Why is the archetype of Virgo represented by a Virgo, and what does that say about this energy? What often appears as perfectionistic behaviour to the unknowing, is actually a deep internal quest for purity. To return to the virginity of the 6th house archetype.
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“One unto herself”.
“Untouched by man, and by the laws of man…”
That is what the term “virgin” meant way back, before the term came to denote chastity and the absence of sexual activity.
Once upon a time, the idea of virginity had to do with a sense of ownership over one’s life: Their body, their health, their daily rituals, the way they tended to the practicalities of earth life, and gave dignity to their existence.
It had to do with a sacred knowledge of how to lead one’s life in a way that aligned with one’s soul aspirations and soul connection, and how they tended to maintaining the sanctity of their vehicle (or their physical body).
In astrology, the sign Virgo, ruled by Mercury, sits in the 6th house, across from the constellation Pisces. It comes after Leo, which is at the height of the building of self, and before Libra, who is inherently imbalanced and overly focused on the other. We commonly know the Virgo sign as the sign of perfectionism and health, which is but a sliver of the breadth of this energy.
Throughout the first 5 houses of the zodiac, wer’e building the self.
-First in Aries, with instinctual action and new beginnings.
– Next, Taurus, where survival, needs and values come in.
-In Gemini, third house, we learn about navigating the world through gathering info, then labeling, which creates a type of mental filing system and establishes the way you perceive the world.
– Next, in Cancer, our identity is formed in the fourth house through family, culture, roots and the imprints of early life nurturing.
– Beyond that, in Leo– the 5th house, through all the previous houses, we come to an understanding of our own uniqueness, and from that place, we step out into the world and creatively shine. Self actualization. We are the apex.
This building that has been being formed, somewhat in the shape of a symbolic pyramid, gets flipped on its head in the 6th house when our awareness goes out beyond ourselves and begins to identify the other. In this moment, the cusp of the 6th house, we sit at the bottom of the pyramid, with a realization of our connection to everything, and the unavoidable sense of responsibility that comes with that.
This, right here, is the Virgo/ Pisces polarity.
*The acknowledgement of self (Virgo) vs. The acknowledgement of the universe and the entirety of everything (Pisces).
*The practical, tangible, systematic needs of earth life (Virgo) vs. The immateriality of the most significant things (Pisces).
*The molecular sustenance that keeps our physical bodies sustained (Virgo) vs. The understanding that the physical body is really just a medium for the expression of the soul (Pisces).
*The contribution to a larger, bigger goal through service to humanity and life (Virgo) vs. Realizing that the service we do to others, we are doing to and for ourselves since we all breath the same cosmic breath (Pisces).
In the natural zodiac, the first 6 houses talk about our roots and our inner lives as individuals, where as the last 6 houses talk about our relationships to others in a 1:1 context, in a group context and in relation to the Universe.
With that being said, it becomes apparent how the 6th house cusp of Virgo would be the tipping point where we realize our connection to everything around us. With that realization, that you are actually your neighbour (mind blown), how could you not experience sympathy and empathy, or feel an inner drive to contribute in whatever way to the progression of the world and the beings living on earth?
This is why projects that feel bigger than ourselves seem to have a spiritual air to them. Think politics and sports…
So, somehow the term that refers to the tending of one’s own wellness got enmeshed with a term having to do with one’s chastity and purity.
The Virgo archetype is expressed differently in each chart, depending on the 6th house ruler, the Mercury placement (Mercury as ruler of Virgo), and where Virgo is situated.
The perfectionism that is often attributed to the Virgo energy IS connected to the idea of purity, but not a purely sexual purity. Purity has to do with a type of filtering that removes everything that does not support the advancement of the larger vision. (Here again, we see the polarity point of Pisces coming in, where the goal of the Virgo energy is to PRACTICALLY support the SOUL objectives of its counter sign, Pisces.)
As a principle, purity is an inner stance that takes form in the way that we choose to live. It is not a lack of a certain behaviour, while inwardly, that same behaviour is being played out.
Life begins on the inside, and then moves to the outside. This is the natural flow, a principle of earth existence, and we see it played out in everything. In child conception/ birth, in how plants grow, in how ideas are brought to life, in how homes are built….you’ll know that something is a principle by the way that it is expressed throughout nature and all of life.
So the purity of Virgo, the “virginity” of Virgo, is a commitment to practically applying the physical supports that uphold the growth objectives of the soul.
This means understanding the way one’s body works and functions optimally, and in response, moving away from those things that do not support the physical vehicle being in a state of the highest well being that is possible.
This means putting into practice daily routines and practices, “sacred daily rituals”, that are supportive of one’s spiritual connection. Not everyone feels clear of mind doing long distance running, or eating a vegetarian diet.
Part of the Virgo journey is coming to an understanding of what your, very specific, daily rituals for wellness and connection are. Spoiler: they are not the same for everyone, and can even change throughout one’s lifetime.
This means honouring one’s physical body as a type of vessel that holds their life force. The great master Jesus told the masses that their bodies were the temple, as a type of reference for how they were to relate to their physical bodies.
From a perspective of reverence, people don’t walk over the altar with muddy boots; it is understood to be a place of reverence where profanities and vulgar behaviour is not acceptable. One does not just approach an altar, sans regard for the sacredness of that space.
In the same way, our bodies are sacred vessels, holding the gift of life force and containing the breath of the Divine. As such, we live lives and make choices that recognize the sacredness of that vessel.
This means understanding sexuality as a single aspect of purity, not the entirety of it. The purity of Virgo has to do with the CONSCIOUS, INTENTIONAL direction of energy, sexual energy included, not the commitment to physically restraining one’s self from engaging in the activity of sex or committing to sexual repression or abstinence.
The purity of Virgo is an ongoing choice to honour one’s physical existence, in house cleaning, planning, organizing, tending to pets and bills, getting enough sleep and eating well.
It is also the recognizing of one’s physical body as a gift, as a reflection of one’s energy (looking at your rising sign is a shocking confirmation of the connection of our appearance and our astrological energies), and as an expression of the divine within.
If you know me well, you know that once upon a time, I graduated at the top of my Bible college class, headed out for ministry, worked with children in that capacity and became a church worship leader.
In this context, I had NO IDEA that my body was a gift from God, or that the sexual energy that we all possess is actually a creative one (I mean, quite literally, the sexual energy is what we use to create offspring. Shockingly, it is also this same vibration of energy that powers other creative pursuits, like painting or sculpting or poetry. This is why the creative Leo has both children, hobbies and creativity under the 5th house domain).
It was in this churchy space that I became convinced that my sexuality belonged only to my (then future, now present) husband, and that my body was to be appreciated only for what it could do, not how it was beautiful, apart from private moments with my husband, or even by myself (because, apparently, vanity).
Fast forward to the present time, my relationship with the culture of Christianity has, in the past years, come to a shocking close, leaving me to deepen my understanding of my own connection with my body and how to both honour, respect and, yes, express my creativity and sexuality. It’s weird to think, but they are one and the same, just utilized differently.
A huge hallmark of this process, for myself, was choosing to do a boudoir shoot 1 year ago. As a young Christian, certainly as a church leader, a decision such as this would have caught huge judgement and scorn, so even as a woman who no longer identified socially with the “church community”, choosing to explore my physical vessel as a piece of art felt hugely rebellious and wildly NOT OKAY.
My story of Virgo healing and freedom
My Virgo healing (where Uranus is in your chart, there will always, necessarily, be trauma. This topic is a whole other post, however note that I have a Saturn, Neptune, Uranus conjunction in my 6th house, opposing Chiron) found me, in part, on the day of this shoot, when I stepped out of the dressing room wearing only a netted body suit and a thong. I artfully, tastefully, proceeded through a 2 hour photoshoot that, shockingly, was an apt expression of the intangibles of my personality and personal style, even despite my bared nipples and exposed buttocks.
It was during my photo reveal that I came to a sudden and sharp realization that my body was a piece of art. The creative expression of a most knowing Creator. It was a home to live in, not a show home, and as such it was, and is, an expression of my own journey. The upper arm “chub” that had always glared at me unflinchingly in photos was actually an energetic representation of my ability to love, embrace and create belonging for those around me.
These strong physical arms were only a beacon to remind me of my strong spiritual arms. This small waist paired with wide hips and large breasts is an expression of my natural pull to motherhood and nurturing (6 kids, maybe and counting…) and the profound and effortless connection that I have with the feminine realm of emotion and intuition. My big, glassy eyes a reflection of my 12th house sun and natural propensity for daydreaming and mentally escaping to other worlds. And so on and so on….
In an ironic twist of fate, the choice to do something that would outwardly suggest to many a lack of purity, was actually an important return to my own virginity, to my belonging to self. From that photographic place of healing, I came to a deep and healing understanding that my body was a vessel for the movement of Spirit on earth. That my physical being was a necessary component to my contribution to humanity, and a sweet, and even beautiful, expression of the breath that breathed life into me. Honouring and celebrating my body, through undressing for boudoir, has been the most unexpected way of reclaiming my purity and virginity. Once upon a time, I gave away my “virginity” to the institution, through accepting many (very false) ideas, like that my pleasure and sexuality “belonged” only to my husband, or that real ladies don’t wear short shorts to church.
Final thoughts:
Yes, I honour the covenant that I made with my husband by allowing him to enjoy and appreciate my beauty in an intimate way, and yet my purity extends so far beyond that to touch every area of my life, including the way that I choose to select my veggies and fruits at the market.
My friends, purity is an inward positioning that affects the way that you choose to use- or not- your reproductive organs, however the purity and regard that you give to your body as a vessel for the sacred goes so, so far beyond that. You are beautiful beyond words, and an apt and perfect physical expression of the energy you have incarnated. (let that sink in)
Beauty is meant to be appreciated as an expression of the divine.
Manage your energies, yes. It is not advisable, nor is it beneficial, for us to all carry on without restraint on our sexual energies. The energies of sexuality are so powerful that they are the means of bringing souls to earth, they are not to be trifled with flippantly.
And also, humans have always been attracted to love and beauty… the ecstatic expressions that they are of the wonder and magic of the Divine within us.
When the sun sets in its breathtaking splendour, or a beautiful bird flies by, do you look away? Of course not. And you, yes you, carry that same splendour and beauty. Believe it.
Still climbing,
xx,
Celeste
To see the rest of my photos from this healing photoshoot, or to find out more about booking your own shoot with Decoro, click HERE.
To book an astrology reading with me, contact me HERE.
Did you know that part of the Virgo archetype is “crisis”. This happens as something in our life goes awry, and as a result, we are forced to establish and put in place a “process” that will help us to rectify that situation. In that way, we are identifying what needs to be adjusted and/or removed in order to align our lives with our highest pursuits. Where is Virgo in your chart?
Aja Celeste is a mom to 6 beautiful children and a twin mom! She is also creator and writer of That Zoi Life and a professionally trained Evolutionary Astrologer who has been doing astrology for 7 years. She is also a health care assistant, has a Bachelor of Ministry Degree, and is passionate about supporting people in conscious parenting. She also does Psychosomatics using Recall Healing.
Please contact her at [info@ThatZoiLife.com] if you would like to find out more about working with her.