Happy Birthday, Virgo!

For those of us who experience the change of seasons in the northern hemisphere, the Sun's ingress into Virgo today is a reminder that the backyard BBQ's and beach parties enjoyed under the Cancer and Leo Sun will soon be a memory. As the Sun's movement through the last week of August brings an acute awareness that summer vacation and half-day Fridays will soon be replaced by business as usual.

Since Virgo is the ruler of work, service and daily routine in the natural zodiac, it is only fitting that it not only heralds our return to the daily grind, but celebrates it as well.  For more than 100 years, the United States has celebrated Labor Day, the holiday honoring the contributions of the working class to the nation, under the Virgo Sun.

Likewise, Virgo individuals should be honored for the important role they play in the zodiac because when it comes to work and service, no one does it like a Virgo. In fact, they do it so well that you often hear the other signs complaining that Virgo has no interest in having fun.  In reality, nothing could be further than the truth.

While it is true that Virgos derive a great deal of satisfaction from a job well done, they do not suffer from "stick in the mud" syndrome.  Rather, they suffer from a "sixth house disorder" that relegates them to work (i.e., drudgery), service (i.e., servitude), health (i.e., caretaking) and daily routine (i.e., tedium).

After all, someone has to mind the store while Aries is out blazing new paths, Taurus is balancing his checkbook, Gemini is filibustering, Cancer is cooking, Leo is preening, Libra is exfoliating, Scorpio is plotting (I mean, planning), Sagittarius is exploring, Capricorn is working, Aquarius is protesting and Pisces is communing with the dead.

And that someone is Virgo, who is on call and at your service 24/7 to do the grunt work, handle the emergencies and clean up the mess.

Another common complaint against those born under the sign of perfection is that they are overly critical of everyone and everything.

To some extent this reputation is deserved.  However, in contrast to some of the other signs that are more of the "do as I say, not as I do" variety (and whose identities being withheld to protect the guilty), Virgos are just as hard (or harder) on themselves. Whereas the rest of the zodiac only confronts their imperfections on a bad day, Virgo’s innate desire for perfectionism turns every day "judgment day."  Consequently, many born under this sign endure a life-long struggle with self-esteem.




Despite the seemingly never-ending list of burdens, responsibilities and obligations that plague them, Virgos will always make time for their friends and will drop everything to come to their aid in times of trouble.

While other signs may be flashier, wealthier, louder and yes, happier, when the going gets tough, you can count on your Virgo friend to have your back.

Best of all, you won't even have to ask.