The Virgo New Moon is all about self-care
Poor Virgos… they really do get a bad rap. In fact, a spirited and gregarious Leo friend of mine recently told me she’s often embarrassed to admit that her rising sign is in Virgo.
“It’s all about being a nit-picky perfectionist,” she complained, “and I don’t really think I’m like that!”
Of course, the truth is that every zodiac sign has its upsides and downsides. So let’s give Virgo some lovin’ before the New Moon in Virgo on August 27th!
Virgo New Moon Qualities
While it’s true that one of the challenging aspects of Virgo energy is the tendency toward overly analytical perfectionism, this trait can also be seen as hardworking with a healthy attention to detail, which combines beautifully with the Virgo love of research and learning about new things. Wouldn’t you like someone like that on your team?
Additionally, Virgo’s symbol is the virgin, which at first glance, may not seem particularly exciting. But, if you look closer, you’ll see that this virginal vibe often manifests as a passion for all things pure, natural and organic — hence, Virgo’s emphasis on health and good nutrition.
In Latin, virgo means only “unmarried,” and in her classic book on feminine psychology, Women’s Mysteries, Jungian scholar M. Esther Harding spoke of virginity as a characteristic that can be attributed to any woman who is simply “self-possessed and one-unto-herself.” No mention of celibacy there! And it perfectly captures the positive side of Virgo’s self-sufficient, self-contained nature.
Add to all of the above the fact that, as an Earth sign, Virgo loves having everything in the correct order, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a season meant for self-care routines and rituals.
Are you starting to feel a little more friendly toward those poor maligned Virgos in your life … maybe even yourself if you’re one of them?
With that newfound respect, you can plan some powerful Virgo New Moon activities for yourself
The first step is to gather a magical toolkit full of items associated with Virgo energy, including the following:
- Elemental energy: Earth
- Colors: Navy blue, beige, and gray
- Gemstones: Sapphire
- Flowers: Morning glory and aster
- Essential Oils: Ginger, thyme, and grapefruit — yes, they’re all edible, but they are oils, too!
- Music: Sensual, earthy, and mellow — think Soul or R&B
- Food/Drink: Whole grains, fruit salad, and leafy greens
If you really want to pack your toolkit to the brim, you can also research some Virgo-themed movies, books, clothes, animals, and places in nature. The list is endless (thank goodness for Google), so focus on whatever you feel most drawn to explore.
When to activate the Virgo New Moon energy
And in order to work with the intention-setting, “planting seeds” energy of the New Moon itself, it’s best to activate it within 3 days before or after the actual date of August 27th. However, the Sun is in Virgo from August 22 until September 22, so you can tap into it (to a lesser degree) anytime during that period.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if either you’re a Virgo by birth, or if your moon is in Virgo, you’ll get a nice double whammy of Virgo New Moon energy to help you along with whatever you decide to do!
Here are 5 ideas for things to do to re-charge your life during the Virgo season.
1. Clean out the garage. Or any other part of your home that’s been making you crazy. Is the guest bedroom a mess or the basement a disaster area? Take advantage of all that focused, hard-working Virgo energy that’s being triggered right now and get to it. You can also blast some great tunes to keep you motivated — Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s Takin’ Care of Business is a perfect Virgo-inspired choice.
And remember, since the New Moon is a powerful time to set intentions, you might also think about what cleaning or organizing routines you can commit to going forward so things don’t pile up again. For instance, one simple daily activity is to just make your bed as soon as you get up. Then reward yourself with a healthy smoothie!
2. Commit to a new and/or improved exercise or diet routine. And if it’s always been a struggle to stick with, enlist a friend or your partner to join you. Find something you both could get into, whether it’s going for a walk or run a few days each week, or meeting at the gym for a Zumba or yoga class. Plan a little heart-storming session so you can find common ground.
Likewise, you can think about creating a healthy eating plan, starting with those Virgo-friendly foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and salads. Maybe recruit a partner for that, too — sticking with a new diet or making a commitment to eat more nutritiously is always easier when you’ve got company.
3. Enjoy a Virgo-inspired feast with friends. Just because it’s healthy, that doesn’t mean it can’t be yummy. Start your evening with a sumptuous dinner at a favorite restaurant — “Farm-to-table” places would be perfect for your Virgo New Moon taste buds. Or if you love cooking, try out some special Virgo recipes made with unusual grains like farro or quinoa and pile on the veggies.
Vine Pair offers great wine pairings for each zodiac sign, too. They suggest Sauvignon Blanc as a perfect complement to the “salt-of-the-earth” energy of Virgo, saying “the wine is bright with citrus, but also balanced [like Virgo] with herby notes and grassy aromatics.”
4. Sink into a luscious mud bath. One of my favorite activities for an earthy New Moon is to literally immerse yourself in it by taking a mud bath. This idea is particularly apropos for Virgo, as mud baths draw out toxins and purify your body inside and out. You can make your own full-body clay mask or find one online. You can also check your magical Virgo Toolkit and add some of those essential oils to the tub, and place navy blue, grey or beige candles and flowers all around you to really deepen the experience.
And as the final touch, put on some sultry, soul music by Barry White or Marvin Gaye, or maybe Bruno Mars’ “Lazy Day” for a playful, alternative to Virgo’s hard-working energy. Between loving your body with clay and basking in your candlelit, aromatic retreat, you may have a hard time getting out of there!
5. Escape for a spa day or a weekend by the water. Really, any of the Earth zodiac signs love it when you pamper your body! By consciously embracing Virgo’s health focus, you can make this a particularly powerful New Moon activity. Definitely incorporate any or all of the other practices suggested here (exercise, healthy feasting, mud bath) into your spa experience.
The main benefit of an escape like this is that you leave your everyday stressors behind. Even if you love your work, adore your kids, and have fabulous relationships, it’s important to create nurturing alone time just for you to do nothing but read, relax and remember all the things you have to be grateful for.
The Virgo New Moon is the quintessential time to ramp up your self-care practice. I’d love to hear what you do!