“Let me bring you songs from the wood, to make you feel much better than you could know Dust you down from tip to toe, show you how the garden grows…”

Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull’s
Songs from the Wood

This month we are invited to cleanse heal and purify as the Sun passes through Virgo, the sign of the Virgin Goddess of purity, wheat and the green growing world. Virgo, ruled by Mercury, is the sign most explicitly associated with healers and the medical profession. Everything about this sign points us back toward the healing of the body, mind, spirit and planet. Virgo reminds us that our own health is inextricably linked with that of our planet. The chemicals we pour into the earth contaminate our food supply and the run off eventually finds its way into the Piscean water supply.

Together Virgo and Pisces its opposite sign direct us to the spiritual heights of enlightenment, a path which begins with cleaning. Paracelsus, the famous healer, once said that fasting is the body’s first physician. This is because digestion, the body function which Virgo presides over, takes more energy than any other bodily activity. When we stop eating and begin juicing it gives the body a chance to attend to housekeeping that is often long overdue. It has been noted in experiments that cells in a petri dish can live indefinitely provided the dish is kept clean.

Virgo rules the mental functions of discernment and diagnosis. In this sign Mercury, the planet of all mental functions and communication achieves its most refined expression. The Virgo part of the mind is always diagnosing and seeking further refinement. Rightly used this function allows one to select the most nutritious food for both mental and physical consumption. Virgo joyfully ushers us into the organic garden and reminds us that Mother Nature in her infinite wisdom and generosity has provided us with a miraculous pharmacy in the natural world. Everything we need to maintain glowing health can be found in the natural world and often in our own garden.

The healing properties of simple foods like kale, celery and carrots are extraordinary, to say nothing of herbs and flower remedies. It has been noted by the medical community that most illness can be traced to inflammation caused by the American diet. When we give up sugar, fried and refined foods and return to whole grains and unprocessed foods our bodies begin to heal. After even a three day cleanse of some sort we can break the addiction to these foods and begin to feel the benefit.

Virgo also reminds us to select our mental food carefully. We can turn the diagnostic function of this sign on our mental process and notice if we are harboring anger, resentment fear or simply too much mental clutter. Virgo asks us to purify our thinking, let go of resentments and simplify our lives. For help with this Virgo can call upon Pisces its opposite sign, the most compassionate sign of the zodiac. Pisces holds the secret to the deepest cleanse the psyche can hope for in the simple act of forgiveness.

As to mental clutter which results from the chaotically over scheduled culture we are living in or the toxicity of much of the media, Virgo has the simple answer. Avoid all toxins and get organized. One has only to watch an episode of hoarders to note how incredibly unhealthy clutter is. Getting one’s schedule, home and workplace organized creates immediate peace. Clutter clearing of any sort creates space in which the divine can shine through.

The ultimate goal of all this Virgo cleansing and refinement is to become a luminous temple for the divinity enshrined within each of us to shine through. Conscious contact with the source becomes much easier once we have cleaned the temple. The resulting state is the one we desire most way deep down: simple gentle pervasive peace. May you find it this month.

Virgo rules doctors, healers, engineers, organic gardeners, herbalists, craftspeople, organizers, sanitation workers, chamber maids, cleaning, fasting, juicing, virgins, holy people, the service industry, the labor force, and within the body the intestines and digestive system.

This month to make maximum use of Virgo energy, honor the earth, give to environmental causes, quiet your mind, do a cleanse, deciliter, plan an organic garden. Buy organic food, clean up your home, yard or workplace, feng shui your schedule. Be of service to someone, repair broken items. Make a mental list of any people including yourself you might need to forgive. Forgive and notice the spiritual peace it creates, de-clutter and notice the mental peace it creates. Cleanse your inner body and notice the physical peace it creates. Abide in this peace and know this is your true and natural state.
The Sun entered Virgo on August 22nd and will remain there till the vernal equinox on September 22nd when the Sun enters Libra and autumn officially begins. The Sun’s presence in Virgo gives us all extra energy to get organized and clean house on all levels in preparation for the season changing.

Mercury, the planet of thought and communication enters Virgo one of the signs it rules, on the first day of September increasing our diagnostic intelligence and helping us to get organized and make the changes in our lives that will increase both health and effectiveness. On September 16th Mercury enters Libra and our focus shifts from cleanliness and order to beauty and relationships where it remains for the rest of the month.

Venus, the planet of beauty, begins the month in Cancer encouraging love of home and family. On September 6th Venus moves into Leo encouraging flamboyant displays of love and creativity, making this a festive September.

Mars begins September in the early degrees of Scorpio focusing the nation on issues of power and wealth as the election looms ever closer. Our energy is deep and intense under this aspect. We are able to look deeply within ourselves to affect any needed transformation. Scorpio spends the entire month in Scorpio preparing us for next month’s larger planetary event of Saturn, the planet of responsibility, and government’s big move into Scorpio, after spending the past couple of years in Libra.

Jupiter remains in Gemini expanding our minds and encouraging broader communication than usual. It is a great time to think, study teach and learn and write.

Saturn is in Libra, passing through the final degrees before it moves into Scorpio early next month. Relationships that are slated for destruction will end during this aspect. Relationships that are slated for deepening commitment will also do so this month.

Uranus, the planet of evolution and revolution, is retrograde all month in the early degrees of Aries, helping us revise our ideas around liberty, individuation and technology. The global revolution is quiet for the time being as communities revise their approach to winning freedom and liberty for all.

Neptune the planet of spirituality, dreams and vision is retrograde at the first degrees of Pisces inspire us to revise our collective dream aligning us with the deepest levels of compassion for all.

Pluto, the transformer is at the 6th and 7th degrees of Capricorn, in an exact square with Uranus all month. The new order challenges the old order all month in a tense and potentially destructive power struggle all month. Brilliant innovators will emerge. Unstable personalities will be increasingly nuts. This is a great aspect to make deep structural changes to your life that increases your freedom to be the authentic you.

The new Moon in Virgo takes place on September 15th at 10:11 PM Join us at spiritual living for our monthly telseminar on the New Moon at 12:30 PM on September 16th.

The Harvest Full moon takes place on September 29th at 11:19 PM.

The autumnal equinox takes place on September 22nd and we celebrate half-time in the annual solar dance. Day and night achieve perfect balance before night edges into the lead as we head into fall. On the equinox may you find balance, poise and peace.

ARIES: The Sun is shining in your house of health, organizing and work this month giving you extra vitality to devote to your health regime. Mercury, the planet of the mind also begins the month in Virgo in this house helping you strategize about how to get your life flowing with maximum efficiency. Now is a great time to devote to the details of your daily work life. This is also a great time to create systems that will support your work and others that will support your health as the season changes. The planet of revolution and individuation is in your sign in a tense aspect to Pluto the transformer in your career house. What really needs to change in your career so that it can truly support the authentic emerging you?

TAURUS: The Sun is shining in your house of children and creativity in the analytical sign Virgo asking you what needs to change in the logistics of how you are dealing with either your children or your creativity. This is also a great month to analyze how unresolved childhood issues may be affecting your current romantic life. After the 16th Mercury the planet of thought moves into Libra and relationships move into the healing focus. Let fairness be your guide at this time. With Jupiter in your financial sector all month there is the potential for major prosperity in this area but communication holds the key. It is time to broadcast your skills and abilities more widely than ever before. Your true spirituality is in a struggle to emerge. What stands in the way is a false philosophy you have been clinging to that is not aligned with your deepest beliefs.

GEMINI: With Jupiter the planet of faith and expansion in your house of identity, you have never felt so abundant or lived so large. This month the Sun and Mercury are shining in your house of home in Virgo the sign of analysis and healing asking you to examine your relationship to home and family of origin. What from your family of origin still needs healing? Who might you need to forgive? This is an excellent month to analyze what may stand in the way of creating the home and family you long for. This is also an excellent month to get your home in order. Any analyzing or organizing that needs doing can be quickly done now. Mars in Scorpio in your house of health is asking you to transform health routines.

CANCER: The Sun is shining in your house of communication this month in the super smart sign Virgo this month helping you to be very discerning as well as communicative this month. Mercury the mental planet is also there, for the first half of the month, helping you to edit and analyze all of your writing speaking and communicating. How effective are you at getting your message out there. This month get your mental house in order on all levels. Tie up loose ends. Finish up unfinished business. Make a list of your worries and analyze whether you can actually do anything about any of them. If you can, take effective action. If not surrender them to Source. Family matters still demand your disciplined attention. Practice saying no and setting boundaries. This will strengthen you in every other area of your life.

LEO: The Sun is shining in your financial sector making this the perfect month to get your financial house in order. Create a spending and earning plan for each month. Write out a business plan. Get current with bills. Analyze your self-esteem and ask yourself what in that department needs healing so that you may begin to truly earn at your full potential. Now is also a great time to Feng Shui old outworn items and get some quality replacements. Saturn still in your communication sector makes disciplined communication all important. Mars in Scorpio in your home sector makes this a great month to transform your home. Jupiter in your friendship sector makes your social life the gateway to new expansive abundance.

VIRGO: Happy Birthday Virgo! The Sun is shining in your sign this month and Mercury your ruling planet is also moving through your sign for the first half of the month. This gives you additional healthy vitality to energize your life and analyze your plans for the coming year. Now is the time to put your energy into healing and planning your moves for how to bring your life into alignment with what would be healthiest for you. Saturn the planet of discipline and restriction directs you to have a sound financial plan before making any moves. Mars in Scorpio in your communication sector asks you to watch people’s energy like a detective but remain silent about what you are observing. Avoid overt conflict at this time. With Jupiter in your career house say yes to all new career opportunities they can be very lucrative at this time. Your creativity is awakening and could transform your life this year. Find backers who believe in your cherished creative projects and want to put their money where their mouth is.

LIBRA: The Sun and Mercury are shining in your deep spiritual sector as the month begins encouraging you to analyze your relationship to The Source. If you do not have a spiritual practice now is the time to set one up. What details in your everyday life may be undermining your effectiveness. This month be brutally honest as you analyze in what ways you are and are not on your own side. Then gently move into action to heal or correct the problem. This month time spent in silence and nature can energize you in remarkable ways. It is also a great month to let go of anything that does not serve you as the old solar year cycles out for you and you prepare for your birthday next month. Saturn is at the end of its journey through your sign. It has been testing you and all your relationships. This month practice standing in your full authority.

SCORPIO: This month Mars the planet of action is in your sign giving you extra energy to move forward and take action on your own behalf. You will feel more energized to continue with your personal transformation. Get physical this month and get fierce about making the changes you want to see in your life. Mars is preparing you for a much bigger planetary event early next month when Saturn the planet of discipline structure and testing moves into your sign for the next couple of years. It is time to begin to take yourself seriously. Now is the time to ask yourself what credentials or skills you need in order to accomplish your goals. Then take action and begin to acquire them. This month The Sun and Mercury are shining in your friendship network. Call upon friends for mutual aid.

SAGITTARIUS: This month the Sun is shining in your house of career and Mercury, the planet of the mind is right there with it for the first half of the month, making this an excellent month to get your career ducks in a row. You will have added energy both mental and physical, to devote to your career. Get organized and let yourself shine in the world this month. Friends may have a wonderful effect on your career. Mars in Scorpio in your spiritual sector asks you to do some deep soul searching. You can help transform things from behind the scenes this month. There is a very tight square between your houses of finance and romance that could reach a breaking point this month. Jupiter in your house of marriage and partnership brings wonderful expansion in that realm. Say yes to wonderful expansive new business and personal partnerships.

CAPRICORN: This month the Sun and Mercury are shining in your house of teaching, and publishing making this a month when you shine in this area. Now is a great time to get your message out there but analyze and refine it before you do. This is also a great month to analyze and define your philosophy. What is your message and how best to communicate it? There is a very tense aspect this month between your house of self and your house of home that could reach a breaking point this month. What in your living situation is disempowering to you. This month take action to declare independence from all that is oppressing you in your current home life. What about this mirrors the past? Saturn is coming to the end of its stay in your career house. Hopefully you have built a nice foundation in the past two years on which to build your career. Next comes the networking phase.

AQUARIUS: This month the Sun is shining in your house of the deep dark unconscious illuminating parts of your psyche usually kept in the dark. This month you may become aware of the deep and underlying patterns especially of how you connect with others and share yourself with others. This month ask yourself how your family dealt with or displayed love and intimacy. How did they share money and other resources? How did this affect you? This month you can do some healing on all these fronts. Analyze what is less than satisfactory in your approach to any of this. How instead would you like to connect with loved ones? First imagine that it is safe to do so then gently attempt new behaviors. Mars in your career house gives you extra energy to deploy toward your career goals. Higher education may be a financial strain at the moment but well worth it in the long run.
PISCES: The Sun and Mercury are shining in your partnership house this month making this an excellent time for both romantic and professional partnerships. Your job is to provide the vision and partners will supply the minutia and details. If you are not currently in a partnership this is an excellent month to analyze why not. What in the arena of give and take that exists in all relationships might need some healing in order for you to fulfill your desires in this area? Your home and family life continue to be expansive and wonderful. There is a major tension between your financial and friendship network. In any business dealings with friends be sure to put agreements in writing. Neptune in your own sign ramps up your creativity and sensitivity.

Namaste,
Demitra