“I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.”
– Helen Keller
On August 22, at 12:07pm CDT our Sun ☉ transfers into the methodical, industrious, and mutable earth sign of Virgo (♍) until September 22. The keywords for Virgo are “I Analyze,” indicative of trademark Virgoan themes of intelligence, conscientiousness, and order.
Preceding sign Leo ♌ basks in attention, praise, and fun, while Virgo is responsible, self-contained, modest, and derives satisfaction from being of service to others. Adjacent signs always carry evolving lessons, so a good bit of Virgo can help to humble the mightiest of Lions.
In my experience Virgo is one of the most misunderstood signs, mostly because of its symbol being the Virgin. Trivial astrology will probably tell you all about a sign that is picky, clean, and organized. While it’s not uncommon to encounter a Virgoan individual with a critical outlook on themselves and others, or practicing purist actions or aforementioned tidiness, the opposite is often true. I think it’s important to look at the origin of the word Virgo in Latin which translates into “self-contained.”
“In astrology, those born under the sign of Virgo are said to behave in an individualistic, self-sufficient manner. Their nurturing comes from a place of not needing others to find fulfillment for them, but being able to create for others because they can already create for themselves.”
The most popular Myth of Virgo surrounds Persephone, the virgin daughter of Demeter (the goddess of grain, agriculture, and fertility) and Zeus (god of the underworld). When Zeus abducted Persephone and carried her to the underworld to be his wife, Demeter became enraged and threatened to starve the inhabitants of the earth with famine. Thankfully, a consensus was reached. Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades and the rest with Demeter. Whenever Persephone left her mother to return to the underworlds, winter began. Hence the myth of the changing seasons. Through this Myth, we can also see the affinity that the signs of Virgo (Persephone) and Scorpio (Hades) have for each other
Virgo♍, Mercury ☿, and House VI – Work, Health, and Service
A virgin may choose not to behave in sexual activity for a number of reasons, but in the case of Virgo it stems from a desire to achieve a certain image of perfection which ironically may not be typical perfection (it is usually varied and unique for each individual.) In this way, I like to think that Virgos often adhere to their own personal systems often having specific ways to go about routines and habits. It doesn’t always make sense, but it makes sense to them!
In order to find the perfect partner, Virgo cannot merge with just anyone and valuable keys are found through the intellectual, versatile, and reasonable planet of Mercury (☿).
“Clear reason can only emerge when disentangled from the conflicting ties of emotional attachment; yet although it has a just reputation for control over passions, Virgo is not an unsympathetic or insensitive sign.”
We can learn a valuable Virgoan lesson from Mercury, the arts of conscientiousness and healthy discrimination. The simple truth is that we tend to find ourselves in better situations by applying a bit of discrimination to our choices. Some might experience Virgos as ultra critical beings, which they can be at extremes, but looking deeper you might learn that this stems from inclinations towards efficiency, detail, and improvement. At the end of the day, Virgo truly wants to help.
“Virgo forms reliable instinctive impressions through a powerful gut-reaction, (their energy is seated in the gut), aided by their ready ability to analyse complexities and penetrate superficial presentations. The result is a talent for forming good judgment quickly and applying it to practical affairs.”
Virgos are also known to be among the hardest and most efficient workers of the zodiac so it’s no wonder that it is linked to house VI of a natal chart which describes our work life, daily routines, health, and habits. Planets in house VI often call use to set our ego aside and adjust whether it is becoming more efficient with our time, or practicing health consciousness.
“Adults have routines, but children have rituals. Rituals create energy; routines drain it. Rituals invite assistance from the invisible world. They serve a magical protective function—acting as the garlic and sacred cross that keeps the 6th house vampires at bay.”
Another notable trademark of Virgo is body awareness. In many cases, people with Virgoan energy tend to be critical of their bodies or in contrast, very aware of them. To the outsider this might sometimes be observed as hypochondria. However, it is known that Virgo does tend to have a sensitive digestive system so it’s not uncommon to encounter someone following a strict health regimen. I was once listening to an astrology podcast that made the joke that all Virgos like soup. I thought that this was hilarious as the abdomen and digestive system does fall under the rulership of this sign and I have observed a good number of those with Virgoan energy to frequently experience digestion related upsets, especially under stress.
Virgo ♍ vs. Pisces ♓ – Details vs. Diffusion
As the opposite sign of Virgo, Pisces includes valuable lessons of balance and is deeply linked to the qualities of Virgo. Think of the number of people you have seen who have entered into toxic relationships with an ill-matched partner. Chances are that one or both partners have neglected to connect with their inner Virgo. If we do not work to better ourselves, we will attract people into our lives that also do not do the same.
Virgo and Mercury seek order, reality, and structure while Pisces and ruling planet Neptune are diffuse, dreamy, and idealistic. However, it’s important to find a balance between these two signs. At their center, astrologer Claire Martin deems the dynamics between these two signs as the axis of devotion, two signs that often derive pleasure from serving others. You might commonly encounter a Virgo wrapped up in work and reality and not stopping to reorient to the bigger picture, or a Pisces who is so scattered and unable to cope with the intricate details of life.
“Virgo’s who are addicted to work will often encounter a crisis which forces them to take a sabbatical, re-enacting the Persephone myth by experiencing a crisis and retreating to the cool, dark depths of their personal underworld where healing is possible.”
House XII is represented by Pisces and lies opposite of House VI in a natal chart. In House XII, we learn that we must withdraw from our hectic schedules in order to rest and recharge our batteries in solitude. If we work too hard and push ourselves, we may become ill. Virgo and Pisces are here to remind us of that.
“If we identify only with the Virgo end of the axis, then we may become consumed by duty and drudgery, and we will long to escape. But until we can see the whole picture, we will always feel that anything we try to achieve is spoiled or imperfect in the making. On the Pisces side of this axis, we prefer to remain merged, undifferentiated and unformed in order to avoid having to grapple with the details and practicalities of life. In this case we are likely to find ourselves forced to engage with the world in practical ways, something we may bitterly resent.”
Moon ☽ in Virgo ♍– Efficiency and Conscientiousness
Virgo is naturally one of my favorite signs probably due to the abundance of water and earth in my chart (Taurus Sun and Cancer Rising). I was born with my Moon ☽ at 16° Virgo. The Moon in Astrology oftentimes represents our perception of our mother. Sure enough, I have countless memories of my mother making me do something over again because it was not done “the right way”. The strange thing is that I always resented it when it occurred, yet I discovered that I was comparably conscientious about things when I began my first job at age 16. I’ve always prided myself on my work ethic and worked in several management positions.
“According to the ancient sources the gifts that she bestows are purity and grace; a charming turn of phrase, diplomacy, a mastery of words; a discriminating intellect and propensity for study; a talent for investigation and analysis; skilful creativity, and a keen appreciation of the mysteries of nature.”
The downside to this is the fact that I can sometimes become lost in the details surrounding my quests to bring order to everything and that can be mentally exhausting sometimes. This is where Virgo also gains it’s reputation for sometimes being scattered or a procrastinator. However, I like to think that my Virgo Moon has granted me with valuable powers of insight and healthy discrimination. I enjoy research and analysis while always looking for the most efficient way to accomplish a task.
Joyce Mason wrote one of the most insightful articles on Virgo that I’ve read, visiting the concept of “Inner Marriage” that I love. Inner marriage denotes that Virgo is married to herself until she is able to provide for herself. With my Moon in this sign, I emphasize self-sufficiency and carefully choose my associates.
“A true Virgo has done the difficult work of self-betterment, aiming for perfection or the best possibility. She chooses carefully to whom and to what she will give herself. She is very self-reliant, merging the mental (left-brain) aspects of traditional Mercury rulership with her feminine (right brain) sign. (It is the same, of course for the male Virgo.“
Famous Virgos via CafeAstrology
Billy Ray Cyprus (Sun and Mercury in Virgo), Cameron Diaz (Sun and Mars in Virgo), Gloria Estefan (Sun, Mercury, and Mars in Virgo), Richard Gere, Stephen King, D. H. Lawrence (Sun and Mercury in Virgo), Keanu Reeves (Sun and Mercury in Virgo), Charlie Sheen, Beyonce, Sean Connery, Pink, Ludacris, Nick Jonas, Michael Jackson, Shania Twain
Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf was born on September 4, 1981 under the mutable earth sign of Virgo ♍
Notes:
The Virgo Myth Gods and Monsters
Mapping The Psyche Vol. II Claire Martin
The Sixth House Dana Gerhardt
Wholeness and the Inner Marriage: The Chiron Sector and Relationship Joyce Mason
Virgo the Maiden Skyscript
Aphelion Blog 