The fruit-bearing tree: exploring Virgo I
Let's dive into five example charts for the first decan of Virgo and discuss botany, archeology, philosophy and neurodiversity.
A little while ago, I started a series of blog posts in French about the zodiac signs. Part of this series involved introducing each decan, with example charts. I reckon there are ample resources that discuss zodiac signs in English at this point, but I thought it’d be interesting to discuss the decans and example charts in more depth. I expanded the original writing considerably to consider the examples more thoroughly, with visuals of the birth charts and more commentary.
[Nota bene: the first post in this decanic series is available for free, the following ones will be for paid subscribers!]
For readers new to the decans, they are 10° sub-divisions of the zodiac signs, also called faces, or decanates. We might refer to the decans as “Aries I”, meaning 0°-9° of the zodiac sign of Aries, and so on and so forth; thus, here “Virgo I” refers to 0°-9° of Virgo.
The decans have a long and complex history, which is beyond the scope of this post! Suffice to say that despite being considered a “minor dignity”, they pack a punch and I find them fascinating. For a more detailed, yet relatively short introduction to the concept of the decans, I do recommend this article by Marlene Seven Bremner for The Astrologers’ Co-Op:
Now, let’s get into it!
Introducing Virgo I
The first face of Virgo is considered to be ruled by the Sun, and Mercury by triplicity. Austin Coppock calls this decan “A Tree Bearing Fruit”, and talks about humbly observing the process of creation, as well as assisting this process patiently. Kira Ryberg, in her 36 Decans Guidebook, evokes a determination to see things through, and a willingness to persevere.
Virgo I is associated to the minor arcana of the 8 of Pentacles in the Tarot; in the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, we can see someone working to carve Pentacles, diligent and focused. Ryberg describes it as someone honing their skills by putting in the time and effort necessary to reap the rewards.
In Virgo I, one can cultivate the good will to learn the basics of a discipline without misplaced hubris. There’s an understanding that you can’t rush perfection, that patience is required to obtain the desired results. The name given by Austin Coppock to this decan, “A Tree Bearing Fruit”, emphasises the examination of what we call nature and natural processes — you can only tinker so much with a tree and its creation of fruit, and before you even try to tinker with anything, much careful observation is required. This made me think of a lot of different things, including the scientific method.
Now, let’s examine the nativities of people with prominent Virgo I placements!
Example chart #1: Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is an American academic and animal behaviorist. A consultant for the livestock industry, she offers advice on animal behaviour — a topic she’s written about extensively. Grandin is also an autism spokesperson, and the author of several books documenting her observations and experiences regarding autism. She’s been advocating for a neurodiversity paradigm, considering autism as a disability but not a disease to be cured.
Grandin was born on August 29th, 1947 at 2:30 pm in Boston, MA (rated AA, McEvoy). Below, her natal chart generated using LUNA software.
Temple Grandin was born with Venus, the Sun and Mercury in Virgo I, in the 10th whole sign House. These planets in Virgo I have thus much to do with 10th House themes: her public image, her career, her visible accomplishments. Using Placidus Houses, they’re located in the 9th House of higher learning, philosophies and values.
I find it particularly interesting to see this specific trio here, angular in Virgo I, given Grandin’s line of work and interests: she has written quite a lot about ways of seeing the world but also what she calls visual thinking, for instance in Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions, published in 2022. Mercury is associated with communication, speech and learning, the Sun with visibility and the eyes, and Venus with beauty, unification, diplomacy!
Since both planetary rulers of Virgo I are present, and they’re in the 10th, we might expect the themes of this decan to be somewhat obvious, and I think it is the case. For one thing, Grandin is specialised in observing and documenting phenomena in animals! I also feel like the paradigm of neurodiversity is reminiscent of the potential virtues of this decan: taking note of diversity without judgement, accompanying the existing (neurological) variety without looking to “fix” or “cure”; rather, prioritising well-being and flourishing. Autistic people can struggle a lot with issues such as sensory or social differences, and proponents of diversity don’t propose to ignore this struggle, quite the contrary. It’s all about observing in order to discern what’s actually needed to thrive, rather than trying to force a pre-conceived outcome that might be prejudiced1.
Example chart #2: Vernon Dvorak
Vernon Dvorak was an American meteorologist, who developed a technique to analyze tropical cyclones from satellite imagery in 1973, technique which now bears his name. Here’s what Wikipedia says of the Dvorak technique:
Dvorak's most influential work was the creation of the Dvorak technique, a method of estimating tropical cyclone intensity using infrared satellite. The Dvorak technique is credited as "fundamentally [enhancing] the ability to monitor tropical cyclones on a global scale." The method provides an invaluable tool in monitoring these systems given the limitations of direct measurements on such a vast scale.
Dvorak was born on November 15th, 1928 at 00:05 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (rated AA, Scholfield). Below, his natal chart generated using LUNA software.
Vernon Dvorak was born under 1° Virgo rising. Mercury in Scorpio rules his Ascendant from the 3rd House, and Neptune conjoins his Ascendant degree. How eloquent for Virgo I, isn’t it? His life’s work was literally monitoring natural phenomena. As a side-note, I find it remarkable that his Ascendant is at the bendings of the Nodes, and exactly conjunct Neptune, given his focus on titanic events such as cyclones!
Example chart #3: Hugo de Vries
Hugo de Vries was a Dutch botanist and one of the first geneticists. From Wikipedia:
He is known chiefly for suggesting the concept of genes, rediscovering the laws of heredity in the 1890s while apparently unaware of Gregor Mendel's work, for introducing the term "mutation", and for developing a mutation theory of evolution.
Observing natural phenomena and creation, indeed!
Hugo de Vries was born on February 16th, 1848 at 01:00 (rated AA, Gauquelin).
De Vries was born under a Midheaven at 8° Virgo, ruled by Mercury in Pisces conjunct the IC, with a Mercury-ruled Lot of Fortune as well. There are a lot of other factors in his nativity that I find speak eloquently to his particular vocation (Mars conjunct Algol, Mercury in paran to Alphard and Fomalhaut, Jupiter in paran to Alpheratz, Ophiuchus rising, among others), but I have to say it is also very on the nose for him to have a Virgo I MC.
Example chart #4: Christiane Desroches Noblecourt
Christiane Desroches Noblecourt was a French Egyptologist; the first woman to be a fellow of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology, and the first woman to lead an archaeological dig.
Christiane Desroches Noblecourt was born on 17 November 1913 at 23:45, in Paris, France (rated AA, Geslain).
Desroches Noblecourt is another Virgo I rising example. Her 4° Virgo Ascendant is ruled by retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius in the 4th House. The emphasis on the 4th House doesn’t surprise me given her line of work! You would think someone doing excavations has a prominent 4th House2. Desroches Noblecourt is particularly known for being a leading figure in the campaign for the preservation of ancient Nubian temples. Again, very literal!
Example chart #5: Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie — a prominent figure during the Age of so-called Enlightenment.
Denis Diderot was born on 5 October 1713 at 17:00, in Langres, France (AA rated, Taeger).
Diderot was born with Pluto, the Lot of Spirit, and Saturn in Virgo I, closely opposite his Ascendant ruler Jupiter in Pisces.
Perhaps it’s worth saying a bit more about the Lot of Spirit, which is the Lot of the Sun, also called Part of Things To Be. Kira Ryberg writes that she has found this particular Lot to be most indicative of someone’s purpose in the entire birth chart, adding that the Lot of Spirit represents how you respond to the circumstances and events that befall you.
I’m not super invested in the Lots beyond Fortune and Spirit as a technique myself3, but I do like to look at the Lot of Spirit for additional nuance to the natal Sun placement, and I consider any close conjunction to the Lot of Spirit to be noteworthy.
So, Diderot has the Lot of Spirit embroiled with Saturn and Pluto, in the terrain of Virgo I. Sounds intense, right? Saturn is the planet of limitations, restrictions, death. Pluto is dubbed “The Great Destroyer”. While we might be all too intimate already with the dire expressions of the Saturn-Pluto duet4, I think it’s worth also considering, to begin with, some of the more constructive potentials of this potent combination.
Renn Butler writes of “powers of intense discipline and endurance, rock-solid determination and persistance, […] deep and systematic self-exploration”. Not to idealise Diderot — but it is interesting to see how these planetary expressions shape up in the narratives of his legacy, in the context of the first face of Virgo. As a philosopher, Diderot has been described as remarkable in giving some space for his reader to reason autonomously, rather than proposing a complete, closed and rigid system5. In his own nativity, Diderot is represented by expansive, sage Jupiter in Pisces — locked in arm wrestling with Pluto-Saturn and his Lot of Spirit in Virgo. This tension is exacerbated by Mars in Sagittarius completing a T-square. To me it sounds like striving to thrive and teach despite adversity: Diderot seeked to systematise and disseminate knowledge, and was decried as dangerous by some of his contemporaries for his materialist perspectives. The publication of Lettre sur les aveugles à l'usage de ceux qui voient actually got him incarcerated for three months! Following this traumatising experience, he was more prudent regarding his publications — but he kept writing. He is now hailed as a genius, revered for his erudition and critical mind, and the modern edition of his complete works started in 1975 by Hermann has not yet been finished as of 2024: his work has proved durable6.
Whether we consider the Virgo I situation as representing a facet of Diderot or other people in his life who opposed him, I find the themes of this face to be eloquent. His intense tenacity and rigor in building a durable legacy, as pertains to observation and documentation of natural phenomena in the Encyclopédie, can be seen in the qualities of Saturn-Pluto there. The hash narrow-mindedness and dogmatism in people who seeked to censor him by means of carceral violence can also be seen there.
Thank you for reading this exploration of the first face of Virgo through chart examples! Let me know what you think in the comments, if you so wish — I’d be pleased to read you.
Stay tuned for a similar exploration of the following decans! ✨
Selective sources and references
36 Faces, Austin Coppock
Exploring the Decans, Austin Coppock
The Visual Astrologer: Exploring the Decans through the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, Spencer Michaud
The 36 Decans Guidebook, Kira Ryberg
Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune, Chris Brennan
The Archetypal Universe, Renn Butler
Bonatti on Lots, Guido Bonatti, trad. Ben Dykes
The Lot of Spirit, Kira Ryberg
The Lot of Fortune and Spirit in Astrology, The Astrology Podcast
If you’re looking to learn more about neurodiversity and autism in particular, I would favour resources produced by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)!
For more on the 4th House, see my article about Henri Cosquer and the hidden underwater cave he discovered!
Not to say I think Lots aren’t an interesting technique, or that they’re anecdotal, by any means. This precision is given out of transparency — I don’t work with Lots as much as, say, fixed stars. I systematically look at Fortune and Spirit, but don’t generally explore the other Lots as much when studying nativities. There is only so much you can study in depth, and I’ve chosen to prioritise fixed stars in parans because 1) I’m more passionate about them, pure personal preference and proclivity, and 2) because as a technique, I find them more accessible than Lots, which require a precise birth time. I am, however, grateful and awed by some of my colleagues’ work with the Lots!
Having just come out of a Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn period that coincided, among other things, with the onset of a deadly pandemic!
Lest you be misled, I’ll be real with you, I’m not a philosopher and I can’t pretend to have a personal, very highly informed opinion on Diderot’s philosophy. I’m literally quoting his French Wikipedia page here.
The quality of his work outside of imperialist, “Enlightened” perspective is another matter to consider entirely.
Azur, this is so good