Virgo Full Moon: Walking the Path of the Wounded Healer
The full moon in Virgo on March 12, 2017 shines light on our body image, our self-talk, and our relationship to health and service. We see, by the light of this full moon, opportunities to refine the way we move, think, and speak. This is only impacted more fully by close relationships to Chiron, the wounded healer, and Mercury, the messenger, who have co-rulership of the sign of Virgo.
Chiron’s message of “heal thyself”is clear, especially in relationship to Virgo’s near-obsession with health, wellness and movement. The fact that Chiron sits perfectly opposite the Virgo moon (and right next to the sun), means that it is time to shine light within our unconscious for the deep triggers and core wounds that hold us back. Many of these wounds live in our body as aches, pains, chronic illness, tightness or uptightness.
Try doing movement such as yoga or pilates to stretch open these areas of stuck energy and start to get to the bottom of the emotional and mental patterns that need to be released.
Shadow work requires us to travel between worlds; past and present, conscious and unconscious. No one is better at this type of travel than Mercury, and luckily, we have this planet by our side on this inner journey. The pressure to speak our truth, reframe our thoughts, and move through past patterns is fueled by Saturn, who urges us to take advantage of this time, lest we fall prey to the low qualities of these energies which include self-criticism, martyrdom, numbing out, and ignoring self-care. When we heed the call of this Virgo full moon and accompanying energies, we have the potential to shed old skin and emerge anew as a truth speaker, healer, and modern mystic.
Alchemical Ritual for the Virgo Full Moon
Virgo, and its relationship to Chiron, especially during this full moon time, call upon us to heal our core wounds and mine them for a source of true strength. We do this through an alchemical ritual that transforms our energy, and trades the darkness for pure gold.
Locate a powerful totem that represents the pain of a past wound. Gather crystals, sage, a piece of paper and pen, and a candle and set up a space for your ritual. Light the candle and enter your ritual with the totem in your hand. First sit quietly in order to gather your thoughts and energy into the ritual. Hold the totem in your hand, knowing it carries you through this transformative process.
Say out loud the following affirmation: May the energy of this Virgo Full Moon and Chiron heal my old wounds and enlighten my consciousness.
Sit in quiet meditation for a few moments with the totem and observe what arises as a result of its presence. There is no right or wrong, and it is also not necessary to over-indulge in any of what comes up. Allow it to be as it is, accept it fully, and witness it with the light of awareness. Write on a piece of paper some qualities of the past wound—it doesn’t need to be an overly complex recounting, just some free-association of the related emotions and energy.
Now, give yourself permission to feel differently about the past wound. What have you learned as a result? How has it made you stronger? What good has come of it. Immerse yourself in that knowledge, and sit in quiet meditation as you observe what comes up as a result of the good feelings and association. Write these qualities down and as you do, either hold or touch the symbol.
This transforms the symbol and you from the inside out.
Hold or touch the symbol while you continue to feel the good qualities within. Let those grow, flourish and take root. If you would like, you may burn your sheet of paper as a further symbol of transformation. Cleanse yourself with the sage, and chant Om three times. Close the ritual by snuffing the candle and placing your symbol in plain sight as a reminder of your transformation.
