The Weeping Virgin

Every Virgo season I’m reminded of the Weeping Virgin motif from Freemasonry. This scene depicts Father Time holding, untangling or gazing into a young maiden’s disheveled hair. Symbolically, the woman represents Virgo and the old man is Saturn. To Freemasons, the Virgin is mourning the death of Hiram Abiff, the chief architect of King Solomon’s Temple.

By itself, the broken pillar can represent the transition of death and is commonly used as a grave marker for members of the brotherhood. While I find all of that interesting, it’s clear there’s a broader, more universal meaning behind the Weeping Virgin.

Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn, has esoterically been labeled the Gateway of the Gods (aka the Gateway of Death) for mankind. Symbolically, Virgo represents all mothers which leads me to believe she mourns for her child (or children) who Father Time has taken from her. Specifically, I’m reminded of her solar child or son (aka the Sun) which is embedded into the myth of Virgo. Let’s not forget, a great number of gods are said to be born of a virgin and it’s Virgo who makes an appearance as the symbolic mother in the Strength card.

All of this corresponds to the Virgin Mary weeping for Christ’s suffering. The Seven Sorrows of Mary represent the moments where she endured her greatest pains during his final moments. Prior to his crucifixion Jesus was beaten while chained to a pillar (sometimes broken) exactly as seen on the Weeping Virgin.

A complete pillar represents structure and order while a broken pillar represents destruction and chaos. Naturally, the passage of time both heals and destroys. Eventually, Father Time comes for all and for Virgo this includes her virgin born child.