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It's Virgo Time!

The Sun ingressed into Virgo the Virgin on August 22, 2026 at 10:19pm EDT where it will remain until Tuesday September 22 at 8:05pm EDT. Virgo is the second Earth sign and it’s modality is Mutable. The mutable signs are transitional. They represent the end of each season. Gemini occurs at the end of spring; Sagittarius happens at the end of autumn and Pisces signals winter’s end. Virgo is the sign that ends the summer season.

Virgo’s behaviors are motivated by purity. That’s the connection between the symbol of the Virgin and the sixth sign of the zodiac. Purity covers a lot of ground. We can refer to the purity of our physical  surroundings. “Cleanliness is next to godliness”. Virgos are known for being tidy and orderly and while I certainly know some Virgos who do not exhibit these traits, I know far more who do. When my Virgo son was a child, he threw his peach pits behind the sofa and had the messiest desk in his class. However, my Virgo husband is true to form and is very particular about the correct method to load the dishwasher. Whether the astrological shoe fits or not, a good astrologer never reduces people to their Sun sign. Through an interpretation of the natal chart an astrologer helps individuals understand the complexities of their psyche and experiences as indicated by their prominent planetary combinations. If you have never had an interpretation of your birth chart by a professional astrologer, please consider allowing me to provide you with a personal, private reading.

Back to the concept of purity. Other words and phrases come to mind; virtue, honor, striving to do the right thing. It’s about doing your best and a job well done. To do your best you have to make an effort, you have to study hard to get an A+, you have to develop the expertise to do a job efficiently and effectively. The evolutionary intent for Virgo is to become skilled at something that is useful to other people and by doing so, they learn to appreciate and love themselves.

Virgo recognizes that personal growth is a continuous process. But when Virgo translates doing their best into the desire to attain perfection, self-love can be an uphill climb. They can see a finish line with a big banner stretching across it reading PERFECT. That finish line does not exist outside of their own perception and the mental angst they experience trying to cross it can derail them. This pitfall is shadow Virgo and being aware of it can avoid getting caught in that trap. Don’t sweat the small stuff is a useful motto for Virgo.

However, we keep in mind that Virgo is really, really good at the small stuff and I’m not saying to let go of being detail oriented. We need people who can analyze all of the bits and come up with an answer. Think of medical research which can be tedious and complicated. A methodical approach is needed to develop cures for disease, to isolate a specific chromosome that carries the genetic signature for a medical condition. Having the mental discipline to sift through large amounts of data, organize it and analyze is imperative in a wide number of areas and professions, even now with AI doing much of this legwork. It is the mind-set that produces results.

Another pitfall for Virgo to side step is worry. They can seriously stress over a minor detail, giving it more importance than it deserves. Knowing when the outcome is good enough can be a blind spot for those who pursue perfection. Awareness of this tendency helps Virgo catch themselves before they get caught up in unproductive thoughts or activity.

More than any other sign (except maybe Capricorn) Virgo has the capacity to become proficient at whatever they set their minds to. They understand that success is achieved through hard work, discipline and commitment. They realize that having talent is not enough. That talent has to be finely crafted and perfected. An archetype for Virgo is The Servant. We don’t literally translate that into domestic workers, that's way too narrow; it has to do with the act of service, the need to be useful. This is where Virgo shines.  Without usefulness, Virgo’s sense of self erodes. Their identity is tied to their purpose, which is a practical one.

Michael Jackson, who in this astrologer’s humble opinion ranks as the greatest entertainer of all time, had Sun in Virgo. That alone does not tell us nearly enough. Sun sign astrology lacks depth and dimension. However, we recognize Michael’s dedication to developing his craft and his legacy. Legacy is very much a Virgo concept. So is mentorship. Michael’s Virgo Sun falls in his sixth house of daily routines, work life and responsibility. It is also the house of stress and illness. Michael has a stellium (three or more planets grouped together in the natal chart) of five planets in the hard working, stressful sixth house. Some planets are in Virgo and some are in Leo the Lion who is inclined to be a showman and comfortable in the spotlight. These placements align with his biographical story. The other planets in Michael’s sixth house are:

1.    Pluto: Pluto takes things to extreme. His day in and day out commitment to the perfection of his craft is turned up to max volume, to the exclusion of other pursuits including normal, everyday activities. Michael once closed down a grocery store so that he could experience the thrill of food shopping. He drove himself to the point of exhaustion, ultimately destroying his health and leading to his premature death. This placement is also an indication of his tyrannical father.

2.    Mercury in Leo: Mercury represents our thoughts and ideas and how we communicate. Leo’s communication style can be flashy and is meant to be expressed. Being a showman was a natural way for Michael to communicate. This placement helps to counteract Virgo’s inclination to worry about being good enough. If MJ’s anxiety led to stage fright, he may never have shared his music and his iconic dance moves with the world.

 (If your Sun sign is Cancer, Leo or Virgo you may have Mercury in Leo. While this placement does not guarantee that someday we will see your name is lights, it does indicate an overall positive outlook on life and suggests that you make a good impression on others.)

3.    Venus in Leo: Venus is the patroness of the arts. In Michael’s chart, Venus is close to Mercury. These planets join forces to blend his exquisite vocals, song-writing and choreography with communication and self-expression.

4.    Uranus in Leo: Uranus is ground breaking and has much to do with individuation and freedom. Michael’s work was genius; it was revolutionary and he needed to freely express his unique creativity on the world stage. He was his own invention.

As I end my Virgo post I leave you with a final thought. More often than not, I find Virgos to be quite funny. That’s not what most people expect from such a serious-minded sign. Their humor comes from being able to translate their cynical views into a profoundly funny observations that we easily relate to. They find something about daily life to laugh about that uplifts us. Hmmm sounds like service. This month we celebrate those critical, picky perfectionists who make the world go around and show us to how laugh at the absurdity of it all!