Last time we talked about Virgo the magical and Virgo the grower. There is another aspect to Virgo, prudence, especially when it comes to hard cash.
Because Virgo understands about sustainability and is also detail oriented, she know the value of things and they are often very interested in money, how it works, who it works for and how to manage, grow and harvest money.
Economist and scholar of technology and socioeconomic development, Carlota Perez is visiting professor at the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London, and to the London School of Economics. She is a co-founder of The Other Canon a centre and network for unorthodox economies.
This is a noon chart as I do not have her birth time, so the house cusps cannot be read. As a Sun, Mercury and Neptune in Virgo (and possibly Venus) meticulous research, analysis and data made her conclude that a deeper integration and more equitable sharing of resources is the only way forwards. Like the thrifty economy of the beehive, Virgo sees the connection between behaviour and outcomes, and rejects greed and selfishness, for the well-being of all. Perez writes the ‘casino economy’ needs to be restrained by regulation. She cites corrupt accounting practices, but examples of greed and selfishness are legion.
In a world of capital gains, real estate bubbles and foreign adventures with money, all notion of the real value of anything is lost. Uncontrollable asset inflation sets in while debt mounts at a reckless rhythm; much of it to enter the casino.’[i]
Perez argues,
‘There is also ample scope for redirecting business imagination and technological innovation towards the deeper transformation of world society, through developing truly knowledge intensive ways of producing and living.’ [ii]
Writing in 2002, after the financial collapse, she warned that systemic, fundamental change was needed to prevent economic collapse. She wrote it was too easy to blame external factors for economic crisis, but this detracts from the underlying, structural problems which precipitated the crisis.
‘Explanations based on exogenous shocks (often, in fact, partly symptoms of the same deeper causes) lead to an impotent insistence on applying old economic recipes to new structural problems. Such recipes can only lead to fragile and short-lived successes, vulnerable to relatively minor events’ (2002:168)
Twenty two years later, as I write (2024) we are again in such a crisis, brought on by external factors, Covid, but precipitated by industrial pollution, poverty and wealth inequalities of the casino variety describe above.
‘…short-term financial criteria, apart from the risk of stimulating dishonesty, can no longer serve to guide investment’ (2002:169)
Perez argues that lower profits can be seen as a benefit to society, as it will encourage long term planning, not get rich quick practices. A very Virgo approach, restraint, and balancing the books is paramount. Secondly, technology, which is a growth area needs to be expanded into developing economies. Following on from this is the need to create more equity between the rich and the poor, and stimulate the global economy, to expand wealth generation across the world.
‘Not reversing global polarization, in itself, poses serious threats to the safety and stability of the prosperous countries. These include massive migrations, various forms of violence and the outbreak of serious economic crises (2002:170)
Perez wrote this in 2002, and her prediction has been realised, with the influx of millions of refugees, into both Europe and the USA. She argues that sharing the world’s wealth has many benefits and that business and technology can change direction for the greater good as well as their own personal benefit. But sadly, those in power have gone in completely the opposite direction, the uber rich have increased their wealth while the rest have become poorer. Thrift and equal sharing, all Virgo traits have been sacrificed on the altar of ego and greed. Virgo understand we are all connected, one person’s wealth or poverty affects all of us.
In her latest work, Perez calls again for worldwide co-operation to raise the living standards of the poor and to curb ‘casino’ economics.[iii] Interestingly, an editorial by the Financial Times (not a byword for radical economics) argues the same points, focusing on climate change. It argues that fundamental change is needed, or we will all go down together. And that, the time has arrived for a radical shift.[iv]
Sadly, our leaders, and in the UK the new government, have not taken this lesson to heart and the same old economics is being practiced with undoubtedly the same results.
The second example, is more about personal finances, who can, in reality influence governments, or appeal to their better nature? Better to get money sorted for yourself and water your own little patch to influence and change lives. Amanda Frances has done just that, coming from a background where money-fear was always present, where she was shown who could have money, and who couldn’t. Of course, these are just ideas, and who better to challenge ideas than a Virgo, who dissects and sorts and sifts through the nonsense, to get to their own truth. Virgo will worry at a problem endlessly, until they find a satisfactory solution. Notice also the T square to revolutionary Uranus in Sagittarius in a very close opposition to Chiron in Gemini of the Sun and Mercury. T squares show points of conflict. Chiron, the wound is expressed through words (her book and courses) and also with the ritualistic or meditative approach to healing money wounds. Her approach is radical and unusual Again, this is a noon chart as I do not have a birth time. I like her approach, which deals with the spiritual and emotional blocks and the rest will take care of itself. But others are dismissive…
Amanda Frances has made her fortune showing women how to get rich. She uses a mixture of therapy, she has a Masters in counseling and other techniques to get women to recognise their money blocks and heal the wounds they have with money and embrace wealth and the power that goes with it. It sounds glib and easy, but it is a truism that women in particular, although not exclusively, feel not worthy of having money. We have been ‘taught’ to feel selfish and greedy for asking for money. We have a whole lot of complicated feelings around money and our self worth. And, as she says in her book, there is no virtue in poverty, having money gives us freedom to support others as well as ourselves. There is nothing selfish about having money.
Her chart is similar to Carlota’s. She has Mars and Mercury conjunct in Virgo plus Sun in Virgo, widely conjunct the Mercury. Her style is very flashy, that Moon, Venus in Leo, but her message is a simple one. Having money empowers us. Goodhearted people do good things with money. Money needs to be in the hands of good people, if we want a better world. I concur. She also swears a lot, which is always a plus for me. This is her book, which encapsulates her message.
Either the macro or the micro response, Virgos are good managers of money. They understand the value of financial freedom, counting pennies and watching the pounds pile up.
If you want to read more, my book Goddess Astrology is available to buy here my publishers are offering a 20% discount on the book until September 21st, using the code EB20.
[i] Perez, Carlotta. Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital, The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages. London: Elgar 2002 p. 75
[ii] Perez, 2002: 171.
[iii] http://www.carlotaperez.org/pubs?s=dev&l=en&a=handbookongreengrowth accessed 8.12.2020
[iv] Cavendish, Camilla. June 26 2020. We must build back Greener after Covid-19. The Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/d4aa350e-d082-4aa7-bef2-a717b4a053f1 accessed 8.12.2020.
Elisabeth Brooke 