♌Leo

Quick facts

Dates

July 23 – August 22

Element

Fire

Modality

Fixed

Ruling planet

Sun

Polarity

Masculine / Yang

Season

Mid-summer (N. Hemisphere)

Traits

Leo is dramatic in the original Greek sense — life as performance, meaning as story. Warm, loyal, big-hearted, creative — also proud, attention-needy, sometimes blind to its own role in conflicts. The Leo gift is making other people feel like the lead in their own movie. The Leo shadow is needing to be the lead in everyone else's.

Compatibility

Easy with Aries and Sagittarius (Fire trio). Strong with Gemini and Libra (Air feeds Fire — Air also flatters). Hardest with Taurus and Scorpio (Fixed-square is the most stubborn dynamic in the zodiac). Aquarius is the opposite — fascinating tension between 'me' and 'we'.

Mythology

The Nemean Lion killed by Hercules — invulnerable, magnificent, the king of beasts. Ruled by the Sun — there's only one center of the solar system, and Leo never lets you forget.

In love

Leo wants to be adored and to adore. Public displays, grand gestures, the works. Falls hard, declares early, gets badly hurt by partners who play it cool. Best with someone who's expressive too.

In work

Leadership, performance, teaching, anywhere the spotlight matches the responsibility. A bad fit for invisible behind-the-scenes work. Needs recognition the way other signs need lunch.