On
February 27th at 1:17 am (PST), the Moon waxes full in Virgo. This is
the last Full Moon of the winter (in the northern hemisphere) and a time
to prepare for the first breath of spring arriving after the next New
Moon. Sometimes we may feel a fair amount of stagnation in these cold
winter months. Try to avoid eating late at night and drink plenty of water
or herbal tea throughout the day. The water will help flush out any toxins
that are stored in the body. Aerobic exercise and eating lightly around
this time will also help reduce stagnancy.
Virgo
and Service
One way to
learn astrology is to view each sign as part of a cyclical continuum,
beginning with Aries and ending with Pisces and then starting over again.
Each sign represents a developmental stage of life and a stage of growth.
As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries represents the seed being planted
and the first breath of life of a newborn. After the first steps of Aries,
Taurus represents a growing understanding of one's body, its relationship
to the world around it and an attachment to the things nearby. Gemini
represents inquiry and curiosity as one stretches out into the world.
By Cancer, there is a sense of deriving security and comfort from the
world around one and especially to the family structure that has been
created. Leo describes the process of separating from the family structure
to develop an ego and a sense of self-importance.
Virgo sits in between the sign of Leo and Libra and represents a bridge
between these two signs. It is associated with cleansing and purifying
the system. Virgo describes the process of winnowing out the negative
and destructive aspects of our nature in order to prepare for the sign
of Libra, when we merge with a lover to create a partnership. With Leo,
we may become too ego centered and self-aggrandizing. Virgo helps in the
process of releasing our ego attachments so that we can connect more fully
in a love relationship symbolized by Libra. Virgo is also the last sign
beneath the horizon in the horoscope and is the last sign associated with
the self. The signs above the horizon are more connected with partnership
and with one's work in society.
For this
reason, Virgo plays a key role in the process of establishing a true sense
of self. Ultimately, Virgo points to the need to serve others as well
as oneself. Through service and compassion we truly develop the attributes
that can make us complete. When we are only concerned with how much money
we are making, how good we look physically or how high we have risen in
our career, we begin to lose track of the more important things in life.
Virgo points to the need to pay attention to how much care and compassion
we are giving to the people around us. Small acts such as cleaning the
house for one's family, cooking a meal for a friend, praising a co-worker
for their skills or spending time with a child are all Virgoan acts of
service. As a society, we do not place as high a value on these simple
and mundane tasks, but tend to reward those who work long hours in a career
in order to become a "success." Though it is important to develop
one's own pursuits in life, it is equally important to give of oneself
and be of service to the community.
Virgo
and Livelihood
The Full
Moon in Virgo is a time when we can consider how we are releasing our
own needs in order to be there for others. By looking at our livelihood,
we can ask ourselves in what way are we serving the needs of others. All
professions are in some way related to service. A social worker may be
helping the ill and disabled, a janitor may be keeping a building clean
so others can do good work, a sales clerk may be helping others buy needed
clothes or food. When we look beyond the mere appearances of our work
to the essence of what we are doing, we usually find that we are being
of service in some way. Through service we are giving of our hearts to
help others and we are developing our ability to release our own needs
for the sake of others. Oftentimes we may struggle with our job and find
it mundane and boring. By returning to the concept of service, we can
see that each moment presents an opportunity to give fully. Each moment
of our work can become a meditation on the concept of service and compassion.
Through seeing our lives as a meditation on service, we develop a healthier
sense of our true selves, our true work here on Earth. Blessings!
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