At best, Virgo is intelligent, practical, analytical, dependable, adaptable, and a perfectionist. At worst, Virgo is overly critical, worrisome, nit-picky, fault-finding, and gets stuck in the details unable to see the bigger picture. The Sun in Virgo is concerned about the day to day (including our jobs & chores) and physical health (including our diet & exercise), seeks what's familiar, and finds comfort in order.

The Sun enters Virgo on August 22 at 7:38 p.m. Eastern and will stay through September 22. While in Virgo, we are encouraged to organize our life, practice practicality, and care for our physical bodies. Virgo is governed by Mercury (mental activities/communication) who will retrograde from September 7 to 29. The Sun's transit in Virgo is an ideal period for beginning a new exercise routine, eating healthier foods, planning for what the immediate future requires, and organizing life in general. During Mercury's retrograde period, revising existing methods may improve upon them, thus yielding more desired results.

While the Sun is in Virgo, he will make alignments with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect Eastern time zone; give +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• August 23 ~ Sun trine Pluto. Inevitable change. Tapping into hidden power/strength. Uncovering hidden potential. Acceptance of flaws. Transformation. No resistance. No fear.
  
• September 4 ~ Full Moon in Pisces
  
• September 16 ~ Sun quincunx Neptune. Something strange in the air. Can't quite pinpoint it. Feeling inspired one moment and seeking the comfort of routine the next. Difficulty focusing. Ability to concentrate may come later in the evening, as the Moon enters Virgo and quickly links herself to Pluto.
  
• September 17 ~ Sun conjunct Saturn and oppose Uranus. How do we move forward if the restrictions of the present has too much of a grip on us? How can we be enterprising and innovative if our ways are antiquated? The Sun blends energies with our realities, forcing us to see what limits us and the harsh truths to our situation. At the same time, the Sun seeks harmony between upholding and breaking away from established ways to create a new and more appropriate approach to achieving our objectives. With the Saturn-Uranus opposition still lingering (September 15) and Mercury-rx square Pluto also influencing the sky (both at Aries Point), our ability for deep concentration and focus (Mercury-Pluto square) may give way to the balance needed (opposition) in the toggle between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus).
  
• September 18 ~ New Moon in Virgo.
  
• September 20 ~ Sun conjunct Mercury-rx and both trine the North Node. With our minds (Mercury) mingling with our conscious will (Sun), while in the sign of Virgo (planning), we're able to analyze the self and its life path (North Node). Also on this day, Venus in Virgo trines Pluto and our relationships get scrutinized. This includes our relationship with the self and with the material world/finances. Mid-afternoon, the Libra-Moon trines Neptune. Be open, down to our core, for inspiration and insight. Since Mercury is retrograde and retracing his steps from when he was last at 27 degrees of Virgo, events or issues on or around August 23 may resurface now. (Click here for the post on Mercury Retrograde - September 7 to 29)
  

How will the Sun's transit in Virgo influence your life? Look to the Virgo-ruled house/s in your birth chart. Match the signs with the house cusps on your birth chart. Use the list of zodiac signs below to identify the Virgo zodiac sign on your birth chart then click here for a brief explanation of the Sun transiting those solar and/or natal houses.





For those without a birth chart, you may use your Sun sign or Rising/Ascendant sign, if you know it. Look for your Sun and/or Rising Sign below then then click here for a brief explanation of the Sun transiting those solar and/or natal houses.

• Aries-Sun or Aries-Rising ~ 6th house
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 5th house
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 4th house
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 3rd house
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 2nd house
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 1st house
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 12th houses
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 11th house
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 10th house
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 9th house
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 8th house
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 7th house

Unsure of what house/s the Sun in Virgo is visiting? Cast your own birth chart by clicking here for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required. Or request a quote for a paid personalized reading. (both links open a new window)

What significance do planets, signs, and houses have in astrology? Planets have the function, the job to do. The style/manner they will use get that job done is defined by the zodiac sign they occupy. Where in our life the job gets done is determined by the house the planet occupies/transits. So, when Mars (aggression) is in Aries (bold), he is more assertive than when he is in Cancer (sensitive). When traveling through the 10th house (professional life), he may bring his confidence and motivation in matters relating to our career. While in the 11th house (friendships), we may be more inclined to having our social calendar packed with activities. Having the foresight for what may be coming up or receiving confirmation on what may be happening now are ways astrology can be beneficial ... as above, so below.


Related articles:

• Transiting Sun in Natal Houses
• Full Moon in Pisces ~ September 4, 2009
• Mercury Retrograde in Libra and Virgo ~ September 7 to 29, 2009
• Saturn Oppose Uranus ~ September 15, 2009
• New Moon in Virgo ~ September 18, 2009
• Mercury-rx Returns to Aries Point ~ September 16 to 17, 2009
• Pluto in Capricorn Returns to Aries Point ~ August 8 to October 17, 2009
• Saturn in Virgo ~ September 2007 to October 2009
  
• Uranus Retrograde in Pisces ~ July 1 to December 1, 2009
• Venus in Virgo ~ September 20 to October 14, 2009

Illustration courtesy of Velvetta.