Virgo: The Analyst. The Perfectionist. The Holistic Healer. The Provider of Practical Nurturance and Service. The Goddess Who Merges Heaven and Earth.

As you can see from those descriptions, Virgo is so much more than the modern stereotypes would have us believe. She has the reputation of being the prudish one, the chaste and pure physical virgin who cleans and polishes the floors every Saturday morning before 10 AM without fail. But in reality, Virgo is so much more than that. At the most basic level, Virgo is the archetype that represents the mastery of skills, and the perfect clarity of perception and honest self-assessment to know what needs to be done in order to move closer to creating something ideal. At best, she strives for purity of form on all levels. The Virgin is really about the creation of structures that are as clean, streamlined and well-functioning as possible so things flow beautifully - think of having a healthy, grounded physical self so spiritual energies of love, compassion, and intuition can dance through, creating a merger of Heaven and Earth. 

Her deepest longings and motivations, conscious or unconscious, are to create vessels through which Divinity can flow freely: a sublime work of art, a beautiful home, an award-winning stage performance, the truest essence of her own Goddess-self. 

As a lightworker and healer, I believe that we are moving toward a greater sense of Oneness and merger of Heaven and Earth, and the pursuit of ideal form in any endeavor is a respectable one that moves us closer to that goal. We wouldn't achieve anything of quality or lasting value without it. We all want to achieve something great, whatever that happens to be based on our unique gifts and talents. But the darker side of this impulse is the spiral downward into true perfectionism - the perpetual self-judgment and fear of not attaining perfection to the point that we don't achieve what we're fully capable of because we don't even try...or get so far and quit outright because we don't think we can do thing "A" as well as others. It's the sort of brutal self-honesty that renders us prisoners in our own unrealistic perceptions of what is "good enough," and what is not.

Having said all that, enter this full moon's dominant theme: the release of crippling self-criticism and the need to give unconditional love and appreciation to ourselves. It's no surprise that I've read articles by numerous astrologers who have honed in on this issue, and one very candid article by Jessica at Moonkissed Astrology that describes her own struggle with high standards really resonated with me in particular (Jessica, by the way, is a brilliant astrologer that I happen to look up to quite a bit as I continue to hone and refine my abilities as an astrologer!). Sure, we're likely to have a greater focus on health/wellness and focusing on routines now since those issues are connected to Virgo too, but deep struggles with perfectionism seem to dominate this time around.

Jessica's struggles aren't necessarily all that different from my own. On Tuesday night, I found myself in an all-out meltdown in a session with a longtime spiritual mentor, excavating layers of perceived helplessness, shame, and failure. Not surprisingly, we discovered that the root of my suffering was the fact that I was not recognizing and appreciating all that I have accomplished, and trusting in all that I am honing, refining, and creating now. Like others who have strong Virgo energies in the birth chart (mine is a Virgo midheaven, along with heavy Capricorn/Saturn influence on my Mercury), I have battled with crippling perfectionism for years, and am slowly beginning to tunnel out. These tendencies certainly aren't cornered to one part of my life, either: they have dogged me in body image/health and wellness, musical abilities, academics, and so much more.

Maybe by way of the influences of Pluto and Chiron, in combination with the incredibly magical and synchronistic energies that the Jupiter-Uranus trine is bringing into this cathartic full moon, Tuesday's session was a real epiphany for me. I was faced with two choices: indulge in my own Plutonian feelings of darkness and hopelessness, or diligently end the negative self-talk and get real about all the incredible things I've got going. Maybe for the first time ever, I really "got" just how important it is to acknowledge all the things I've accomplished, and the need to clearly see how primed I am for success of all kinds in the future. I'm discovering that real liberation lies in loving me unconditionally - perceived faults and all - and in extending some robust appreciation to myself for all the hard work I've done. I'm slowly learning that it's safe and beneficial for me to let go of harsh self-judgment, if for no other reason than it just doesn't feel good. I'm learning that it's safe and beneficial for me to share my gifts while working to improve my abilities, as humbling and intimidating as that may be sometimes - that's the healthy way to express Virgo's energies. 

If you're feeling like you aren't enough, I'm here to tell you that you are indeed enough - you are exactly who and where you are supposed to be in this moment - and that it's prime time to let all that other stuff go. This full moon is calling us to release the self-imposed restrictions of our own expectations and to do what we can, where we're at, with the resources and skills we have now. If we want to achieve our highest potential and let our Divine gifts shine, it's essential that we build a foundation of self-love in much the same way we would extend love and appreciation to another. 

**What are you experiencing at this full moon time? Are you willing to love and approve of yourself and release unrealistic expectations that hold you back? Wishing you love, light, and blessings this day and always!**

© Jen Howell,  Bright Star Astrology & Healing Arts, 2015. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to this site and writer with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

This month's full moon - our final supermoon of 2014 -  is peaking in the sign of Pisces, exact at 8:39 PM EDT this evening. If you're familiar with astrological archetypes, you'll know that Pisces is the deeply emotional water sign that seeks to dissolve the perceived boundaries of the physical plane to merge on the collective unconscious level. It's no surprise, then, that many of us are feeling incredibly emotional as the moon, which symbolizes emotions and the unconscious, peaks in this highly sensitive sign of artists, dreamers, and visionaries of all kinds. 

I am no exception to feeling the effects of this heightened sensitivity. On the day to day level, I have natal Sun conjunct Neptune  - the planet that rules Pisces - at zero degrees in the sign of Sagittarius. The location of Neptune in the birth chart can indicate many things, with the presence of deep intuition, compassion/self-sacrifice, and artistic gifts being among them. My Sun-Neptune conjunction has blessed me with the gifts of spiritual insights, keen intuition, compassion, natural healing capabilities, and musical and other gifts of artistry, but it does not come without its struggles. Like all empaths, I am highly susceptible to the energies of people and environments, am easily distracted, and must filter the things I see and hear in the news as not to absorb the negativity so often shared in the media. I have slowly learned how to filter for my own good, to become less "porous" and radiate my inner light more fully with age. I am also learning how to navigate the fine line between helping those in need and sacrificing myself to "save" others in an imbalanced way, but the journey has not been an easy one. Though I am a Sagittarius sun and do possess many of that sign's core traits, I have gifts and challenges like that of a Pisces sun, and this full moon is impacting me deeply.

I took a long walk beneath the white light of the moon last night. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that, as an astrologer, it's been months - maybe even years - since I last basked in Luna's light. Those in healing and esoteric circles know that the light of the full moon cleanses and recharges gemstones and crystals, and has the same effect on living things, too. The responsibilities of life can sweep us away and take our mindfulness with it. But tonight I felt a deep sense of desire, and even excitement, at the possibility of communing with the moon. I strolled beneath a sparkling sky serenaded by September crickets, allowing my tangled and complex feelings to rise to the surface without judgement in knowing that feeling deeply - especially with the astro-atmosphere as it is now - is ok. It wasn't long before I could tangibly feel the moonbeams soothe my heart full of feelings, bringing the emotions stirred up by the supermoon gently into balance again.

This moon cycle began with a New Moon in Virgo opposing Neptune on August 25. Virgoan themes of day-to-day responsibility, attention to details, and purifying mind, body, and spirit were up for reviewing then, with the opposition of Neptune suggesting the need for deeper integration of spiritual mindfulness into daily life. Now, at the peak of this moon cycle, the essence of those themes is still at play, but is reconfiguring our point of focus. The Piscean Super Full Moon now opposes the Sun in Virgo, putting the emphasis on allowing ourselves to feel deep compassion and experience a sense of oneness with all of creation. Like those with strong Pisces influence in the horoscope, the potential struggle of this full moon will be giving in to "victim consciousness," tapping too deeply to the collective energies of suffering in our world to the point of emotional overwhelm and debilitation, and escapism through substance abuse or addictions of any kind.

An additionally strong influence is that of Chiron, the asteroid of deep wounds and holistic healing, as it meets the moon in an exact conjunction. Chiron represents the area of life in which we hold the deepest hurts and greatest sorrows, and where we have the greatest potential for healing and transformation. This month's meeting of the moon and Chiron can provide us with an opportunity to face our own hurts and transgressions with self-love and compassion to experience a greater sense of wholeness. As I was reminded of while openly receiving the healing gifts of the moon tonight, it is often through the acceptance of our feelings - no matter how intense and overwhelming they may be - and allowing them to move through us free of judgement that we can experience genuine healing. 

This supermoon is presenting us with a profound opportunity to access unconditional love that can bring more light to our corner of the world when shared openly with those around us in the spirit of compassionate service. In doing so, we are facilitating the merger of Heaven and Earth through the integration of our soul's wisdom and joy into a contradictory and sometimes painful physical experience. 

If you're feeling especially emotional, set aside some time for yourself today. This is an exceptionally good time for prayer or meditation in a soothing environment, having an energetic healing session, or doing anything that puts you in the essence of healing via spiritual means. Take a bath in sea salts or baking soda to clear your auric field, or take steps to cleanse and purify your immediate environment. Enjoy the beauty of nature; share a warm embrace with a loved one. And if you have the chance, let the light of the full moon wash over you tonight - an abundance of gentle love and healing awaits. 

Today's new moon is particularly powerful due to the major planetary influences that it coincides with. I focused on the archetype of Virgo in Part 1 of this series, but the other astrological forces at play now are what really make this new moon a particularly significant event!

Mars-Saturn Conjunct in Scorpio

The most potent of the current influences is the conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio. Mars is the planet of assertion of will, action/drive, physical stamina, and potential restlessness or aggression. In short, Mars represents the principle of action. Unchecked by other planets, Mars will take the shortest possible route to what it wants in haste - which may end poorly if foresight is not employed - but Mars is the fire and very necessary primal will that ignites our passions and propels us forward.

Saturn, on the other hand, is the planet that symbolizes realism: it is the hard-line master teacher of the zodiac, showing us how to apply the lessons of patience, discipline, and hard work to make visions a reality. Unlike Mars, Saturn rarely acts in haste. Those with strong Saturnian influences in their birth charts are pragmatic, goal-oriented, and are geared toward valuing that which is "tried and true," i.e. the traditional. When Mars joins with Saturn, the energetic qualities may be best described as "militaristic". Mars brings the drive and ambition to make things happen, and Saturn gifts us with the concrete logic and dedication to use that passion to create tangible results.

When transiting in Scorpio, this duo brings forward a very deep, probing, and tenacious vibe. Scorpio is the sign associated with mystery, sexuality/intimacy, spirituality, healing/regeneration, and deep inner power. Issues in these areas are likely to surface for us all in different ways now, depending on what is being activated in an individual's birth chart. From my observations, many people are currently engaged in intensive healing work, the depth and importance of which have become especially clear since this conjunction peaked on Sunday. Additionally, this meeting brings the end of a two-year cycle that began in August of 2012, providing some kind of review or "test" of the life lessons we've been learning since then. The Virgo New Moon brings us an opportunity to commit to addressing these issues in our daily lives on a long-term basis to transform ourselves from the inside out.

New Moon Opposite Neptune in Pisces; Mercury Opposite Chiron in Pisces

These oppositions suggests that we all may be feeling more compassionate and connected to a sense of unity on the transpersonal level. Though compassion is necessary for taking right action to heal ourselves and the world, these aspects are likely to activate increased sensitivity to pain and suffering, and may lead us into illusionary thinking or resorting to escapist methods for coping. Though it may temporarily help us evade unpleasant feelings, escapism or addiction is not truly a solution, since we must be fully present in our bodies to make change tangible change happen in our lives - another lesson Saturn provides.

The blessing of these oppositions is that we have an opportunity now to use our heightened sense of connectivity to the unconscious realms to activate more of our innate healing potential. Chiron, the planetoid of deep wounding and holistic healing, shows where we have the deepest wounds to heal in this lifetime, and when its energies are activated in the birth chart, we have a profound opportunity to go deeply within to heal these wounds and emerge with a more integrated sense of self. This is prime time for scheduling an energetic healing session, doing meditation, or participating other spiritual-based energy shifting practices that can assist you in transmuting past/current pain and suffering for a more joyful life.

Mercury Sextile Mars-Saturn

Mercury in Virgo - the sign of its exaltation and the second of its two ruling signs - is also forming a powerful sextile aspect to the Mars-Saturn conjunction. This is providing even more "oomph" to the already heightened mental and communicative abilities many of us are tapping into now: cue the focused, discriminating thought processes; increased abilities to be honest about what's serving us and what isn't; and more impressive capabilities in our mental processes in every way.

In all, this Virgo New Moon holds tremendously transformational potential for those who choose to act on the opportunities presented now. This is the beginning of a two-year cycle of healing, transformation, and growth at the deepest levels! To find out the areas this New Moon is impacting you most directly, locate 2 degrees Virgo in your birth chart; for the Mars-Saturn conjunct, look to 17 degrees Scorpio. Happy New Moon, and be blessed!

How have you been experiencing these influences most directly? Feel free to share in the comments section below!

The August 25 New Moon in Virgo coincides with some very powerful and influential planetary placements. These deeply intense energies - especially the conjunction of Mars and Saturn in Scorpio - will influence a two-year cycle beginning now, as well as a culmination and new level of commitment to issues that surfaced around the Virgo Full Moon in March. I'll discuss the other planetary influences in Part 2 of this article, but for now, I would like to share my perspective on the Virgoan Archetype to bring the meaning of today's new moon more clearly into focus.

As an astrologer and energy healer, Virgo is one of the signs I find to be the most fascinating. She has three ruling planets: Mercury and the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Mercury is the planet of the mind/communications/teaching and learning, lending itself to Virgo's keen gift for discrimination and analyzing/organizing the details of any given situation. But Virgo is so much more than pure analytical prowess, and certainly not all about sexual virginity: The Virgin (or more fully, "The Pure One" in ways pertaining to the whole self) possesses a richness and depth that cannot be gleaned from studying Mercury alone, and for this, we turn to her co-rulers. 

Vesta is the asteroid that symbolizes the traditional High Priestess archetype. In ancient times, these were the women who performed sacred rites and rituals to assist individuals with merging their physical selves with their Higher Selves; they facilitated the embracing of sexuality as a path to spiritual enlightenment and empowerment, the cultivation of spiritual awareness as a means to live a "whole" life that worked in tandem with emotional and physical health. Their role was to aid in the purification of Self on every level through introspection and sacred ceremony. When viewed from this perspective, the term "vestal virgin" could indeed refer to the woman who has committed to self-purification via deep analytical introspection to continually improve oneself, not the stuffy, sexual virgin as we've likely heard via "pop astrology" stereotypes.

Ceres, Virgo's third ruler, brings the meaning of this sign full-circle. She is the asteroid symbolizing our ability to unconditionally care for and nourish ourselves and those around us. Ceres is The Great Mother, linked not only to unconditional love of self and other, but to family relationships, nutrition, and physical health and wellness. Demetra George writes that Ceres "...uses the feminine creative energy to birth and sustain new life forms" and "...presides over the fertility of the Earth and the procreation of her peoples." In mythology, she was the mother of Persephone, who was abducted and taken into the underworld by Pluto. This asteroid represents not only our call to sustain ourselves and the earth through love and self-care, but to understand that a key part of nurturance is in letting go of things, people, or situations that we cannot control, and that sharing is a key part of looking after one another.

When we combine the influences of Mercury, Vesta, and Ceres, we begin to see why a multi-faceted crystal is a symbol of Virgo. In more direct terms, she deals with all manner of aspects that relate to the merger of Heaven and Earth. We are each called to rise to the challenge of healing and purifying and integrating our whole selves to achieve this - and have within us the full capability to do so - so long as we look after all the parts of ourselves. Holistic wellness and full integration of mind, body, and spirit is truly the key to understanding the Virgoan archetype and of applying the highest expression of Virgo energy in our lives. 

It becomes easier, then, to glean an understanding of what this new moon symbolizes for us at the most basic level: it's about getting down to details, organization, and reviewing current lifestyle and daily habit patterns in all ways to move forward in a holistic fashion. This is a prime time to take a close look at your current life goals, lifestyle, and wellness on all levels. Some key questions for this New Moon might be:

• Are you ready to commit to taking the the steps to achieve new career goals, or in beginning new endeavors in your personal life? Are you ready to "get down to details" in order to make your dreams a reality?
• Are you honoring your body by eating foods that nourishing you and drinking plenty of water? Do you give your body the exercise/rest that it needs? 
• Are there emotional issues surfacing that are in need of healing now? Are you willing to make the journey within to release the past and embrace the new? Are you receiving and giving the emotional support necessary in your most important relationships? Are you ready to commit to doing this more fully if need be?
• Do you have a spiritual practice that connects you with a greater sense of the whole of creation such as meditation, yoga, or receiving healing energy work? Are you willing to explore new ways to cultivate mindfulness and a greater sense of peace and Oneness in your life?

When we bring one area of our lives into balance, we are supporting all other aspects of our lives. This is the highest expression of Virgo's energy , and through intention-setting and taking action to achieve our goals, this energy is available to us now in profound ways.

The big astrological news of this weekend is the movement of Mercury into Virgo. Mercury has had its time to enjoy bold self-expression in Leo, and now it's time to get down to business! Virgo was traditionally thought of as the sign of The Virgin, but Virgo doesn't relate to a literal state of sexual virginity; it is the sign of purification, integration, and is the archetype of The Analyst. Anyone with prominent Virgo in their birth chart will be known for their attention to details and ability to organize all the pieces together into one coherent whole in an impressive way. This is also the sign of "The Perfectionist," and though the desire to attain new states of purity or "perfection" are necessary and admirable, it can manifest as unnecessarily harsh expectations of perfection that we project onto ourselves or those around us.

With Mercury in Virgo until September 2nd, we're likely to be feeling impelled to get down to the details and make concrete, logical plans for putting our plans into action. Thinking is likely to take a much more rational and analytical tone for the rest of this month. You can utilize this transit productively by getting reorganized in any area, cleaning, focusing on physical/emotional/spiritual health and wellness, create detailed plans on how you’d like to accomplish short and long-term goals, etc. There may be a tendency to overanalyze situations or get caught up in minute details; mindfulness is key, and pulling back to take a “Big Picture” view of situations if you find yourself getting mired in details can be very helpful!

The moon is in Taurus through tomorrow morning - a sign known for its love of sensuality and all the pleasures of life - but is equally as known for its pragmatism and down-to-earth approach in accomplishing goals. With Mars moving into a tighter conjunct with Saturn - both planets being in the deep and tenacious sign of Scorpio - the current energies bode very well for giving us the sustained drive and grounded, methodical approach to make hay on our visions!