- Dates: July 23rd to August 22nd
- Element: Fire and Fixed
- Ruling planet: Sun
- Key characteristics: generous, confident, natural leadership and love to be admired.
Strong characteristics: Creative and Charismatic. Leos excel in self-expression, drawing others in with their magnetic charm. They have a great passion for life. They appreciate the grandeur of existence and seek joy in every moment. They are warm-hearted, decisive, and loving, often taking charge with confidence. They confront challenges head-on, displaying great bravery.
Challenging characteristics: Stubborn, self-assured and restless. Leos can be unyielding in their viewpoints, occasionally resisting change, and they may sometimes appear to be arrogant. They crave excitement and may grow impatient when faced with monotony.
Leo individuals typically show great courage and shine bright inspiring people around them. They naturally take the center attention in many situations and they are not afraid to take the lead. I once read about the difference between an Aries and Leo saying that, an Aries want to be the best, Leo is the best, which shows that Leos seldom doubt themselves or as such strive towards success, they just naturally attract it! They are also very honest people and they are not afraid of offending others – being honest sometimes appear to be more important.
If you have the Sun in Leo, you will exhibit the characteristics described above. Having the Sun in Leo means that your birthday falls between July 23rd and August 22nd. Additionally, if you have other planets in Leo, these traits will be further emphasized.
Both my father and my son have sun in Leo. My son also has his moon in Leo, which further strengthen the Leo characteristics. It is not like my father has always been professionally successful, but he has never doubted himself, his strategies and ways of handling challenges which has always been with great bravour. At the same time my father has always been very protective of his four children, always standing up for us in school for example. He never seemed to discipline us if we had a school issue, but rather the teacher. That has been a typical – sometimes arrogant – characteristic of my father. My son has the same approaches, yet he is a bit more relaxed and seldom pick a fight. He will never back down from one either though. My son is very popular, he is good in seeing the big picture. He wants to be his own boss – an entrepreneur. He is 14 years old, but he has known that he wanted his own business since he was 6. He will not hesitate to correct me, if he thinks I am wrong. Particularly, if I pick on his father, he literally tells me to stop – often in a charming way too.
Picture this: my son is only 3 years old, when he walks in front of me and gets in my way. I tell him ‘please don’t get in my way as we are walking’. He turns around, looks at me and says ‘you are the one getting in the way!’. He has also never been afraid to ask for directions or help in the store – completely showing an ingrained way of being in charge of the situation. He is literally born that way.
As his mother, I have learned to listen and respect him. If I do that, he will always consider how I feel, what may be the better option for all of us etc. Thus, involving him is important. Yet, he doesn’t want to talk about everything. Unlike my girls (a Libra and an Aries), he doesn’t think there is a need to endlessly discuss others behavior, motivations and so on. Maybe that is also a typical male thing😊
Physical traits of Leo
Leo people typically reflect regal and lion like qualities. They are said to have feline-like eyes that are expressive and can command attention. They carry themselves with dignified grace showing confidence and a very distinctive aura. They are often tall which add to their commanding presence. They have a strong and muscular upper body showing strength and vitality. A specific quality – and attraction to Leos – is that of hair. They often have thick hair and they are also attracted to people with ‘big’ hair. If you have ascendant in Leo some of the physical characteristics may be even more prominent. Elle has a series of articles on the traits of the different ascendant sign – this is the link for the Leo article if you are interested in reading more: Leo Rising: Personality Traits, Compatibility, and More Explained (elle.com)
Leo in love
Leo is known for being passionate, loyal and generous in love. They love the drama and excitement of a romance and will do grand gestures for their loved one. Leos are affectionate and seek passion, pleasure and play in their relationships. They are super loyal. Even though my mother left my Leo father 35 years ago, to this day, my father loves my mother and will always help and protect her.
In love they will spoil their loved ones – often paying for them and buying gifts. They love to both give and receive attention and admiration. My son was not very old before he understood that a girl or woman wants flowers, and he loves to give away flowers. He will buy stuff for his sisters or friends, so it is not only in romantic relationships that they display this kind of gestures.
Leos match well with partners who can match their zest in life and who can engage with their need for drama and excitement. They don’t necessarily strive towards a traditional female proto type. They like bold women who can stand up for themselves. Not that my mother is like that, but she is definitely also not traditional – she left him!
Read more about Leo in love and their compatibility with other signs:
Leo Compatibility – Leo Love Horoscope Zodiac Sign Matches (elle.com)Leo Compatibility and Best Matches for Love | LoveToKnow
Leo and career
Leos are creative, dramatic and take charge. This means that they fit well into leadership roles, acting or other kinds of performance demanding jobs. They could also be great at public speeches and thus would also be good politicians. Due to the sun ruling of Leo, they often take charge and can be seen as the heart and soul of any organization. They are proud and loyal.
My son’s dream is to become an entrepreneur and so was my father. One anecdote about my son is on a trip to New York, he commented, at age 12, that there were many yellow cabs and that they most make a lot of money since there are the need of so many. I noted that then he could also become a taxi driver in New York, if his other plans didn’t work out. My son answered, I wasn’t thinking about me becoming a taxi driver, I was thinking that I could have a company that owned a lot of taxis and then others would work for me. That is my Leo sons constant way of thinking.
It is also said that Leos enjoy working with children and animals. They strive to be good parents, and their creativity and ambitious approach to live make them formidable parents or working with children.
Read more about Leos and career here:
Leo Zodiac Sign at Work: Career Strengths & Dynamics (horoscope.net)
Parenting a Leo child
When you have a Leo child, get ready for a whirlwind of charisma, creativity, and enthusiasm. These little Lions love to be the center of attention, often exclaiming, “Look at me!” as they take center stage in any situation. As a parent, it’s both exhilarating and challenging to nurture their vibrant spirit.
Embrace Their Energy: Leo kids are like radiant suns—always shining brightly. They thrive on creativity and self-expression, so encourage activities like arts, drama, and imaginative play. Instead of dimming their light, help it shine constructively. A creatively engaged Leo is a happy Leo! Leo children need clear rules and boundaries. Their strong will can lead to power struggles, but remember that discipline doesn’t mean dimming their glow. Be firm yet loving. Explain why certain behaviors are unacceptable without diminishing their enthusiasm.
Friendship Skills: Leo kids can be so focused on being in the spotlight that they forget about others. Help them see the joy of shared experiences. Encourage playdates and group activities where they can practice being a good friend and sharing the limelight. Leos love to lead. Instead of clashing, give them opportunities to take charge. Let them organize a game, lead a project, or make decisions within safe boundaries. Their leadership skills will shine.
Remember, parenting a Leo child involves balancing their vibrant independence with guidance and love. Nurture their spirit and watch them flourish!
Read more on How to Parent a Leo | Maisonette
