Leo’s vigour is symbolised by the Sunflower, or Helianthus, which grows towards the Sun over its life cycle before stopping abruptly at bloom. Leo’s innate drive is continually growing, and this can be seen in many of the ways the expresses itself. The Sun, a dazzling burning orb, rules the astrological sign of Leo, which represents the centre of the fiery sign  and the heart of the zodiac. The Sun is the source of all life in the cosmos and the source of all energy necessary for life on Earth. Leo, the second-to-last sign of the fire signs, is the core of the human being and stands for the drama and divinity of life. The ancients worshipped the Sun as a god and considered it the centre of their spiritual universe. It was the mystery behind all mysteries, the wellspring of all life, and the keeper of all power. Everybody either bowed before it or kept their mouths shut and stared.

Just as the Sun has to be seen to be believed, so too do those who truly believe in their own importance in the big scheme of things. Those born under the sign of Leo are said to have a strong sense of destiny and be motivated by a desire to be faithful, honest, and true to a thoroughly felt personal mission. Astrologers characterise Leo as a “sovereign spirit,” the source of life, and always have a purpose in life.

Leo, like all fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius), is a high-energy individual, but the Sun is especially significant to Leo because it is the sign’s ruling planet. All other celestial bodies receive their light from the Sun, which provides life on Earth. Similarly, the Leo zodiac sign, which is ruled by the lion, exudes a strong, magnetic character and has a great deal of vitality. The energy level is through the roof, and most people born under the sign of the king of the beasts have big hearts and a sunny disposition.  Leo possesses a fiery passion for whatever it is they choose to do in life, and they do an exceptional job of pursuing their passions with fervour and determination. In fact, they will give their all to any cause that allows them to utilise their unique blend of imaginative insight, organisational prowess, and the ability to motivate others.

As a sign of the zodiac, Leos are prone to constantly seeking the approval of others around them, and those born under this sign have a natural “star quality” and deserve to be showered with love and admiration from everyone. A  Leonian is extremely generous, and they are led in their romantic endeavours by the powerful emotion of love; they also take great pride in being the centre of attention in their relationships due to their many admirers. The sign of Leo is also associated with egotism and boasting because of its demonstrative nature and its need to show the world how proud it is of its accomplishments and the things it loves.

One of the most appealing types of women is the fierce lioness, who is always on the lookout for danger and willing to defend her family at any cost. Many of the women may be cute as a button and full of energy, and they may have a lot of charm and charisma, but they are not here to play the role of wallflower. Among the many recommendations for wooing the Leo woman include standing as she enters the room, paying her undivided attention, and treating her with the utmost respect. While this is mostly exaggerated, she does enjoy being the centre of attention and demands to be treated like a queen. Both sexes born under this sign share the qualities of a kid at heart, being ‘genuine,’ open and honest, and possessing pure souls.

Leo, like all fixed signs, is more defined by who it is than by what it does, according to Charles Carter’s Studies on the Foundations of Astrology.

Nevertheless there is a real goodness in the true Leo, a warm kindness of heart and unselfish affection that is rare in other signs…It is the sign of Divine Splendour. Yet, it is symbolized by an animal, and in this sign man is not beyond the dangers of a relapse to the natural kingdom and irrational passions. Essays on the Foundations of Astrology

Passion, confidence in one’s own unique expression, and faith in a higher power are hallmarks of the Leo sign. Those born under the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are often said to have enormous desires and demands. Wanting to be seen as magnificent is important to Leo, and so is the need to be the focus of attraction, both of which have prompted many Leos to choose jobs in the performing arts. Since they already possess a propensity for drama and theatrics in their personalities, it makes little difference whether or not they actively pursue this job. Also, they want to be noticed for what they’ve done well, and they like being different from everyone else. Leos have a deep-seated fear of blending in with the rest of humanity and a deep-seated desire to stand out in some way. Leo is driven by a strong desire that is a pure spiritual fire, but some astrologers dispute this and say it is a sign of will rather than desire.

But in Leo, fiery activity manifests as the will to self-expression, the will to personal mastery, the will to immortality through physical, or artistic, or political progeny. It is indeed a fiery will, an emotional urge to go forth and to conquer, to multiply oneself through a multitude of creations stamped with one’s own image. The Zodiac as The Universal Matrix (The Lost Writings of Dane Rudhyar Book 1)

Leo is the archetype for all fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) because he embodies the signs’ desire to stand out and their abundance of life, vigour, zest, and excitement. People born under the influence of fire tend to be quite jovial and carefree, and in  the beginning of the Fire Trilogy, the individual stands at the beginning of a new and better life, and Leo is motivated by a desire to be unique and different from everyone else. Leos strive to be the life of the party, thus their personalities tend to be more dramatic than those of other signs. Throughout their lives, they are directed by the energy of their existence, which takes many forms.

The name “Leo” comes from the Latin word for “heart,” and the people who carry that name are genuine softies with big, warm, loving hearts. Generous, majestic, and brilliant are all adjectives that come to mind while thinking about them. Many people who are dominated by the Sun, like Leos, thrive in positions of leadership where they may be recognised for their achievements, such as the director or chairman roles. Even before they have proven their abilities or created anything of value, Leos expect to immediately gain the attention and respect of those around them. This is to be expected, given that the Sun rules their sign, but there is also a part of them that believes they have a divine right to be in the forefront and centre.

In a nutshell, Leo thrives when the spotlight is on them and he has an audience to perform for. In Charles Carter’s view, they are easily delighted and even misled because their failing pride is not the emotional kind but rather one that is centred on vanity. Although it is a fire sign, Leo has a surprising amount of sensitivity, and it can take criticism very personally. Leo is the only fire sign that has a reputation for consistently following through on their commitments, and this is due to the sign’s fixed status and the permanent nature of desire.

In Leo everything which is owned must be put to use. It must help to make a show. Wife, child and home must be displayed. Everything must flow out; and obviously this feeling arises only in the person who knows himself to be inherently full of energy or riches – or at least pictures himself as rich and powerful. The Zodiac as The Universal Matrix (The Lost Writings of Dane Rudhyar Book 1)

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