Virgo is the second of the Earth signs. It is Mutable (Changeable) in nature and is the second sign ruled by the planet Mercury. The sign of Virgo is the sign of the Virgin. After the dramatic flair and me centredness of the Leo. The Zodiac now turns to the sign of Virgo to put this evolved personality to service for society and it's processes. Virgo energy is the analytical energy of the Zodiac. Virgo's love to understand how all the parts of a process fit together into a perfectly functioning streamlined process. Infact Virgo's will be the first to notice if something does not work in a harmonious fashion as part of a process. To them it will stick out immediately and loom larger than all the working parts. Virgo's notice the faults. This is because ultimately they are there to fix them and for that they need to be able to see them. This is not so easy of course when they are dealing with other people as what they will quite quickly see are the persons failings.
The sign of Virgo is somewhat like the alchemists of old who wished to turn lead into gold. A Virgo will try and perfect the day to day routines of the society they find themselves. They will do this by gradually refining the raw materials of society. If you want a task repeated and refined until it's in it's perfected state a Virgo is your best bet. Virgo is an Earth sign and Mutable (Changeable) in nature. This reflects their desire to change the Earth and the society they find themselves in.
Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury or Hermes in Greek Mythology. The sign of the cadeuceus, as used by the medical profession, is connected with Hermes. As such the Virgo energy is very much connected with health and healing. As they wish to perfect society so they wish to perfect and heal the body. Virgo's are often fascinated with health and healing and have a great understanding of the healing arts. They also have a very strong mind body connection and are greatly affected by living a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle, even more so than the other signs.
With their eye for detail Virgos make good Surgeons, they are also often connected with the fashion industry as they have such an eye for perfection, only the best is good enough for them. Virgos are prolific in the health industry and can make great healers or enlighten people with their knowledge of drugs and remedies. The Shadow side of the Virgo energy is the critic gone mad, be it to yourself or to others. It is the perfectionist for whom nothing is good enough. It is the person who is so focused on all the details and failings of something that he can no longer remember anything good from the big picture. It is the hypercondriac who looks at every food label and decides nothing is edible.
Virgo energy will modify the expression of the planet that may lie in this sign. See How It Works section. With Mars in Virgo the energy of Mars is expressed in a detailed , organised manner. It can also express itself in a critical and judgemental manner. With Venus in Virgo, there is a love of detail , a love of the healing arts. With the Moon in Virgo there is a need for perfection and organisation before the person can feel safe. In the 1960's two planets Uranus and Pluto came together in Virgo to create the changes of that era. This revolutionary and transformative energy expressed itself in a Virgo like way as a demand for a change in the daily working environment, the legalisation of medical practices such as abortion and a new drive to eat more natural healthy food.