Tapestry of the Gods
Volume III
by Michael D. Robbins

Astro-Rayology
in progress

Interpretations of Famous People by Ray, Sign and Life Emphasis
With Explanations of All Astrological and Rayological Elements

Saturn in Virgo

Saturn in Virgo or Saturn in Relation to Virgo

(from Esoteric Astrology)

Specific Expressions of Saturn in Virgo

1. Saturn (in Virgo) in Relation to the Three Personality Vehicles:
Congestion and insufficient vitalization may occur in relation to the small intestine, and the abdominal area in general. The major center involved is the solar plexus and several associated minor centers. (cf. EH 72-73) We have learned that Virgo is associated with the third aspect of divinity (EA 194) Further, we read that, “the third aspect, when not functioning properly, causes stomach troubles, bowel complaints and the various diseases that are located beneath and below the solar plexus in the abdomen.” (EH 108) With Saturn representing the third aspect as well as Virgo, we see a strong likelihood for the appearance of such complaints.

This combination renders the physical mechanism more delicate, susceptible to maladjustment, and subject to disruption if the wrong foods are taken. If, on the other hand, there is a very careful and discriminating approach to the intake of foods, good health can be maintained. The larger question concerns the quality of any substances (gross or subtle) which are to be assimilated by the physical-etheric mechanism. Saturn chooses and Virgo assimilates.

Saturn in Virgo may incline towards a preoccupation with the physical body and its functioning. If the individual is more advanced, the focus may be upon the condition of the etheric vehicle, the attempt being to keep etheric magnetism pure and clean. If there does not exist such subtlety of focus, the emphasis will simply be upon physical cleanliness and purity. In any case, there will exist an intelligent intention to “do the right thing” (Saturn) physically (Virgo) and etherically.

This combination counter-indicates strong emotional expression. Virgo is cool and Saturn, restraining. The subject may nurse and cherish certain feeling states and emotional attitudes, but they will often be well concealed or, if expressed, quiet. Strictly on the level of sentiency, there may exist what could be called a ‘discriminating emotional response’—particular ways of responding emotionally to particular energy impacts. The responses will be delicate and specific. As evolution proceeds, Virgo is associated with the awakening of mentality, and Saturn, always, with the thinking process. The result is a growing capacity to analyze the feelings and emotional states. Saturn in Virgo is one of those combinations very useful in separating manas from kama. Kama-manas is a mixture of two principles; persons with this position emphasized in their horoscopes, however, tends to sort and separate, in the interests of clarity, and both emotional and mental purity.

Saturn in Virgo is particularly strong effect upon the mental vehicle. This combination is, at first, materialistic. The mantram for the Virgo subject upon the Mutable Cross is, “Let matter reign.” Further, Saturn is the planet most related to the third, or material, aspect of divinity. Under this influence, the mind will be practical, specific, meticulous, even fastidious. There is an attempt to know all the particulars, in the interest of the intelligent control of substance.

Later in the evolutionary cycle, the second and sixth rays transmitted, constellationally, through Virgo become more prominent than its residual third aspect. The purpose of all this activity in matter begins to dawn. That purpose is the birth of the love-wisdom consciousness we call the “Christ consciousness”—a consciousness strongly associated with the second and sixth rays. To aid this birth, a task of mental purification is undertaken. Thought is subjected to discriminative regulation, as are all processes astral and etheric–physical bodies, which are supervised from the level of mind. The resultant clarification and purification on all levels of the personality is meant to produce the right intra-personal environment for the growth and emergence of the Christ.

2. Saturn (in Virgo) in Relation to the Personality as a Whole:
This combination produces a highly discriminating personality, not easily satisfied with the usual quality of persons, places and things. In early days, it works for the intelligent control of matter, thus attempting to avoid the usual blunders and mistakes associated with incarnated living. Error is the cause of much pain, loss and delay. Saturn in Virgo so stimulates intelligence, sharpness of observation and caution in action that the confusion in which most human beings live is, for such a person, significantly reduced. The result is clarity and efficiency, at least with respect to material processes within the three worlds. The attitude, however, is often separative and critical.

Upon the later Mutable Cross and the Fixed Cross, the personality becomes intent on purification. It seeks to raise its standard of functioning to the highest possible level. An advancing individual under this influence overlooks no personality flaw—in himself or in others. The former loveless criticism of the imperfect, now changes to constructive criticism for the purpose of preparing a personal environment or field through which the energy of love-wisdom can be expressed. The personality seeks to be seen as fit (if not perfect) in its own eyes, and more importantly, in the eyes of its Master, the soul.

3. Saturn (in Virgo).and the Presentation of Opportunity on the Path of Discipleship:
Upon the Path of Discipleship, difficulty becomes opportunity. Life in the three worlds abounds with imperfections, with sub-standard processes. The environment is filled with them; so is every individual. This he will certainly recognize if, in addition to eagerly noting the “mote in [his] brother’s eye”, he examines the “beam in his own eye”. Thus, there is never any want for opportunity; imperfection is constant and exists but to be transmuted. The constant question presented to those with this combination is, “How shall the quality of substance-matter be purified and improved so that the Christ-energy may ever more fully expressed through it?”

4. Saturn (in Virgo) and Choices to be Made and Destruction to be Endured in order to Promote a Freer Expression of the Soul: The choice to be made requires discrimination:
“What shall I improve? What shall I attempt to perfect?” The cleansing and transmutation of substance-matter is painstaking and difficult work. Perhaps it is possible to concentrate successfully on only a small area of the total life expression. In the process of making the personality fit for the entry of the love-wisdom energy, where should the emphasis be placed? What should be the method employed?

The destruction to be endured concern what might be called ‘old methods in matter’. During the course of many lives, one has developed certain methods and techniques to deal with the material world. These techniques are often inadequate to the spiritual task, and have to be replaced by soul-inspired disciplines. The discipline of meditation, for instance, becomes very important in preparing a personality that can actually conform to the high standards of the soul. The Tibetan associates Virgo with meditation proper; Saturn ensures that meditation is repeatedly practiced.

A further necessary destruction may concern the illusions of the concrete mind (as was similarly the case when Saturn was placed in another Mercurial sign—Gemini) and the practices which these illusions (or incomplete understandings) generate. Saturn in Virgo is so discriminative, so conscious of particular well-intended practices and observances that these, themselves, may be the cause of obstruction to soul influence. There are those who, for instance, follow so many spiritual rules and regulations with meticulous care, that they forget why those rules were instituted in the first place. Careful material observance becomes an end in itself. So, which actions, techniques, methods, practices, observances will be destroyed as useless or obstructive to soul-infusion, and which will take their places?

5. As “the sacred planets endeavour to fuse the personality and make it the instrument of the soul and the non-sacred planets influence more specifically the form nature”, how does Saturn, a sacred planet, fuse the personality and make it a responsible instrument of the soul in this particular sign? How does it enforce the law(s) of the soul, and assist in the fulfillment of the Purpose, Plan and Dharma conceived by the soul?:
A refined, cleansed and purified personality integrates and fuses more easily. Dirt and impurity are obstructive, and distort or thwart integrating energy flows. When the channels of energy transmission are free, the vehicles can be more readily coordinated, then integrated, then fused.

Under Saturn in Virgo, the personality of the individual upon the Fixed Cross comes under the discipline of serving a will higher than his own. Virgo is the servant and Saturn is dutiful. This combination contributes to the process of spiritual domestication. It is one of the most powerful combinations for discipleship training. We train our domestic animals, and the soul (the first Master) trains us.

The necessary attitude is one of obedient service to the will of the soul, as that will is understood. The personality learns to seek nothing, hope nothing and ask nothing for the separated self. In this arduous training, personality desires are seen as unimportant and relinquished. The dharma is to become the dutiful, obedient servant Lives higher than the strictly human. Then lower ego is no longer in the way of the necessary laborious changes and humbling sacrifices which such training entails; then, progress, though personally unpleasant at times, can be rapid.

6. Miscellaneous Meanings of Saturn Virgo: Make sure that the necessary corrections and purifications are undertaken.

a. The Law of Service
b. The Holy Spirit
c. Relinquishment of the personal will
d. Purity; conformity to the Laws of Purification
e. Self-denial
f. The duties of motherhood
g. Law applied in matter
h. Codifying dietary laws
i. Abstinence, dieting; doing without
j. Monasticism
k. Disciplines of the personality; abstemiousness; conforming to the laws which bring about the birth of the Christ
l. Exacting labor
m. Accuracy, exactitude
n. Hyper-organization
o. Attention to minutia; overly organized
p. Suppressively critical
q. Compulsive
r. Materialism: “Let Matter Reign”
s. Form-bound
t. Frustrated nurturance
u. Want and privation
v. Intestinal obstruction

Individuals with Saturn in Virgo

Jane Addams
Horatio Alger
Isaac Asimov
Johann Sebastian Bach
Vincenzo Bellini
Lucrezia Borgia
Johannes Brahms
Prince Louis de Broglie
John Calvin
Lewis Carroll
S. T. Coleridge
Claude Debussy
Rene Descartes
Dwight D. Eisenhower
George Frederic Handel
Edwin Hubble
Victor Marie Hugo
Timothy Leary
Edouard Manet
Claudio Monteverdi
Sir Thomas More
Grandma Moses
Jawaharlal Nehru
Nero
H. S. Olcott
George Sand
Junipero Serra
Rudolf Steiner
Meryl Streep
Rabindranath Tagore