When you think of a Virgo, some common characteristics come to mind. Picky, nagging, critical, and the need for protection or just a few of the characteristics that describe Virgo. But, why is this? Virgo pursues perfection due to its attention to detail. Virgo notices everything…even things that others don’t see. Virgo energy wants to make right what is out of place.
This can lead to the less than favorable characteristics of being critical. In reality, perfection is an illusion. It is based on arbitrary standards that are set by ourselves, groups, and even society. Because of this, it’s interesting to explore Virgo’s orientation towards perfection to understand where it comes from and how Virgo goes about achieving a perceived state of perfection.
The Pursuit of Perfection
Read More »The only problem is that Virgo not only holds the ideal of perfection for itself but also for others. This can cause issues when those on the receiving end of Virgo’s perfectionism don’t necessarily agree with Virgo’s idea of perfection. In some ways, one of the best things ways for Virgo to pursue perfection is to focus on themselves as what Virgo considers perfect for themselves and others may not be true for those in their environment.
An Eye for Details
Call on Virgo if you ever need someone to get details. Ruled by Mercury, Virgo focuses on the earthing of Mercury energy. While Gemini is interested in collecting information, Virgo grounds information. Virgo energy understands that just because you have information doesn’t mean it’s correct. This is in contrast to the airy energy of Gemini which is not necessarily concerned with whether the information is true or not. When Mercury operates in Virgo the essence of information matters. The details are important because this allows Virgo to apply information in a practical manner.
The Need for Order
Another aspect of Virgo’s pursuit of perfection is the need for order. As an earth sign, Virgo operates at its best when its immediate environment is orderly. This is a sign that does not do well with chaos. Virgo energy is interested in compartmentalizing its experience. This is the type of energy that organizes pantries, puts clothing in storage based on seasons, and arranges office supplies meticulously. Order allows Virgo to function at its best, and order tames the nervous energy associated with Mercury.
Organization makes it possible to find what you’re looking for. Have you ever heard of the saying that a cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind? Well, this saying was made for Virgo. In creating an orderly environment, Virgo creates perfection for itself.
Filtering Out the Impure
Virgo filters impurities in its pursuit of perfection. Those with heightened Virgo energy are often susceptible to allergies and discomfort when they come in contact with external elements that disrupt their sensitive compositions. It is for this reason that many Virgos are very discerning about what they allow into their lives. This goes from people to the foods consumed.
Virgos analyze whether something could disrupt their everyday lived experience. They think about whether a person, place, or thing will cause physical angst in their lives. If so, Virgo uses discernment to eliminate that which could potentially pose issues.
Why So Critical?
In order to remove and prevent blemishes to perfection, it is important for Virgo to possess a critical nature. For example, if Virgo has a food allergy, they have to be critical about what they consume. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they hate a particular food. In fact, they may really like a certain food. Virgo just simply can’t eat food that causes allergic reactions.
Another example is people. If a Virgo is dealing with someone and they begin to detect that having a particular person in your life is having a negative impact on them, they are more likely to use their discernment to keep those people out of their physical space. If Virgo has already let a person in, this is where the filtering comes in to remove people who are tainting Virgo’s lived experience. Yes, this may seem critical, but to maintain order, purity, and cleanliness, this is necessary for Virgo’s pursuit of perfection.
When unbalanced, the critical nature of Virgo can lead to the infamous Virgoan nagging and nitpicking. Virgo can get so caught up on what is wrong in an effort to eliminate that which does not work or “fit.”
The Fixer-Upper
Virgo is the fixer of the zodiac. These are the individuals who seek out imperfections and flaws to fix them in a concrete, solid manner. It is important to note that in order to fix something, you have to be able to acknowledge that something is wrong. This is where Virgo’s critical nature comes into play and is a benefit.
The fixing nature of Virgo makes them an asset for people who want to get their lives in order. Virgos are the people to have around when your life is a mess, and you want assistance in getting things together in a practical manner. Due to Virgo’s pursuit of perfection, they are great at devising plans that create structure and order that offer improvement. But first, Virgo must use its critical nature to point out what is not working in order to get to the job of fixing what is amiss.
The Desire for Improvement
Because Virgo is always looking for flaws to fix, self-improvement is highly desired. This desire for improvement pushes Virgo toward their idea of perfection, whether it is having a perfect credit score, reaching a specific weight, earning a certain amount of money, or having an ideal family life.
Because these ideals of perfection and improvement are based on Virgo’s ideals, it is important for Virgo to learn not to be so hard on themselves and others. Often times when Virgo is not able to meet their own standards of perfection and self-improvement, they can project their critical nature onto others.
While Virgo energy is optimal for self-improvement of all types, it is important for Virgo to understand that it is not their job to project and apply their image of perfection onto others. The orientation towards improvement is a personal path for each of us. Virgo could best use their fixer-up, concrete practical earth energy to help others to forge their own paths of self-improvement and assist others in becoming the ideal version of themselves.
From Perfection to Wholeness
As Virgo matures, there’s an understanding that perfection is not exactly what they once thought it to be. In fact, Virgo realizes that perfection is not ideal because it’s not possible. Instead of pursuing perfection, Virgo shifts its orientation to wholeness.
This doesn’t mean that Virgo gives up on its attention to detail or creating order to live its best life. The journey towards wholeness allows Virgo to embody all aspects of themselves without placing limitations that can come with being overly critical and pursuing ideals of perfection that are oftentimes impossible to reach and fulfill.
Ultimately, Virgo wants to live a life that is clean, pure, orderly, and grounded. To Virgo, a life well lived is one of purpose and function, and in order to achieve this, Virgo seeks perfection in all that it is and all that it does.
