 by Maya del Mar We are all now under the influence of the Virgo energy field, which prevails from the New Moon in Virgo on August 29 until the Libra Moon on September 27. Queen of Heaven is the ancient Virgo archetype. Isis, Nut, Ceres, Demeter, Corn Mother, Potato Mother, Kwan Yin, and the Taras are examples of names for her. In modern times the Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, represents the purity, quiet power, nurturing qualities, caring, and bridging or intercession abilities of Virgo. According to River and Gillespie, in Knot of Time, "We find in Virgo, more than in any other sign, reflections of the belief about the Great Goddess held most dear by her worshippers. The Goddess was seen as both the fertile Earth mother and the sanctified Virgin, the Queen of Heaven and the woman who lives in obscurity; she was in every woman. Virgo’s oldest associations were with fruitfulness and fertility. "Virgo represents the harvest (the mother Demeter) as well as the planted seed (the daughter Persephone). In the Americas we hear of the Mother of Maize and the Blue Cornmaiden, while in Europe people made corn dollies at harvest time to contain the blessing of the Cornmaiden/mother throughout the year. "The apparently paradoxical combination of both sexuality and virginity in the Cornmaiden and mother had no contradictions for Goddess-worshipping peoples. Sexuality was sacred and the word ‘virgin’ did not imply celibacy or inexperience as it does now. A virgin was a woman who did not belong to any man, who was her own mistress, aware of her powers and her value. She formed relationships and made love when she chose to, but never gave up her right to self-determination." Temple priestesses were called vestal virgins, showing again Virgo’s dedication, as well as its ability to intercede with divinity on behalf of humankind and life on earth. This term also shows the close connection between asteroid Vesta and Virgo. Vesta was Goddess of the Hearth, and in our charts she shows where we dedicate and focus ourselves, where we find our personal inner security. Virgo is the earth sign that makes the connection between the material world and the heavenly world. Virgo’s tools are a super-sensitivity to all of life, an extraordinary mind, and an intense desire to serve. Virgo is a very grounded sign—in touch with the earth, its plants and animals, its winds and waters, and its natural rhythms. In Virgo there is appreciation of life’s simple pleasures, a recognition and enjoyment of every tiny part which contributes to the fabric of life. Virgo is often a gardener or a farmer or an environmentalist, like Demeter, who brought the fullness of harvest to her people. Virgo understands both the complex web of nature and individual bodies. She is a natural healer, and connects especially well with plants and animals. She is especially suited to "alternative" therapies, for her way of healing is to cooperate with nature, not fight it. Virgo’s analytical abilities are as acute as its sensitivities. Virgo wants to make sense out of the world, and will observe, study, research, compare, and record. Virgo likes paper, where ideas are presented in tangible form. In fact, an ancient picture of the Goddess shows her with a papyrus headdress. Virgo is often a fine writer, or poet, or critic. Dedication is Virgo’s path—dedication to improvement, to healing, to serving, to the refining process of purifying his/her own creative path. Virgo tries to live intentionally—to be conscious of its actions and to know that they serve a higher purpose. Virgo is associated with health, good diet, exercise, and taking care of oneself. Virgo is a realist, willing to recognize and work with what exists. This, combined with fine problem-solving ability and desire for improvement, means that a situation is never hopeless. Analysis will always turn up workable options for improving things. Virgoans need to work, they need to dedicate themselves, and they need to express their convictions about life and growth. Often they are found working behind the scenes. It is service, not power, which attracts, and Virgo is willing to devote all its energies to a worthwhile cause. The Virgo addiction to perfection can be a problem at times. Virgo needs to learn to relax, to let things go, to look at the whole picture, and to criticize problems, not people. This is especially true with regard to self, for Virgo can be very self-critical. During Virgo time we can notice what is out of alignment in our lives, and what adjustments we need to make, or skills we need to develop, to realign our lives with our ideals and our inner natures. The aspect of love which nurtures growth is one of the great archetypal forces of Virgo. A challenge of Virgo time is to recognize the great importance of growth in our lives, especially growth toward divine ideals. Says my Saturn-in-Virgo friend, "It [my path] has the value of healing and nurturing life, and I will always be committed to that."
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Published by Maya del Mar. Copyright © 2000, 2001 Maya del Mar.
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