The Sun entered the astrological sign of Virgo today at 3:20PM, Pacific Time.

Virgo @ vgorbash

Virgo is the sign of the virgin, but in these modern times, don’t take that too literally. The sign is generally symbolized by a young woman in a toga, sometimes with a sheaf of wheat in her arms. Virgo is sometimes associated with Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was kidnapped by Hades where she spent part of the year as Queen of the Underworld.

Ruled by Mercury, Virgo is thoughtful, practical, analytical and often serious, but with Mercurial charm and wit. Bob Newhart is probably the quintessential Virgo comedian with his sly, dry wit and understated persona. On the negative side, the sign can be “fussy, prissy and dogmatic”, as Linda Goodman puts it. But lest anyone think Virgos can’t be sexy, consider this list of actors and actresses born under the sign: Lauren Bacall, Rachel Bilson, Ingrid Bergman, Beyonce, Sean Connery, Camern Diaz, Greta Garbo, Richard Gere, Salma Hayek, Mark Harmon, Blake Lively, Sophia Loren, Chris Pine, Keanu Reeves, Cliff Robertson, and Raquel Welch!

Zodiac sign Virgo @ natreal

Virgo is an Earth sign, hence the practicality, but since it’s also a mutable sign, Virgos are more adaptable than their fellow earth signs, Taurus and Capricorn. As the sixth sign, Virgo rules over sixth house matters, specifically health and medicine. Virgo colors are green and brown, fitting for an earth sign. Virgo’s gemstone (or starstone) is variously given as the sapphire or sardonyx.

Other famous Virgos include Anne Bancroft, Agatha Christie, Elvis Costello, Queen Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen), Gloria Estefan, Goethe, O. Henry, Buddy Holly, Ivan the Terrible, Michael Jackson, King Louis XIV, President Lyndon Johnson, the Marquis de Lafayette, D. H. Lawrence, H. L. Mencken, Margaret Sanger, Charlie Sheen, Peter Sellers, President William Howard Taft, and Mother Teresa.

Links to articles on Virgo:

http://www.astrology-online.com/virgo.htm

http://www.astrology-insight.com/virgo.htm

Is there a Virgo in your life?

Note: Mercury went retrograde Aug. 12 and will remain so until Sep. 5. Of course, scientists say all astrology is rubbish and particularly like to use apparent retrograde motion to debunk the notion. They’re right that it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does, at least for me. Since the planet Mercury rules communication and short distance travel, hickups in those areas may be more frequent when the planet is in retrograde. I’ve seen some of those recently. How about you?

Linda