 Astrology
of Wellness
Virgo:
The Path of Service
by Ted PanDeva Zagar
Note: The author uses Sol and Luna instead
of generic terms like "sun" and "moon" when referring to the
two most important spheres in our solar system. Folk remedies, herbs, foods,
micronutrients, and other substances and therapies are included as information
and not as replacements for the diagnoses, advice, and treatments provided by
competent wellness professionals.
As we
pass through the Lion's den (July 23-August 22), our
creative skills become honed. In time, our urge to
fashion things equips us with a greater ability to serve
others. Enter Mercury-ruled Virgo (August 23-September
22), the last astrological month of summer. On the
transcendental level, Virgo governs karma yoga, the path
of service extended to all beings. By coming to know the
needs of others and learning how best to satisfy their
natural desires, we experience the unity of each and
every creature woven into the web of life.
On the
mundane level, the sign of the Maiden is associated with
co-worker relationships, occupational environments, and
the type of work that engages our time and talent.
Legislation critical to occupational safety has often
been enacted during Virgo. On August 29, 1833, the
Shaftesbury Factory Act was passed, authorizing factory
inspections and forbidding employment of children under
age nine. Americans enacted their Child Labor Act, which
barred the products of child labor from interstate
commerce, on September 1, 1916.
Many
Virgoans prefer service-oriented occupations over the
manufacturing professions. Work involving one or more of
the healing arts can prove attractive to the Maiden's
offspring. Because Virgo governs the intestines, lower
abdominal area and appendix, food-related occupations
are often found to be satisfying. Mixing the Maiden's
associations with wellness, service, and nutrition, the
Virgo native might consider working behind a health
store counter or in a hospital kitchen as a registered
dietitian.
This
sign is prominent in the charts of many practicing
vegetarians. John Harvey Kellogg (b. February 26, 1852),
the American physician who developed dry breakfast
cereals, peanut butter, and meat analogs made from plant
protein, was a Piscean (the sign opposite Virgo) who
refined 19th century techniques in abdominal surgery.
Nearly a lifelong vegetarian, Kellogg died in his 90's.
Enjoying
good health is important to Virgoans, and a number of
foods and herbs can help the cause. Cat's claw, a
Peruvian herb, cleanses the intestinal tract while
bringing relief to those who suffer from Crohn’s
disease, diverticulitis, leaky bowel syndrome, colitis,
and gastritis. A tea made from anise seeds can dispel
intestinal gas, while the symptoms of colitis can be
diminished by employing a few drops of tea tree oil.
Even fruits can benefit Mercury's child. Blueberries are
consumed to counter diarrhea, while avocado is eaten to
combat constipation.
Mercury
spins so close to Sol that it completes one circuit
around our sun in only 88 Earth days. Bathed in
brilliant lightwaves streaming from our nearby star,
this crater-riddled planet has no atmosphere to obscure
its uneven terrain. Attuned to the physical features of
Mercury, our Virgoan friends are often highly
analytical, detail-oriented persons. Count on the child
of the Maiden to offer constructive criticism and to
thoroughly review complex plans when needed. We know who
to call when we need to find the proverbial needle in
the haystack!
In
summary, the trilogy of summer opens with a burst of
light provided by the solstice. As an abundance of light
equates to a flowering of life, Cancer
stirs vigorously Earth's cauldron of plant and animal
activity. The maternal and domestic focus of the Crab
yields to the creative, inner child of Leo.
Affectionate
and generous, the Lion exalts in all manner of play and
performance. The crafts perfected during Sol's reign
sharpen skills employed during Virgo, the zodiacal month
when serving others can become summer's greatest
adventure. May you find peace and health during the
bright months!
To read the other signs
covered in this series, click here.
NOTE: This article was first published in
ASTROLORE, an astrological magazine published quarterly in Britain.
Read
and leave comments on this article.
copyright
1999 by Ted PanDeva Zagar, Wellness Astrologer
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