Today, February 19, 2019, there’s a Super-Charged Full Moon at 0° in the sign of Virgo. 0° of any sign represents the its qualities at their most intense, or rather manifests these qualities in their most intense form. Every sign has inherent qualities and themes associated with it; but it’s how these qualities are expressed—either as the so-called “positive” attributes that reflect a highly evolved soul, or what Astrologers refer to as the sign’s “shadow side,” or the same qualities inherent in the sign expressed in their least evolved form. Virgo is particularly fascinating as far as this goes as, even as Mutable signs go, are so highly changeable in nature that it’s often difficult to tell…
Virgo in Greek Myth: Earth Mother Demeter
Virgo is a sign steeped in symbolism, associated with the Greek Goddess Demeter—Mother Earth incarnate—who lost her daughter to Hades and forever mourned this loss. According to myth, the innocent Virgin was taken by Hades down into the Underworld and thus “deflowered,” losing her innocence and leaving her Mother eternally bereaved at the loss of her perfect, beloved Daughter. But what Mother doesn’t know may be all for the better.
As the embodiment of the Earth Mother archetype, Virgo is typically very concerned with productivity, both literally in the sense of birthing children—Virgo women are often obsessed with pregnancy, as it changes them forever and endows them with a sense of femininity previously latent in their own minds and/or allows them to revel in the realization that they are now not only adored (read: cared for), but soon-to-be deserving of the Matriarchal crown—and figuratively in the sense of being useful to the world in some way.
Another metaphor associated with the sign of Virgo is the Harvest, when the seeds planted have grown and we separate of the wheat from the chaff. The “wheat-from-chaff” analogy is widely referenced by Astrologers in describing the natural qualities of Virgo, used to highlight Virgo’s natural sense of discernment and (usually) sense of good taste as well as the ability to take what’s useful (the new seed in the grain) and use it to create something entirely new.
This urge to be useful actually makes Virgo one of the most intelligent signs of the Zodiac, blessed as they are with the rare combination of insatiable curiosity and an incessant desire to learn—fact-gatherers, for sure—with a down-to-earth approach to life and the work ethic of a Human Fireball…Virgo is the epitome of “doing it all,” usually with an endearing humility and a sparkling smile. Add to that their innate common sense (a trait we take for granted, rare as it is nowadays) and patience, and altogether it’s pretty much a recipe for success…(Right?)
Virgo & Enslavement Complex
To slave or be enslaved? For Virgo, that’s almost always the question. In Ancient Astrology, Virgo and/or 6th house placements in the Birth Chart were unilaterally associated with enslavement. So whether they tie themselves up or let someone else do it, the fact is simply that Virgo is turned on by playing the role of slave/slave-master to some degree, whether they’re prepared to admit it or not. And this is not their fault. Even if what they think is “helping” is really just, well...not, bear in mind that they never mean to be critical and are usually harshest on when feeling insecure or taken for granted.
Virgo can be notoriously needy with family and lovers, and thus it’s one of their primary purposes in life to break free of the Mother/Me complex in order to cultivate a real sense of independence—a most challenging task Virgo: Master of Tasks. Dependency complexes in general run rife (run life?) in the sign of Virgo, driven as they are by the neurotic belief that the “need to be needed” is their sole purpose of existence.
This in turn creates a cycle of low self-esteem that can cause depression and, not coincidentally, is the reason all Virgos feel so persistently compelled to offer their help to others (even if they’re not really helping; it’s more the feeling of helping that gets them off to be honest). Thus Virgo enslaves themselves—half the time to Mother, the other half to Lover—while simultaneously trying to build a life, or just a little (wiggle) room of their own.
Virgo & Mother + Other(s)
One of Virgo’s greatest virtues is their kindness; yet there’s an unmistakable fickleness to their affections, changeable chameleons as they are. Perhaps this was a defense mechanism picked up unconsciously to defend against the all-powerful Mother. Either way, Virgo possesses the unique ability to take on the traits of those around them as if by osmosis: not mimicking per se, always needing to put their own touch on everything they do or say, but simply “becoming” those closest to them. This, of course, is extremely attractive to all people, whether it be a friend or a lover, and it in turn serves Virgo’s need to inculcate obsession in others so to have that idealized image of themselves mirrored back to them by others. Ya know?
Yet what these “others” rarely realize is that Virgos get, well, tired. Fed up. Ironically, with themselves. Or rather, with the dependencies of others on them which they themselves created. Oh well. So one day out of nowhere, after silently planning and stewing, the Virgo will “suddenly” become someone entirely different. Now this is where it gets interesting! The keynote of Virgo’s life is to constantly change and evolve, leaving behind the scaly snake-skin of personalities tried on, and burst forth as their Own Person.
Once a course of action is decided—usually around mid-life, prone more than any other sign to undergoing a Sometimes Very Stereotypical, Old-Fashioned Mid-Life Crisis—having tried on different personalities, exhausted all lifestyles and hair colors, they decide who they are (remember: wheat from chaff) and, having done so, they burst forth from behind the scenes, scream “Look at me,” and sashay onto the stage they’ve created, almost always in some magnificent display of lights and colors.
Virgo & Change
What happens once the colors fade? Well that depends on the person, or in this case, the Virgo. They might buy a new sports car without warning, spend the Family Fortune on a Pyramid in Egypt (“But you guys, we can live IN the tombs over there though”), move from Nebraska to Taiwan on a dime (“I read some fascinating books about it at the Library and simply couldn’t resist”), or eschew the To Dos and the Chores and the Routines entirely to become a Sherpa and follow their bliss (“Dishes? What’s the point when I’ll just have to re-do them all anyway?”). Eat, Pray, Love or Wise Words of Wisdom?
But hey, let’s give Virgo credit where credit’s due: no matter what they’ll (if they’re in a good mood anyway) bend over backwards for you. Having in early life lived with so many fears and paralyzing shyness, often hiding behind a book or in the background, rarely feeling noticed for their hard work and consistency of presence, the Virgo’s life-long identity crisis breeds a fearlessness and courage that can manifest truly amazing things. It’s this fearlessness that allows them to enter the deep & the dark (Hades), to tap into (not to mention tackle) their oft-repressed desires, to get to the heart of life and take a big, long bite.
So whether their plans “work out” or not is really not the question. It’s the natural urge for experiences, to encounter the new and unseen, that leads to conquering of self-judgment and fear of acting on long-held dreams. It’s the fearless plunge into Experience that gives Virgo that adrenalin rush, makes them feel alive, stop worrying about To Do Lists Undone, and opens them up to truly experiencing others without judgment—and, consequently, themselves.
Virgo & This Full Moon Though…
So now that we’ve touched on some Virgoan themes, what can we take away from this knowledge at the time of the Oh-So-Powerful Virgo Full Moon?
Just as the Virgo symbolizes the virtuous maiden separating the wheat from the chaff, this Full Moon is not the time for sowing the seed, but for reaping the harvest. The Manifest My Destiny theme is on pause (at least for the time being). We’ve taken in experience, formed attachments, built lives. So now we must fearlessly examine our deeply held beliefs and dependencies and ask ourselves what (who) is holding us back from evolving or conquering long-held fears—What (who) is wheat and what (who) is chaff?
We must find the Golden (Mc)Nugget in every experience, as Virgo teaches us to do. And if our soul’s evolution’s the goal, what (who) is helping us to become who we are? Who is offering help when we need it (or even when we don’t)? What are we holding onto and why? If the reason is “Fear,” then the answer is clear: That Thing is not worth saving and why are we holding it so (stubbornly) dear?