This is a sweet new moon. Whatever spiritual insights emerged for you last week have some pragmatic use that you’ll be able to put into practice. Take stock of the ratio of participation to enjoyment in your life. I find it interesting that you get the same hit of dopamine from scrolling through a screen as you do from crossing something off a to-do list. This is the time to focus on tangible, physical results from your actions. Virgo knows that the harvest is all the sweeter when you’ve been a part of it when you’ve gotten your hands dirty and helped bring it into being. If you’ve ever grown your own food, you know the satisfaction of the first bit of tender lettuce in the spring or the crisp, sweet, clean taste of peas off the vine. There’s nothing like that moment of satisfaction you feel when you bring about something beautiful with your own two hands.
As I reflect on this, my personal example of the ratio of participation to enjoyment was my wedding. It was off the charts fun, and it was a DIY affair. We enlisted volunteers for much of it, save the catering, and the rest we did ourselves. My sister-in-law arranged flowers, one of my brothers and his wife supplied the wine, my good friend did the decorations, my niece and another brother played music for the ceremony, and our yoga teacher officiated. The theme was “bohemian picnic” so it wasn’t an overly formal affair which lent itself to some fun surprises along the way (we had brightly colored bandanas for napkins, and at some point after dinner people tied them to their heads, arms, etc, making everyone look like a merry band of well-dressed pirates). Perhaps we shouldn’t have had a 12-year-old in charge of videography, but besides that, the whole experience was beyond our wildest expectations, a complete, heart-filled blast. And I credit that to the fact that people were engaged, and they felt a sense of ownership with the event. And not only that but all the family members and friends involved got to know one another in unique and interesting ways. When you help bring something into fruition, you enjoy the experience so much more.
The new moon in Virgo always comes after the more yang activity of the summer. You are getting into the different routines of the fall, and most likely craving some order and organization. Do your best to acknowledge and build on what’s working, as there is a celebratory aspect to the new moon. You may also be called to look at your patterns in your day-to-day work life. Are you being kind to yourself? Any adjustments you could make that would help you feel more present and healthy? Maybe it’s the food you eat for lunch or making space to get outside and walk to break up your day. Those small adjustments can yield significant benefits to your physical and mental health. Virgo understands that the little things matter, small adjustments are easier to make than big ones, and these adjustments add up to larger lifestyle changes for the better.
Intentions: Are there ways in which I can make my current participation in a project more enjoyable? In what ways can I contribute my efforts to something tangible and physical that has heart and meaning for me? What adjustments can I make to my fall routines to take better care of myself?
8.22 Full Moon in Aquarius: Self-Trust