Astraea, the Goddess associated with Virgo, was the last immortal to live on Earth, until she left in disgust, so disturbed by humanity’s wickedness, evil and corruption. If she was truly a Virgo, she probably also developed a digestive, respiratory condition or other physical ailment from all the pollution, too. Nonetheless, Astraea became part of the starry constellation we call Virgo and when the planets pass through her piece of the sky, we too become peevish, turning a critical eye on our life, our world. All the things that we wish were different annoy us. We easily see what needs cleansing, organising, fixing, improving. Astraea’s legacy to us was the urge for a more perfect existence.
Alas, unlike Astraea, we are not immortal. We live on a planet with homelessness, war, disease and suffering, and (can you believe it?) most of us still want to postpone the eternal invitation to join Astraea in her starry legacy for as long as possible. In my imagining of this myth, I like to think Astraea stayed on Earth for as long as she could, too, pitching in on disaster clean-up efforts, helping those who suffered from the evils of corporate giants (or equivalent of her time), gardening, doing reiki, housekeeping or astrology; offering her spiritual balm and bounty. Offering what she could, what she was able. As a parting gift, I also like to think she left us those little angels who tirelessly give the compassionate service of unconditional love to us humans: our treasured pets.
The word Virgo is Latin, meaning self-contained or self-sufficient. Those born under this sign are aligned with the urge for service, to give, because seeing imperfection is woven into their nature, and they are oriented to do what they are able. Not because they know better, or are perfect, if perfection even exists. Virgo is simply willing to do what she can. And because she’s built to help others – fix a flat, stop world hunger- it’s gratifying.
Virgo’s shadow stems from a warping of that instinct to perfect, criticism, flaw-finding – an ingratitude born of finding the world, our self, others, wanting. It’s so easy to think about what we’re not able to have, be or do; it’s so easy to shame our self, or others, for not being able. It’s so easy to appreciate what we don’t have much of. It is much, much harder, and maybe even takes a level of spiritual mastery, to appreciate what we have a lot of. Maybe we don’t have much money, but we have a lot of love to give. Maybe we don’t have health, but we’ve a lot of compassion and companionship. As we appreciate what we do have, it grows: into vocation, a sense of rich purpose, humble wholeness. What we devote our self to, grows- that’s Virgo’s harvest.
To flow with Virgo New Moon, take a few humble steps towards making your world a more perfect place. Streamline your life routines, organise your sock drawer, clean up your diet (Virgo New Moon is a great time to begin new health regimes), thank the invisible ones (farmers, service workers) who make your life easier, appreciate your pets. Look to the house this New Moon falls for a fresh start. Turn a critical eye toward the things you could use your help, but not so critical that you mistake a need for progress for perfection and fall into the abyss of procrastination -a Virgo hell of sorts. Be humble: we have such a limited time on this Earth. No matter how imperfect your life is, no matter all you yet don’t have, your life is a humble harvest. Be of service, in the way you are able. Then revel in that ability. Maybe the best thing any of us can do is to offer what we can.
artwork: Zemnya/Virgo by Karen Mackenzie