The twelve signs of the Zodiac represent twelve different characters, sort of like roles in a play. They can be described as archetypes, models into which human personality traits tend to group. Plato had theories about mental ideas - or forms - that were imprinted in the human mind before birth.
The psychoanalyst C. G. Jung picked up the idea and developed his own meaning to the word. He stated that there are fixed numbers of models or types that we all share without necessarily having been taught them. They're part of what he called our collective unconscious and influence how we look at reality and what we expect from it. He also meant that we should see these archetypes as inner clues as to how we can grow into self-realization.
The twelve signs of the Zodiac can be seen as a system of archetypes, making a complete world of sorts. We will be looking at the twelve signs and using each archetype to help manifest that particular energy in our own lives. Notice also that the shifting of the seasons as the sun travels through the Zodiac tells us a lot about the characteristics and energy of each signs. On August 22nd, as the energy of Leo fades, the Sun moves into Virgo and the Archetype of the Master Craftsman.
Virgo is the archetype of striving for purity and perfection through logical analysis and practical integration. Virgo seeks efficiency and precision in action, thought, and service. When planets transit into Virgo they are skillful at coping with life, pointing out errors, and fixing people, situations and things.
Virgo, a mutable earth sign, ruled by Mercury is dependable and unselfish, fascinated by capturing the details of life’s process in order to evolve consciousness. This archetype expresses realism and devotion in thought and in service to life. The enlightened Virgo is about awakening the inner teacher’s guidance to become a healing vessel in the world through the expression of discipline in self-sacrifice, pragmatic contemplation, and spiritual craftsmanship.
The house with Virgo on the cusp is where you need to analyze, perfect, and craft something of use to your fellow beings. Devotion to this realm of life experience should be the focus of your education. It is in those realms of life experience that you can bestow others with practical insight to help them cope with the harsh side of existence. Virgo governs the intestines and the purifying functions of the body like the sweat glands. It also governs the hands when being used to demonstrate skill.
When your Virgo energy is misdirected you become too fault finding and anal retentive, so focused on the details that you forget to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Lost in cold logic and dry routine, the shadow of Virgo emerges making you and the people in your life uptight, fussy, critical, and lacking in both compassion and perspective. The dark side of Virgo is the martyr who needlessly sacrifices himself on the altar of perfection and being the workaholic and blames those for who he labors.