Happy Birthday, Virgo! August 22 - September 22

Happy Birthday, Virgo!

You’re in good company- and though most Virgos prefer to hang out behind the scenes, running the show: well, there are a number of celebrity Virgos including Keanu Reeves, Stephen King, Cameron Diaz, and Richard Gere.

Virgo is thought to be based on the Greek goddess Astraea- daughter of Astraeus and Eos. Said to be the virgin goddess of purity and innocence, she was the very last immortal to live with humanity during the Golden Age. When humanity moved into the Iron Age, she fled the Earth to escape the wickedness and when she ascended, became the constellation Virgo. It is said that when she returns- humanity will once again experience a new Golden Age.

If Scorpios are stereotyped as being hornballs- Virgos are often stereotyped as being neat freak, sort of micromanaging, uptight types: but, like Scorpio, this really doesn’t necessarily hold true. Of course, there are some things that are pretty much part and parcel to the Virgo package: being hardworking, wanting to understand things and generally quite intelligent.

Many people miss the symbology of the “virgin”. Of course, societally, that’s seen in a sexual context- however, this is more along the lines of the myth of the Unicorn. The Unicorn was said to be a mythological beast that only the innocent could touch: and yes, it was seen as innocent as well but not in the context of “sexual purity”. Real innocence is far from lacking sexuality, but rather: the natural state of things and a purity of spirit. Virgos do tend to be incredibly mindful of their surroundings- and yes, they can be pretty blushing, shy types. However, once a Virgo is more comfortable in their surroundings- you get to see a completely different side.

Solar Virgos do tend to need to feel like they have some purpose in order to be happy. If they aren’t actively involved in something: they tend to feel depressed and lost. Something of a perfectionist, Virgo can worry a bit too much about the way that they’re doing things- and they can fear that if things are not “perfect” that they have failed.

The reason I mentioned that association with nature and innocence is that Virgo has a deep connection to the body itself. They’re usually keenly aware of their own bodies, which can sometimes manifest in healthy habits but, can also veer on into something a little less healthy. I think everyone’s known a Virgo or two that was a hypochondriac- though this shouldn’t be seen as the standard.

One of Virgo’s biggest problems is being able to see the forest for the trees: the big picture often gets lost in the details to the analytical Virgo, and it can be hard for them to shift out of that singular focus. Letting go of control and not being so hard on themselves is sometimes difficult- but essential to growth and happiness. However, to some degree, Virgos are always perfectionists, and will always see those small details others do not. When this is balanced, it can be an amazing thing.

When the Sun is in Virgo- the rest of us may find ourselves feeling ready to take on some Virgo level standards. Wanting the best- and not being afraid to work to have it. Perfectionistic tendencies may rise up, and so does ambition: you reach one goal and may feel like it’s time to move on to the next. Developing skills and mastering ourselves becomes important and more practical approaches to different problems are the way to go.