Virgo Archetypes
Virgo Archetypes
[The main blog will follow shortly]
I am writing about the Virgo Archetypes today, before the month of Virgo is out! This is the seventh of my new series specifically on astrological Archetypes. It is time to embrace the potential of this sign, turning the spotlight on its Archetypes. It has turned decidedly autumnal of late, part of the charm of the Virgo season for some. We’re embedded in work schedules, hoping to make progress and headway in Virgoan areas of our lives.
A few words about Virgos: Ruled by Mercury, they are often happy to work behind the scenes, unless they have a strong component of their neighbouring sign Leo. They can be modest, or even self-deprecatory. There’s a strong interest in health, diet and hygiene, as well as ecology. And of course, there’s that legendary perfectionism. Recognize those traits in the Virgos you know?
So, following, are some thoughts I highlighted back in my 2015 blog, and then some examples of Virgo and its Archetypes, including from history:
“The Bluestocking
I have known several Virgo bluestockings in my time! The Bluestocking is a studious, intellectual woman, so named after a society founded in the 18th Century by Elizabeth Montagu, who had her North Node (karmic mission) in Virgo exactly conjunct Pluto with Mars and Venus close by. She gave birth to a sexual stereotype, depicted graphically by the planets clustered around her North Node in Virgo.
The Servant
The Virgoan is just as talented and accomplished as anyone else, but often chooses to work behind the scenes. Thus the Servant is a common Archetype for this sign. Caroline Myss describes this Archetype as engaging “aspects of the psyche that call us to make ourselves available to others for the benefit and enhancement of their lives.”
Virgoans are often found as health workers and therapists, and Chiron “The Wounded Healer” is often ascribed to this sign.
The Martyr
This Archetype is shared with Pisces, and Virgo forms a polarity with that sign. It is a polarity which is much associated with the story of Jesus and the Crucifixion (through Pisces) and his mother Mary, particularly associated with Virgo.
A very ordinary way in which Virgoans can typify the Martyr Archetype is their insistence that they will do something themselves in order to make a better job of it, rather than entrust it to someone else. This can start as an expression of their perfectionism, but in a relationship interaction can turn into a martyr complex, especially if anger and resentment are involved.
Religious Figure
Mother Mary, the Virgin Mary, is the archetypal religious figure for Virgo, representing purity and associated with the immaculate conception. Some may regard her as a Deity, Goddess, or Master in the New Age sense (female Masters seem not to be called Mistresses).
Famous Example: Queen Elizabeth 1, The Virgin Queen, born 7 September 1533.
Caroline Myss says of the Virgin Archetype generally: ‘Needs to be explored symbolically as a pattern that represents not only purity, but also the beginning point of creation, as in bringing forth virgin ideas.’ “
To which I would add:
The Medic/ e.g. Health Visitor, Homeopath etc.
Virgoans are often to be found working in the NHS or in complementary medicine as carers and therapists.
The Craftsman/Craftswoman
And The Jeweller
[my Past Life Archetype Card reads:]
“My name is Hans and I am a specialist precision watchmaker in Zermatt. People don’t try to take the trouble to do a fine job anymore, but I uphold that tradition and hope it continues in generations to come. I do not presume to understand the world, but I know my place in it. I start with a spotless environment – you won’t find any dust in my watches!”
Ecologist/Environmentalist
Virgos are often very sensitive to the environment, and their life work may involve the many urgent issues we have in combatting climate change.
I was once entering a restaurant with a Virgo Ascendant friend, who is very sensitive to pollution. We were asked “Do you have any allergies?” The reply was “Only to the environment!”
The Specialist
Especially those who have bunched up sections in a birth chart, and are pedantic and fastidious about their craft, whatever their craft. I know one family who are predominantly Virgoan, one perfectionistic about his photography with a heightened eye for detail, and another perfectionistic in his film-making. The Virgoan can achieve precision in their work, be it in artwork (miniatures and mosaics for example), music or science.
The Community Worker
Virgo is associated, through its 6th House rulership especially, with working for the community. Now I don’t know many people in these parts (West Norfolk) but I know three prominent people working on behalf of the community, and all three are Virgos.
In case a definition of Community Worker is called for, here’s one:
“Community workers play a vital role in improving the lives of disadvantaged individuals and communities by facilitating change and advocating for their needs.”
Background Workers
I am thinking mainly of background workers in the theatre and television, such as those who work on scenery and props, maybe starting as runners. Virgos prefer to work unseen generally, but then again if Leo is also present in the chart, they may perform upfront. In the Virgo family I mentioned earlier, the Virgo daughter has a Leo Ascendant, and has chosen to tread the boards.
Historical/more in-depth Examples:
The Virgin Queen
Queen Elizabeth I (7/9/1533 – 24/3/1603)
One of our greatest monarchs Queen Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen, obviously had some regal Leo in there. But her Sun was in Virgo (exactly sextile Saturn for responsibility). The Leo connection was in her North Node in Leo (her karmic mission). Her Sun in Virgo was in her 9th House of foreign affairs – she certainly cast her net wide, globally.
She was named the Virgin Queen because it was expected that she would marry and produce an heir but despite many liaisons, she never did. As an Archetype, it is rare, though there may be many historic examples around the world. But in terms of character, I have known people to fit the brief – again with a touch of Leo mixed in with Virgo.
The Selfless Servant
Mother Theresa of Calcutta (26/8/1910 – 5/9/1997)
“By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”
~ Mother Theresa
There is much I could write about Mother Theresa’s chart, but I will choose just a few highlights:
Three personal planets in Virgo the sign of Service, including the Sun. Sun trine Saturn (duty and responsibility). Mercury square Pluto (tackling deep problems). Venus in Leo (a magnanimous heart). Venus square Saturn (renouncing personal needs). Uranus closely trine North Node (unusual karmic mission). Pluto trine Chiron (a profound service). Neptune square Midheaven (charitable work in the world).
Mother Theresa was born in Skopje, and raised a Catholic, and now a Catholic saint. She established her mission on behalf of the poor of Calcutta in 1950, a work which she performed until her death. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
I mentioned her briefly in September 2007 when Anita Roddick died:
“Anita’s leaving, like Diana and Mother Teresa’s was close to an eclipse in Virgo, thus highlighting the Virgoan virtues they came to show.”
So, in summary, in contemplating your own link to the sign of Virgo and for those you know, you can explore for the next few days until the Autumn Equinox (18.19 Hrs on 23rd), this segment of the zodiac. You may notice that with your Virgo family, friends and acquaintances, some of them have more than one of these Archetypes, and you may reel at their capacity to look at the minutiae and detail! Notice too that some families have a particular sign as their theme, so perhaps they may be working on that theme in a common purpose in this incarnation as a soul group.