Sylvan E Thorncraft © August 2003

     Virgo’s work is to critique, to decide what is meaningful and what is not (I analyze).  She takes in the harvest and decides what to keep and what to discard.  She looks after the details of life, daily work, service, and health.  Her symbol is traditionally the virgin.

     Her tarot card is the Hermit (9) who represents the principles of contemplation, introspection, and space.  Virgo celebrates the beauty of organization and tending to detail, providing space to see the sacred patterns that reveals the truth about ourselves.

     Virgo time is between Lamas and the Autumnal Equinox.  Time of harvest, summer’s fullness is passing, work days are full as grain and fruit must be collected and prepared for winter storage.

     The moon is waxing bright now.  The Gibbous moon is almost full, rising right before sunset.  The plant’s energy fills her swelling buds.  Pulled by the light of the moon, we seek meaning and purpose.

     Because of Virgo’s strong connection to grain, agriculture, and her quality of high priestess, I was drawn to Demeter.  Like most goddesses Demeter has multiple aspects.  She is creator, preserver, and destroyer.  I started thinking about how grain is cut by the destroyer, sorted and prepared for storage by the preserver, and measured out according to the plan for what will be eaten or planted for the next harvest by the creator.  This metaphor of taking in grain, to nourish the body, can also be applied to the process of taking in spiritual experience, which nourishes the soul.  An experience is harvested as it happens.  Then we have the opportunity to reflect upon it, decide how it applies to our life’s journey.  Does it offer inspiration, connection, resources, knowledge?  Or not?  If it does then we now hold something to feed us on our journey.  Regardless of the outcome, this reminds us how important it is to make space for the process.