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 (2 of 3)

According to astrologists, various Star Signs are better compatible with some than others.  Virgos make good companions for Cancers, Scorpios, and Pisces, which are all Water Signs.  Meanwhile, the Air Signs especially Gemini and Libra make life more difficult for earthy Virgo.  Their airy qualities are too much for grounded Virgo.  Because Taurus and Capricorn are both Earth Signs, they are too alike to Virgo’s personality.  Because of this, people of these Signs tend to pick at each other.  The Fire Signs Aries and Leo generally misunderstand Virgo.  Known as the “friend of the Zodiac”, Sagittarius, a Fire Sign, could be a companion of Virgo.

The personality keynote or phrase associated with Virgo is “I analyze.”  This statement reflects Virgo’s qualities of criticism, discernment, exactness, and reflection.  With her inquiring mind, Virgo loves to research just for the fun of it.  Since she likes to get into the workings of concepts and ideas, Virgo could be considered a “nerd”.  

This keynote statement also points out the shadow side of Virgo.  People of this Sign have a propensity to overanalyze.  In her constant striving towards perfectionism, Virgo forgets that “the perfect is the enemy of the good”.  Her continual analyzing can lead to paralysis.

In fact, Virgos can drive people crazy with their fussiness and preciseness.  Their methodical ways can turn their lives into a rut.  Turning inwards, Virgos often let their imaginations run wild.  Because of this, they are more prone to suffer from imagined illnesses, melancholia, and depression.  To move out of the morass, the Virgo sense of discernment needs to be encouraged.

During the time period of this Sign, the Constellation of Virgo reigns.  The figure usually identified with the Virgo Constellation is Dike, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom and Justice.  According to the Greek myths, Dike walked amongst people during the Golden Age of Man.  During this time, She gladly dispensed wisdom and justice to all.  However as the Ages of Man deteriorated to the Iron Age, humans became more petty and quarrelsome.  Dike tried to continue to teach people but became discouraged since they ignored Her.  Finally in disgust, She ascended into the heavens next to the Scales of Justice (Libra).

This Greek myth speaks to Virgo’s love of wisdom and order.  Like Dike, Virgo wants to counsel others.  Because of her sense of order, Virgo tries to settle disputes.  However like Dike, when Virgo is discouraged, she withdraws in disgust.  The shadow side is Virgo’s remoteness from humanity.

The colors associated with Virgo are navy blue and dark grey.  According to the “Colors of Magick”, grey stands for the mastery of lore.  Study in this area of magick suits the Virgo temperament.  Virgos are happiest when mastering arcane knowledge found deep in lore.

The closest color to navy in the “Colors of Magick” is indigo.  Although indigo is a deep blue mixed with purple, it does have the dark blue common to navy.  Indigo is the color of wizardry.  This area of magick pushes the boundaries of the known world further.  Using truth and imagination, a wizard sees beyond this world into the next one.  This meshes well with Virgo’s personality of detecting patterns and seeing a whole picture.  However Virgos have the propensity to conjure up imaginary fears and dark corners.  This can lead to Virgos entering a period of lethargy.

Navy is blue mixed with black.  This color combines communication with darkness.  Navy reflects Virgo’s consummate communication skills, and as well as her propensity to nit-pick and be overcritical.  Meanwhile, grey combines the enlightenment of white with black.  This means that Virgo’s tempered judgment can be used for good or ill.  However, grey remains neutral, but offers the release from the darkness of thought that Virgos need.

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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