The Time of Enhancement

It’s the New Moon of Virgo this Sunday evening, and I want you to be as well informed about the importance and power of this month as possible. Ruled by the planet mercury, which is known as the planet of movement and action, trust a Virgo to get to the nitty-gritty details before the actual event itself. Hey, what can I say – I’m a Virgo, it’s in my nature to get straight to the point.

Virgo is an earth sign, and Virgo’s view of the world is physical and practical. In fact, no other sign in the Zodiac possesses Virgo’s logical, analytical and methodical capabilities, which is possibly what makes them the perfectionists that they are to begin with. They have an uncanny eye for detail and nothing gets past them. They are reliable, responsible, and hardworking. They desire  order and perfection. This constant quest for perfection is in actual fact part of their journey, as well as their promise.

Imbued with a critical eye, Virgos are always aware of what’s “wrong with this picture” and “what’s missing from that.” They are very quick to illustrate problems and draw on their lack of perfection, often missing the big picture. As the Rav says, “their view of the world may become reduced to a grain of sand, when an entire beach should be taken into account.” This accounts for their propensity to judge, and defines what they need to focus on in order to transform.

The Hebrew month of Virgo falls in Elul, which is known as the Month of Repentance, but it goes so much deeper than that. Virgo is represented by the sign of The Virgin, which denotes purity and the ability to cleanse. This is a time to completely rejuvenate and restore what has happened in the past year, as well clear the path for the New Year. Rosh Hashanah, more appropriately known as the Jewish New Year, is just around the corner, and it is my wish that you tap into all the abundance that this time of year has to offer for the next 365 days.

This is in essence why this time of the year is so important. Rav Berg explains that everything is in its seed-level; this un-manifested potential is ours for the taking. We are all responsible for our own destiny. And we can either be a channel for negativity or positivity; it’s up to us. Let’s go with the latter, shall we? Here’s how…

Judging oneself is difficult, and because Virgos have a constant quest for perfection, it is a lot easier to point out and focus on other people’s flaws and wrongdoings as opposed to really confronting our own. During this month, it is especially important to make the decision to have a new outlook on what we perceive as mistakes. And I encourage you to do so. The ability to see every detail comes from the Creator; having this ability need not be something we use against others or ourselves, but for overall, universal enhancement.

Look inward, focus less on what others are doing – remember that we all have our own path to walk. Instead of confronting flaws and judging them, make it a useful exercise and recognize how you could have done it differently. As the Rav says, “we must go back to the future in order to restore the results of past activities.” We simply need to educate and inform ourselves, and the world at large. But let’s do this one step at a time… we can’t change the world all at once, but we can transform ourselves with patience, effort, honesty and persistence.

As a Virgo I have worked hard to keep the traits of a Virgo that work for me; organized, clear and goal oriented, while I leave the ones that do not work for me behind; like judgment and perfectionism. This process of letting go is ongoing; it’s a constant chipping away of things to reveal something so completely different and transformed. Much like Michelangelo’s David – a simple block of marble – which he chipped away at for years to reveal one of the most priceless pieces of art. We need to envision ourselves like a slab of clay, filled with unmet potential and the ability to mold ourselves into what we want.

Every year around this time, I find myself excited by what’s to come. An ongoing process I find myself dealing with is making an honest assessment of my life, of where I am and where I want to be. Now, no matter what sign you are, or any of us are, this is something I know we all work on. It’s a constant investigation and pursuit of what works for us and what doesn’t; to be present and authentic in every moment, in every relationship – whether it be with our spouse, business partner, parents, sibling or friend.

We all have our challenges, and I know only too well that our greatest transformations come from moments of discomfort. If I am not my authentic self I don’t do myself or those I care for any favors.

Whenever I am asked where I see myself in 5 years, or two years, or even in the next year, my answer always remains the same. I don’t want to be able to recognize myself. I want to be in constant transformation, like stripping away layers of an onion day by day—there may be tears along the way—but the idea of letting go, truly letting go of doubts, fears, judgments and all the things that don’t serve me or those around me is welcomed and I’m excited!

This month offers us the strength to identify our faults, to really take stock of ourselves and reconnect with the Light, to start “the new year” with a clean canvas. And it is the power and capability of Elul, which enables us to remove all past pains and mistakes, cleansing the negative residue from our lives.

The Month of Elul does not just bring about the opportunity to erase past mistakes or better ourselves, but it is a process for true transformation. Instead of thinking what I need to change to be a little bit better, we have to see what we need to change completely so that today we cannot even imagine what the person we can become looks like. I find myself filled with a real desire to change with greater trepidation. As we teach, the quickest way to change is to seek out the opportunities and put ourselves in uncomfortable situations; the harder the challenge, the greater the reward. The darker it seems, the more Light we can reveal. The opportunities are all around us this month.

Refrain from nit picking and remember that there is so much more than meets the eye; focusing your attention on the nitty-gritty ins and outs is only to the detriment of the bigger picture.

JOURNAL:

1. Do you focus on the flaws of others before you look inward?

2. How does this affect you and your relationships?

3. Are you quick to judge?