Virgo

Excerpt from Degrees of the Zodiac:

VIRGO (August 22 - September 23) is the natural 6th house. As such it is concerned with perfecting the skills of work and service. After the performance given by the 5th house activities of Leo, the individual recognizes his lack of perfection and seeks ways to improve. It is the Virgo influence which takes up where Leo ended. Virgo, ruled by Mercury, is analytical and critical of details. Virgos are usually found in jobs of a service nature, often working with foods which nourish the body. Virgo rules the intestines, processing food to remove impurities and distribute nutrients to the rest of the body. It is a mutable earth sign representing the harvest of the year. It gathers up and prepares the necessary supplies, 'separating the wheat from the chaff,’ in order to store the supplies necessary to carry us over until the next growing season.

The individual is brought back to the workshop to work behind the scenes to better understand the process of growth. He does not seek display as Leo does because s/he has been made conscious of his/her own inadequacy. In this position, s/he is critical of everything that goes on around him. Virgo people can be very difficult to live with because they are constantly noticing details and commenting about them in a way that can be irritating. But Virgo is concerned with the menial tasks that need to be done. They make good bookkeepers and are good at keeping records of all kinds, as well as processing the intricate details of research projects. When they are not voicing criticism, they work quietly and efficiently, hardly being noticed. But they should not be overlooked because they need encouragement as much as anyone. Yet they often fail to receive recognition for what they do.

If Virgo believes that some measure of success has been accomplished, s/he will work to improve and perfect himself/herself. Sometimes, the individual looks for a teacher in order to perfect his own skills and abilities. But Virgo can also become a slave to some higher authority. When s/he becomes a slave, it is because s/he feels a keen sense of failure. S/he may become convinced that s/he is unworthy and unable to ever excel or take the spotlight again. S/he may seek to contribute his/her last efforts to the potential s/he thinks can only be realized by someone outside himself. Of course, this can never be a permanent dedication. We must always be critical and responsible for what we do, even under the direction or in the service of another person. It is in this sign that we face imperfection and resolve in some manner to try again or build anew.

We all have Virgo somewhere in our chart. Wherever it falls in the chart, it shows the area of developing and perfecting skills, as well as the degree to which we are willing to be of service to others. People with Virgo as a first house influence wrap their lives around these concerns. Planets here also color our approach to service and self-improvement, based upon the character of the particular planet and the specific degree.