L is for Leo

Hi there and welcome to my "L" post, where I talk about the glorious and magnificent 5th sign of the Zodiac--Leo!

The fixed fire sign of the astrological year, Leo folks embody the spirit of their ruling planet, the sun. Their positive attitudes and "sunny" dispositions make them extremely attractive to others, and unlike many of the other signs, Leo can handle--and many enjoy--being the center of attention. Think of the sun's position in our solar system...what's at the center? Right. So Leo folks are often attracted to the limelight. The theatre is one area ruled by Leo.

You will often find them in the lap of luxury or out at play. Like the big cats they represent, Leo folks enjoy indulging in the finer things in life, and if they can afford it, then why worry about what it costs? They are exceptionally generous and love picking up the check when you go out. This can be a problem if they really can't afford it, but more on that later. Generally speaking, Leo people will do anything for those they love, and in romance, no one can wine and dine like Leo.

Some of the drawbacks of Leo are very easy to spot. They don't call a group of lions a pride for nothing, and pride is one of the major potential Leo downfalls. As kings and queens of the jungle--or in this case, the zodiac--if they decide that the rest of us are just peons who are around to do their bidding, there can be strife. Of course, a lot of your standard pride-related afflictions--egotism, arrogance, and the like--can plague Leos. While many astrology books will tell you that, they don't say why. And the why, dear readers, is the most interesting question. They're snappy dressers and usually look well put together. They're positive and nice. They mean well. So why would they have a tendency to act like spoiled children, who want to leave menial tasks like laundry, cleaning, and paying bills, to people whose time is less valuable than their own?

On the surface, Leo is a sign that loves the razzle-dazzle. The song from the musical "Chicago" called "Give 'Em the Old Razzle-Dazzle" always makes me think of Leo. One of the lines from the song is "How can they see with sequins in their eyes?" The sequins are what Leo wants you to see. They don't want you to look at them in a very deep way, because if you do you might find them wanting in some way. Many Leo people have problems with self-esteem; they want to give you the impression that everything is perfect, which of course it isn't. But it's not perfect for anyone. It's that sense of inadequacy that may lead them to seek constant reassurance from others, that they are really liked and respected. Being generous and nice definitely keeps people coming back.

What many Leo folks need to understand is that they're fantastic people just the way they are. They don't have to be at the center all the time; they won't be forgotten or neglected. The biggest challenge for them will be to make how they feel about themselves inside match the way they try to make other people feel: Confident, happy, and loved.

There is an old astrological saying: "Leo leads from the front, and Scorpio leads from behind." One of the reasons why Scorps and Leos tend to have difficulty is that Leo can project confidence with nothing behind it, and Scorpio will see right through that. Leo, on the other hand, may not take Scorpio seriously because that quiet person in the corner may not readily jump confidently into the limelight like they will. But there are definitely some challenges here: Scorpio is fixed water and the polar opposite of fixed fire Leo. 

If the differences are respected, however, the combination of the two can be amazing! My mother-in-law is fortunate enough to have Leo sun and Scorpio moon, an astrological powerhouse that makes her outgoing and fun but still intuitive and devious. And just ask Scorpio Hillary Clinton about the power of Leo! Her husband Bill and Barack Obama are both Leos, and she's done rather well with both of them, don't you think?

In addition to the theatre and drama in general, Leo also rules the 5th house and a number of other areas:

• Creativity
• Fun and recreation of all kinds
• Romance and love affairs
• Children
• Sex for pleasure
• Celebrities 

Thanks so much for tuning in! Please come back on Monday for my "M" post! :)