The Sun shines in Virgo from August 22 through September
Aug. 22 at 4:02 PM PDT (11:02 PM GMT) through Sept. 22 1:44 PM PDT (8:44 PM GMT)
The Virgo Archetype
Virgo, the sixth sign of the zodiac, is associated with the last house below the horizon on a birth chart or zodiac wheel. Virgo represents the final stage of personal growth before we move into the world of relationship with others, business, the world, and Spirit. Obviously it is not that simple, but the Virgo lessons clarify this critical aspect of our life journey.
The Virgo Archetype is represented by a ‘fair maiden,’ or virgin, which means pure — one who is connected to Spirit and is able and willing to allow Spirit to guide his or her life. We empower ourselves to live in this elevated state of consciousness by undergoing the many tests of the individualization process. Specifically we separate ourselves from outside control and attain personal independence vis a vis relationships and external influences.
The Priest and the Priestess archetypes speak for Virgo, who dedicates his/her life to serve Spirit, Love, and Peace. Virgo holds a stalk of wheat, representing the capacity and necessity of being able to accurately sort the wheat from the chaff, i.e. to be able to discriminate between what serves the higher good and what is a tedious waste of time.
Traditionally Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which represents the mind. At lower levels of consciousness, Virgo’s ability to tune into details can cause it to get lost in the facts and be overly critical. At higher levels of consciousness, Virgo sees the separate parts as building blocks of a synergistic functional whole. Virgo has the refined mental capacity to perceive patterns of wholeness. From a neutral, elevated vantage point, we are able to make wise choices that work towards the integration of all aspects of our being into a vessel of light and love.
Virgo’s task is to recognize the sacred in physical reality and to correct imbalances that prevent us from perceiving ‘God and me, me and God are one.’ Virgo simultaneously works with mind, body, feelings, and Spirit to achieve a state of oneness with all that is.
Virgo’s testing ground is on the job in the work environment. Virgo is God’s worker bee, whose monumental efforts often go unnoticed or are not adequately appreciated. One Virgo friend told me that freeing herself from expecting recognition was a liberating experience. To feel fulfilled, Virgo must experience him/herself as a humble servant of the Divine and an instrument of peace. Yogi Bhajan once advised a man to see his work as worship.
Yogi Bhajan was a Virgo. We can see the Virgo theme in many of his dictums. One of his favorites was “If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at all.’ This is a reality touchstone to monitor our relationship with Sprit and also a saving grace for Virgo, who selflessly serves so many. Virgo must be able to get its sustenance from serving Spirit. Without Divine Connection, our work can seem to be a thankless task and be physically and emotionally draining. To live in constant gratitude for our Divine Connection is our ace card and how we tap into the forever reliable source of power and pleasure.
The Virgo-Pisces Polarity Pair
All of the above would not be possible without Virgo’s polarity partner Pisces who is always available to remind us that our most rewarding and reciprocal relationship is with Spirit. It is our job to tune into the fact that Spirit always and endlessly gives, nourishes, and support us.
The Virgo-Pisces polarity pair awakens us to the reality of oneness of physical and non-physical, matter and Spirit. The Virgo archetype represents the embodiment of Spirit into matter and the divine nature of physical reality, which is simply a more dense expression of Spirit. Virgo reminds us that whatever our path, ultimately our task is (1) to express Love, (2) to embody Light, and (3) to bring consciousness of the Divine into the physical dimension.
September 5 – Virgo New Moon
4:38 AM PDT, 11:38 AM GMT
At the Virgo new moon we are invited to undergo a personal evaluation of our lives. Virgo loves evaluation! We need to take stock of our intentions, resources, and talents and engage in a reality check of what is working for us (and what is not working or needs trim tabbing.) We need to define specifically what we are working toward. Of course, we will have to let go and let Spirit guide us, but our clarity is one way we do our part to facilitate the co-creative process.
Is our current situation serving both our own health and offering our unique talents to planetary healing? What needs to change to bring both into alignment? Virgo reminds us to pull out the weeds in our inner garden, as well as our outer garden. Choose what is the most important and devote your time and energy to that. My motto is — Do ONLY what ONLY I can do.
The asteroid Chiron (in Pisces) is opposite the Virgo new moon, which creates an opening for the healing of systemic and chronic issues.
Chiron and Healing the Healer
Virgo is a natural healer, who like everyone else is most effective when we are (in Yogi Bhajan’s words) ‘happy, healthy, and holy’ (connected to Spirit.) The asteroid Chiron symbolizes the healing of the healer and can be logically associated with Virgo. The Centaur Chiron, which is both mortal and divine, reminds us that no one is immune from the challenges of being human. No one gets a dispensation from working through their human issues and learning their lessons. As we heal our wounds, our special healing gifts appear, and we are able to offer them to help others. As we humbly accept our humanness, we acquire compassion for all our brothers and sisters. Ultimately it is Love that opens our heart, heals us, and makes us instruments for the Creator’s healing.
Chiron orbits between Saturn and Uranus. Saturn represents the physical plane and the limits within which we are obliged to operate to manifest and survive in the material world. Uranus is the first of the outer planets (not visible to the naked human eye) and the gateway to spiritual realities. Chiron thus represents the bridge that connects the physical and non-physical worlds and their integration in the human psyche. We cultivate this integration and find wholeness through our personal inner experience and subtle, sensitive attunement.
Chiron was discovered in 1977 and coincided with developments in holistic medicine, deep psychology, the popularization of yoga, meditation, and spiritual paths. (This is the year I met Yogi Bhajan.) Chiron is transiting through Pisces from 2010-2019. Its previous passage was from 1960-1969, which coincided with the conjunction of Uranus and Pluto. Now Uranus and Pluto have moved into a square formation and Chiron is reminding us again that peace and love must be our highest priorities, as they create the foundation for the structural changes necessary to transition into the Aquarian Age.
Activation of the Feminine Flow
As discussed in my last blog, the water signs are forming trine formations with each other. Chiron in Pisces trines Saturn in Scorpio five times between November 2012 and August 2014. Chiron also forms 3 trines with Jupiter in Cancer between August 2013 and May 2014. Trines are flowing feminine energy. Things can happen easily if we give up our resistance to the way things are. We can feel the power of love if we allow ourselves to relax.
September 19 – Pisces Full Moon
4:13 AM PDT, 11:13 AM GMT
Pisces reminds us of our Divine origin and offers us an access route to God, so we don’t get stuck in the stories concocted in physical reality. Pisces keeps us connected to the spiritual payoff of our service. I remember Mother Teresa (a Virgo) recounting that she saw the face of Christ when she washed the feet of the poor.
Several alignments amplify the energy dynamics of the Pisces full moon.
September 14-19 – Cardinal Grand Cross
Mercury in Libra adds its mental acuity to the ongoing t-square of Jupiter in Cancer (emotional wisdom and caring), Uranus in Aries (individual freedom), and Pluto in Capricorn (who we are in the world.) Mercury tunes us in to what is going on. We become more conscious of the bigger picture, revolutionary undercurrents, liberating insights, and game-changing revelations. Tune up and tune it during these days.
This alignment also reminds us to examine the thoughts that we are broadcasting into the world and to witness how our belief system creates our reality. The Grand Cross gives us the energy to change how we relate to ourselves, the Earth, and the Universe. These are powerful times.
September 18 – Saturn, Venus, and the North Node conjunct in Scorpio
The alignment of Saturn, Venus and the North Node at 8 degrees Scorpio oblige us to get real about what we really want (Venus) and what is actually possible (Saturn) as we enter new territory (North Node.) This is far from a frivolous moment! We have to be honest with ourselves. We have to come from love (not fear, fantasy, or deceit) for our visions to manifest. Scorpio is about manifesting from our deepest truth and commitment to our soul’s purpose.
September 20 – Pluto goes direct
Pluto has been retrograde since April 12, during which time we have had a close look at what motivates us and what limits us. When Pluto goes direct, it is time to come out of our inner basement. While hiding we identified our patterns rooted in fear. We also discovered that fear is a program and not our essence. When we step into the light we become aware of the power of love and how it gives birth to our gifts and unleashes the strength of our soul. We step forward with more courage and resolve to express and create from our authentic selves.
SAT NAM! and BLESSINGS!
Guru Rattana :+)
The planetary alignments make this a perfect time for self and planetary healing. See Kundalini Yoga blog on the Guru Ram Das Healing Meditation.
References
Austin, Stephanie, Virgo New Moon – September 5, Pisces Full Moon – September 19, The Mountain Astrologer, Issue #170, Aug/Sept 2013, pages 99 and 101,