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
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!
Summer opens with a burst of light
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!
copyright 1999 by Ted PanDeva Zagar, Wellness Astrologer
Recommended book:
Sun & Moon Signs Library: Virgo
by Julia & Derek Parker.
About The Author
Ted PanDeva Zagar, BS, MA, MLS, is an acknowledged pioneer in nutritional astrological research. Ted's deep love of animals and nature is reflected in his life path's work of service to others. His unique perspective on attaining wellness through astrology has reached many people through his writing, teaching, consulting, and the Internet. His monthly newsletter, The Healthful Astrologer, and his Astrological Health Portfolio can be obtained by contacting him at 4216 Tod Avenue, East Chicago, IN 46312 or email to
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