneself can inspire others.
By the time we get to Sagittarius, the third fire sign, the focus expands to the community at large. We get the bigger‑picture questions—how we make meaning, how we engage with the wider world. Jupiter rules Sagittarius, and Jupiter is an outer planet that expands things. It can make ideas bigger. Sometimes it can bring hubris if the optimism gets too inflated, but it also carries generosity. Wisdom, teaching, and guiding roles tend to have a Jupiterian quality. Jupiter can also bring abundance. So there is a warmth and positivity woven into Sagittarius energy.
These are the three tarot cards associated with the decans of Sagittarius. A decan is simply each 10 degrees of a sign, and there is a tarot card that corresponds to each one. For Sagittarius, we have the Eight of Wands, the Nine of Wands, and the 10 of Wands. I’ll drop a link to the series I’m doing on the decans if you want to take a deeper dive.
I like showing these cards for Sagittarius because they illustrate the idea of the quest. The Eight of Wands is the beginning of the quest where everything is moving quickly and you’re eager to set out. The Nine of Wands shows the challenges and the “dragons” you meet along the way as you try to carry your project forward. And then we get to the 10 of Wands. This is the card associated with this New Moon, because it falls in the last decan of Sagittarius, Sagittarius III.
8, 9, and 10 of Wands, Rider-Waite Tarot
If you look at the 10 of Wands, you see a figure carrying ten long wands bundled in his arms. His back is bent forward from the weight. He can see a town in the distance—there’s a destination—but he’s burdened. His field of vision is blocked by the wands, and he can’t see the path clearly. He’s been on the quest for a while, working hard, and now the question is whether he can continue carrying everything or whether something needs to be put down. This is where we see Sagittarius as a mutable sign. Mutability brings adaptability, and with this New Moon there may be a place where you need to adjust or refine what’s possible in real‑world terms.
Sagittarius III energy is not just about exhaustion, though it can reflect that. It is also about the insight that comes when you realize you cannot do everything exactly as you envisioned. There is a humbling quality, but also integration. All the tens in tarot represent a point of understanding at the end of a process, where you incorporate what you’ve learned. So as you think about this New Moon and set your intention, consider the area of life where you have been inspired to do something—your “passion project.” I don’t mean tasks like cleaning the house or errands. I mean the sudden idea or undertaking that you feel compelled to pursue without fully knowing why. That’s the energy of the quest. And later in the video we’ll talk about the area of life this may touch for you—your first house if it relates to identity, your seventh house if it connects to partnership, and so on.
Setting aside the quest for a moment, let’s look at the other energy in this New Moon. Saturn and Neptune in Pisces are together, and they are squaring the New Moon. Neptune is a planet associated with illusion and fantasy, and also deep spirituality. When it’s in a square, which is a tense aspect, it can make things feel unclear. So as the New Moon unfolds, you may feel a bit of confusion around your passion project or new idea. Saturn adds heaviness. Saturn is connected to restriction, boundaries, and limitations. When Saturn and Neptune move together, there can be a tone of sadness or a sense of needing to let go without yet knowing what direction you’re moving in. Expect some of that in the month ahead.
In the background, we also see Uranus—the great awakener, and as I sometimes say, the planet of things hitting out of the blue. There can be a sudden change or unexpected news. You may get a jolt that shakes up the New Moon energy.
At the same time, Venus, the goddess of love, relationship, and art, is making a harmonious aspect to the New Moon, which softens things and may offer some creative support.
As far as New Moon practice and what you might do, this can be a good moment to sit in a quiet space—an altar space if you have one, or simply a calm corner of your home—and take a few notes on what’s unfolding in your life. Consider the area where you feel inspired, and set an intention for what you hope to develop. Also set a small intention about what you might do to support that project. Small steps are enough. You’re nurturing a seed. Invite support too. Acknowledge the people who help you or inspire you, and offer gratitude for the support you receive.
So then, what about your life? How might this impact you personally? This depends on your rising sign.
Aries Rising
For Aries rising, the New Moon is in your ninth house, the area connected to your worldview, belief systems, learning, travel, and higher education. You may feel pulled toward something that expands your perspective or asks you to stretch beyond what you’ve been doing. This could be an interest in studying something new, exploring a different direction, or reconnecting with a sense of purpose. The difficult energy comes from the twelfth house, where Neptune and Saturn are located. The twelfth house has to do with ways we can complicate things for ourselves, usually through worry, old patterns, or private doubts. Over the next month, you may notice moments when you question whether you can follow through on your inspiration. If that happens, it might help to pause, get some distance from self‑defeating thoughts, and come back to what feels steady and practical.
Taurus Rising
For Taurus rising, the New Moon is in your eighth house, connected to shared resources, obligations, long‑term commitments, and the areas of life where you rely on others or need to adjust to forces outside your direct control. You might be taking on a new responsibility, renegotiating a financial matter, or exploring something that requires trust and cooperation. The challenging energy is coming from the eleventh house of groups, organizations, and your larger network. There may be tension between what you’re carrying privately and what’s happening within a community or social environment. You might need to navigate expectations from others or adjust your plans based on group dynamics. It’s a good time to clarify what is and isn’t yours to hold.
Gemini Rising
For Gemini rising, the New Moon is in your seventh house of partnership. Something new may be developing in how you relate to others—this could be a new phase in a close relationship, a shift in how you collaborate, or a change in what you expect from the people closest to you. The difficult energy is coming from the tenth house of career and public life. You might notice a conflict between your personal relationships and what you’re doing in the world professionally. A work situation or responsibility could be pulling you in a direction that requires adjustments at home or in partnership. It may help to be clear about what you’re able to commit to, both in work and in relationships.
Cancer Rising
For Cancer rising, this New Moon is in your sixth house, which relates to health, routines, work environments, and the parts of life where you may feel you have less control. You might be starting a new habit, taking on a new workflow, or becoming aware of something in your daily life that needs attention. The difficult energy comes from the ninth house of worldview, belief systems, and education. You may feel tension between your day‑to‑day responsibilities and the bigger ideas or visions you hold about how life should work. This could look like a work obligation that limits your ability to study, travel, or expand your horizons, or it might simply be a mismatch between what you want your life to look like and what your routines currently demand.
Leo Rising
For Leo rising, this New Moon falls in your fifth house, which has to do with children, creativity, personal expression, and the things you take joy in. You may feel inspired around a creative project or something you want to bring into the world that feels personal to you. The difficult energy is coming from the eighth house, which deals with shared resources, debts, obligations, and the areas of life that require you to work with other people’s needs or limits. You may feel enthusiastic about creating or beginning something, but you might also run into questions about funding, support, or what needs to be released in order to move forward. This tension doesn’t mean the project isn’t viable—it simply asks you to be realistic about what’s required.
Virgo Rising
For Virgo rising, the New Moon is in your fourth house of home, family, and the foundations of your life. This could show up as a new idea or inspiration around where you live, how you structure your household, or something unfolding within your private life. You might be considering a move, reorganizing your space, or thinking about how your home life supports—or doesn’t support—the direction you’re trying to move toward. The tension is coming from the seventh house of one‑on‑one relationships, partnership, or spouse. So you can think about whether there’s a new direction you want to take at home, and whether you’re having to work through differing needs, expectations, or practical realities with a partner as you sort out those questions.
Libra Rising
For Libra rising, the New Moon is in your third house, which relates to communication, neighbors, siblings, your local environment, and the day‑to‑day interactions that shape your routines. You may feel motivated to start something new in these areas—perhaps a writing project, a class, or a change in how you communicate with the people around you. The difficult energy is coming from the sixth house, which can be tied to health, responsibilities, or tasks that feel obligatory. You used an example in the transcript about children affecting your sense of value, and the core idea applies here: something in your daily workload, your schedule, or the way your energy is being used may be pulling at you and interfering with what you’re trying to develop locally or intellectually. This is a month to pay attention to how much you’re carrying and whether you need to redistribute some responsibilities.
Scorpio Rising
For Scorpio rising, the New Moon is in your second house of money, resources, and self‑worth. You may be starting something that affects your income, your spending, or your confidence in your abilities. The tension comes from the fifth house of children, creativity, and personal expression. If you have children, something unfolding with them could temporarily unsettle your sense of stability or worth. More broadly, it may be a situation where what you want to create or invest your energy in is bumping up against financial limits or questions about your value. This is a moment to be practical about what you can reasonably sustain while still allowing yourself to pursue what matters to you.
Sagittarius Rising
For Sagittarius rising, the New Moon is in your first house of self, identity, and personal direction. You may feel a renewed sense of inspiration or the urge to take a step toward something that expresses who you are becoming. This could involve a shift in your appearance, your approach to life, or the way you present yourself to others. The tense energy is coming from the fourth house of home, family, and ancestry. Something at home or within your family system may be pressing on you or asking for attention, creating a bit of friction as you try to move forward personally. You can wonder how this New Moon might be manifesting—whether the pull toward personal growth is meeting resistance from family needs, household responsibilities, or long‑standing patterns rooted in your background.
Capricorn Rising
For Capricorn rising, the New Moon is in your twelfth house, a place connected to rest, retreat, the unconscious, and the quieter parts of your life. You might feel drawn inward, or find yourself working on something behind the scenes that isn’t ready for public view yet. There can be a sense of needing more space to sort out your thoughts or understand what’s driving you beneath the surface. The challenging energy comes from the third house of neighbors, local community, communication, and daily interactions. You might feel pulled between wanting to withdraw and the demands of everyday life that require engagement. This month may involve finding ways to create pockets of quiet while still handling the ordinary tasks that come up.
Aquarius Rising
For Aquarius rising, the New Moon is in your eleventh house of groups, organizations, community, and long‑term goals. You may be inspired to contribute to something larger than yourself or to pursue a project that involves collaboration or collective effort. There could be a new direction emerging within your social networks or a group you’re part of. The tension is coming from the second house of money and self‑worth. You may be questioning how to balance your resources—financial or otherwise—with what you want to contribute to a group effort. There can be some sorting out around what you can realistically give, and what you need to hold onto for yourself.
Pisces Rising
For Pisces rising, the New Moon is in your tenth house of career, public life, and the work you do in the world. You may have a new idea about your path, or feel pulled toward something that could shape your professional direction. This might relate to a role you want to take on, a project you want to start, or a shift in how visible you want to be in your work. The tense energy is coming from the first house, which is about your identity, energy levels, and how you see yourself. You might feel motivated to pursue something publicly, while at the same time wrestling with questions about who you are becoming or whether you’re ready to take that step. This is a month to pay attention to how your sense of self supports or complicates your ambitions.