Born Under a Virgo Sky.

I was out walking the other evening whilst it was peaceful and the roads were quiet, and I was looking up at the Moon which was full and only hours off a prenumbral eclipse, where the Earth's outer shadow (the prenumbra) passes across the Moon's face and wondering what sort of significance this might have for the people and the planet. Whilst I was watching how pretty the pink and yellow lights were that were reflecting off the vaporous clouds threaded around the Moon, I was considering how the planets; the stars and the constellations that we can see, aren't just there to look pretty and that they have a purpose and thought I'd write this post about astrology because it's something I get asked about a lot in my working life and it's always something I use when I'm helping someone to consider their own life in terms of how to navigate by using it as a map or a guide that can be referred to.

My talent for astrology is limited to understanding the energy of the signs and how they affect us dependent upon their placements in our charts and therefore our lives, but I've listened to astrologers enough to understand that whilst our natal astrology chart (the chart we can map at the time of your birth) contains a great deal of information, it is just a guide. It can give detailed and accurate information about experiences that you may have during your lifetime and what gifts you've come here to use, but it can also teach you how to navigate through difficult situations or how to avoid them completely if you can use your chart to become consciously aware of how you are likely to act or react in a certain area of life.

People who are not familiar with astrology tend to think it refers to horoscopes that can be cast for each zodiac sign in daily papers but there is a lot more to astrology than this. It is not a traditional scientific practice but it is based on a complex series of mathematical and astronomical calculations that have been used in various cultures for many years as a method of understanding and interpreting the human experience and the world. Our charts are formed by dividing space into twelve 30 degree sectors that encompass all of the planets in our solar system. Each 30 degree sector contains a zodiac sign. If we look at this drawn as a chart it looks like a pie divided into 12 sections that we call houses and each house will be influenced by the zodiac sign that falls into it. If there are planets contained within the houses, then these can influence experiences that we may have, people that we may meet, our health, wealth and happiness for example.

Whenever I do a reading for someone I generally use online software to cast their astrology chart and give them a copy of this with some written guidance. They're often surprised to discover that whilst their Sun sign is important, it's their Ascendant or Rising sign that dictates their character, psychology and personality. The Ascendant falls into the 1st house of the astrology chart and is determined by the sign (constellation) ascending on the Eastern horizon at the time of someone's birth. For example, my Sun sign is Leo and certainly when I was younger I think my temper, passion and personality, plus my appearance may have been more leonine, but my Rising sign is Virgo and my personality, certainly as I hit my teens, became more reserved and watchful and I tend to consider things and think a great deal before I act or make a decision as I don't like to be hasty. I also used to get very stressed and very anxious because I could overthink for fun until I learned how to control this aspect of my Virgo-like nature. Proving that you can overcome personality traits that might be dictated by your birth chart if you're aware of them and find the right help and support if you need it. One very good astrologer told me to think of the ascendant as the front door of someone's chart, the door you had to go through first to get to the other signs at the back.

When we take a look at the chart division into houses, these are what the houses mean;

1st house = Self-image, physical body, the way you operate.

2nd house = Values, self-worth, material resources.

3rd house = Communication,siblings.

4th house = Home and family, parents, personal security, Soul's intention.

5th house = Affairs of the heart, lovers, children, creative self-expression.

6th house = Health, productivity, work, duty.

7th house = Social affairs, partnerships,.

8th house = Inheritance, joint finances, attachments, sex, death, healing.

9th house = Teachers, travel, higher education, philosophy, connection with the divine.

10th house = Ambition, public image, vocation, attainment.

11th house = Friends, love received, goals, wishes, community.

12th house = Dreams, inner self, the past, secrets, spiritual insights.

Depending upon the zodiac sign that falls into each house, we're given insight into how we might act or behave which will relate to the characteristics of that zodiac sign and the house it falls into. For example, someone with Taurus in the 8th house might find it very difficult to be flexible when it comes to transformation and making changes because Taurus has a fixed and steady nature. Their desire to hold on to the status quo could lead to delays in their process of transformation and spiritual growth. Knowing this information though from reading their birth chart and consciously acknowledging that this might be an area of challenge for them, could lead to them adapting that behaviour and finding another way to make changes and to be less resistant in their desire for expansion or it could lead to them submitting instead and challenging themselves to let go and let God.

Coupled with having Virgo as my ascendant I have 5 planets in this house which is overwhelming. One of those planets is Mercury which is I feel may also explain why I've had so many issues with my nervous system, ears, nose and throat and brain in my lifetime. Virgo's also tend to be very service-oriented so I might interpret the planets that fall into the house of my ascendant as having been placed there to have an impact on my health so that I might learn how to use personal experiences as a method of helping others. My North node (the ascending node of the Moon that moves into the Northern ecliptic hemisphere) is in my 8th house which is ruled by Aries and it's position here encourages me to confront my deepest fears and desires so that I can take courageous steps toward transformation and personal power. I feel these aspects of my chart have combined to make me a healer which has become my life's work; teaching others how to heal themselves by slaying their own personal dragons in whatever forms these may take.

Communication is also a key factor with Virgos so I work with people that I have to communicate with all the time. But as Leo is my Sun sign it therefore represents the sign I'm supposed to be growing into in this lifetime so somehow I have to navigate my way through all of that dense Virgo energy to reach Leo up at the top. I have to find a way through or try to blend these energies, using the best of them when they're needed and finding ways to deal with other aspects that might cause issues for me.

All 12 signs in your chart and the houses they fall into are important but along with the Sun and Rising signs I'd also consider your Moon sign to be important because this will help you to understand how you might react emotionally to other people, situations and circumstances in your life. My Moon is in Gemini in the 10th house of my chart so to me it's important that I look light-hearted even when I'm not and that I try to laugh at things instead of getting upset. Gemini is also a good communicator so I can blend this with the Virgo to keep other people light-hearted when I'm working with them.

There are many other aspects in my chart but I felt these offered a good explanation of how even planets that could be interpreted as having a negative effect on an individual according to their placement can be used in a positive manner if we use the information consciously.

If you want to work out your own chart you can find resources on websites on the internet that have software that you just input your date, place and time of birth in. They'll also produce a mini report for you but if you want to really understand the nature of yourself according to your chart you'd be better to do a bit of research yourself into what the signs, houses and planets meant and their combined effect. Remember, it's just a map. Even for me, when I've struggled with the aspects caused by those planets in Virgo I've been incredibly lucky that I've met some amazing people who have really helped me with my physical and mental health. There's usually a way through or around things and there are good people out there who can help.

There are people who will discredit Astrology because it's re-ignited popularity in the 60's and 70's occurred during the new-age movement so it's seen as a bit of a pop-culture. However you choose to regard it though it's worth bearing in mind that the universe, the planets and us, are all connected. Our bodies contain atoms forged in the stars which gives us the opportunity to consider that this intimate connection we share with the universe could have a dynamic effect upon us.

Georgina Thornton