Manifesto of the Maiden
New Moon in Virgo & Mercury's Dance Direct
Approaching the Autumn Equinox, the anticipation of Change swells mid-September, craving relief from the stench of Summer and the grip of multiple Retrogrades that have raged all season.
The recent month’s confusion and turmoil has left so many on edge or in perpetual panic. Though Venus Retrograde is no more, stationing direct a week ago on Sunday September 3rd, we’ve yet to bear fruits in forward love-lace intention. Actionable steps may feel cement-heavy, clashing with our sparkly idealism as we see there is much “work” to put in. No better than a Virgo New Moon to aid in getting “unstuck” from the mud of mind-vs-reality insanity, an echo of the recently wrestled Pisces Supermoon. First, we must look at our perspectives before moving forward, starting with our past selves.
In order to look ahead, sometimes we have to look behind and make peace with our past before “turning a new leaf”.
9/14 NEW MOON IN VIRGO
Each phase of Maiden / Mother / Crone is essential. When the Maiden is used to imply immaturity or to portray her as a gullible victim, the Maiden’s strengths and traits are downplayed, ignoring the garden of wisdom that lies within her realm.
The Maiden, Virgo’s archetype, appears often in classic mythology, unfortunately overused as a love object or a victim in storytelling. Perhaps the most memorable, maiden Persephone (sometimes called Kore) is associated with the Astro trio leading into Autumn: Virgo (Maiden), Libra (battle of injustice, seeking balance), Scorpio (acceptance in descent, Queen of the Underworld).
The undeniable helplessness in Persephone’s struggle may be a tale about inner strength; Persephone is adaptable to and analytical about her environment. Persephone’s Mother Demeter, Goddess of Grain and Harvest, is also victimized in losing her beloved daughter. Demeter and Persephone’s power in care of Earth is downplayed due to the popularity of their violent separation. Virgo roots to Earth Magick in essence, relating to all ages and range of Goddesses, but for this New Moon, we’ll be speaking of the Maiden.
The Maiden is a sprout from the same seed that the Mother and Crone come to be; they are not separate, even if they move through the World differently. Innate wisdom is at the Triple Goddess’ core: in darkness, at any age, she is able to count upon her mind, heart and intuition, leading her like an eternal light through an endless night. And yet, we have sorrow and sometimes regret and disdain for our Maiden phase.
Though Artemis is a Goddess of the Moon, her historical position as a community protector, in harmony with the forest and mountains, brings to mind another shade of the Maiden phase. Her symbolic “virginity” was more so considered a silent implication of agency and queer identity. Regardless of speculation in art and literature, Artemis as a queer feminist mythological icon tracks with her record of resistance to patriarchal social conditioning. Artemis is a stark representation of alternative experience due to her refusal to wed, upholding free expression whilst having an acute awareness of the dangers around her kindred spirits and that outside of her realm.
The ancient Arktoi ("ärk-ˈtoi̯"), a group of young students in ancient Greece who worshiped Artemis, were schooled in music, artistry, dancing, agriculture, textiles, ethics and esoteric magick. Though this period of study may have been a precursor to pick a path - a life of marriage and motherhood, creativity and career, or something else altogether - the fire of "wild and free" embedded the makeup of the “arkteia”. The Arktoi were encouraged to learn AND play, wearing animal-esqe outfits and masks for rites, allowing of androgyny, encouraged to convene with Nature, communally referred to as:
“Little She-bears in Ritual Wildness”
The Arktoi exemplifies an intentional time frame to acquire knowledge, informing inner intuition that will serve for the remainder of days. Virgo relishes in this form of youthful merriment with a desire and commitment to lifelong learning. Made of inquisition and development, the Maiden’s task is to grow, not to be ogled and marred by monsters who want to own her spark. From ancient myths to narratives of now, the Maiden has been treated as a prize or a victim, not a person of her own but always in relation to what others want from her, when in reality these representations are an incomplete account.
The Maiden phase can be the most giving and gracious in organization and solidarity, sometimes in a manner unmatched by their elders. The Maiden’s caring contribution and observations are not clouded by wounded ego and a need to control or shame. I love the Maiden's voice, bravery and can-do-anything enthusiasm, her fresh communal zest, creativity, curiosity. Her focus is not trying to be a leader or teacher, instead content to be a friend, holding hands with her comrades, ready to listen to the possibilities and make a better world. The Maiden is to be honored and not belittled or objectified.
We may have not had what we needed in times of early vulnerability but that doesn’t mean we can’t tap back into that spark of knowing and growing again.
For the Virgo New Moon, peering back at our youthful selves to see more than the scars, the shame, the embarrassment, the pain, is the order of the day. It makes sense that we erase childlike wonder in order to ease the harm of our young pasts… We sever attachments around an entire time to escape these origin stories of hurt. It may be a worthy venture to dig deep and find our curious courageous Maiden again. Rewrite that narrative.
What happened to us, how we were treated, is not who we are.
In what ways have we neglected a full view of our foundation by focusing on our stumbling steps of long ago? How have those who have taken advantage of us or scoffed at our expressions kept us from our own joy in the present? In what ways does keeping up with the status quo waste our time, money and energy, keeping us from the delight of other interests and practices that nourish our souls instead? Could we lay flowers at the feet of our past selves instead of nitpick about what we should have, could have been?
Isn’t there still time to grow?
9/14 MERCURY DANCES DIRECT
In tandem, Mercury Retrograde wraps up its backspin and goes direct near to the New Moon in Virgo.
The third Mercury Rx in 2023 was truly a difficult backspin, especially with Venus Retrograde in Leo. As Mercury and Venus tend to affect the Earthlings the most, the full gamut of our daily lives and relationships may have found frustration in the Rx stagnation. Wishes around values, relationships and lifestyle will have ample opportunity to become approachable labors of love very soon, even though we still have many other planets still in backspin.
Right now, we are asked to do a final reassess, to honor the heart of the matter over lofty glossy dreams that lack substance and possibly attract swine. Being “down to earth” and improving the basic health of our lives will lead to lasting growth. Incorporating attuned hopes and planning to reach them is a great way to spend this Virgo New Moon, especially if we further allow ourselves to wrap up the lessons of the recent and completed Retrogrades.
Mercury’s rulership over Virgo aligns with the Earth Maiden’s mirthful and motivated attitude, teaching us to deal with disruptions head-on, to maintain our systems as much as we can, and carve out patience, time and anticipation of Life’s puzzles and problems. We talk about the Rx Shadow Period, to be aware of for now, in our Let’s Get Retrograde zine (available to paid Substackees and Patrons), so we’re not magically in the clear, but the Virgo New Moon is an awesome alignment for the end of this Mercury Retrograde in Virgo. December Mercury Retrograde ahead - stay tuned for all things Libra next week!
Excellent writing, very impressive!!!
Wow wow wow this really really spoke to me! Thank you so much