New Moon in Virgo - August 23, 2006

Actually, this is the first of two Virgo New Moons, as next month there will be a Solar Eclipse in Virgo. Our First New Moon occurs at the first degree of the sign, and the eclipse will occur at the last degree of the sign. A grand entrance and exit, if you will, although Virgo is anything but grand.

I have an ambivalent relationship with Virgo. This sign is rising in my chart, which means that the eastern horizon at the moment of my birth was in Virgo. The sixth sign of the zodiac relates to matters of work and health, but these terms are euphemisms for drudgery and disease. Face it, perfecting one's craft requires hours of monotonous practice, and physical health requires a tremendous amount of discipline. Supplements, herbs, vitamins, adequate sleep, exercise at least three times a week, yoga, meditation, positive thinking ... I only do this because the alternative would be depression and despair!

When the body breaks down, Virgo is adept at figuring out how to remedy the situation. Likewise, when a Virgo notices a misspelling or a mote of dust in the corner of the living room ... well, let's just say that she notices it at all!

I've got a strange chart, because for all my ability to edit other people's prose and catch the errant semi-colon, my three Pisces planets (the opposite from Virgo) would rather just ignore the mote of dust and stay in my head. (The ruler of my chart -- Mercury -- is in Pisces).

I don't think Mercury is all that happy ruling Virgo. He'd rather hang out in Gemini, in my opinion. The speedy, lying trickster is more comfortable in the element of Air than Earth. Does the mind really want to get stuck in tedium?

But to get back to the New Moon ... this is the time to start any projects relating to honing one's skills, improving one's health or being of service. Start an apprenticeship, take up an exerise routine in preparation for the Fall, adopt an abandoned puppy dog. This New Moon is tied up with a trine in fire signs between Pluto (in Sag) and Mercury (in Leo). As both the Sun and Moon are disposited by Mercury (Virgo's ruler), there is a somewhat incompatible desire to call attention to ourselves (Leo) and use the power of Pluto to convert (Sag) others to our cause. Although Virgo is not comfortable as a leader, she can use this fiery energy to convince her listeners to eat less trans-fatty foods and to practice their scales.

This New Moon will most strongly impact those born a few days on either side of February 18, May 20, August 22 or November 22, as well as those who have other personal planets or angles near 0 degrees of mutable signs.

Tags: new moon - virgo - astrology