Virgo Season 2024

Harvest Goddess Virgo – Queen of the Earth and of The Heavens

Photo by Luca on Unsplash

 “The Virgin with her sheaf belongs to Ceres,” The Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD. Now it is harvest time in the northern hemisphere,  - ‘the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ (From An Ode to Autumn by English poet John Keats.) Virgo is traditionally ruled by Mercury, planet of communications, inquiry, science, commerce, trade and travel.

Traditional Associations

Dates in 2024: August 22-September 22

Symbol: The Virgin

Element: Earth

Quality: Mutable (Sagittarius and Pisces are also Mutable, suggesting these subjects are capable and versatile; generally inclined to conform and go with the flow for the greater good.)

Ruling planet: Mercury (Travel and all forms of communication)

House: Sixth, ruling health, habits and routines

Hebrew letter: Yod. The Hand of God. The divine seed, genesis of life, both the egg and the sperm.

Colours: green, white and yellow

Body: The nervous system, digestive system, intestines. Food sensitivities

Tissue cell salt: Kali Sulph-potassium sulfate/sulphate. Essential for muscle contraction, helps transport oxygen to cells, and regulates oil in the body. 

Birthstones: Peridot (joy, prosperity), Sapphire (reputed to provide protection against evil, “the wisdom stone”) Lapis Lazuli (Third Eye, intuition)

Flowers: small bright flowers such as the buttercup

Tarot cards: The Hermit and The Empress. The Knight of Pentacles, 8, 9 and 10 of Coins/Pentacles.

Astronomy

Public Domain, Wiki: Credit Till Credner

The zodiac sign of Virgo gets its name from the constellation of Virgo, the largest constellation in the zodiac, and the second largest in the visible sky after the constellation of Hydra. The Virgo constellation is visible from all around the world most visible in the evening sky from mid-March - to late June in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, look for it in the autumn and winter. Our Sun is just one star in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is part of a collection of galaxies known as the Local Group. This contains three large spiral galaxies: the Milky Way, Andromeda, and the Triangulum Galaxy and a few dozen dwarf galaxies. But the Local Group is only one member of the Virgo Cluster; a collection of 1200-2000 galaxies stretching across 15 million light-years of space. And the Virgo Cluster is part of the Virgo Supercluster.

Virgo from Urania’s Mirror, Public Domain

Free to share, credit Katie-Ellen Hazeldine

It’s a bit of a stretch, seeing the person in the stars. But join up the stars, and now we see Virgo, The Virgin, semi-recumbent, dangling something in one hand. This is the star Spica, a blue-white giant. Its name comes from the Latin, meaning an ‘ear of grain’- or a sheaf of wheat.

The star Vindemiatrix, when it reappeared in the early morning sky after a long absence, was once upon a time the signal to start gathering the grapes towards the end of August. Learn more about Vindemiatrix here

Photo by Luca J on Unsplash

History & Mythology

The Empress from The Legacy of The Divine Tarot

Virgo marks the start of harvest time in the northern hemisphere where Western/ Tropical astrology began. When the earth mother Empress card turns up in a tarot reading, we are looking at Virgo sixth house issues, situations or timings.

Shala was an ancient Sumerian (Iraq) goddess of grain -and also compassion. Why link these two things? Food is survival. Famine is suffering. A good harvest was a blessing of the gods. But this is never guaranteed from one year to the next. Now that we are in the space age, still, there is a mountain on Venus, Shala Mons, named after the goddess Shala.

To the ancient Greeks she was Ceres (as in the word ‘cereal’) or Demeter, the Greco-Roman goddess of the harvest, the mother of Persephone. When lonely Hades abducted Persephone to live with him in the underworld, Demeter went searching, and was enraged to discover from Hecate that Zeus, king of the gods and the brother of Hades, had known all along where Persephone was. Demeter demanded that Zeus bring Persephone home, and when he didn’t, she went on strike, the harvests failed and the people starved until Zeus finally intervened, ordering Hades to send Persephone home. Hades agreed on one condition. Persephone must not eat anything until she arrived home again to her mother. Hades then gave Persephone a handful of pomegranate seeds for the journey home, saying a few seeds didn’t count as food. And Persephone believed him, or perhaps she knew perfectly well what he was up to, but she had come to love Hades, and so she ate some on the way home. A deal is a deal, and because she ate the pomegranate seeds, she returns to Hades and her life in the Underworld for four months of the year, Demeter mourns her absence, the winter returns and the land lies fallow.

The Virgo Archetype – Zodiac Personality

All zodiac signs are archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing. Virgo is The Craftsman, taking pride in doing the job, whatever it is, to the highest standard possible. The Knight of Pentacles, the court card of Virgo says, slow and steady wins the race. The major arcana card in the Tarot representing Virgo is The Hermit, denoting our deepest connection to Nature. Here is an enlarged curiosity and a combination of analytical ability, but also a certain contemplative, humanitarian or even mystical quality. Here is wisdom in maturity, and the value of solitude and self-sufficiency. The Hermit represents the principle of service – he has a desire to help all Humanity, shining a light on the path ahead. Virgo is something of a sage. Rooted in the earth, and yet looking inwards and upwards, moving to its own dance, steering by a quiet inner star.

The Hermit from The Golden Tarot

Virgo, like Gemini, is ruled by agile Mercury, the fastest moving planet of communication. Virgo’s brain is in overdrive most of the time, but while Virgo is practical, analytical and critical…some might say hyper-critical…it is also artistically gifted, highly perceptive and intuitive. They are honest friends although, being discerning, and analytical, they will also have a tendency to analyse you, pointing out not only out your strengths but your mistakes. This can undoubtedly be annoying, though it’s well meant. They may also give great advice because of those very same analytical abilities. These folk are generally neat and well groomed. The word “slob” is not in their vocabulary and they can be incredibly concerned about the impression they give, but at the same time, they are very ready to help others, and maybe sometimes they are even too generous. Others may try to take advantage of Virgo in a way they would not attempt with, say, Aries, Leo or Scorpio. But of course there is no such thing in reality as THE Virgo personality. Your zodiac sign (sun sign) is your major touchstone but doesn’t claim to represent the full picture in real life– or in your natal chart in astrology. But the decans can tell us a little more.

The Decans of Virgo

The decans, from “deka”, the Greek word for ten are nicknamed the ‘thirty six faces of astrology,’ and were a feature of Egyptian astronomy later adopted by the Greeks and incorporated into Western astrology. The first ten days of your zodiac sign are the first decan. The second ten days or so are the second decan, and the last ten days are the third decan though this is not exact, because not every month is the same length. There is more than one decan system. The older Chaldean system uses the seven planets known to the ancients, those planets observable to the naked eye, whereas the modern system of triplicities includes the outer planets. There is no right or wrong about this. We can make our own minds up which planetary ruler we find most relatable for each of the decans.

First Decan Virgo

Dates:  23 August-1 September

Planetary decan rulers:  Ancient: Sun Modern: Mercury

Tarot card: The Eight of Pentacles: ‘Lord of Prudence,’ art, craft, industry, skill, concentration, application, studiousness, apprenticeship, crafts, heritage, construction

Smith Waite Tarot

This person is absorbed in his work. It has meaning and purpose for him. This decan is quietly attractive, combining quiet warmth and humour, and a cool mind with a talent for acute observation and incisive analysis; however this is expressed, whether artistically, commercially or scientifically or in administrative tasks.  They see more than they say, but the Virgo native has a talent for the spoken and written word; making them great teachers. ‘We reap what we sow,’ goes the saying. This is not always true, nor fair. Every minute of every day, misfortune strikes people who have done absolutely nothing to ‘deserve’ it. And plenty of wrong-doers escape justice. But still, it is broadly true that we can’t reap what was never sown. The first decan Virgo feels this deeply, and they make faithful friends and partners, devoted in their quiet way.

Second Decan Virgo

Dates: 2-11 September

Planetary ruler: Ancient: Venus Modern: Saturn

Tarot card- Nine Pentacles: ‘Lord of Material Gain’ beauty, luxury, self-discipline, hard work that pays off, management, hotels, horticulture, agriculture, viticulture, gardens, vineyards

Smith Waite Tarot

This decan is associated with Venus, planet of love, beauty –and money. A perfectionist; conscientious, devoted, and above all focused, they can turn anything into an art form. Notice the hooded falcon on her wrist. She has ‘tamed’ her own wildness – or chaos. Learned to control her own impulses. She will not trade away her tomorrows for today’s gratification. This decan is a born manager. But though they have learned how to do without (and at times they have probably had no choice) still, they do crave and appreciate all things beautiful and they love to pamper their loved ones.

Third Decan Virgo

Dates: 12-22 September 

Planetary ruler: Ancient: Mercury Modern: Venus

Tarot card- Ten of Pentacles: keywords: ‘Lord of Wealth,’ commerce, messages, deliveries, Hermes, home, homeland, ancestry, genetics, inter-generational relationships, inheritance, gifts, legacy, bequests, town planning, art, museums, banks.

Smith Waite Tarot

These people are thinkers, and they are proud. This does not mean they are vain, but dignified – for them it is all about self respect, and it’s not even about the money, or at least, not for its own sake. These people are careful, even cautious, but they have a winning way with people and can do very well in the public eye, such is their talent for communication; personal, professional, artistic, written and spoken. See the old man surrounded by his family, neighbours and those dogs too. Eco-warrior is not really their style. But they do care about animals and the environment. Virgo sees themselves as part of a bigger picture, a link in a chain of legacy and to feel this way is for them a treasure beyond price.

Astrology of Virgo Season 2024

August 22: Sun enters Virgo ruler of the sixth house of health, administration, analysis, arts, crafts, service, community

August 23: Venus square Mars enthusiastic, fun, passionate, argumentative

August 27: Venus trine Uranus, pleasant surprises, changes in finance

August 28: Mercury stations direct at 21°24 Leo, Tarot card 7 Wands, keeping on top of things, courage, stamina, upper hand, glitches calming down. Also Venus opposition Neptune, visions, daydreams, artistic accomplishments or addictive behaviours and deception, beware scammers

August 29: Venus into Libra until September 25, highly social, marriages, diplomacy, luxuries

September 1: Uranus goes retrograde in Taurus until late January, 27-30, 2025. On the same day Pluto, which has been retrograde since May 2 now leaves Aquarius and moves into Capricorn until it goes direct again October 11 then moves for good into Aquarius 19 November until March 8, 2043. Forceful changes. Now comes a five month annual period of relative respite, giving us a breathing space to reflect, re-adjust and re-group.

September 3: Virgo New Moon opposite Piscean Saturn brings a focus on physical health

September 11: End of the Mercury shadow 4°06 Virgo, Tarot card, 8 Pentacles, creative and industrious

September 18: Full Harvest Supermoon and partial Lunar eclipse in Pisces conjunct Neptune at 25° Uncertainty, rumours, chaotic events. This could also mean further flooding, electric storms, events at sea, seismic events.

September 22: Autumn/Fall Equinox. The Sun enters Libra and careful footwork is the order of the day. Equinox ruler Venus is trapped in the last minutes of her own sign in a tight, tense configuration with Pluto (power, secrets) and Piscean Saturn (forces of order versus disorder).

In Summary

Virgo season 2024 is likely to be coloured on the world stage by the immediate aftermath of the push- and- pull energy of a rare, challenging and unusually intense Leo Full Moon in Aquarius, happening 18/19 August (NB this Full Moon will be happening during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 19-22 August).

Read here for my post about the Leo Full Blue Supermoon in Aquarius

Anyone born with their sun or major planetary placements in any of the mutable signs — Gemini (mutable air), Virgo (mutable earth), Sagittarius (mutable fire), and Pisces (mutable water) — will feel the effects of the astrology of Virgo season 2024, as will those with natal chart factors at 27 degrees of the fixed signs, Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, or the asteroid Vesta.

Virgo, you can expect changes in your working and earning activities during this autumn eclipse season. Do not sell yourself short or put yourself last when it comes to decision-making this year, as you know you have a tendency to do. You are the salt of the earth, Virgo, you questing soul of a natural artisan in productive expression, combined with a quiet discipline, a dedication of service to your fellow humanity and a low- key shamanic genius uniquely your own.

Happy Birthday, Virgo 2024!

Thank you for reading.

Until next time :)