Virgo

Introduction to Our 12 Zodiacal Deities

We live in a swirling sea of magnetic forces, smaller fields contained within even greater fields, expanding throughout infinity. As our understanding increases, a new picture of the universe emerges ~ one of vast cosmic interdependence and connectedness. From first cosmic dawning to the last electron's feeble light, the whole universe is a complex of coils within coils, spirals within spirals, magnetic fields within magnetic fields.

The stars are interconnected with each other, exchanging particles and gases constantly, all flowing along magnetic field lines which are the arteries of the galactic body. The galaxy's coiled field lines diverge into intergalactic space where they ultimately connect to other galaxies. Do these tendrils of energy act as the nervous system of the universe, relaying information from star to star, galaxy to galaxy, on and on? One can only wonder.

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Zodiacal Deities examines the conditioning effects upon humanity by the specialized and quite unique energies of the star groups comprising the zodiac. We hold these star groups to be conscious, living entities in whose greater bodies we reside.

Traditionally the zodiac is described as the imaginary path of the Sun through the heavens. This path "exists" only from our earth's perspective. If you were observing the path of our Sun from another planet or body in space our Sun would appear to "be traveling through" different constellations at different times of the year, to be on an entirely different path through the heavens. This path is largely an illusion but at the same time the 12 zodiacal constellations do exist as great beings, and the streams of energy which pass and repass, intermingle and interlock throughout space are by no means illusions. They express eternal cosmic relationships.

The science of astrology is a study of the interlocking forces of all the 12 constellations as they pour into and through all the kingdoms in nature, carrying with them also their own individual qualities as well as those of the seven rays, focussed through the sacred and non-sacred planets of our solar system ~ the discovered and undiscovered planetary Lives. The vision of these powers and their many weaving lines, seen as rivers and streams of light, is given to the initiate from the mountaintop of Capricorn, once that summit is reached.

As the various energies and forces circulate throughout the etheric body of our solar system ~ itself a Great Being ~ their effects depend on the state of the planetary centers, and upon the point of unfoldment of the centres within the individual planets themselves. Those great zodiacal entities who qualify life as we know it imprint their frequencies or harmonic resonance on the various vehicles that comprise a human being.

Virgo, the Virgin

In Virgo, the energy of self-awareness generated in Leo now becomes more internally directed. The quest is then about brooding on dimly sensed spiritual realities, staying with these over a period of time, and giving them a place to grow. As the Christ stated, "Love one another as you love yourself." So first one must love themself, then love others ... self-love is essential and precedes loving others.

In Leo, the personality has become fully integrated and is made ready to begin the process of coming under the influence of that greater guide, the Soul. In Virgo, the purpose for which the form has been created begins to be realized and now desires to shift from personality satisfaction toward the more internal yearning to know and understand spiritual reality.

Assigned to serve and guide the race of humanity, Virgo is the spotless queen of heaven and the mother goddess of nature who has never been touched by man, and yet is pregnant with myriad creatures that are to be born from her divine body.

The ancient myths tell us Virgo, the Harvest Mother, was the first goddess assigned to serve the earth through the guiding of our peoples. Given to serve humanity she brought to them her sacred gift of love, the birth of the Christ consciousness in the human heart. As Virgo sadly surveyed the rampant desires and fears of those around her, she realized the gift she brought, the energy of love, had no receptacle as yet to grow in human form.

Knowing the cyclic nature of all things, she reluctantly withdrew her life-giving instruction when her appointed time cyclicly ended. (Her influence upon earth some 12,000 years ago, when Virgo was on the vernal equinox point, March 20, was seen through humanity’s dramatic shift from living as hunters and gatherers to becoming cultivators of crops.) She understood humanity was not yet ready for her divine gift ~ the consciousness of love. Knowing this, she tearfully turned her back on the human race and withdrew from the earth to take her place in the heavens.

Virgo is about allowing the soul to grow and emerge, finally giving birth to the Christ consciousness, or full soul awareness, in its polar opposite Pisces. Virgo symbolizes depths, darkness, quiet and warmth, symbolic of the womb and hence, associated with the "cave experience." Slow, gentle, and powerful crises and development occur here in the dark, ultimately leading to light. (The three earth signs all deal with light in some way. The light of knowledge found in Taurus gives way to the light of wisdom gained in Virgo, culminating in the light of initiation in Capricorn.)

The Virgin, the giving and loving mother, represents matter and the form, and in this sign the hidden divinity of each is nurtured and shielded until the gestation period is complete. There is an action component of Virgo, in that to truly prepare and nurture oneself to embody spiritual awareness, both inner and outer action is required. All of one’s efforts must be bent towards achieving this goal. The exacting, analytical mind of the Virgo native is perfect for this, with its compulsion to achieve perfection, and extreme attention to detail. As such, Virgo is the focal point for the expression of Active Intelligence, the highest function of mind working through matter.

Again we see the mother of the world aspect of Virgo demonstrated in its glyph ~ three vertical lines running through it, representing the three feminine aspects ... Eve, Isis and Mary. Eve is childless and represents the mind aspect of humanity; Isis, the emotional nature, and Mary, physical plane experience ... only Mary actually holds an infant in her arms in the religious art of the ages. She is the Virgin Mother, providing what is needed for the expression of the growing soul within. Esoterically, Virgo is the Cosmic Mother because she represents cosmically the negative pole to positive spirit.

The Labour of Hercules deals with two women in the task of Virgo ~ taking the girdle of the Amazon queen, Hippolyte, and rescuing Hesione from a monstrous sea serpent. The first job he bungles badly, and kills the queen despite her efforts at peace and to assist him. The girdle had been given to her by Venus, queen of love, and represents unity achieved through struggle and conflict, and also is a symbol of motherhood and of the sacred Child. Hercules murdered the queen unnecessarily and then redeemed himself with the heroic rescue of a stranger, putting his life on the line to do so.

Some writings interpret the queen’s intention to be lacking a sense of love or unity in her interaction with Hercules, merely following orders from a superior and possibly provoking Hercules's anger. Also the Amazons worshipped the moon (the form) and Mars, god of war, and perhaps experienced this crisis as an evolutionary prod to embody the concepts of love and peace the girdle symbolizes.

In fact, tolerance of others and their ways can be a real challenge for those born in Virgo. Ruled by Mercury for average humanity, Virgo’s attentiveness to details often veils the big picture ~ and the heart of things ~ allowing over-analysis to tear down the goodwill and unity represented by the girdle. Venus rules Virgo for advanced humanity, reinforcing the connection to the girdle’s qualities of love and peace.

The brightest star in Virgo, Spica, means the ear of corn, again tying in the concept of nurturance associated with this sign. We receive sustenance from this constellation. As we progress around the Great Wheel of the zodiac, Virgo’s frequency stimulates us to "feed our Soul" through the qualities of introspection and eventually, service to others, the natural outpouring of one coming under the influence of their own Soul.

The power of the sign of the Virgin is the fertility of nature, and she is shown holding in her hand a spike of grain with five kernels (in occult teaching, five is the number that represents humanity). Interestingly enough the Great Attractor, the point in the heavens and toward which all galaxies appear to be moving, is located in the belly of the Virgin. Even science verifies the powerful, magnetic influence this place has upon all matter.

We achieve unity with the Virgin when we allow the Christ consciousness, that of love, to be born in the cave of our hearts (the cave represents the depth of matter itself). As love manifests itself more fully within ourselves, we naturally follow its light into fuller service and a wiser understanding of the plan on earth. And when this occurs, we are on our way to becoming divine sons and daughters of God, working through matter on the physical plane.

In the mystic world, the Virgin is the human soul that, when cleansed of all early dross, then becomes purged and can receive the divine seed from the spirit of God. Virgo is the pregnant, expectant aspect of maternity; she is expecting the divine child in whom both principles of spirit and matter are blended into perfect unity. This child is born in every human life simply by the opening of the heart, and the subsequent desire to lovingly serve those around us.

Christ in Us the Hope of Glory!

Service is its own reward.

It is interesting to note that during the time we say the sun is in Libra, typically from September 21 to October 22, due to the precession of the equinoxes, and from the earth's perspective, the Sun is actually traversing the zodiacal constellation Virgo. With this consideration, we invite you to review the SouledOut.org materials on Virgo freshly, from this perspective.

Print version

Credit for information and synthesis:
The collected volumes of writings by Alice A. Bailey,
specific reference here to Esoteric Astrology, p. 251 - 285
and The Labours of Hercules, p. 112 - 124
©Lucis Publishing Co., 120 Wall St., 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005

To read the pages from The Labours of Hercules in their entirety, click here

Virgo Global Meditation
Virgo Keywords
Virgo Navigation Page
12 Zodiacal Deities
Legendary Journeys of Hercules
Cosmology

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