Virgo
Whenever I think of the purity that comes from service I think of Virgo. Virgo is the sign of the Virgin and with her unflawed demeanor we can see the burden that is carried through the path of the Virgo.

Virgo is the 6th sign of the Zodiac.
Gender: Feminine
Element: Earth
Ruling planet: Mercury
Ruling Body Parts:  Intestines

The Sun goes into Virgo from approximately 8/22-9/23
The Symbol of Virgo is the Virgin. In Greek Mythology Virgo is normally associated with Astraea who was the virgin-goddess of Justice. Astraea was the daughter of Zeus and Themis and she was seen as the reflection of purity. It is said that when she ascended to the heavens she became the constellation Virgo and her scales of Justice became Libra. Astraea held a position of authority during the Utopian Golden Age and only left once humans became violent and greedy. From this understanding we understand the search of perfection that is inherent in Virgo.

In the lines of perfection we see the soul in its journey toward the source.  Halfway there we try and find the calling of that journey to completion. But we are not there yet. We have hit an evolutionary epoch that aspires us to go on. We have journeyed through the realm of the unconscious. Now it is time to put those patterns in their proper space and feel the purity of our hearts.

Virgo’s purity represents the peak of perfection toward a particular set of skills. They know when to add nuance or make changes to make something work more efficiently. Virgos are very proficient at waiting to the right possible moment before acting. Just as the farmer knowing the right time to harvest Virgo knows that its energy can only be fully used when the timing is right.  The Virgo will know they are ready once they are able to let go of the idea of failure. Virgo is to share the skill they are perfecting to those who can use that skill to move forward in their own existence. The Virgo does this without emotion or codependency. For the Virgo living in the light it is about the skill they are perfecting that meshes with the other parts of the whole. The Virgo is not seeking anything in return. Their completeness comes in the knowledge that the service they provide enables to them to get closer to perfection. In this perfection that reflection of the divine creator is now shown in the essence of the Virgo.

If the Virgo starts looking for acknowledgement for the service she provides she is walking into her shadow.  The shadow if the Virgo is one in which it assumes purity in others without fully embracing it in themselves. Their answers become empty and their methods stale. A weakness sets in that stagnates the Virgo and a critical nature rises to the surface.

Lets imagine an artist (Virgo) standing before a painting that has yet to be started. What you have is a blank canvass and the potential of greatness laid out before the artist. The power resides in the untouched canvass, as its greatness is ready to be tapped.  An Aries might attack the painting with reckless abandon or a Pisces might paint half the painting before opening her eyes. Not this Virgo artist. The Virgo sits back reluctant to start with fear running through her veins. The Virgo knows that while the canvass is untouched the potential is there to create a masterpiece of perfection. She conceptually understands the potential that is the painting. With her mind she grasps all concepts that make artist great. Greatness is there to be had but the finicky Virgo artist with her insecurities argues with herself that she is not good enough. Since she sees herself as imperfect how could she create anything that is perfect? The Virgo takes this pressure and forces it out in an abundance of criticism. Toward herself and others if they are around.

What the Virgo needs to realize is that the channel of creativity is born though the unity of the divine source. It does not come through over thinking and the idea that she is the burden of perfection. Virgo needs to realize she is only a vessel that uses her skill for service. She must realize that the “perfected unity” of the masculine and feminine creates the Immaculate Conception that gives birth towards that skill.  The divine birth (the finished painting) is the perfected unity that creates without destroying. The fear of starting the painting is the ego feeding the artist that they are solely in control of the painting. When the Virgo puts faith in spirit that the painting will be as it should be fear is dissolved and perfection is at hand. Virgos must understand and embrace what they are good at and give that back as a service for others. In that the service purity is attained.

When we think of service we think of what we can do for others. This ideal is honored as a way to show our compassion. Virgo’s are the best sign at seeing an issue and coming up with a plan to solve that issue. Even when there are no messes to clean up, Virgos can provide an element that bolds well for whoever is in their presence. The Virgo living in balance achieves greatness in service. The Virgo in shadow greets service with martyrdom.

The problem with the Virgo in its shadow is they are so concerned with others the service of self suffers. They start to see their service as an identity of self worth. When they don’t see others singing the praises of the Virgo they go into a tailspin of self-denial. The Virgo will say, “They are stupid for not seeing what I did. How can another get all the praise when I did all the work? It is then the opposite can happen; selfishness.

The Virgo and her constant search for perfection will put herself in the middle on another’s dilemma. The Virgo sees the imperfection of another and is quick and selfishly willing to let the other person know how to be perfect. When that person does not adhere to the advice that will make them “perfect” Virgo lashes out with criticism that reveals their own imperfect existence. She becomes very selfish as she realizes how imperfect she is.

Once the Virgo has accepted that she is as imperfect as everyone else she can move on to the next step. The next step is knowing that her imperfections are her perfections. After she realizes those two things she is set toward the ultimate goal to perfection that comes from service. She is to help people or groups; she is one proficient part that completes the whole. This whole, which is the reflection of spirit, is now headed for the ultimate realization.

Wholeness of self.

Notes:
Virgo has the most Nebulae of any constellation in the solar system. The Virgo “cluster” has over 1300 galaxies. The “cluster” is an un-uniformed mixture of spirals and ellipticals.  Is this cosmic vibration of gas, galaxies.

Famous Virgos
August 23, 1970 - River Phoenix - Actor
August 24, 1770 - Friedrich Hegal - Writer
August 25, 1918 - Leonard Bernstein - Conductor
August 25, 1918 - George Wallace - Politician
August 25, 1930 - Sean Connery - Actor
August 25, 1933 - Regis Philbin - TV Personality
August 25, 1947 - Anne Archer - Actress
August 25, 1954 - Elvis Costello - Singer
August 26, 1819 - Prince Albert - Royalty
August 26, 1904 - Christopher Isherwood - Religious Figure
August 26, 1923 - Richard Attenborough - TV Host
August 27, 1871 - Theodore Dreiser - Writer
August 27, 1908 - Lyndon Johnson - President USA
Auguat 27, 1910 - Mother Teresa - Humanitarian
August 27, 1929 - Yasser Arafat - Political Figure
August 27, 1931 - Sri Chinmoy - Religious Leader
August 27, 1939 - Pee Wee Herman - Comdian
August 27, 1943 - Tuesday Weld - Actress
August 28, 1749 - Johann V. Goethe - Writer
August 29, 1876 - Frances Kettering - Engineer
August 29, 1907 - Don Loper - Designer
August 29, 1962 - Maeterlinck - Historical Figure
August 29, 1915 - Ingrid Bergman - Actress
August 29, 1938 - Elliot Gould - Actor
August 29, 1958 - Michael Jackson - Singer
August 30, 1797 - Mary Godwin Shelley - Writer
August 30, 1943 - Jean Claud Killy - Skier
August 31, 1880 - Queen Wilhelmina - Neth. Royalt
August 31, 1903 - Arthur Godfrey - Entertainer
August 31, 1908 - William Saroyan - Writer
August 31, 1916 - Daniel Schorr - Jounalist
August 31, 1924 - Buddy Hacket - Actor
August 31, 1928 - James Coburn - Actor
August 31, 1949 - Richard Gere - Actor
August 31, 1950 - Arthur Bremer - Criminal
September 1, 1875 - William Rice Burroughs - Writer
September 1. 1907 - Walter Reuther - Union Official
September 1, 1924 - Rocky Marciano - Boxer
September 1, 1938 - Alan Dershowitz - Attorney
September 1, 1939 - Lilly Tomlin - Comediene
September 1. 1957 - Gloria Estefan - Singer
September 2, 1919 - Marge Champion - Dancer
September 2, 1948 - Terry Bradshaw - Sports Figure
September 2, 1951 - Mark Harmon - Actor
September 3, 1935 - Eileen Brennan - Actress
September 3, 1943 - Valarie Perrine - Actress
September 3, 1965 - Charlie Sheen - Actor
September 4, 1530 - Ivan the Terrible - Royalty
September 4, 1896 - Antinon Artaud - Writer
September 4, 1908 - Richard Wright - Inventor
September 4, 1913 - Micky Cohen - Gangster
September 4, 1918 - Paul Harvey - Broadcaster
September 4, 1920 - Craig Claiborne - Writer
September 4, 1929 - Tomas Eagelton - Politician
September 5, 1912 - John Cage - Musician
September 5, 1913 - John Mitchell - Politician
September 5, 1927 - Paul Volcker - Federal Reserve
September 5, 1902 - Darryl F. Zanuck - Producer
September 5, 1929 - Bob Newhart - Actor
September 5, 1940 - Raquel Welch - Actress
September 6, 1888 - Joseph Kennedy Sr. - Famous Family
September 6, 1860 - Jane Adams - Social Worker
September 6, 1944 - Swoosie Kurtz - Actress
September 7, 1887 - Edith Sitwell - Writer
September 7, 1900 - Taylor Caldwell - Writer
September 7, 1943 - Peter Lynch - Financial Wiz
September 7, 1936 - Buddy Holly - Singer
September 8, 1841 - Antonin Dvorak - Composer
September 8, 1889 - Robert Taft - Politician
September 8, 1922 - Lyndon Larouche - Celebrity
September 8, 1924 - Grace Metalious - Writer
September 8, 1925 - Peter Sellers - Actor
September 9, 1890 - Jimmy “the Greek Snyder - Celebrity
September 9. 1925 - Cliff Robertson - Actor
September 9, 1941 - Otis Redding - Musician
September 9, 1951 - Michael Keaton - Actor
September 10, 1929 - Arnold Palmer - Sport Figure
September 10, 1934 - Charles Kuralt - Journalist
September 10, 1945 - Jose Feliciano - Singer
September 10, 1948 - Margaret Trudeau - Political Wife
September 10, 1953 - Amy Irving - Actress
September 10, 1924 - Tom Landry - Sports Figure
September 11, 1862 - O. Henry - Writer
September 11, 1885 - D.H. Lawrence - Writer
September 11, 1932 - Bob Packwood - Politician
September 11, 1940 - Brian Depalma - Director
September 11, 1962 - Kristy McNichol - Actress
September 12, 1880 - Henry L. Menken - Writer
September 12, 1888 - Maurice Chevalier - Actor
September 12, 1940 - Linda Gray - Actress
September 13, 1819 - Clara Schumann - Composer
September 13, 1857 - Milton Hershey - Industrialist
September 13, 1905 - Claudette Colbert - Actress
September 13, 1944 - Jacqueline Bissett - Actress
September 13, 1948 - Nell Carter - Actress
September 14, 1879 - Margaret Sanger - Activist
September 15, 1789 - George Fenimore Cooper - Writer
September 15, 1857 - William H. Taft - President US
September 15, 1880 - Agatha Christie - Writer
September 15, 1922 - Jackie Cooper - Actor
September 16, 1638 - Lousi XIV 'Sun King' - Royalty
September 16, 1924 - Lauren Bacall - Actress
September 16, 1926 - Rev. Robert Schuller - Religious Leader
September 17, 1907 - Warren Burger - U.S. Justice
September 17, 1931 - Anne Bancroft - Actress
September 17, 1948 - John Ritter - Actor
September 18, 1916 - Rossano Brazzi - Actor
September 18, 1962 - Refrigerator Perry - Sports Figure
September 18, 1905 - Greta Garbo - Actress
September 19, 1928 - Mickey Mouse - Cartoon Character
September 19, 1941 - Cass Elliot - Singer
September 19, 1948 - Jeremy Irons - Actor
September 19, 1949 - Twiggy - Model
September 19, 1950 - Joan Lunden - TV Personality
September 20, 1853 - Chulalonghorn, Siam - Royalty
September 20, 1878 - Upton Sinclare - Writer
September 20, 1928 - Dr. Joyce Brothers - Psychologist
September 20, 1934 - Sophia Loren - Actress
September 21, 1874 - Gustave Holst - Composer
September 21, 1866 - H. G. Wells - Writer
September 21, 1931 - Harry Hagman - Actor
September 21, 1944 - Hamilton Jordon - Press Secretary
September 21, 1947 - Stephen King - Writer
September 21, 1950 - Bill Murray - Actor
September 22, 1932 - Ingemar Johansson - Boxer
September 22, 1960 - Joan Jett - Singer
September 22, 1960 - Tai Babilonia - Skater