Learn Astrology > Leo Zodiac Sign In Your Natal Chart or Horoscope

Life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved

Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862

French dramatist, novelist, & poet (1802 - 1885)

Glyph	The glyph is based on the lion's mane or tail and symbolizes the regal and powerful nature of the sign.
Symbol	The Lion
Dates	23 July - 22 August
Ruler	Sun
House	5th
Mode	Fixed
Element	Fire
Polarity	Yang (Positive, Male)
Season	Late Summer
Day	Sunday
Number	1
Birthstones	Cat's eye, Ruby
Metal	Gold
Colours	Orange, Golden, Yellow, Red, Green
Foods	Rich food, Meat, Walnuts, Honey, Parsley, Watercress
Likes	Applause, Shopping, Food, Wine, Forests, Mountains, The beach, Sunny days, Leading, The Arts, Athletics, Anything with Passion
Dislikes	Being Laughed at or Putdown, Timid People, Budget Control
Keywords	Energetic, Dramatic, A Leader, Powerful, Egotistical, Vain, Generous, Noble, Creative, Talented, Temperamental, Dominant

In this step 3, zodiac signs, of the learn astrology guide to your natal chart/horoscope, you will learn about the Leo zodiac sign, the second of the fire signs.

Leo

Leo is fixed in nature and is the only sign ruled by the Sun. Like the Sun that has all the planets circle around it so does a Leo often have all the other types of people look towards them as the centre. As with the Lion who is the king of all the animals in the jungle, so the Leo energy gives it's bearer a regal presence as well as physical strength and stamina.. Truly Leo is the divine child of the zodiac. The only sign ruled by the brilliant Sun, a Leo is blessed with possibly the most gifts of any sign in the zodiac. However, similar to how the male lion fiercely defends its pride and territory from other threats, another Leo archetype is that of warrior-king who can be quite combative and even destructive to those who would threaten his loved ones or position. This often overlooked aspect nevertheless reflects the older 'feral' (meaning capable of savage behavior when angered) and 'bestial' (prefers primal instinct over higher reasoning when angered) natures of the sign. Despite this, they are natural leaders and attract followers wherever they go. Their charisma is second to none. They are often the life and soul of the party, and dispense their generosity and wit to those who inevitably gather around them.

Leos tend to rise to the top of any group they partake in. There is a grandness about how a Leo operates. Only the best quality are good enough for them, no expense is spared. They are big hearted, generous, warm , dignified and noble, as well as determined, forceful, courageous, and assertive. Napoleon was a famous Leo and in his early years he epitomised that natural flair for leadership and success. His men would follow him anywhere.

It all sounds too good to be true - what is the problem with this energy? Leos have to be the centre of attention. Often they will only look at an event to see how it relates to themselves. All they may see is how creative and witty they are being. They can assume their many gifts are a result of their own specialness, and can forget to be thankful for them. Pride is what the Lion suffers from in all the fairytales, and it's ultimately pride that can be the downfall of the Leo. Even Napoleon believed himself invincible after his early successes and ultimately this hubris was his downfall. Another Leo flaw is their aggression and ferocity when angered. Although they don't tend to react as quickly as Aries, the intensity of their rage is greater and lasts longer due to its fixed quality. Still if the Leo does get over his specialness and his ego he can be a great force for positivity in the world. He can naturally and easily influence and lead many people. Of course he's not wrong when he feels special because he has truly been given many gifts and qualities. It's just he should remember where they came from.

The energy of Leo is fixed in nature which means they have great endurance to see a task through to the end. It's virtually impossible to change the opinion of a Leo. They do have one achilles heel though, and that is flattery. If you want to get a Leo to see your point of view, the only way is to flatter them, and let them think it was their brilliant idea in the first place.

Leo Careers

Leos make great actors, they love the drama and creativity of being at the centre of the stage and being worshipped by the audience. While it's true that Leos can be a bit self-absorbed, the "prima donna" stereotype is somewhat exaggerated since Leo's talents and skills are not just restricted to the theatre. As ruler of the 5th House, they tend to pursue many forms of self-expression and hobbies including sports and athletics in which they usually excel. The distorted Leo is the premadonna actor who is overly dramatic and self obsessed. Leos can also make good antique dealers. Their natural flair enables them to choose and deal with only items of the best quality and style. Leos make great leaders, politicians and heads of companies, however they can also be the tyrant too if their energy is not used wisely.

Zodiac Sign Compatibility

The most compatible zodiac signs with Leo are generally considered to be be Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius and the least compatible zodiac signs Taurus and Scorpio.

Comparing sun signs is a quick and easy way to give a general idea of compatibility. However, to unlock the real power of astrology to fully understand someone or how compatible you are with them, we need to calculate other planet placement factors from their date of birth, and compare them to your own, and then interpret the results to give more specific information. If you would like to explore this further, please see astrology compatibility reports.

Leo Rising (Ascendant in Leo)

People with Leo rising in their natal chart or horoscope, tend to be generous, proud, emotional, romantic, extroverted, vain, egotistical, courageous, strong, regal, temperamental, aggressive, stubborn, energetic, dominant, sentimental, self-confident, showy, and want to shine and be successful in wherever they go and whatever they do.

Planets in Leo

Discover what each planet in Leo in your natal chart or horoscope means below;