Astrology: Virgo (3 of 3)

Other astrologers have constructed non-traditional correspondences for Virgo.  In “auz astrology”, Ann Williams-Fitzgerald has the echidna as Virgo’s animal representative.  The echidna is an ancient montromene living in Australia.  Also called “spiny anteater”, the echidna lives by herself, and needs no one else.  An egg layer, the echidna also has bird and reptile characteristics as well as mammal ones.  Virgo, an Earth Sign governed by Mercury, has quicksilver qualities like an Air Sign.  Like the echidna, Virgo has a combination of elements that ensures her survival.

Sometimes when something gets too close, the echidna will lift her spines.  In establishing her boundaries, this animal exemplifies Virgo’s tendency to find fault with others.  When the female echidna is bothered, she withdraws further into the brush, leading a train of male echidnas wanting to mate, behind her.  Virgo does the same when she finds people to be too much.  To counteract this tendency, Ms. Williams-Fitzgerald counsels Virgo with “I move forward and welcome growth.”

Meanwhile Linda Star Wolf and Ruby Falconer in “Shamanic Egyptian Astrology” associate the Goddess Nekhbet with Virgo.  The Goddess of the White Crown of Egypt (Upper Egypt), Nekhbet guides the Pharaohs since they were her children.  Nekhbet, the Ancient Mother, offers counsel in the difference between service and servitude.  Nekhbet’s attributes are reflected in Virgo’s sense of judgment and service, and well as her desire to counsel.  Ms. Star Wolf and Falconer tell Virgos to look to the Ancient Mother to purify themselves of their need to be responsible for everything.

The Sign of Virgo does have a broad range of traits that does include the major aspects of my friends’ personalities.  The differences amongst my friends could be because of other astrological influences, since we were born on different days and years.  That would probably explain the non-Virgo aspects of my personality.

In general, Virgos are creative and dependable, but can easily become cold and detached.  With their quick minds, Virgos are lovers of knowledge.  Virgos can offer order and structure to others but also can fall into ruts themselves.  Like all people, Virgos have their good and bad sides.  They strive to be of service to others and for perfection at the same time.

Works Used:

Hall, Molly, “About Astrology”, About.com, http://astrology.about.com/, 2011,

Hartman, Tori, “Color Wisdom Cards”, Jupiter Press: Los Angeles, 2009.

Kosarin, Jenni, “The Everything Astrology Book”, Netplaces.com, http://www.netplaces.com/astrology/,

Ridpath, Ian, “Virgo, the Virgin”, Ian Ridpath’s Star Tales, http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/virgo.htm

Star Wolf, Linda and Ruby Falconer, “Shamanic Egyptian Astrology”, Bear & Company: Rochester (VT), 2010

Williams-Fitzgerald, Ann, “auz astrology”, The Oracle Press: Queensland (Australia), 1999

Zell-Revenheart, Oberon, “Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard”, New Page Books: Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, 2004

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Astrology: Virgo (1 of 3)

Writing about my own Sign of the Zodiac has been difficult for me.  I know five people who are Virgos, and each of them is quite different from one another.  I had trouble in understanding how all of us could be Virgos.  Also, I was afraid that I will start to believe all that is written about Virgos will be entirely true for me.  However after researching this Sign, I was surprised at the wide range of characteristics that this Sign encompassed.  I was relieved to discover that there was enough latitude to include me and my friends.

The time of year that Virgo covers is from August 23 to September 23.  This is the clove time between summer (which is ending) and fall (which is beginning).  The Sign Virgo depicts a woman with a sheaf of wheat.  This image speaks of careful husbandry which ends in a bountiful harvest. The time of Virgo is the start of the harvest season.  

Virgo is the last of the six Signs of the Zodiac associated with individual development.  As an Earth Sign, Virgo examines what works and what does not in social relations.  Under Virgo’s direction, an individual learns what constitutes a healthy relationship.  Now a whole person, they can enter any relationship as an equal.

The trees that correspond to this Sign are nut trees.  These trees require time and attention to bring forth fruit.  They symbolize Virgo’s relationship as individual with the whole.  Like the Virgin, nut trees are nourishing and self-contained.  Like nut trees, Virgo is whole and complete.  

In Astrology, Virgo is an Earth Sign.  This means that Virgos are grounded and practical.  People of this Sign prefer order and structure.  As an Earth Sign, Virgo is also considered to be a Negative Sign as well.  This means that Virgos are more introverted and sensitive than the Fire Signs such as Aries.

Also in Astrology, Virgo is a mutable Sign.  This means that she is flexible in her interactions.  But, Virgo’s earth element helps to keep her grounded in her focus.  Virgo does desire order and structure in her life but is adaptable in how to achieve this.  However, people of this Sign are more willing to change than are people of Taurus, a fixed Earth Sign.

The planet Mercury governs Virgo, thereby enabling her to weave facts into a whole picture.  Moreover, she uses the creative urges of Mercury to form a work of art.  A typical Virgo trait is to separate the wheat from the chaff, and bake it into a whole loaf of truth.  Under Mercury’s influence, Virgo employs a strong sense of logic.  In addition, Mercury enhances Virgo’s analyzing skills with concise thinking.  Because of Mercury’s quickness, Virgo’s earthiness comes out as commonsense.  

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Understanding the ElementsThrough STAR WARS and the Zodiac (2)

 1.      Virgo (practical and easy-going)

Lando Calrissian

At “Cloud City” above Bespin, genial Lando Calrissian manages to keep members of the Rebel Alliance and Empire from killing each other.  As a general in the Rebel Alliance, he worries that the complicated plan to destroy the Death Star II will not work.  Lando tries to simplify what he can to make things work.

2.      Libra (thoughtful and creative)

Yoda

Ancient and wise, Yoda, the Jedi Master, introduces himself to Luke Skywalker as a doddering old fool.  After testing Luke, he decides trains him to be a Jedi Knight.  During the sessions, Yoda impresses upon Luke that the Dark Side of The Force lies in all sentient beings.

3.       Scorpio (emotive and strong-willed)

Princess Leia Organa

Fiery Princess Leia hides her strong feelings with her wisecracks.  Undergoing torture, she steadfastly refuses to give up vital information on the Rebels to the Empire.  Later Princess Leia risks her life to save Han Solo, her love, from Jabba the Hutt.

4.       Sagittarius (passionate and inventive)

Darth Vader

A Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader openly embraces the Force in spite of ridicule from others.  His love for his son, Luke Skywalker, overcomes his loyalty to his Master, the Emperor.  Instead of using the Force, Darth Vader dispatches the Emperor by throwing him down a shaft.

5.       Capricorn (centered and participating)

Chewbacca

Grounded in a world of mystical characters, Chewbacca ever remains the competent co-pilot and mechanic.  Moreover, his friend, Han Solo relies on his judgment in tight situations.

6.      Aquarius (spacious and demanding)

Emperor Palpatine

As a Dark Lord of the Sith and Master of Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine rules his empire with an iron fist.  Furthermore, he demands total loyalty from his disciple Darth Vader.  However, the Emperor turns on Vader to seduce Luke Skywalker into becoming his new disciple.

Understanding the ElementsThrough STAR WARS and the Zodiac

To assign the Zodiac Signs in various fiction roles, I chose the STAR WARS Saga of Episodes IV-VI: “A NEW HOPE” (1977, Lucas), “THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK” (1980, Lucas), and “THE RETURN OF THE JEDI” (1983, Lucas).  These movies offer a wealth of characters that can ably represent the various Signs.  Although these movies have a majority of male roles, some of the characters exhibit feminine characteristics. (Each Sign of the Zodiac has elements and gender assigned to them.)

1.       

Aries (energetic and initiative)

Luke Skywalker

Once a callow youth, Luke matures into a Jedi Knight.  As a new Rebel, he destroys the Death Star.  Afterwards, Luke takes the initiative to redeem his father, Darth Vader. He enables his father to reclaim himself again. 

2.      Taurus (grounded and permanent)

R2-D2

Because the humans often depend on him, R2-D2 calmly seeks out solutions to their problems, even when they ignore him.  While under attack, he maintains constant contact with the other computers.  So trustworthy is he, that Princess Leia Organa entrusts R2-D2 to find Obi-Wan Kenobi.

3.       Gemini (communicative and adaptable)

Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi

As a Jedi master, Obi-Wan adapts to any situation that he finds himself in.  While aboard the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of The Force.  Later after death, he continues to counsel Luke at crucial points in Luke’s life.

4.       Cancer (nurturing and inspiring)

Admiral Ackbar

A native of the water planet Mon Calamari, Admiral Ackbar inspires the Rebel Alliance to achieve the impossible – destroy the second Death Star.  Exclaiming “It’s a trap!” the Admiral warns his troops so that they are not needlessly killed.

5.       Leo (spontaneous and stubborn)

Han Solo

In spite of the mystical beliefs of everyone around him, Han Solo steadfastly refuses to believe in The Force or “mystic mumbo-jumbo” as he calls it.  When C-3PO cites the awful odds of his intended actions, Han scoffs at him and does them anyway.  However, in a spontaneous move, he returns to the battle at Yavin to save Luke Skywalker as Luke battles the Death Star.

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Signs of the Zodiac and Me

In my adventures with the Zodiac, I often compare what is written for Virgo with the personalities of myself, my brother, my girlfriend, and my mother-in-law. With the exception of my mother-in-law, we were all born on the same day (different years). However, all of us were born in the same month.

The short description for Virgo, our sign, fits us in some ways but are wildly off in others. My girlfriend is analytical and conscientious, but is also an artist who paints bright abstracts. While my bother is meticulous and exacting, he is also a successful salesman. My sociable brother enjoys selling road paving services to local governments. Like my brother, I am sociable, and enjoy vending my jewelry at fairs. In my approach to the world at large, I use logic and reason.

Because the three of us were born at the end of Virgo, I looked up the descriptions for Libra, the next sign. Because we are all sociable, we also value harmony in our relations. Perhaps the stars are like the moon, which waxes and wanes in power. Since Libra is rising and Virgo is setting, we are a mix of these signs.

Meanwhile my mother-in-law who was born earlier in the month had the characteristics of Virgo and Leo. Conscientious and meticulous, she was also a drama queen and quite vain, as well. In her case, Leo was setting and Virgo rising. The strong characteristics of Leo carried over to Virgo.

The attributes for Virgo fit us as a group, but not as individuals. My brother approaches life using his gut feelings. Meanwhile, my analytical girlfriend’s home is a mess. I am sloppy in my finances. My meticulous mother-in-law bounded from thing to thing with no forethought.



Descriptions of Selected Signs of the Zodiac

Leo: Dignity, power, vanity. Dramatic, flamboyant, broad-minded, warm.

Virgo: Reason, logic, exactitude. Conscientious, analytical, meticulous.

Libra: Harmony, evaluation, trivialities. Refined, fair, just, sociable.

(Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Grimore for the Apprentice Wizard, 2004, page 281.)


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Copyright Virginia Carper, 2009, animalteachers @ gmail.com

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The Great Round of Life

Ancient peoples perceived the world as the Great Round. Observing the cycles of the sun and moon, they viewed time as a circle. In fact the ancient Greeks called the changing stars of the sky: "The Circle of Animals", commonly known today as the Zodiac.

In the Great Round, there is the coming of Heroes and the aging of Kings. Cyclical time is endless, offering a moral dimension that linear time lacks. People repeat the cycle at different points and experience the same things from different perspectives.

An outward manifestation of the reverence for circles is sacred places in nature. Circles of stones dot the European and North American landscape. Another manifestation is stories of beings traveling in and out of connecting worlds. Myths of dragons and fairies are actually stories of interactions between various circles of existence.

Circles of Animals

Many cultures saw the passing of time in terms of animals. The Greeks saw animals in the stars. The animal signs of the Zodiac are Ares the Ram and Taurus the Bull of spring, Cancer the Crab and Leo the Lion of the summer, Scorpio the Scorpion of the fall, and Capricorn the Goat and Pisces the Fish of the winter. (These animals feature prominently in Greek and later Roman mythology.)

Native American Medicine Wheel

In the western areas of North America are large stone wheels, formed in prehistory. Called "medicine wheels", they reflect the Native Americans reverence for the Four Directions. Although many Indian Nations have different interpretations of the Medicine Wheels, they do agree that the Four Directions are governed by various animals.

Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008. Contact animalteachers @ gmail.com