FX Leyendecker for Life Magazine

July 22-August 22, 2020

We have moved into the season of lights, cameras and action, and Leos can finally start celebrating. It is right that they should! All of the other signs may play home base to planets, or to the earth-bound Moon, but Leo is the kingdom of the Sun: the all-powerful, the sovereign, the Source. Those born with the Sun in the fixed fire sign are steady providers of warmth and energy for all those in their orbit, and the flame to which we all gravitate. They have an effortless magnetism and a rare generosity toward those they love. When they shine, the rest of us want to bask in their glow. And similarly, when their tempers flare, we all jump back to avoid getting seared. Leo has a self-assured manner, a natural sense of nobility, and an innate belief in their own specialness. Pride has a double meaning to the celestial lion: he protects it fiercely, and he must be careful not to let it overtake him. 

There is a heart of gold beneath the Leo exterior, which must be handled with care. This is the archetype of the King (or the Queen), the Child and the Performer, all of whom become the center of attention upon entering a room. When all eyes turn toward them, they naturally oblige, by either leading, charming, or entertaining us. But the spotlight can be a precarious place, and we’ve all heard about the hazards of royalty. Heavy indeed is the head that wears the crown, and Leo is acutely aware of the expectations that come with those roles and the identities that we in the audience project onto them. Learning to manage their solar power and developing a healthy ego are in their soul contract. The need to be liked, to be recognized, and applauded for a job well done is an important spiritual component of Leo life and of the Leo-ruled parts of all of our charts. 

Not all want to be on center stage, but diva or no, Leo must have a means of creative expression in order to be in alignment with their nature, and ultimately to feel fulfilled. It is important, necessary even, to shine in some way. Somewhere in the life, the lion must find a way to rule and to roar. 

Mythology, folklore and the human mind have long associated the lion with royalty, and its mane with the rays of the Sun. If you are born under Leo, you are a shining star; a child of Samson and of Heracles, of Sekhmet and Cybele; and your golden greatness is an inspiration to us all.