Leo Sun Sign: The Radiant Leader

Confident, boisterous, loud, proud, warm-hearted, loving and generous, Leo takes the proverbial cake as one of the most animated and flamboyant signs of the zodiac. Being ruled by the Sun, the giver of life, sunny Sunday mornings and suntans, you’d be hard pressed to apply adjectives like “dull” and “withdrawn” to Leo.

As a Leo myself, I can attest to this for the most part — I would hate to be thought of as run-of-the-mill or a wallflower, and certainly not a run-of-the-mill wallflower. Most Leos like to view themselves as somehow special. They simply must shine among the crowd.

Before we be being to dissect the 5th sign of the zodiac, the most basic things to know about it are that it’s a fixed sign meaning that it’s steadfast, its element is fire meaning that it is animated, dynamic and well, fiery. It’s a masculine sign which essentially means that it’s extroverted. The sign spans the dates July 23rd to August 22nd, although the exact period that it covers changes over time.

Its astrological symbol is the lion (the glyph is ♌ which represents a lion’s tail) which can be seen in the constellation. The colors of Leo are yellow, orange, red and gold. But any rich regal colour like dark purple, ochre and dark teal also light up their passionate hearts. This sign was traditionally viewed as the sign of royalty and as they often conduct themselves in a regal sort of manner, whether intentionally or not, it’s no wonder why.

Admirable Attributes of Leo

Unlike Aquarians (the opposite sign on the zodiac wheel), who desire to stand out for their uniqueness and delightfully rebellious “stick it to the man” sort of vibe, Leos want to stand out and be admired for it, too. They especially like to be regarded as exceptionally physically beautiful. Compliments on their hair, which is often resembles a lion’s mane because it’s so big and luscious, go down particular well with them. Secondly, they like to be seen as exceptionally successful in as many areas of life as possible.

Indeed, many Leos are remarkably successful but oftentimes, they set out to be for a sincere reason; they want to provide for their families. Just like a lion fiercely protects its pride, including its cubs rolling around in the dirt and chewing on their toes, Leos usually come from, or aspire to have, relatively large, active, and dramatic families. And they strive to have the means to take good care of everyone.

Sometimes, their families include close friends, especially if they don’t have much biological family. You see, similarly to Cancer, family is fundamentally everything to these natives. And whatever effort their exert in a professional capacity, you can easily bet that their family, or the family they aim to create one day, is the driving force behind it. 

Leo is ruled to the 5th house, which is known as the house of creative expression (as well as the house of children and the house of play). And indeed, their creativity seems to know no bounds. This sign is also known to have a penchant for the theatrical. I think this is probably what most people think of when they think of Leo; the dramatic actor, always playing some kind of role, preferably a royal one. Oh, and did I mention that they can be a bit elitist? Leo was the sign of royalty and by observing them, you might spot some regal mannerisms or movements.

Like the water signs Cancer, and Pisces, they can be very emotionally sensitive, although you probably wouldn’t know think it when you initially get to know them. They might seem like a tough nut to crack, but even an advert for donkey rescue makes them tear up. Being very sensitive as well as prideful, they often withdraw when their pride is hurt. They don’t like it when others know they have succeeded in wounding them. They wouldn’t want them to have the satisfaction. Sometimes, this means not speaking to the person who hurt them ever again, unless they offer a sincere apology without any accompanying ifs or buts.

Areas for Personal Growth

Leos can be too proud to admit when they are wrong and too stubborn to follow instructions given to them by others. They can also be rather bossy as they normally like to do things their way.

They can be overbearing and fly off the handle when they feel disrespected, under appreciated or otherwise wronged. This sign is associated with acting and the stage, and they can absolutely be dramatic, even when the situation doesn’t call for it at all.

Similarly to the other fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio and Aquarius) they can become “stuck” in their way of thinking, form rigid views on how life should be and their opinions can be quite black and white.

Their looks mean a lot to them and some Leos, especially when they are young, may be labelled as vain if they fixate enough on their appearance. Though, I have found time and time again that this inclination decreases with maturity. As they age, they tend to focus more on the enjoyment of life and its little treasures like morning walks in the sunshine, the company of trusted friends and delicious food and drink. They love to indulge themselves and others too. Life, according to them, should be lived in a manner that is as enjoyable as possible and that includes doing what they want, when they want. This is also why so many Leos run their own businesses.

Some Leos are generous to a fault. For instance, they might donate more than they can afford to a charities that are close to their heart. The act of giving thoughtful, and sometimes, expensive gifts to others, or helping them out financially, brings them much joy and is one of the ways in which they express their love. Sometimes, they can be surprisingly generous with their love and affection. And that can scare some people off — especially cool Aquarians and grounded Virgos and Capricorns!

Physical Appearance

The most notable and impressive feature of Leos is their hair. They tend to have remarkably thick and luscious hair that is normally wavy or curly. For example, I naturally have super thick, super curly dark reddish-brown hair. A Leo friend of mine has long, thick wavy black hair that looks like it belongs on the cover of any given beauty magazine.

Their shoulders tend to be noticeably broad and as such, they tend to make good swimmers and sports people generally. Their eyes may be quite intense or soulful, no matter their colour. Many have rounded or almond-shaped eyes similar to a cat. If there isn’t something regal about their physical appearance, such as a long, narrow nose or neck there is often a regal air about them.

Their demeanour tends to be one that is always in charge. Their walk is bold, fast-paced and they exude confidence as they strut along. Some people can find this a little intimidating, especially before they really get to know them and experience a softer and more playful side to them. Of course, the first house, also known as the Rising sign or Ascendant, also needs to be examined as it also influences appearance and demeanour.

As a Spouse

Leos are widely considered top-notch husband or wife material. This is mainly because they are so intensely loyal. They are also very loving, generous, supportive and their playful nature makes them so much fun to be around. Living with them feels more like living with a chilled out friend who likes to joke around rather than a partner.

If they are adamant about something being done their way, they will stick to it and won’t let go. If they form an opinion about someone or something, including an in-law or their partner’s friends their thoughts may be hard to change. And while Leo is not known for its jealousy and possessiveness unlike Scorpio and Taurus, this sign thoroughly dislikes not being treated as if they are the best thing since sliced bread!

The other two fire signs, Aries and Sagittarius, match well with them, however, the entire birth chart should be examined, as well as the synastry. Free-will in making the relationship work well is also vitally important of course.

Dating

As long as they don’t feel pressured to find “the one” and settle down sharpish, they find dating lots of fun. If they find someone they really like, they will probably want to go on plenty of fun adventures with them right out of the gate. 

Admirably, they have a clear picture in mind of what they want and they spend plenty of time looking for their person. They will not be rushed by anyone. While their standards are very high (especially if they have Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn prominent in their birth chart), the people they go on dates are guaranteed to have a good time with them.

As a Parent

Although they have an authoritative side, they make supportive, fun and fiercely protective parents. When their children are very young, they are often their first, and most engaging playmates. They are intensely loving and demonstrative with lots of cuddles and kisses and praise. They can be loyal to a fault, taking their child’s side in virtually every situation, no matter who may be really at fault!

While they can be a bit pushy when it comes to career selection, this is usually because they want their children to succeed and be able to take care of themselves.

As a Pet Parent

They tend to feel similarly about their pets as they do their children. They are usually incredibly loving towards them and form a deep and lasting bond with them. Fiercely protective, they will often bend over backwards to make sure their needs and wants are met. As a Leo with a fur baby of her own, I think this describes my relationship with my cat pretty well.

As a Friend

As a friend, they are usually fun-loving, humorous and entertaining. Life is rarely boring around a Leo as they always come up with something exciting to do. As close, longstanding companions, they are loyal and incredibly supportive. They want to see their friends get on in life. A lot of Leos really want others to achieve their dreams. They love seeing people make it and one of the reasons for that is because that is what they want for themselves. Seeing others winning in life reminds them that it is indeed possible for them, too.

Even if they appear as a bit self-centred at times, they still care a lot about their friends, they might just be too prideful to express it often. And while they are easy-going generally, they may not be so much when it comes to sharing the spotlight — and the compliments that come with it.

Other Astrological Placements

Very few people born under this sign will exhibit all of the traits associated with this sign. This is because there is so much more contained within any given birth chart. Even if two people have the same Sun, Moon and ascendant, there is still plenty more going on in their charts that could make their personalities very different indeed. So, while some Leos are stereotypically Leonine, others will be quite different. Of course, being in its sign of rulership, Leos tend to be behave a little more like their Sun sign in comparison to any of the other Sun signs.