Virgo Full Moon: Aligning the Literal and the Figurative
March 12, 2017: Virgo Full Moon (exact at 7:54 am PDT)
The Virgo Full Moon calls on us to acknowledge the literal and the figurative, the concrete and the diffuse. It's a time to recognize both the differences and the similarities that exist in a system. And while we may be drawn to classify and criticize, remembering that everything is connected—even if we can’t immediately perceive it—can yield a greater acceptance of self and others. With both Virgo and Pisces being signs connected to relieving dis-ease, this Full Moon provides an opportune time to focusing on healing imbalances in our physical bodies, notably through connection with the numinous through practices such as meditation, prayer, dreamwork, and our creative imagination.
If we find ourselves called on to be of assistance, it’s important to remember that service need not equal sacrifice. To give is one thing, to give everything away is yet another. If we don’t replenish our personal ocean of inspiration, we will experience an emotional drought that will not only deplete our life force but also our ability to be of service to others.
Both Mercury and Chiron in Pisces are connected to this Full Moon. And with that, we may have an experience that has us feeling more connected to our wounds, our personal “ouch” spots. A heightened sensitivity may have us realizing that not only can we not bury our hurts, but that it’s time to address them, understand them, and communicate them as a pathway to healing.
And yet, healing isn’t necessarily focused on looking at things as problems or focusing on eradicating ills. With Saturn aligning with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Chiron, healing may center on accepting ourselves, accepting our sorrows, accepting our limitations…and within that we may sink into a level of peace that is deeper and greater than either denial or eradication may yield. Saturn reminds us that healing is something that we need to take seriously, toward which we can't turn a blind eye.
And as we turn to what we may have previously cast as our frailty and failings, we may begin to see them differently–that they are gifts that give us depth, that have us remember that we are connected compassionately to others through the weave of humanity. And with that, we may find that we are able to truly be a stand for others, to help them heal and find a greater experience of well-being; and in that, we may find greater access to healing and well-being within ourselves.
This month’s Full Moon falls at 23 degrees of Pisces (the location of the Sun) and Virgo (the location of the Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Pisces, Virgo, or the other mutable signs—Gemini and Sagittarius—it may impact you more intensely.
VIRGO FULL MOON APOTHECARY SUGGESTIONS
Pisces is associated with the feet, pineal gland, and the immune/lymphatic systems while Virgo rules the intestines and digestive system. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this Full Moon.
Pedicure: Why not give your Pisces-ruled feet a treat during this Full Moon? If it’s not convenient to schedule a salon pedicure, you can easily do one at home. Whether or not you apply polish, a pedicure can including soaking your feet for a few minutes in a warm mineral-salt bath. After drying your feet well, massage them with some lotion or body oil. You can add a few drops of peppermint oil for a pedi-pick-me-up or some myrrh oil if cracked heels need some tending. During the massage, consider paying special attention to the reflexology areas associated with the small intestines—governed by the sign Virgo. Use this interactive map to find the locations of these sole connections.
Sandalwood: Sandalwood essential oil is a divine fragrance that can help you open to the Piscean gifts of imagination and connection that are more accessible during this time. It is a great aid for a meditation practice and said to stimulate the pineal gland, associated with psychic abilities in spiritual traditions. Sandalwood is calming and centering and may help alleviate spells of anxiety. Like with other essential oils, you can use sandalwood in many ways; for example, you can mix it with body lotion, use it in an aromatherapy diffuser, or add a few drops to a mister bottle of water and use as a room spray. (Note that the widely used sandalwood variety, Santalum album, is now close to extinction in India because of unsustainable harvesting; therefore, look for alternate varieties such as Santalum austrocaledonica.)