The Maiden · Earth sign
Virgo zodiac sign
Virgo is the mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury. The maiden holding a sheaf of grain links it with the harvest, careful work, analysis and service.
August 23 to September 22
Earth · Mutable · Maiden · ruled by Mercury
Virgo dates
Virgo covers birthdays from August 23 to September 22 in the conventional tropical table used on this site. The exact moment the Sun enters Virgo changes slightly each year, which is why people born on August 23 or September 22 sometimes find different answers online.
From 1950 to 2050 the Sun entered Virgo on August 22 in 47 of those years, August 23 in 54 of those years in US Eastern Time. For a birthday on a boundary date, the birth year, time and time zone decide the sign.
| Year | US Eastern Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | August 22, 10:55 AM EDT | August 22, 14:55 UTC |
| 2025 | August 22, 4:33 PM EDT | August 22, 20:33 UTC |
| 2026 | August 22, 10:18 PM EDT | August 23, 02:18 UTC |
| 2027 | August 23, 4:14 AM EDT | August 23, 08:14 UTC |
| 2028 | August 22, 10:00 AM EDT | August 22, 14:00 UTC |
Virgo personality traits
Traditional astrology describes Virgo as observant, methodical, helpful and modest, with a strong eye for detail and improvement. The same analytical lens is used to explain Virgo’s reputation for self-criticism and worry.
Traditional strengths
- Careful and thorough
- Practical helper
- Analytical problem-solver
- Reliable with details and routines
Traditional challenges
- Perfectionism
- Over-thinking and worry
- Criticism of self and others
- Difficulty asking for help
Keywords: precision, service, analysis, modesty, improvement.
Virgo in love and compatibility
Virgo is described as a thoughtful partner who shows love through practical care, small services and attention to what the other person needs. Trust is built slowly and deliberately.
Traditionally, Virgo gets on most easily with Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. Signs described as more challenging are Aries, Gemini, Sagittarius, Aquarius.
| Virgo with | Aspect | Element · modality | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Quincunx | Fire · Cardinal | Challenging |
| Taurus | Trine | Earth · Fixed | Most harmonious |
| Gemini | Square | Air · Mutable | Challenging |
| Cancer | Sextile | Water · Cardinal | Harmonious |
| Leo | Semi-sextile | Fire · Fixed | Mixed |
| Libra | Semi-sextile | Air · Cardinal | Mixed |
| Scorpio | Sextile | Water · Fixed | Harmonious |
| Sagittarius | Square | Fire · Mutable | Challenging |
| Capricorn | Trine | Earth · Cardinal | Most harmonious |
| Aquarius | Quincunx | Air · Fixed | Challenging |
| Pisces | Opposition | Water · Mutable | Complementary |
Virgo in friendship and family
In traditional sign symbolism, Virgo brings themes of attention and practical help. These examples are prompts for reflection, not descriptions of every person born under the sign.
Friendship
Offering a concrete favour fits the Virgo theme. Before suggesting improvements, check whether a friend wants advice or simply wants to be heard.
Family and shared life
Lists and clear responsibilities can reduce household friction. Agree on what “good enough” means together, so a useful standard does not become a source of constant correction.
A person’s actions, circumstances and boundaries matter more than a sign label. Explore the symbolism of sign pairings without using it to decide who deserves trust.
Virgo at work
Health care, editing, research, accounting, data analysis, craft and administration are fields astrologers link with Virgo’s precision.
Emotional needs and communication
Astrologers say Virgo needs to feel useful, to be appreciated for effort and to have order and clarity around it.
Virgo is described as precise and considered. A Virgo apology usually explains what went wrong and arrives with a practical plan to do better.
The Virgo symbol and its mythology
The glyph ♍ represents the maiden. The maiden is most often identified with Astraea, goddess of justice, who left Earth when humanity became corrupt. Other stories connect her with Demeter or Persephone; the bright star Spica means “ear of grain”.
The constellation Virgo gave the sign its name, but the sign and the constellation are no longer aligned. Its brightest star is Spica (Alpha Virginis). See when the Sun actually passes through each constellation.
Virgo traditional associations
| Association | In Western astrology |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 23 to September 22 (conventional) |
| Symbol | Maiden |
| Glyph | ♍ |
| Element | Earth |
| Modality | Mutable |
| Polarity | Negative (yin) |
| Ruling planet | Mercury |
| Exaltation | Mercury |
| Opposite sign | Pisces |
| Natural house | 6th house |
| Body area (melothesia) | Digestive system and intestines |
| Tarot card (Golden Dawn) | The Hermit |
| Colors often cited | Navy, brown and green |
| Stones often cited | Sapphire, carnelian, peridot |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Brightest star | Spica (Alpha Virginis) |
Colors and stones vary between modern sources and have no single historical standard. The other associations are long-standing conventions of Western astrology.
A prompt, not a prediction
Where is good enough genuinely enough?
Choose a clear stopping point for one task. Save the remaining energy for something that matters more than polishing every detail.
Virgo questions
What are the dates for Virgo?
Virgo runs from August 23 to September 22 in the conventional tropical table. Between 1950 and 2050 the Sun entered Virgo on August 22 in 47 of those years, August 23 in 54 of those years (US Eastern Time).
What element is Virgo?
Virgo is a earth sign, together with Taurus and Capricorn. It is also a mutable sign.
What is Virgo’s ruling planet?
Virgo is traditionally ruled by Mercury.
Which signs are most compatible with Virgo?
In traditional astrology the easiest matches are the other signs of the same element and the signs of the complementary element: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. These are symbolic tendencies, not predictions.
What is the Virgo symbol?
The Virgo symbol is the maiden, written with the glyph ♍. The maiden is most often identified with Astraea, goddess of justice, who left Earth when humanity became corrupt.
More about Virgo
Other earth signs
Continue around the zodiac
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide