The Truth About Virgo
This is essay is for all Virgo and Virgo-lovers who have been unrighteously maligned. Every so often, a blanket statement about a sign will come across my timeline and most of the time they are ejected from my memory the second I scroll past. But recently, I’ve seen so many people single out Virgos in particular that I felt the need to issue a corrective.
If you want to read my essay about Pisces, click below:
First off: every sign is more than its worst stereotypes. Though there are some generalizations that do hold water, many don’t or simply skim the surface as to why Pisces are considered “spacey” or Sagittariuses “blunt”. As an astrologer, it’s my job to give these archetypes their proper due.
If you read any pop description about Virgo, as I first did many years ago, you may find yourself dejected. It describes the sign of the virgin as perfectionistic, critical, good at paperwork. Competent at the office but no fun at parties. And while there may be a seed of truth to these descriptions, I am interested in the esoteric basis for them, as well as what lies beyond this frankly stultifying summary of what may be the most dynamic sign of the zodiac.
Read on for my corrective.
General Characteristics of Virgo
Before I dive deeper, it’s worth naming the basics. Virgo is an earth sign, aligning it with what is tangible and sensual. It is mutable as well, occurring at the end of a seaon so it represents all that shifts from one thing into another. It is ruled by the planet Mercury, collector of facts and utility, turning the sign toward study, skill refinement and exchange. As a nocturnal sign, it signifies the inward focus of Mercury to distill and contemplate rather than externalize and constantly expand one’s knowledge, as Gemini, the other Mercury sign, does.
There is some ancient credence to the more mundane characteristics we associated with the sign of the maiden. Valens does tell us that “men born under this sign are…administrators of others’ goods, trusted, good stewards, secretaries, accountants’”.1 As a Virgo Moon I can attest: I find comfort in making lists, crunching the numbers, keeping track of tiny details. When my Pisces Moon friendw as moving she had me individually wrap all of her crystals because while I found the task calming, to her, all the tiny moving parts were overwhelming. As the an earth sign ruled by the planet of the particulars, Virgos find comfort in taking care in practical, tangible way. Though we may not always see it that way, there is real love in deciding what we are going to have for dinner and making the grocery list; in keeping track of spending so the other doesn’t have to. Though Pisces, its opposite sign, may be more known for its widespread compassion, Virgo loves by doing, by holding down that over which they are given responsibility. There is so traditional credence the “no fun” stereotype of this sign. Both of the benefics, Venus and Jupiter, which bring joy and fun into our lives, struggle in the sign of Virgo, almost like sweating the details is not as enjoyable. as going with the flow.
But there is a different kind of fun that occurs in taking care of yourself and respecting yourself enough to work hard at what you live. Without the diligence of Virgo, all of the good feelings of Pisces would just fizzle out once the mood changed. Both of these signs are concerned with service; Valens even describes Virgo as “burdened with care”. Virgo *does* sweat the details, which can be stressful if you just want to have a good time but have you ever been to a “chill wedding” where no one knows where to stand and there isn’t enough wine?
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