Spica, In the Constellation Virgo
Spica, the brilliantly shining fixed star, known as Alpha Virginis, holds a special place in the constellation of Virgo, the Maiden. Described by Brady as “the symbol of the goddess’ gifts to mankind”. Spica embodies the cultivation of human knowledge that resides within us, transcending the constraints of a single lifetime. This star represents the awakening of inner wisdom and talents that illuminate both humanity and life on Earth. To truly understand Spica, we must delve into the symbolism and goddesses associated with this stellar gem.
In ancient calendars, Spica’s significance goes beyond mere harvest abundance or the sustenance provided by grains during the long winter months. This generous maiden is intricately linked to Nephthys, the sister of the Egyptian goddess Isis. Nephthys embodies protection, health, and the guardianship of the night. She’s also associated with fermentation, manifesting in Videmiatrix, another fixed star in the Virgo constellation, which impart the deeper connection of fermentation to beer and wine.
In Greek, the translation of Nephthys’s epithet, Nebet-hut, Nebet-het, Nebt-het, means “Lady of the temple” or “Lady of the house.” This portrays her as both the home and the foundation of new life. Her left hand grasping the ankh, a symbol of life, symbolizes the death experience, where death, in esoteric and Egyptian contexts, represents rebirth. It’s the fertile fields of the underworld nourishing life and providing a new embodiment. This death is akin to the gateway to winter, a period when the material world ceases production, but sustenance emerges from the unseen, viewed as gifts bestowed upon humanity. These gifts, creative attributes, breathe new life into endeavors like writing, painting, scientific exploration, and healing—bringing abundance from the unseen to transform lives and well-being.
Understanding Spica in this light allows us to welcome its heliacal rising, the moment when it rises with the sun. This event signifies a shift within humans and their souls’ journeys through time and beyond. Within the Virgo constellation, Spica represents a shift in Kala Purusha—the universal ordering of time in relation to the cosmic soul. We may call this shift “Autumn,” a time when material attachment comes into focus and reliance on external material resources wanes. It’s when the expression of the soul and its gifts comes to the forefront, offering liberation from existing conditions and the ability to transform them or usher in new forms of life.
As Bepin Behari aptly states, Virginis, within Virgo, acts as the crucifix of cosmic man in the material realm, creating conditions that externalize latent attributes of the soul.
Lunar Mansion: Hasta
In the lunar mansion, Spica resides within Hasta, symbolized by the five elements and the hand, signifying self-reliance and working in harmony with universal order. Hasta grants regenerative power and the transformation of energy and embodiment. These qualities grant Virgo its creative prowess and brilliance. It connects Virgo to the astral realm, bestowing gifts and abilities from past lifetimes—inner qualities that will bear fruit in this life. This connection bridges the cosmic man with the material world. In this position, individuals are challenged to break free from their current reality, nurturing the seed of potential within to attain a state of immortal abundance. Eliminating the chaff, they harvest the gold, fostering these qualities through service to humanity and higher objectives.
Planetary Attributes
Spica is ruled by Mercury, representing the feminine negative principle—the magnetic forces of the feminine and creative abilities. This star’s planetary attributes reveal the forces at work and their connection to inner creativity, offering divine knowledge to humanity. Ptolemy attributed Spica’s nature to Mercury and Mars, with Venus in moderation. Mercury symbolizes the reception of knowledge, Mars introduces transformative energies, and Venus contributes feminine recreative abilities.
Conclusion: The Resurrection of Abundance
The rise of Spica marks the moment when our material world transitions into a season of inner reflection and decreased reliance on external resources. It’s the threshold where we transform the fruits of past efforts and expressions within the material realm. This transition resembles the agricultural harvest and the process of fermentation—a resurrection of a new existence. The soul crosses into the abundance and wealth of life, undergoing a reformative process led by the cosmic man. This transformation transcends time, offering abundance from within, whether it’s cultivating knowledge in the sciences, arts, or divine gifts in material forms. Spica signifies a time when human abilities and attachments shift toward gifts that nourish the soul beyond the constraints of time. It’s a season for harvesting our own wisdom and knowledge, leading to fresh forms of expression. Abundance, in its truest sense, is resurrected from within.