Signs are Seasons

Virgo is the last sign of the summer when the warm days of vacation frolicking give way to harvest time. It is this work of gathering, cleaning and sorting that gives the meaning of this sign. Virgo's predecessor Leo is about the fullness of the summer Sun and the development of personal pride, creativity and ego-awareness. Virgo, the mutable earth sign, is about the practical application of this great life force.

After Leo opens the heart, Virgo is there to refine and direct its impulses to the specific arts, crafts and tasks that are most appropriate. A desire to create and express has little value without Virgo's direction of that impulse through specific channels of application. This sign is about bringing inspiration down to earth and giving it a concrete form.

Virgins Can Have Sex

The notion of virginity was, originally, not about a sexless life, but an independent one for women. A virgin was a woman without a husband, not necessarily a person who did not have sexual relations. Virgo is very concerned with health and a well-functioning body. In fact, the efficiency of all systems is part of Virgo's domain. As such, sexuality is seen as normal and healthy as long as it includes discretion, appropriateness of partner and physical safety. These are Virgo issues, reflecting the careful, often self-controlled attributes of this sign.

Everyone's a Critic

Virgo is popularly regarded as the sign of the perfectionist. The positive side of this is a highly developed sense of quality (and service). However, this can also express itself to amplify flaws and engender criticism. People with strong Virgo influence in their charts need to be careful about not accentuating what's imperfect in themselves or others. There is a thin line between the critical comments that lead to improvements and those that tear down people and things.

Virgo's analytical mind does well to remember that perfection is not a fixed state of being that one is or isn't. Perfecting, the ongoing process of improvement, is a more useful concept for seeing how to continually improve ourselves and this world.

Famous Virgos

The arts are full of Virgos who apply technique to their creative impulses. Musical Virgos include Leonard Bernstein, Elvis Costello, Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes (both born August 28), Michael Jackson, Harry Connick Jr. and Fiona Apple. Virgo actors are Sean Connery, Cameron Diaz, Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin, Salma Hayek, Keanu Reeves, (likely) non-virgin Charlie Sheen, Rosie Perez, Adam Sandler, Hugh Grant, Lauren Bacall, Anne Bancroft and Jada Pinkett.

Actor Tommy Lee Jones and director Oliver Stone were both born September 15, 1946. Director Brian De Palma is a Virgo, too, as are horror meister Stephen King, Regis Philbin, magician David Copperfield, writer Ken Kesey and legal expert Alan Dershowitz.

Randy Johnson, Reggie Miller, Cal Ripken and Kobe Bryant are high quality sports Virgos. Lastly, perfectly expressing Virgo's desire to serve humanity is (likely) virgin Mother Teresa.