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.