Whether Astrology is science or magic, we’re open to most things, if they may be of benefit. ~ Ed.

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The sun passes into the astrological sign of Virgo on August 22 to grace us all with a little bit of humility after the grand energy of Leo.

This event will give us a chance to take a closer look at some of our weaknesses, our experience of lack, and suggest ways we may want to direct our attention in the name of progress.

As opposed to Leo energy, Virgo energy cares little for the spotlight or for large displays of grandeur. Its intention is to bring more awareness to the finer details of our lives. Concern centers on concrete, practical, daily affairs that require our attention and maintenance.

Virgo is virtuous, prudent, analytical, modest, improvement-seeking, and inclined toward service. Here we invite the archetypes of the Researcher, the Analyst, the Scientist, the Perfectionist, the Critic, the Servant, and the Craftsperson.

The archetypal energy of Virgo could be said to claim the following: “I see where I am less than all I could be, and I wish to improve. Instead of resting upon the merits I have already acquired, I will humble myself and work hard in order to reach a new benchmark. I will surpass the lethargy and complacency suggested by my past limitations and invite progress into my life. Seeing myself develop is my reward. When I attend to my own growth, my capacity to serve others in a spirit of humble servitude is also magnified. I serve myself so that I can offer something of real value to others. ”

Questions to consider from August 22nd-September 22, 2017:

1. Do I believe in the value and virtue of the services I provide the community? Am I standing in my “right livelihood”?

2. Am I satisfied with level of service I provide for the larger community? Where are my areas of growth? How can I raise the quality of my services and fine-tune my skills so that I might serve others more effectively?

3. Am I attending to the current needs within my partnership? Am I noticing the subtle ways in which my partner changes from day to day? How can I adapt to these changes to better serve the relationship’s needs?

4. Am I satisfied with my health, nutrition, and self-care regimes? What routines can I establish or modify to better care for myself?

5. What details have I been missing in attending to larger, broadscale aspects of my life?

6. In what areas of my life do I experience a sense of stagnation and lack of growth? Am I ready and willing to acknowledge these realities and take steps toward working on these areas?

7. How can I practice the art of self-forgiveness and self-compassion in relinquishing any extreme notions of perfection, while attending to these areas of self-improvement?

8. How does the awareness of my imperfections keep me swimming in negativity? What can I do to alchemically transform my self-critique into constructive steps forward?

While we best take care not to over-extend our tendency toward impossible notions of perfection with Virgo, we can appreciate the intention to serve at the highest possible level and perform our best work possible.

Action Steps:

Assessing Work, Health, and Nutrition Routines: This involves looking at everything from transportation methods to working hours to organizational systems and everything in between to see what needs some attention. Implement new self-care routines. Our health choices can be modified. Nutrition and exercise journals/apps may be newly acquired to help with the improvements. Schedule walks, naps, and breaks in ways that best serve.

Attention toward Right-Livelihood: If your daily work does not reflect the current values and virtues you hold, now is a good time to acknowledge that and take some steps toward researching new areas of interest that may better serve your purpose. Visit a career counselor. Take some interest and personality inventories.

Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the antidote to shadow Virgo energy. It encourages sustained attention to the here and now, invites us to ground and find anchoring in our breath, and exemplifies simplicity. It encourages non-judgment when we find ourselves scattered and entertaining various streams of thought in a way that promotes self-compassion and ease of being. This is a core practice for addressing the negativity and the sometimes ruthlessly critical nature of Virgo.

Essentially, Virgo reminds us that we cannot move forward and grow if we are not willing to acknowledge our weaknesses, our challenges, and work toward that edge. We may need to see what is missing sometimes, and that is the beauty of Virgo, if we are capable of seeing it as the opportunity that it is.

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Author: Mollie Lyddane
Image: Pixabay/Twilightzone
Editor: Travis May
Copy Editor: Callie Rushton
Social Editor: Yoli Ramazzina