I get more “I’m not like that” mail in response to Venus in Virgo posts than any other. so, here’s one I prepared earlier- with the following disclaimers:

• You might or not be exactly like the textbook
• Not all Venus in Virgo people like to clean- some give up and go the opposite way…and beat themselves up about it
• Not all Venus in Virgo people are slim and trim- some go the opposite way…and beat themselves up about it
• As with all things astrological, there can be variations according to individual chart composition and placements
• There are exceptions to every rule
• This post probably contains some typos

Yesterday an email from the fashion house that would be my favourite fashion house- if it weren’t for the fact that I can’t fit into their clothes at the moment- turned up in my inbox. The subject struck horror into my heart.

All White- a key palette for the season ahead.

It got worse.

A monochromatic palette lends itself to modern tailoring, where form and function overtake colour.

The fashion that followed was, well white. White pants, white jackets, white blouses. Sure there was some almost colour in there too, but not enough to calm the panic of my Aries Venus.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse…

White is the new black.

What the f$%#?

I don’t avoid white because I feel that it doesn’t suit me, but rather because it rarely stays white. I inevitably spill red wine if I am wearing white. Even if I drink white wine and eat salad, white on me is magnetic- and not in a good way.

Venus in Virgo, however, can wear white… successfully… In fact, with this placement, you will be able to wear all white and have it stay white and be like those beautiful people in the holiday brochures that stroll hand in hand up the beach in filmy white linen and white bikinis. The sand will not stick and the salt water will dry clear and not sticky.

Not that you’ve probably noticed this. Unfortunately, Venus in Virgo has difficulty relaxing for long enough to stroll up a beach, and often has too little body confidence to do so in a bikini. This placement is usually held by people with pretty neat & trim bodies (although they don’t see this when they look in the mirror), so this is an absolute waste of white bikini. And yes, given that I have never worn a bikini (let alone a white one) there is more than a small amount of envy in what I say.

Despite this amazing ability to wear white, stay clean, be trim and eat well, Venus in Virgo is in what traditional astrologers term the sign of her fall. This doesn’t mean that Venus is weak in Virgo, it means that she is in a position where she can’t use her strength, in a place which is alien to her.

Venus loves pleasure, beauty, art, food. What she doesn’t like is too much hard work, conflict, sacrifice, deprivation, efficiency and details. Venus likes to be served, not be the servant; and, like all planets in Virgo, Venus needs to be useful.

Venus is exalted or exaggerated in the opposite sign of Pisces where she sees the world through rose coloured glasses. In Pisces, Venus can be lazy, unrealistic, self-indulgent and oblivious to deprivation or detail. In Virgo, Venus sees the world clearly and critically, often having altered perceptions of it, and herself, as a result. In Virgo, the rose coloured glasses are off as she sees imperfections in herself that the rest of us are blind to.

In Virgo, Venus is operating within a sign that thrives on work, analyses details, is extremely conscious about what food is consumed and strives for perfection. This is not a comfortable place for her to be. In Virgo, Venus finds it difficult to relax and difficult to appreciate beauty- especially her own. She literally doesn’t know how beautiful she is, and she often finds it hard to appreciate herself and her own awesomeness.

In Virgo, Venus is earthily tactile and sensual, reliable, faithful and practical. Despite her textbook reputation to nag in relationships (I make no judgement…), she will give more of herself to you than you can or will ever notice.

This all makes Venus in Virgo a difficult placement to write about. So please, if you feel that this is not you, don’t feel compelled to tell me so- and I mean that in the nicest possible way!

The danger with this placement- especially when it comes to relationships- is when that criticality is projected onto imperceptible imperfections in an otherwise healthy relationship. Sometimes in Virgo’s attempt to make things better, she can make things worse. Knowing when “good enough” actually is “good enough” can be a struggle- especially when it comes to relationships. And before you all yell and scream and say that I shouldn’t be encouraging you to make do or “settle”- that isn’t what this is about. It’s about accepting that sometimes things can’t be perfect.

An un-named Leo friend with Venus in Virgo struggles with what she describes as the checklist mentality. Absolutely gorgeous, but until recently single, she admits (retrospectively) that she (unconsciously) approached men with a checklist of sorts- both in terms of physical attributes and professional and earning capacity. Upon meeting a likely candidate he would be assessed and discounted. She also discloses that the “qualities” on her list were really “quantities” to be ticked off and accounted for.

In actual fact, the checklist was there because she didn’t believe that she was special enough to attract someone who would think that she was perfect enough. The concept of “good enough” is a difficult one for Venus in Virgo.

Stylistically, she doesn’t like a fuss. Dangly bits around wrists are a distraction, as are flounces and frills and anything else that can get in the way. Her clothes are serviceable and fit for purpose. Naturally this will be tempered a tad by where her Sun is.

As an example, a Leo woman will lend more colour and drama (and generally with better shoes) to Venus in Virgo than will the Virgo Sun. Likewise the Venus in Virgo, Libra Sun combination will always offer a more restrained style than the Libra Sun/Venus combo would.

Yes, the title of this post is a One Direction song. Well spotted! Sure it was a promise to Miss 14 to use, but you know what? The lyrics fit:

and when you smile at the ground it ain’t hard to tell…you don’t know…you don’t know you’re beautiful…

Check out also: The Divine Miss Fisher