Mary Jo Wevers

by

Addressing the Novel Coronavirus through Virgo

The coronavirus pandemic has upended our lives and gravely disrupted institutionalized economic and social systems by exposing their flaws and magnifying the need for fundamental change. On a global scale we have watched, often in disbelief, COVID-19 spread into far corners of the world causing sickness and death. On the personal level we have also experienced its impact on unforeseen aspects of our daily lives, including how we work, play, interact with one another, school our children, shop, and pay our bills. As we struggle with new challenges and fears about the future, we often long for “the way things were.” Rather than wishing for “the good old days,” which we are discovering weren’t so great after all, we can see this as a very difficult transition we must make into a new way of life. The sign of Virgo and the archetypal energy it brings to situations such as the coronavirus pandemic is needed now more than ever.

A mutable feminine earth sign, Virgo adapts to changing conditions and responds to problematic circumstances in improving, practical, real-life ways. Archetypal Virgo uses critical thinking to analyze problems by breaking down enormously complex situations into manageable bits. She processes details with discrimination, absorbing and digesting pertinent information gleaned from her research. She finds simple, realistic ways to solve problems, and tests or ground-truths them for effectiveness and practicality. 

Humble and modest, Virgo does not assume she is “right” in her approach or assessment. She carefully checks and rechecks her work, exploring other avenues of inquiry in order to generate models that better describe conditions, that promote greater understanding of causes, and ultimately find the best cures and remedies. Her work is never done, because she is continually absorbing new information and digesting experiential facts, to improve her understanding of problems. 

Virgo uses iterative processes to continually adjust, refine and redirect her research. She makes efficient use of time and resources while being thorough and precise. She diligently strives for perfection in all she does. While highly competent, she takes self-improvement seriously so she can be of better service in the world.

Virgo rules, or is associated with, areas of science that pertain to health and hygiene, and are service oriented, such as medicine and epidemiology. Health care professionals who work to protect and improve physical well being, and social workers who serve the emotional and mental needs of people are examples of Virgo in action.

Many people complain that medical experts are changing their recommendations for dealing with the coronavirus, or that they gave us misinformation at the beginning of the epidemic. They want immediate and fixed answers, recommendations, solutions and cures, so they can “get back to normal” as soon as possible. However medical science is constantly changing or updating and refining its research and understanding of the novel coronavirus. It is cautious in making recommendations for preventing and treating COVID-19 unless sound scientific substantiation can be provided. 

Taking a Virgo approach in our personal lives concerning the coronavirus, we must validate “facts” we come across in the media, and not succumb to conspiracy theories, political opinions or wishful thinking. When doing your own research, ask if “facts” are backed up by empirical science. Be cautious about unproven treatment methods or remedies. Be careful, thoughtful, logical, and separate the wheat from the chaff.

According to the humanistic astrologer Dane Rudhyar tolerance, compassion, and charity are the great virtues of Virgo. He writes that these virtues “are manifestations of the same deep root – the willingness to grow by experiencing and assimilating … aspects of truth, of love and of sacrificial action.” This speaks to the mutable modality of the sign: it is flexible, adaptable, modifying and changing. We can adopt these virtues and show tolerance by being more flexible in a profoundly changing world. We can show compassion and charity towards others, especially the vulnerable, by wearing masks in public, social distancing, and lending caring support in our community. 

This month set aside time to appreciate and value the Virgos in life who are working tirelessly to check the spread of the coronavirus. Biologists are working quickly and carefully to discover as much as possible about this novel virus. Medical workers are skillfully and compassionately easing the suffering of those who have contracted COVID-19. Researchers are diligently working to find vaccines and treatments to alleviate the devastating havoc it produces in the human body. And others are working to provide social services for vulnerable members of our communities. They are sacrificing their health and personal needs to be of greater service in the world right now.

by

Venus Retrograde in Gemini: Reviewing our Attachments to a Way of Thinking

A planet moving retrograde appears to move through the same part of the zodiac three times. It is as if the planet is walking back and forth reviewing its issues and processes from different perspectives and providing opportunities for us to revise and re-address them. This “sensitized” part of the zodiac is sometimes referred to as the Retrograde Shadow. 

During a planet’s first pass through the Retrograde Shadow, issues emerge that will be revisited and re-examined during the retrograde period. It then stations retrograde, and slowly begins to move through the Shadow area in reverse direction. This is a time for us to be more internal, reflective, and review what arose for us during the planet’s direct transit through the Shadow area. What emotions triggered in us are surfacing? What missing pieces of information or insight can we become aware of? When the planet arrives at the beginning of the Shadow area it slows, stations direct, and begins moving in a forward direction once again. As it makes its third pass through the Shadow area we can absorb, integrate, and apply knowledge and understanding garnered during the retrograde.

Venus rules, or determines, our natural instinctual physical needs and desires, and our ability to experience comfort and contentment in the physical world. She represents what we appreciate and love for the beauty and physical connections they provide. She defines what matters the most to us, what we find valuable, what we really want in life. She indicates the tangible possessions and material goods we are attached to for the abundance, security, and pleasure they provide.

Venus moves in retrograde motion once every 19 months or so. Its retrograde period lasts approximately 6 weeks. Venus entered its current Retrograde Shadow area on April 10th at 5 degrees Gemini. It stationed retrograde at 22 degrees Gemini on May 13th. It will station direct on June 24th at 5 degrees Gemini, and begin its third pass through its retrograde territory. On July 29th it will reach 22 degrees Gemini once again, leaving the retrograde Shadow area with its issues and lessons, and move on.

During this Venus retrograde in Gemini, we are tasked with reviewing our fixations and attachments to ways of thinking: our thoughts, ideas, and what we “think” we know. Can we find greater value, security and gratification in being more adaptable and flexible in our thinking? Where and how can we entertain other ideas and perspectives on matters? 

We can also reflect on our interactions with our environment and our side-by-side relationships. How do we move through our day? Can we improve the way we communicate and share information? How good a listener are we? How do we respond to the needs of others? What do we love and value about our exchanges with others?

We may also become aware of ways we are fickle, restless, or inconsistent in living by our true values. Are we easily distracted by superficial pleasures which only provide a fleeting sense of pleasure or security? Are we committed to our deeper values, or changeable, depending on how the wind blows?

During its retrograde period, Venus will square Neptune in Pisces twice, challenging us to face up to ways we are unrealistic, or self-delusional by romanticizing or idealizing matters. What illusions or magical thinking do we engage in that we need to acknowledge? Being curious about our inner workings, we can reflect, revise and refine our thinking and ways we interact with the world. Using spiritual awareness we can become more flexible, adaptable, and versatile in order to engage more compassionately in a rapidly changing world. 

“Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix.” – Christina Baldwin

by

Cultivating Serenity during Times of Uncertainty

The sign of Taurus is known for its grounded serenity, which comes from its sensory, tactile connection to the earth and material substance. It is practically creative and loves artistic forms of expression that engage and delight the senses. Stable and calm, it is slow to anger. It prefers quiet, tranquil, pastoral surroundings that soothe and pacify the spirit. 

During these times of great uncertainty, we can cultivate qualities of Taurus to create inner stability and security for ourselves. Here are some suggestions.

♉︎   Pause during the day, and center yourself in your body. Feel grounded, anchored to the earth. Feel its support beneath you. Become aware of your breath. Follow the cycle of inhalations and exhalations, allowing yourself to relax more fully with each out breath. Taking time for this exercise quiets the mind and turns our awareness inward, allowing us to connect with our true presence in the moment. 

♉︎   Simplify your life. With shelter in place orders, we are forced to withdraw from busy routines in the outside world and are spending more time at home. This is a good time to clean out and clear out the clutter. Sort through your belongings, paying attention to what you really value in life, and really need. Taurus values its possessions for the satisfaction, gratification, and comfort they provide. Align with the energy of Uranus in Taurus by releasing attachments to things that do not, as Marie Kondo says, “spark joy.” Creating physical, mental and emotional space in your life this way will give you greater ease, peace, and relaxation.

♉︎   Delight your senses with simple pleasures. Taurus connects to the natural world through its sensory experiences. It enjoys good food, art, listening to music, feeling the sun and soft breezes outdoors, and the pleasant fragrance of spring blooms. Find ways to take pleasure in creature comforts. Explore new ways to create objects of practical beauty through artistic crafts such as pottery, sculpture, or painting. Uranus in Taurus enables us to maintain satisfying connections with loved ones through technology. 

♉︎   Spend time in nature. Being immersed in the natural world brings us closer to what we truly need as physical beings. Warmth, shelter, garden-grown food, beautiful landscapes and sunset skies are priceless in a world filled with rampant consumerism. Uranus in Taurus helps free us from over-accumulation, hoarding, and the desire for more and more material wealth and possessions. Spending time outdoors supports our immune system and helps us stay happy and healthy.

♉︎   Find spiritual meaning in your day-to-day life. Taurus’ function is to love and appreciate spirit in physical form. It recognizes that spirit infuses all matter on earth, and through its spiritual awareness finds meaning in its physicality. When we are calm, centered and grounded, we allow Spirit to come through, and are able to receive Uranian downloads of wisdom, comfort and insight.

“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.” – John Muir

by

Detachment and Equanimity

The social air sign of Aquarius is known for its rational, objective mind and ingenious intellect. It is logical, scientific and original in its ideas. Its interest in progressive and humanitarian causes attracts it to groups of like-minded people who want to reform society. It forms relationships with others so it can work collaboratively with those who share its idealistic principles and vision of the future. 

Although friendly and tolerant, it can sometimes appear to be cold and aloof. A keen observer, it creates emotional distance between itself and the object of its study in order to remain open-minded and impartial. In this way it can perceive the world and its workings without bias, and receive clear insights into matters. Curious and astute, it can make connections between disparate pieces of information and see patterns within a greater whole. Highly intelligent, it quickly grasps abstract concepts.

We can align with the energy of Aquarius and use rational detachment and composure to our advantage. Consciously employing emotional detachment can help free us from old ingrained patterns of emotional reactivity. When we become aware of an emotion within us, we can quietly observe it, without judgement or analysis, defensiveness or justification. Approaching our emotion with equanimity, we can perceive it from a neutral perspective. It is neither “good” nor “bad.” It is simply an inner comment on our outer experience in the moment. Creating emotional distance in a situation helps us realize we have a choice in how we respond.

We can make space for more creativity, insight, and innovation when we are not mired down by emotional reactivity in a situation. Standing back, we can appreciate we are not the center of the universe, but part of a much bigger picture. Looking beyond our individual needs, we see we are not alone, but a member of a global community where everyone has wants, needs and feelings. We can treat others as equals and practice “dispassionate compassion” for humanity.

Practicing detachment and equanimity allows the right hemisphere of our brain to contribute more to our thinking and understanding. Left hemisphere processes are linear, empirical and applied. The right hemisphere is intuitive, conceptual, abstract, and insightful. It is associated with a higher frequency of mental energy, where solutions to problems are revealed, and from which all inventions come. Aquarius opens our minds to cosmic consciousness and awareness. It compels us to move beyond our ego identification and connect with the universe on a soul level, propelling us on our evolutionary path.

“True detachment isn’t a separation from life but the absolute freedom within your mind to explore living.” – Ron W. Rathbun

by

Taking Responsibility in Life

‘Response’ is the root of the words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility.’ Responding is taking the initiative to act in a specific way in a situation. Responding is different from reacting to a situation. Reacting is an unconscious, automatic action that comes from ingrained patterns of behavior that are often based on unresolved emotions. Reaction often takes place before we take the time to engage our thinking processes and weigh options. Responding is a conscious act, using our cognitive faculties when engaging with a situation and deciding how best to take action.

Capricorn responds to a situation by autonomously taking action with grounded practicality and a sense of duty. It employs self-discipline to place the needs of a situation above its own wants and desires. Valuing honor and integrity, it is principled. It has a moral commitment to do the right thing, even when it is difficult. 

Capricorn exercises its will over its feelings. Using restraint, it places boundaries, or limits on emotionality. Having a serious nature, it is purposeful in its responses. It is sensible, levelheaded and mature when making decisions.

Enterprising Capricorn defines success as achieving excellence in some area or field. It knows that sometimes hard work and perseverance are needed in order to achieve an ambition. Being pragmatic, it defines goals, crystallizes objectives, develops strategies and sets priorities. Through its determination and grit it overcomes obstacles. In time it reaches its aspirations.

Capricorn has wisdom born of real-world experience. It respects natural laws, cause and effect, and karma. It understands dharma, working with the principles of cosmic order. It respects the limitations and constraints of the physical, material world, space and time. Dedicated to its life’s work, Capricorn is structured and organized, making efficient use of time and conserving resources as it lives its life with purpose.

Capricorn holds itself accountable for its actions. It demands personal integrity in all it does. A constant, reliable figure it procures the respect of others and receives its just rewards. It earns a position of authority in the world based on the skills and wisdom it gains through real-life experience.