The sign of Virgo which is the sixth sign of the zodiac (approximately August 24th through September 23rd), and developmentally it is approximately from the ages of nineteen to twenty-six. In this insecure time of our development, we are just beginning to learn the necessary skills that will help us become productive members of society. Virgos worry obsessively about making mistakes, so their concerns are to become the efficiency expert at a chosen vocation or craft. Due to their intrinsic desire to do a job the right way, Virgos are conscientious and dependable. These characteristics also enable them to completely and thoroughly discover and resolve their own mistakes. They are usually overly humble about themselves and see what they could have done better no matter how well they have performed a task.
Approaching tasks in a practical way, they have a strong capacity to analyze current and future issues while simultaneously avoiding unnecessary problems. This analytical and practical approach enables them to streamline a job, become a problem solver and make well thought out improvements that can restore order to an otherwise chaotic situation.
This service-oriented quality can sometimes even mean assisting you to prepare food or clean up the kitchen after a social event. They are always willing to lend a helping hand making them a great friend, coworker or employee that can be counted on to be there whenever they see a need.
They are also adept at seeing what can be fixed not only in situations but in others although this can come off to the other person they seek to improve as nagging, criticism, and fault-finding. Seeking perfection, they always know a better way to do everything making things unnecessarily difficult. For instance, when you are putting things in the dishwasher, they will take them out and rearrange the dishes. Their exacting and meticulous mind can take things apart and put things back together, and this ability to keep accurate details is astounding where others would have lost their way. Actually, they turn this need for perfectionism most often on themselves as they modestly appear quiet and unobtrusive about their own considerable expertise.
Now, what can be in the Shadow?
The opposite sign of the zodiac is Pisces which describes a much more malleable, fluid, and chaotic way of being in the world often identified strongly with victim consciousness. There is a distinct lack of solid boundaries in this sign which has a strong connection to the archetypal energy of the collective unconscious and therefore sees no division, no need for dissecting, judging, or discriminating as all is one and one is all for Pisces. Having a boundless compassion, this sign can also want to serve but unlike Virgo’s need for order and differentiation, this sign can lose itself to the needs of others becoming martyr-like, often sacrificing themselves, confusing sympathy for love, becoming addicted to rescuing others they think they can save. Pisces is often very loving and self-abnegating but can also easily be delusional, romantic dreamers who live in a fantasy world of their imagination instead of the reality of here and now. Cheaters, saying they are confused, they will create deception and illusions. Never satisfied, they are like a bottomless pit as they can exhibit chronic discontent.
This sign can find itself unable to cope with life and its vicissitudes. Most of all, they desire to escape the harsh reality that worldly responsibilities require of them, which can lead to becoming a freeloader or swindler with a susceptibility to drug and alcohol addictions, or otherwise passively waiting around for someone or something to rescue them. They are also prone to excessive naivety in spiritual guru worship becoming victims of their own denial, unwilling to see the reality of charismatic charlatans.
“Seen from the one-sided view of the conscious attitude, the shadow is an inferior component of the personality and is frequently repressed through intensive resistance. But the repressed content must be made conscious so as to produce a tension of opposites, without which no forward movement is possible. The conscious mind is on top, the shadow underneath, and just as high always longs for low and hot for cold, so all consciousness, perhaps without being aware of it, seeks its unconscious opposite, lacking which it is doomed to stagnation, congestion, and ossification. Life is born only of the spark of opposites.”
— Carl G. Jung, Two Essays in Analytical Psychology, paragraph78
After years of doing “Shadow Work,” I agree with Jung’s assessment that once we become conscious of a characteristic or a trait we perceive as negative, it doesn’t give us permission to act it out. What we now have is more consciousness and this gives us more choices about staying in balance with others and ourselves. That’s the real goal.
There are many things we as human beings agree are immoral and they should be. We are civilized and accountable for a reason. We have laws to live by and stop signs or chaos would reign supreme. Are we to stand by while someone beats up a child? Are we to turn our back on excesses of corruption and greed? I don’t think so. In owning our own Shadow, our conscious position is to acknowledge our own greed, our own violence, our own capacity to be ruthless and still have the moral courage to not act it out. It is only when we think we don’t have something we perceive in others as negative, that it splits off as a complex and creates a life of its own and then unfortunately for us as Jung says, “We don’t have it. It has us!”
To be continued …
Rebeca Eigen
Rebeca Eigen, an astrologer for 25+ years and author of The Shadow Dance & the Astrological 7th House Workbook specializes in relationships. From every day decisions, to critical life-altering moments, Rebeca shares with you her practical wisdom and guidance for your life’s journey in becoming who you are meant to be.
https://www.shadowdance.com/
