New Moon in Virgo

 

The New Moon in Virgo occurs on Saturday, 27th August at around a quarter past ten in the morning. When the moon is new, it isn't visible, apart from the fact that it occurs during daylight hours. 

The Moon changes sign every two and a half days, and will make an aspect to the Sun roughly every 14 days, either as a conjunction (New Moon) or as an opposition (Full Moon). Women's mensis  was called their 'moon time' as, before the days of artificial light, women's cycles would have been more in tune with lunar cycles. Attitudes towards women's mensis vary around the world, depending on the prevailing culture; some saw it as a time when women had to withdraw (read 'The Red Tent', by Anita Diamant) from their community whilst others saw it as a time when women came into their power. 

The zodiac sign of Virgo is represented by a maiden holding a sheaf of wheat. Across many cultures, the Virgo maiden is associated with the harvest, including the process of separating the wheat from the chaff which is why Virgo people are supposedly endowed with the ability to discriminate. Ruled by Mercury in its capacity to think critically, people born with a strong Virgo trait in their charts (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Ascendant in Virgo) are supposedly better at weighing things up. Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth I was a Virgo - the Virgin Queen. She received an education befitting a royal, and one of her tutors, Roger Ascham, remarked that she 'had the intelligence of a man'. Ahem! I suppose, for that time - 16th century - that meant she could think critically. Who wouldn't if they beheaded your mother and you were at the centre of political plots?  Accounts of her life make a fascinating read and it is apparent that she used her wits well. 

The mythology of Virgo is interesting. She is undoubtedly a Harvest Goddess, given that the Sun travels through Virgo in the latter weeks of August right up to around the 23rd September, when harvesting occurs. The Greeks associated her with Demeter, the mother of Persephone who was abducted by Hades (thereby lies another tale), whereas the Romans associated harvesting with Ceres - though it must be noted that some consider Ceres to be a re-interpretation of the Greek Demeter. Another source states that this sign is associated with Dike, the Greek Goddess of Justice, daughter of Zeus and the female Titan Themis. 

The constellation of Virgo was first catalogued by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. It is the second largest constellation in the sky (the first being Hydra) and contains Spica, one of the brightest stars in the sky. The name 'Spica' means 'ear of grain' in Latin. According to Bernadette Brady, a leading astrologer, if this star is prominent in one's natal chart, it confers great gifts, particularly "knowledge and insights which are respected". 

So what does this New Moon promise us? As with all new moons, this is the time to lay down your intentions which should see fruition by the full moon in two weeks' time. As the Moon makes a square (challenging aspect) to Mars in Gemini - and therefore there is a lot of energy surrounding communication (read 'argument'), do be aware that a clash of ideas needs to be peppered with the ability to be diplomatic about things. If everyone thought the same way, life would be boring, right? Venus also squares Uranus; now this one is interesting - Venus in Leo (think Rita Hayworth.....Hollywood Diva) squares Uranus in Taurus (I did it my way) coming head to head. So.... the referee here is Mighty Mercury, who is travelling through the sign of Libra (The Scales/Justice/Maat).  Use you common sense, and try to see the bigger picture. 

I hope you enjoyed this...

Blessings 

Cindy