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 Overview & Personality Traits
Virgo often gets a poor astrological report.
They are often accused as having critical, hypochondriacal tendencies dwelled upon by those that define the
sign as pedantic, frigid and shrill. But this is a sign of rare understanding
with discerning mental vision and it is only by applying such Virgoan traits
that we see beyond the dross to recognise the Maiden in all her glory. According
to the ancient sources the gifts that she bestows are purity and grace; a
charming turn of phrase, diplomacy, a mastery of words; a discriminating
intellect and propensity for study; a talent for investigation and analysis;
skilful creativity, and a keen appreciation of the mysteries of nature. Burdened
by bashfulness in their early years, Virgos often undermine the value of such
admirable qualities, shunning attention whilst holding a remarkable capacity to
be comfortable in their own company.
The fundamental characteristics of Virgo are founded upon the productive
creativity and practicality of the earth element, stimulated by the intellectual
ingenuity and rapid movement of the sign's planetary ruler, Mercury. Both
element and ruler characterise the sign as 'cool and dry', as does the
calendrical association with autumn, when nature - having borne its fruit -
recedes into conservation.
As a temporal humour 'dryness' inhibits emotional receptivity and many sun-sign
profiles refer to Virgo's reputation for impassionate reactions and cool
responses as a character-flaw, failing to appreciate that the ability to hold
sentiment in check is the requisite of the intellectual clarity that sets this
sign apart. Clear reason can only emerge when disentangled from the conflicting
ties of emotional attachment; yet although it has a just reputation for control
over passions, Virgo is not an unsympathetic or insensitive sign. Essentially
gentle and thoughtful, consideration to others is a pronounced trait and figures
strongly on their limited list of expectations and demands. Neither is Virgo
lacking in intuitive recognition. Unlike the water signs, which pick up easily
on psychic impressions, often absorbing moods that are poorly comprehended by
reason, Virgo forms reliable instinctive impressions through a powerful
gut-reaction, (their energy is seated in the gut), aided by their ready ability
to analyse complexities and penetrate superficial presentations. The result is a
talent for forming good judgement quickly and applying it to practical affairs.
Having a sense for simplicity and harmony, Virgos move through their environment
effortlessly rearranging, organising, and bringing order to chaos. From the
Virgoan housewife who passes through a room picking up the clutter as she goes,
to the business analyst skilled in recognising where communication flow becomes
knotted, Virgos are adept at sorting out the 'little things' which, unattended,
collect together to create big problems.
Coolness as a humour brings passivity and fixidity. This is less of a problem
for Virgo than the other earth signs because of the stirring Mercurial influence
which lightens movement, adds mental flexibility and allows a sharper reaction
than can be expected from her Taurean and Capricornian colleagues. Grounded by
the earthy qualities of practicality and realism, Virgos have little interest in
abstract theories that defy application; nor do they strive towards the
unrealistic levels of perfection that many accuse them of. As an earth sign
Virgo is ultimately a realist not an idealist, and if they have acquired a
reputation for being a perfectionist it is simply because of their proclivity
for diligence and consistency. Virgos are unhappy with slack standards and being
predisposed to working long and hard themselves it is to be expected that they
will urge others likewise. However, the sign would not have the reputation for
good judgment that it does were it not for the ability to balance ideals
against available time and resources. In this Virgos are particularly gifted and
can be relied upon to identify the most satisfactory expectations under any
given set of circumstances, and to plan efficiently and work appropriately
towards fulfilling them.
With such perceptive insight, enviable application and diplomatic expression, we
might consider this sign exceptionally well equipped for maneuvering into
authoritative positions and gaining an abundance of material success. Yet they
are rarely driven by the accumulation of power or wealth and for the most part
take full satisfaction in providing the wind beneath the wings of other
high-fliers. The dry disposition which feeds their talent for analysis rejects
public attention and seeks to avoid centre-stage at all costs. They adhere to
responsibility but do not like to assume it. Being of a modest nature they are
apt to underestimate their own abilities, are too cautious to engage in the
gambles and 'devil may care' risks required of the entrepreneurial spirit, and
cling to convention, preferring to operate within established frameworks where
they can evaluate themselves against predetermined criteria. Too often dismissed
as ideal 'secretarial material', Virgos can and do excel in managerial
positions, but usually within the directives of a large corporate identity where
there are established procedures and a higher level of authority to defer to.
It's not that Virgos seek out positions of support but placed within them they
find contentment and they can gather great pride and self-respect in offering
themselves to the service of something that appears to play an important role in
society. For some this will be a marriage vow; for others the principles of
parenthood; or it might be an industry, institution, charity, religion,
political cause, or area of study. Even the most outstanding Virgo individuals
can be seen to express this trait, a classic example being
Queen Elizabeth I
who achieved great personal glory and held the highest position of command, but
drew her strength from the Virgoan aspiration of honouring her responsibilities
and serving the needs of her country.
So it is with love. It is often claimed that Virgo's cool ardor is the result
of such impossibly high romantic ideals that few are able to rouse the sign to
heights of passion. Certainly this is not a sign to 'put it about' and their
natural discrimination can leave them unimpressed by false personas that
elsewhere gather a lot of attention, but given the right conditions Virgo can be
as passionate and romantic as any other sign of the zodiac. The problem is that
Virgo is decidedly uncomfortable in love affairs that challenge the practicality
of their everyday life and responsibilities. Temptations may be strong and
sincere, and painful broken-hearts may be involved, but of all the signs Virgos
are least likely to give up everything that defines the structure of their life
in the hope of emotional fulfillment with the partner of their dreams. Like Celia
Johnson in the romantic drama Brief Encounter, Virgos decline
self-indulgence where it conflicts with the duties that they hold in good
conscience. And lacking the will to take inappropriate pleasure where another
will take discomfort, they will settle for the practical solution that is most
acceding to the needs of everyone involved, usually accepting the burden of
self-restraint rather than the distress they would feel pursuing self-centred
interests. Other signs may be persuaded that we only live once and we must put
out own needs first, but not Virgo. The realisation of being integrally bound to
everything around them anchors them, for better and for worse.
In many ways this is the true beauty of the sign. Virgos are blessed with a
natural sense of harmony and that could hardly be expressed without an inner
motivation towards synchronization. Such recognition inclines them to pursuits
that call for integration between the mind and the body, fostering a
particularly well suited interest in astrology (where creative intelligence and
the cycles of nature are married in the study of heaven and earth), herbalism,
natural therapies and many forms of complimentary medicine. With the urge to
'do' and 'make' as forceful as their urge to 'think' and 'analyse', Virgos in
fact delight in all crafts where they can create something useful or beautiful
out of raw materials and the application of ingenuity. The sign has a deep
connection with the produce of the earth and taken as the herald of the harvest
Virgo expresses the principle of gathering in and organising the fruits of
labour. From the zodiac's origin as a device to record seasonal activity, the
Virgo month is symbolically attached to the activities that centre around taking
stock of resources and planning for the season ahead based upon the knowledge of
what is available and the expectation that there is 'no or little more to come'.
Consequently, although the sign abounds in expressed creativity, its essence is
to put to good use what is currently accessible rather than the expectation of
increase. Thus we understand the otherwise contradictory element of Virgo's
definition as a 'barren' sign, which is used in decumbiture as an indication of
infertility. Virgo is a conservative energy and conservatism is a word that can
be applied to every level of a Virgo's self-expression. The concern with
methodical categorisation is merely a manifest aspect of this, acutely observed
by traditional authors who listed objects and places of
storage as one of the sign's mayor themes of
signification
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