Born on the Cusp between Leo and Virgo
By Felipe de Ortego y Gasca
Leo and Virgo–sounds like a song-and-dance comedy team. Or like a Bonnie and Clyde duo. Maybe even like Batman and Robin. Leo and Virgo could be all of them. In reality, however, Leo and Virgo are signs of the 12-sign Zodiac, an ancient astrological configuration still with us today in fortune-telling horoscope columns in newspapers. The 12 signs of the Zodiac (each named for a different constellation) are Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. All the signs of the Zodiac have signification. That is, Pieces signifies “Fish,” “Aquarius signifies “the Water Carrier,” and so on. Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac signifying “the Lion;” and Virgo is the sixth sign of the Zodiac signifying “the Virgin.” The sign of Leo starts on July 23 and ends on August 22; the sign of Virgo begins on August 23 and ends on September 22.
I was born at 2 am on the morning of August 23 on the cusp (the point that separates one from the other) between Leo and Virgo. Growing up I always thought I had been born on the Leo side of the cusp. Later, I learned that I was born on the Virgo side of the cusp. Until I discovered the difference, I always acted like a Leo, assertive, debonair, outgoing, gregarious, making friends with everyone. Needless to say, it came like a blow to discover that as a Virgo I was supposed to be shy, reserved, even-tempered, and fastidious.
Despite these differences between the two signs, they share many similarities. Both are signs of the Zodiac, both have signification, both—at least astrologically–suggest particular modes of behavior, and both point to a specific mind-set, that is, a unique outlook on life.
A Leo is characterized as fun-loving with a devil-may-care attitude towards life. Leos live for today–carpe diem (seize the day) as the Romans put it, tomorrow will take care of itself. A Leo’s philosophy of life focuses on the self—almost narcissistically.
In Greek lore, Narcissus fell in love with himself when he saw his reflection on the surface of a pool of water. Leos love people, and are at their best surrounded by others. A Leo has never met a stranger. Most often, a Leo is the life of the party. On the down-side, Leos tend to be messy—leaving things where they fall or tossing things hither and yon without regard for neatness or organization.
A Virgo, on the other hand, is regarded as compulsive about neatness and organization though that may not necessarily be the case. Virgos seek solitude, finding pleasure being alone with a book, a loaf of bread, and a good bottle of wine—assuming they are old enough to drink. This is not to say they are anti-social—just secure in their own skin. Indeed, there are Virgos who carry fastidiousness a bit far. In the main, however, they’re tidy—not compulsively so as Monk in the series on the USA channel, though there are Virgos like that. Virgos are said to be the peace makers with their even-tempered interactions with people.
Whether any of the above is true or actual about Leos and Virgos is a matter of what one chooses to believe or not believe about astrological signs. Prophetic signification is not stamped irrevocably on human behavior nor is it part of the human genome. For me, what lends some credence to the signification of the Zodiac signs is that there’s a lot of Leo in me despite not being born under that sign. I like being with people, being the life of the party. When I get home at the end of the day, my tie is tossed over a doorknob, my shoes get sloughed off toward a corner, my coat or jacket gets slung on the knob of a chair. At that point, like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Mr Hyde, I’m not thinking about neatness or organization.
However, around 10 pm, Mr. Neatnik—that is, Mr. Virgo—gets a hold of me and almost automatically I take my tie from the doorknob and hang it on the tie rack in my closet. Almost trance-like I do the same with my coat or jacket, and my shoes get picked up from the corner and lined up with the rest of the shoes in my closet. Don’t ask me to explain this contradiction. It just is. Unlike Shakespeare’s Marc Antony in his paean to Julius Caesar at his bier, perhaps our behavior is not in ourselves but in the stars.
Which of the two do I like? The truth be told: I like them both. This is not schizophrenia; I don’t have two personalities. In me Leo and Virgo have fused into one personality. Neither are fighting each other. They get along just well. When the spotlight falls on Leo, he performs just like he’s supposed to. The same for Virgo. There’s no competition. When occasioned, they imbibe jointly in a wee dram. When dancing, they each contribute to a great performance. They’re buddies. They’ve learned that they’re a team.
The only point of occasional contention is that Mr. Virgo contends he was born at the very moment Rudolfo Valentino died and that somehow Valentino’s spirit made its way to his body. Mr. Leo will have none of that, pointing out to Mr. Virgo the difference in time-zones.
Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, Ph.D., is Scholar in Residence (Cultural Studies, Critical Theory, Public Policy) at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico.