Harvest Goddess Virgo – Queen of the Earth and of The Heavens
Aug 22, 2026
“The Virgin with her sheaf belongs to Ceres,” The Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD.
Now it is harvest time in the northern hemisphere, – ‘the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ (From An Ode to Autumn by English poet John Keats.)
The planetary ruler of Virgo is Mercury, planet of siblings and neighbours, communications, media, inquiry, science, commerce, trade and travel. Also the ruler of Gemini. Curious, restless and quicksilver.
Traditional Associations
Dates: August 22/23-September 22/23
Symbol: The Virgin/The Maiden
Element: Earth
Quality: Mutable (Sagittarius and Pisces are also Mutable, suggesting these subjects are capable and versatile; self-willed, absolutely, yet temperamentally inclined to adjust and go with the flow for the greater good.)
Ruling planet: Mercury
House: Sixth, ruling health, habits and routines
Hebrew letter: Yod. The Hand of God. The divine seed, genesis of life, both the egg and the sperm.
Colours: green, white and yellow
Body: The nervous system, digestive system, intestines. Food sensitivities. The Virgo metabolism does better with warm cooked foods than cold raw foods.
Tissue cell salt: Kali Sulph, i.e; potassium sulfate/sulphate. Essential for muscle contraction, helps transport oxygen to cells, and regulates oil in the body.
Lucky Birthstones: Peridot (joy, prosperity), Sapphire (reputed to provide protection against evil, “the wisdom stone”) Lapis Lazuli (Third Eye, intuition)
Flowers: small bright flowers such as the buttercup. Florists suggest Morning Glory, Chrysanthemum, Asters.
Tarot cards: The Hermit and The Empress. The Knight of Pentacles, 8, 9 and 10 of Coins/Pentacles.
Astronomy
The zodiac sign of Virgo gets its name from the constellation of Virgo, the largest constellation in the zodiac, and the second largest in the visible sky after the constellation of Hydra. The Virgo constellation is visible from all around the world most visible in the evening sky from mid-March – to late June in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, look for it in the autumn and winter.
Our Sun is just one star in the Milky Way, and the Milky Way is part of a collection of galaxies known as the Local Group. This contains three large spiral galaxies: the Milky Way, Andromeda, and the Triangulum Galaxy and a few dozen dwarf galaxies.
But the Local Group is only one member of the Virgo Cluster; a collection of 1200-2000 galaxies stretching across 15 million light-years of space.
And the Virgo Cluster is part of the Virgo Supercluster.
The mere thought of it is enough to induce existential angst. One may need to lie down awhile in a dark room with a hanky soaked in eau-de-cologne.
It’s a bit of a stretch, seeing the person in the stars of the Virgo constellation. Look at my drawing, joining up the stars, and now we see her. Virgo, The Virgin, the Maiden, semi-recumbent, dangling something in one hand, a sheaf of wheat. This is the star Spica, a blue-white giant. Its name comes from the Latin, meaning an ‘ear of grain’- or a sheaf of wheat.
The star Vindemiatrix, when it reappeared in the early morning sky after a long absence, was once upon a time the signal to start gathering the grapes towards the end of August. More about Vindemiatrix here
Virgo marks the start of harvest time in the northern hemisphere where Western/ Tropical astrology began. When the earth mother Empress card turns up in a tarot reading, we are looking at Sixth house issues, situations or timings. The Sixth House rules service, duty, health, fertility, fruition, nutrition and hygiene. Food, health, care and compassion go together in the service of the common good.
Shala was an ancient Sumerian (Iraq) goddess of grain -and also compassion. Why link these two things? Food is survival. Famine is suffering. A good harvest was a blessing of the gods. But this is never guaranteed from one year to the next.
An ancient story, yes. But now that we are in the space age, still, there is a mountain on the totally inhospitable planet Venus, Shala Mons, named after this same goddess Shala.
Mary, the mother of Christ, Mater miserichordia, mother of mercy, can be seen as a later reimbodiment of the more ancient story of Shala, the celestial Virgin.
To the ancient Greeks she was Ceres (as in the word ‘cereal’) or Demeter, the Greco-Roman goddess of the harvest, the mother of Persephone. When lonely Hades, the brother of Zeus, the king of the underworld, abducted Persephone to live with him in the underworld, Demeter went searching, and was enraged to discover from Hekate that Zeus, king of the gods and the brother of Hades, had known all along where Persephone was. Demeter demanded that Zeus bring Persephone home, and when he didn’t, she went on strike. Zeus sent Iris, the rainbow messenger goddess, to invite Demeter to come to Olympus for peace talks. Demeter refused. The harvests failed and the people starved until Zeus finally ordered Hades to send Persephone home.
Hades agreed on one condition. Persephone must not eat anything until she arrived home again to her mother. Hades then gave Persephone a handful of pomegranate seeds for the journey home, saying a few seeds didn’t count as food.
And Persephone believed him- or perhaps she knew perfectly well what he was up to, but she had come to love Hades. She ate some on the way home. A deal is a deal, and because she ate the pomegranate seeds, whether knowingly or not, she returns to Hades and her life in the Underworld for four months of the year. Then Demeter mourns. The growing season stops. Winter returns and the land lies fallow.
The Virgo Archetype – Zodiac Personality
All the zodiac signs are examples of archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing.
Virgo is The Craftsman, taking pride in doing the job, whatever it is, to the highest standard possible. The Knight of Pentacles, the court card of Virgo says slow and steady wins the race. The major arcana card in the Tarot representing Virgo is The Hermit, denoting our deepest connection to Nature.
Here is an enlarged curiosity and a combination of analytical ability, but also a certain contemplative, humanitarian or even mystical quality. Here is wisdom in maturity, and the value of solitude and self-sufficiency. The Hermit represents the principle of service – he walks alone and yet he has a desire to help all Humanity, shining a light on the path ahead.
Virgo is something of a sage. Rooted in the earth, and yet looking inwards and upwards, moving to its own dance, steering by a quiet inner star.
Virgo, like Gemini, is ruled by agile Mercury, the fastest moving planet of communication. Virgo’s brain is in overdrive most of the time, but while Virgo is practical, analytical and critical…some might say hyper-critical…even forensic, it is also artistically gifted, highly perceptive and intuitive. Much less gets said about this aspect of Virgo, the craftsman, a maker of things exquisite.
They make honest friends although, being discerning, and analytical, they will also have a tendency to analyse you, pointing out not only out your strengths but your mistakes. This can undoubtedly be annoying, though it’s usually free of malice. Well meant. They may also give great advice because of those very same analytical abilities.
These folk are generally neat and well groomed. The word “slob” is not in their vocabulary and they can be incredibly concerned about the impression they give. But at the same time, they are very ready to help others, and maybe sometimes they are even too generous. Others may try to take advantage of Virgo in a way they might not attempt with, say, Aries, Leo or Scorpio.
Of course there is no such thing in reality as THE Virgo personality. Your zodiac sign (sun sign) is your major touchstone but doesn’t claim to represent anything like the full picture in real life– or in your natal chart in astrology.
But the decans can tell us a little more, or may help readers with assessing timing.
The decans, from “deka”, the Greek word for ten are nicknamed the ‘thirty six faces of astrology,’ and were a feature of Egyptian astronomy later adopted by the Greeks and incorporated into Western astrology.
The first ten days of the zodiac sign are the first decan. The second ten days or so are the second decan, and the last ten days are the third decan, though this is not exact, because not every month is the same length.
There is more than one decan system. The older Chaldean system uses the seven planets known to the ancients, those closer planets that are observable to the naked eye, whereas the modern system of triplicities includes the outer planets. Some will disagree if I say there is no right or wrong about this. We can make our own minds up which planetary ruler we find most relatable for each of the decans.
First Decan Virgo
Dates: 23 August-1 September
Planetary decan rulers: Ancient: Sun Modern: Mercury
Tarot card: The Eight of Pentacles: ‘Lord of Prudence,’ art, craft, industry, skill, concentration, application, studiousness, apprenticeship, crafts, heritage, construction
This person is deeply absorbed in his work. Yes, one could say but he is working on a production line, but it has meaning and purpose for him.
This decan combines quiet warmth and humour, and a cool mind with a talent for acute observation and incisive analysis; however this is expressed, whether artistically, commercially or scientifically or in administrative tasks. They see more than they say, but the Virgo native has a talent for the spoken and written word; making them great teachers.
‘We reap what we sow,’ goes the saying. This is not always true, nor fair. Every minute of every day, misfortune strikes people who have done absolutely nothing to ‘deserve’ it. Plenty of wrong-doers escape justice. But still, it is broadly true that we can’t reap what was never sown. The first decan Virgo feels this deeply, and they make faithful friends and partners, devoted in their quiet way.
Second Decan Virgo
Dates: 2-11 September
Planetary ruler: Ancient: Venus Modern: Saturn
Tarot card- Nine Pentacles: ‘Lord of Material Gain’ beauty, luxury, self-discipline, hard work that pays off, management, hotels, horticulture, agriculture, viticulture, gardens, vineyards
This decan is associated with Venus, planet of love, beauty –and money. A perfectionist; conscientious, devoted, and above all focused, these Virgo natives can turn anything into an art form. Notice the hooded falcon on her wrist. She is not without passion, but she has ‘tamed’ her own wildness – or chaos. Learned to control her own impulses. She has known what it is like to do without, and she has not forgotten. But s/he will not trade away her tomorrows for today’s gratification. This decan is a born manager. But though they have learned how to do without (and at times they have probably had no choice) still, they do crave and appreciate all things beautiful, and they love to pamper their loved ones. S/he has built something of solid worth and none of it came quick or easy.
Third Decan Virgo
Dates: 12-22 September
Planetary ruler: Ancient: Mercury Modern: Venus
Tarot card- Ten of Pentacles: keywords: ‘Lord of Wealth,’ commerce, messages, deliveries, Hermes, home, homeland, ancestry, genetics, inter-generational relationships, inheritance, gifts, legacy, bequests, town planning, art, museums, banks.
These people are thinkers, and they are proud. Not vain. It is about dignity and self- respect, and it’s not even about the money, or at least, not for its own sake. These people are careful, even cautious, but they have a winning way with people and can do very well in the public eye, such is their talent for communication; personal, professional, artistic, written and spoken. See the old man surrounded by his family, neighbours and those dogs too. Eco-warrior is not their style. But they do care a great deal about animals, heritage and the environment. Virgo sees themselves as part of a bigger picture, a link in a chain of legacy, and this is for them a treasure beyond price.
In Virgo Season 2026
This year’s super powerful El Nino is unsettling Gaia, the oceans, the Gulf Stream and her harvests, and war is making matters worse, with food security already a great cause for concern in some parts of the world, and with grain shortages and prices projected to rise significantly over this coming winter.
Virgo season 2026 is serious, but anything but neat, orderly or low key.
23 August: The Sun enters Virgo on Sunday…erm, today…as the Moon enters Capricorn with a potentially uncomfortable lunar T- Square including Neptune, Mars and Saturn. On a personal level, this entry into Virgo could be painting a picture of mess, muddle, annoyance. Perhaps someone is not being straight with us.
25 August: Mercury moves into Virgo and this marks the shift in the season and in the mindset. The summer is drawing to a close. We are preparing for planning to return to work, or to school
August 28: The weeks main astrological event is the lunar eclipse at four degrees and 54 minutes of Pisces. Jupiter, the ruler of Pisces, is making a trine to Saturn in Aries, and is in a sign-based sextile with Venus in Libra, which is trying to help out with all the nonsense and challenges.
This Pisces eclipse is also squaring Uranus, and it can only help to be ready for sudden changes, difficulties or surprises next week. The Tarot card corresponding with the timing of this early degree of Pisces is the slightly sad if philosophical Eight of Cups. There is a turning away. It is not a case of looking back in anger. Someone decides it is time to let go, or to leave. Sometimes it can be a cutting of losses. Sometimes a loss due to natural causes.
31 August: A rather rare trine between Jupiter and Saturn could give us quite a boost. There has not been a trine like this since May 2014.
Happy Birthday, Virgo 2026!
You have likely been navigating problematic territory for quite some time, but events in March, early July and August could require you to draw a line now. Don’t be afraid to say no, Virgo, and to upset an applecart if necessary, because if you do, then be assured, you are not acting in haste. This has been a long time coming. You are the salt of the earth, Virgo, and you have every reason to insist on respectful dealings, or else to walk away. There seems a likely easing of some long term stress, with easier times, positive career or money developments and artistically absorbing pastimes in the later months of 2026.
Thank you for reading.
Until next time 🙂
True Tarot Tales 