On the heels of a Labor Day weekend, Virgo Season is in full swing. Labor Day appropriately falls on the Season of the Maiden, herself deeply associated with work. But her work continues just as well off the clock. Her work is motivated by objective feedback, and most importantly a growth mindset, a mindset that embraces failure as useable information to find new ways of succeeding. She worries less about appearing to be smart and puts more energy into learning. As Michelangelo said at 87 years of age “I am still learning.”
Whether at home or in public, students are now preparing their brains to stretch and change as lessons are grappled with and new abilities are formed. The humility of the Virgin is truly an evolutionary strategy- always with an eye turned towards improvement, she understands the true dynamic plastic nature of the brain, and it’s natural evolution that supports further freedoms.
Cerebrum and cerebellum have a root prefix of Ceres, the grain goddess, a character who in Greek myth went through profound spiritual an emotional change through the challenging turns of her life. Ceres is latin for wax, a synonym for growth, as well as a precious substance that furnishes the leaves of an evergreen tree- keeping it forever young and vital. Ceres motto may as well be resilience through change! Which brings us to another word for education, a German word, popularized through the writings and lifestyle of Goethe. Its a fantastic word that is fun to say. The word is: Bildung!
Bildung means learning and education but also implies a maturity that comes from the cultivation of self. The classroom is the arena of life, that teaches through experience. It is existential and poetic!
Just as grapes that struggle produce the finest wines, brains that struggle and embrace learning produce the finest minds! As Voltaire said, “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” Sticking with something, despite it’s challenges or difficulties actually changes the game! New pathways are constructed and new neurons are born.
New and true as the wide open blue. Not a feeling, an objective truth! The brain is like wax.
Growth is inevitable- but because the brain is like wax, there is an invitation to intentionally sculpt this growth- and begin your Bildung! As Goethe said, “By seeking and blundering, we learn.”
Mercury, the sign of perception is moving into new air this week, in the harmonizing sign of Libra. It’s a fresh breath of air, a call to a harmonizing of the mind, alluring and intriguing. As Marcel Proust wrote, “My destination is no longer a place, rather a new way of seeing.”
Venus moving through the early degrees of Leo, the love Goddess in the warm sign of the heart. The togetherness of growth, be it an herb or a thought- that which grows together goes together, and that which fires together wires together! The romantic reality of cultivated growth! Goethe said, “Love does not dominate, it cultivates.”
Mars in the late degrees of Aries and taking a turn for the retrograde on Wednesday. The warrior of will, headstrong with intent, taking another look at the map- is his forward true forward?
Jupiter the sign of education, moves direct on Saturday, after being retrograde for 4 months! In real-world Capricorn, the Archer will wait no longer, to turn setbacks into learning opportunities. Discontentment has a purpose- and that is to feel that urge to grow!
Let the Bildung continue! As it will soon come into conjunction with both cold-snap Saturn and underground Pluto- a growth mindset is key! As an African proverb goes, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”
Uranus in Taurus- the widening awareness of your abilities, from the Maiden’s growth-oriented viewpoint.
Neptune in Pisces- the sea of subjectivity, often un-smooth, to make for skillful sailors, on their paths of Bildung.
The Moon
The Moon begins the week in Taurus, waning gibbous like a luxurious sigh- complimenting Labor Day with it’s heavy earth vibes. Enjoy the education of doing nothing if you can! As the Italians call it, Il Dolce Far Niente! The sweetness of doing nothing.
Waning still in Taurus on Tuesday, by the early evening she shape shifts into Gemini, sparking curious subconscious questions that move about like fireflies. The forest of subconscious mind is open and a glitter in the sign of the whimsical Twins through Wednesday and Thursday. Some of these fireflies might stand out, and seek integration into the Bildung. GK Chesterton said “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to close it again on something solid.”
Friday and Saturday host a thinner yet Cancer Moon, the sign of Mother, the original teacher. Patience and sensitivity are her best tools, tuning-in to her children to best support their budding individuality. A tuned-in Mood will accompany Jupiter’s forward movement on Saturday. Tuned-in to a burst of optimism, that knows the brain by its true name- Ceres! Wax! Resilience through growth!
Sunday midday we have a waning Leo Moon, cozying up to Venus. A real Sunday. Bright with appetite. An appetite to know and grow. Unlike the Moon, the Sun never wanes. Unlike a mood, life always remains- devoted to growing, and learning and knowing. From this perspective, a Bildung starts flowing!
As always, happy astro pondering!
Nature's Zodiac 
Leave a Reply