Welcome to Virgo Season
Welcome to Virgo Season
August 22-September 21
As Summer draws to a close, we step back from the bold, magnanimous queendom of Leo and retreat into into the modest, demure world of Virgo. It’s here that we transmute creative inspiration into skilled craftsmanship. Rooted in practical discernment and energetic refinement, we shift from the element of fire where inspiration and enthusiasm reign to the grounded, mundane practicalities of the Earth element.
Mutable, Earth, Yin
With the downward movement towards Earth, we rest in the fertile ground beneath our feet.
The Earth supports all life. It is solid and stable, as well as soft and supple in the gardener’s hands. The Earth offers so much natural beauty to the world.
As a yin sign, Virgo is soft and receptive, welcoming information from the outer world for contemplation and digestion. Once this information is internalized, the Virgo, as a mutable sign, often goes through processes of change, refinement, and purification.
Just as a tiny seed is buried in the darkness of the soil, cradled by the cool, moist earth, Virgos tend toward a more introverted temperament as they go through profound internal adjustments. The seed contains so much wisdom as its roots unfurl, seeking nourishment, growing deeper, establishing an adaptable base from which a tiny sprout emerges.
Ruled by Mercury
The sign of Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury, often called the planet of communication. Mercury governs how we acquire, process, and share information. It influences our word choice, thought processes, and ideas.
The Greek God, Hermes, represents the planet Mercury in the Greek pantheon as the psychopomp & messenger god, who travels freely between celestial, human, and hidden worlds, carrying messages and delivering information exactly when needed.
Hermes blurs the boundaries between realms, opening doors with wit and wisdom, reminding us that thresholds are sacred and that crossing them requires humility, curiosity and adaptability. As Lewis Hyde states in Trickster Makes This World, “Hermes is neither the god of the door leading out nor the god of the door leading in- he is the god of the hinge.”
Virgo season invites us into deeper relationship with the planet Mercury and the god Hermes. This is a time to honor messages as divine guidance, to listen closely to inner discernment, to ask yourself what to keep and what to release, to question freely the stories you tell yourself, and to follow the thread of communication as it winds through paradox, insight, and transformation.
Hermes, The Guardian of Thresholds
During a recent trip, I read a book called Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art by Lewis Hyde. It is a thick book with fine print, very academic in nature. It explores the trickster gods of mythologies from many cultures (Hermes, Eshu, Loki, and more), and I enjoyed it thoroughly. At times, I admittedly questioned whether invoking deeper relationship with the trickster gods was a wise choice while traveling, and yet I found that the more I engaged with the material, the more my understanding and respect for them deepened. There were so many moments of connection and guidance.
For example…we walked the entire airport to our gate only to find out that the gate had changed and we had to double back, retracing our steps until we arrived at the correct gate. This felt like a gentle, playful nudge. There are many examples like this one, too many to share, but each one gentle and playful enough for me to sense the presence of mercurial guidance without harm done. It was more about intuitive recognition and an openness to be guided and re-directed. By the end of the trip, each time we came to a threshold or a change of direction, I was in deep reverence to Hermes as my guide and guardian, and it informed my travels in a deeper, more profound way.
Another quick example…My husband and I sat in a little food court in Costa Rica. We happened to sit at a table outside that was facing the front door of the cafe. As I sat there eating my delicious bowl of fresh fruit, I couldn’t help but notice the mixed messages on the door to the establishment. One sign glowed with the word- Open, which appeared next to the hours of operation. However, the hours were illegible. They seemed to be the remnants of tape that was peeled away so that no hours were clearly visible, and above that appeared a much smaller sign that said Closed.
Each person that approached the door did the same thing. They looked at the signs and then cracked the door open, stuck their head inside, and asked, “Are you open?” until finally one man asked if he could flip the sign that said Closed over to the Open side.
Under normal circumstances, I probably wouldn’t have noticed this at all, but with the book adjusting the aperture of my lens, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the quiet, humorous, almost imperceptible, and yet persistent presence of Hermes and the many trickster gods as they guard the thresholds of experience.
Speaking of Thresholds…New Moons in Virgo
Building upon this idea of thresholds, we have a unique month ahead with not one New Moon in Virgo…but two. The first new moon takes place at 0-Virgo on August 23 and the second one takes place at 29-Virgo on September 21. With each of these new moons standing at the entry and exit points of Virgo’s realm, I see this as a time to invoke deeper relationship with the mercurial energy that stands guard at the thresholds of experience. I’ll offer one question, and one question only, for this entire Virgo season- How do you enter and exit rooms, relationships, and/or situations? Pay attention. Invite guidance. Be willing to learn and change. Let this little seed of inquiry take root within. See what sprouts from it.
And Eclipse Season is Upon Us
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While this New Moon is not quite an eclipse, it does initiate eclipse season and it might also feel like one. A tight square aspect to Uranus in Gemini may bring sudden, unexpected opportunities for change. Uranus is often considered the higher octave of Mercury. It brings the energy of the epiphany, the sudden flash of insight that lights a new path. This is a time of ingenious breakthroughs (or chaotic disruptions) that initially come with friction.
This New Moon is also in a quincunx aspect to a talent triangle found between Uranus at 1-Gemini sextile Saturn/Neptune at 0 and 1-Aries respectively, and trine Pluto at 1-Aquarius. The talent triangle suggests a time to reinvent the old rules, to shake up the status quo, and to hash out individual contributions within a communal setting. However, this New Moon sits in a quincunx aspect to the talent triangle, and quincunx aspects often bring struggle or an inability to match energies. Blending this much talent isn’t easy.
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With the Sun at 15-Virgo and the Moon at 15-Pisces, both luminaries are in close proximity to the nodal axis at 18-SN Virgo/NN Pisces. When eclipses take place so close to the Nodes, it increases the potency. Building upon the energy planted at the New Moon on August 23, this eclipse is a culminating moment that promises to bring swift, sudden, and powerful opportunities for change. The tendency to overanalyze situations with a critical voice inside the mind is invited to soften and flow into the big, compassionate, loving Full Moon in Pisces. Be gentle with yourself. Go with the current of change, resistance is futile.
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With this New Moon Solar eclipse taking place in opposition to Saturn at 28-Pisces, there is an opportunity for a fresh start but it may require significant maturity to step up to the plate and meet the responsibility required. Moon opposite Saturn aspects can feel heavy. There may be a melancholic, serious tone to events at this time. Contemplate your own definition of success, without comparing to others or a societal paradigm, and make any necessary adjustments so that you are living in realistic alignment with your long term dreams.
The Virgo Gift: Discernment, Purification & Excellence
The Virgo archetype is known for highly efficient analytical abilities and skilled craftsmanship. It is here that we take all of the pride and creativity of Leo season and refine it into pure excellence. The Virgo gift of discernment provides the mental acuity to differentiate between what is essential and what is extraneous. This sharp perception is the cornerstone of the ability to purify and refine by “separating the wheat from the chaff”.
Virgos possess an innate ability to analyze every detail and component of a system, which makes them unparalleled in their quest for maximum efficiency. Their precise, methodical approach allows them to break down complex situations into manageable parts, identifying even the smallest inefficiencies that others might overlook. Whether it’s organizing a workflow, optimizing a process, or assessing a problem from every angle, Virgos have an uncanny knack for understanding how each piece fits together. They can see the interconnections and anticipate the consequences of small changes, which enables them to make adjustments that improve the overall functioning of a system.
This ability to refine and streamline isn’t limited to external projects—it also extends to their inner world, where Virgos analyze their own habits, routines, and goals, always seeking to improve. Their precision, combined with their love of order, makes them natural strategists who excel in environments that require structure, analysis, and thoughtful optimization. Virgos may not seek the spotlight, but their relentless pursuit of excellence in every task sets a standard of quality that others often admire and aspire to emulate.
The Paradox of Perfectionism
“The compulsive self-perfecting that you find in many Virgos, the endless stream of books and workshops and talks and lessons about how to be healthy, how to learn this, how to master that, all these things have a deep symbolic root. It’s the need to prepare the vessel, to craft it, shape it, refine it, for some vaguely sensed next phase for which Virgo waits without really knowing what it is he’s waiting and preparing for....it stems from a fear of the unknown. It has to do with control, as do all shadows.”
The challenge of the Virgo archetype comes when they get caught in a perpetual cycle of corrections and improvements creating an internal experience of dissatisfaction, feeling as though they're "not quite there yet". The Virgo can set the bar so high that they themselves have difficulty reaching it. True satisfaction remains just out of reach, and goals become hard to accomplish. In an effort to address every detail perfectly, the ability to relax diminishes greatly and analysis paralysis can set in. The need for peak outcomes can hinder the completion of tasks and/or a healthy lifestyle.
Even in their self-care practices, there is a tendency to perpetually focus on flaws or weaknesses where something has to be removed, refined, or transmuted for the sake of improvement. The pursuit of excellence can quickly become an endless striving for an unattainable perfection. This may be a mask for the deep insecurity that lies within. Some part of the Virgo psyche attempts to build a sense of self-worth through their incredible contributions and the approval bestowed by others.
This underlying dissatisfaction or anxiety is often fueled by the voice of an inner critic. Looking for even the tiniest cues of approval or disapproval from the environment, the Virgo can be hypersensitive to feedback from others. Even helpful advice can reinforce a "not good enough" narrative and tie self-worth to the perceptions of others. Consequently, Virgos may struggle to feel genuinely good about themselves and their achievements, feeling they are inherently lacking in some way. When praise or approval is given, the toughest audience still remains within.
We Are All Born Pure and Innocent
Every baby is born innocent and pure. Newborn babies are one with the world around them, a sponge absorbing every new experience. As we grow, we unknowingly accumulate baggage. Much of this comes from the mercurial realm of language—stories, beliefs, fears, and expectations that shape us, often without realizing it.
These layers of conditioning are a part of life. They can limit our potential, binding us to outdated narratives that no longer serve us. But true freedom lies in letting go of these burdens. It’s not about adding more to our lives, but about releasing what holds us back.
As Nelson Mandela says, ““No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
This sentiment is a great reflection for the current Virgo season, the upcoming lunar cycle, and the eclipses it holds. Releasing thoughts and inner narratives that no longer serve the highest good lies at the core of the Virgo energy. Moving towards greater expressions of love and unity consciousness shared by all of humanity is the purest direction to aim your thoughts. May we all remember the purity and innocence from which we are born. May we learn to love each other.
Much love & many blessings,
Ally
