The sun moves into Virgo on August 23rd, and for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, thus begins the summer’s denouement.
Virgo is a mutable earth sign. Mutable and earth may not seem compatible, but I think of Virgo as a sign that reacts to change pragmatically, working through the nitty gritty of what needs to be done to adapt. Virgos can roll with the punches because they’re quick-thinking and practical.
Some of my favorite people are Virgos. Virgos know better than you, but sometimes they will let you think you are right. Virgos can sometimes be critical and judgmental, but they are prepared and detail-focused. Virgos are girls of 100 lists. Virgo is about routines and regimens. It’s about the beauty and the joy in the details.
Virgos are also very nurturing. Cancer is often thought of as the most mothering sign of the zodiac, but Virgos are also major caretakers. Virgos often look out for others. Sometimes they come across as nitpicky buttinskies, but when they are looking over your shoulder, it’s out of a place of concern. Did you remember your scarf and gloves? Did you put on sunscreen? Virgos care. I always feel safe with Virgos.
In the Bravo universe, Lisa Vanderpump is a Virgo and embodies many quintessential Virgo qualities. She’s always hyper aware of how she appears, she’s big- hearted and nurturing of her menagerie of pets and her ne’er-do-well band of SURvers and their partners, and she’s canny enough to know what makes for good business and compelling TV.
Virgo season is about getting to work. It’s about making our to-do lists, recalibrating when necessary, and taking pride in a job well done. This Virgo season may feel a little more stressful than usual because Mercury, also in Virgo, will be retrograde for most of it. This means that the activities we associate with Virgo—organizing, taking care of ourselves, acts of service, editing, studying, practicing, and cleaning—are likely to need a couple or more tries before they are executed as we want. As with all Mercury retrogrades, but especially with it being in Virgo, double check everything. Dot the i. Cross the t. Make sure you receive the confirmation email. But the Mercury retrograde shouldn’t stop you from project managing whatever it is you want to get done.
Read below for the topics most likely to be of focus for you over the next month, as the sun and Mercury move through the area of your chart ruled by Virgo. Of course, your full horoscope for the next month depends on your individual birth chart and how the transiting planets interact with your natal placements, but these are the broad brushstroke themes you can expect to arise. My suggestion is to read for your rising sign first if you know it, then for your sun as the secondary focus.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: For Virgo risings, this next month focuses the warmth of the sun on you. For Virgo suns, it’s your solar return. You may have been feeling unsettled and more in your feelings than usual since Venus went retrograde in July, but this period should embolden you with some much needed vitality. Focus on you, your wants and needs, and what gives you life this month.
Libra & Libra Rising: Virgo rules your 12th house, and with the Sun and Mercury transiting there, this month will have you plumbing the depths of your psyche. Your dreams may be more potent than usual. You’d be well served by journaling about them and examining them. Take extra care with your sleep routine during this time; it’s important to rest. Keep your therapy appointments. This is an opportune time for working through any subconscious sludge.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: During Virgo season, the sun is in your house of friendships and community. Get out there in the world. If new friendships present themselves, be open to them, and nurture existing friendships. You may feel your sense of community deepen during this time and enrich you. This area of your chart also relates to hopes and dreams, so this is a good time to start thinking through and charting out a path to what you really want.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: The sun is in your 10th house of career and legacy. You may be getting more attention and praise than usual this month, especially related to whatever you do in your public life, and/or you may be feeling renewed focus on your career. It’s a good time for reviewing your resume, editing it, and reviewing it again to ensure it truly captures your essence and what you want to present to the world.
Capricorn & Cap Rising: With Virgo season here, the sun is transiting through the part of your chart dealing with education, spirituality, and foreign cultures, so these themes are illuminated. It’s a great time to hit the books, sign up for classes, or to take a long-distance trip to another country. With Mercury retrograde, though, triple check all registrations and itineraries.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: The sun will be highlighting the part of your chart that deals with others’ resources and baggage. You may find yourself acting as counselor more than usual this month as people seek your level-headed advice. It’s also a good time for assessing your investments and debts, if you have any, and/or those of your partner, to see if there are better payment plans, interest rates, etc. Be on the lookout for unexpected fees and bills this month and confirm that those are correct before you actually pay them. With Mercury retrograde, everyone is more prone to mistakes.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: There is a focus and energy around one-on-one relationships for you when the sun is in Virgo. All of us have likely been feeling the effects of the Venus retrograde in our relationships. This gives you the boost you need to spend quality time with your partner if you have one and work on your communication with them. The same goes for other non-romantic partnerships. If you aren’t in a relationship, this month may have you thinking on what you do want out of a relationship and partner.
Aries & Aries Rising: Your focus will be drawn toward work and routines–the perfect manifestation of Virgo season and Mercury retrograde in Virgo. You are really great at starting new projects, but this is the month to work slowly and steadily through what you have already begun, paying extra attention to the details, to see things through to completion. On August 24th, Mars, your ruler, makes a trine to Pluto, so this can give you the stamina and focus you need to delve deep and get into the nitty gritty of the tasks you need to do.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: This is a time for joy, for fun, and for creative pursuits. If you have been contemplating a new artistic endeavor or have already started one, Virgo season and the Mercury rx offer a chance to reassess your routines to build in more time for your creativity. Write your morning pages and let your hair down. Get high by the beach.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: Your focus during this time likely will be largely on home and family. You may be feeling the urge to nest. With Mercury in this part of your chart and retrograde, it’s a great time for surveying your home and assessing what needs to be repaired or reinforced. What needs resealing and recaulking to prevent future leaks? Are your window blinds about to come loose from their brackets and need to be tightened? As the cooler weather comes (we hope), there’s a batten-down-the-hatches vibe that you can make good use of now.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: There’s going to be even more of a focus on your communications this month than there would be anyway with just Mercury retrograde. Examine how you can improve your communication style to better express what you are truly trying to convey to others. This Virgo season could mean you’re presenting at work or you’re emailing and coordinating something with neighbors. It’s an opportunity to take stock of your words and edit. This is also a time for focusing on your daily routines and making improvements, e.g., finding ways to alter your commute to make it faster or less crowded.
Leo & Leo Rising: Virgo season lights up the area of your chart focused on your resources and income. This could be an excellent time to ask for a raise, but in using Virgo’s influence, you’ll want to make sure you do your due diligence first and get all the necessary details and arguments lined up before pitching anything (especially with Mercury retrograde). It’s also a time to assess how you make and manage your money and tweak anything that isn’t paying off.
As with all astrological content, this is intended to be taken with a grain of salt and is for entertainment. These are my interpretations of the planetary placements and transits, not fact or fortune telling.