The sign Virgo is greatly misunderstood. Virgo has long been associated with the word “virgin” but the word, like the sign itself, is complex. It is not the virgin who is chaste or inexperienced. A virgin in the ancient, original sense means whole-unto-herself. “The term “virgin” when used of the ancient goddesses, clearly has a meaning not of today. It may be used of a woman who has had much sexual experience; it may even be applied to a prostitute. Its real significance is to be found in its use as contrasted with being married,” writes Esther Harding writes in her book, Women’s Mysteries. A virgin is free, possessed by nothing, attached to nothing; she belongs to herself alone. For Virgos, the goal is not perfection; the goal is wholeness.

The old astrologers associated Virgo with “servants” but that too is misleading. It is not servitude in a menial sense but the capacity to be of service to other people. Human beings are not gods or goddesses and perfection is not attainable but in striving towards that ideal Virgos discover their purpose, their calling. This sign has a great hunger to grow and evolve; being of service is the path to that self-discovery. The Holy Grail for Virgos is finding the right work, something to dedicate their lives to and grow in the process. Is there something you want to get really good at? This capable Virgo New Moon is a wonderful time to begin.

In the chart of the New Moon, Neptune, the planet of the invisible and the unseen in watery Pisces, opposes the Sun and Moon in meticulous Virgo. Mercury, also in Virgo, opposes forgiving Chiron in Pisces. Form verses formlessness, boundaries clash with no boundaries, the material world conflicts with the spirit world. Like the ongoing debate between Western medicine verses holistic healing, we need to integrate both modalities. A recent article in the New York Times reported that hospitals all over the world are using the ancient practice of feng shui to redesign hospital rooms. This has led to shorter stays and faster recovery. This is a great metaphor for the New Moon; we need Virgo’s technique and science but we also need Neptune in Pisces’ healing ability and deep faith.

Mars and Saturn in intense Scorpio are exact now. This stressful combo is a powerhouse; driven, forceful, persuasive, and uncompromising, this combo has a military feeling. An excellent use of this aspect is to become obsessed about something – in a good way. Find a big goal or project and channel that Mars/Saturn energy – very precisely. It’s great for endurance, focus, and following through. Aim accurately, be precise; don’t get sloppy. Mars/Saturn make a square to Venus in Leo, putting stress on relationships. Read Gerald Jampolsky’s book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, an oldie but a goody. As he says in the book, “You can be right or you can be happy.”

This New Moon in early Virgo has a crisp, pristine quality. What area of your life do you need to see more clearly? What needs fixing or adjusting? The sign Virgo is concerned with refining, consolidating, and eliminating. What do you need to release in order to move forward? What needs to be made whole? A new moon is a new beginning; use it to break old habits and create new ones especially in the area of health and well-being, a Virgo specialty! A trine from Venus in Leo to Uranus in Aries can assist us breaking through old stories and stuck places. Remember, Virgo is vulnerable to self-criticism and inner critics. Whatever you do this week, do it with compassion and kindness and not judgment, blame, or shame. “My beloved child, break your heart no longer. Each time you judge yourself, you break your own heart.” –Vidya Carolyn dell’Uomo

“Seeking after wholeness is the heart of the Warrior’s quest. And yet what you are striving to become in actuality is what you already are in essence: it is your personal myth, what you need to make conscious, bring into form, express in a creative way.” —The Book of Runes

Mary Oliver’s beloved poem, Wild Geese, seems appropriate for this Virgo New Moon.
You do not need to be good.
You do not need to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

—Mary Oliver