Polarity: Diurnal

Element: Fire

Modality: Fixed

Traditional ruler: The Sun

Keywords: Expressive and entertaining

Symbol: ♌ (The lion)

Ruled by the Sun, Leo lights up any room with confidence, radiance, and heart-centered generosity. This is the  of the archetypal performer, class clown, entertainer, and creator. As the sign of fixed fire, Leo coincides with the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere — those long days when your regularly scheduled programming is interrupted by beach days, garden parties, and bonfires.

If you have key planets or points in this fire sign, a drive for self-expression will shape your life. The symbol for Leo is the lion, the so-called “king” of the animal world. Leo people exude effortless regality and charisma, whether or not they have glorious manes to toss. Just as the Sun is the giver of vital light and heat, Leo casts its warm glow on our gifts, which all deserve to be recognized.

Leo is a natural leader, whether they’re running a company, a kitchen, or an improv group. Even if they’re not overtly running anything, chances are people still view them as a role model. And on some level, Leo craves that affirmation. One of this sign’s core needs is to be acknowledged for their talents. Though not everyone with Leo placements will be driven to lead, their central mission will involve finding a way to give of their life force and be applauded for it.

When distorted, this sign can become domineering, puffed up, and self-absorbed. Leo’s confidence sometimes functions as a theatrical disguise, obscuring profound insecurity. One of the lifelong lessons for this sign is to rely less on external cues for validation. With such high standards to live up to (its ruler, the Sun, is only the center of our solar system — no biggie), Leo must practice extending itself grace and generosity. And to bring this heart-led compassion to others too.

Note: Each sign has its own signature style, and every planet or point has to function through the filter of the sign it’s in. The manner in which this happens depends on all the planets, points, and signs involved. To find out which placements you have in Leo, download the or use our .

What does it mean to have one of your “big three” in Leo?

The Sun travels through Leo from around July 23rd to August 22nd every year, though the exact dates will vary. Sol is in Leo, where it has access to all its resources, talents, and glory. With the Sun in Leo, you feel most vital when performing the song of yourself — and receiving the kudos you deserve. But a Leo sidelined can be a bitter creature indeed. Even if you don’t crave the limelight, it’s important for you to find outlets for your creativity and be recognized for it. Whether you’re plucking chamomile for a centerpiece, perfecting your pie crust, or running for city council, your Sun shines brightest when it’s projected through your creations.

With your Moon in Leo, attention, applause, and affirmation are your preferred forms of self-care. You have a deep emotional need to let your gifts sparkle. To claim a stage for your talents. And to be acknowledged for your strut down the catwalk. People with this Moon sign radiate an allure, but not every form of celebration is good for the soul. If you were ever shamed for craving attention, or if you experienced an overbearing caregiver, you might have a complicated relationship with praise. With this lunar placement, it’s important to cultivate the adoring audience within.

If your ascendant is in Leo, you know that any performance, at its core, is a spiritual act. You have an inborn ability to reflect the pain, beauty, and burdens of the human condition back to everyone around you. With the Sun as your chart ruler, you need to be appreciated, loved, and adored for what you offer to the world. Yet with such a commanding presence, you have to choose your leading roles with discernment. The people and projects that stoke your inner flame are the ones worthy of your star power. And if your heart’s not in it — thank you, next.

What it means to have other planets and points in Leo

When Mercury in Leo speaks, people lean in to listen. In this sign, Mercury is passionate in its proclamations. Charismatic in its convictions. And never afraid to monologue on its special interests. With the messenger planet in Leo, you crave recognition for your hot takes. It’s not enough to have deep thoughts; you want engagement in the comments section too. But you know how to shine that steady attention on others as well.

With Venus in Leo, you know how to enter a room like you own it — bring on the statement jewelry and main character energy. But the warmth of your adoration is equally intoxicating. The biggest challenge for you, with this placement, is believing you’re worthy of the love you generously emanate to your besties and beloveds. Those with Venus in Leo don’t need a pedestal, but they do require celebration. And maybe a grand gesture or two.

If your Mars is in Leo, you’re willing to fight for the accolades you crave. But you’re not one to phone in your battles. Passion fuels every pounce. For someone with this placement, pride can precede a fall, so it’s important to match your valor with self-reflection. You’re a natural leader, and the art of delegation serves you well. You don’t have to be the face of every struggle. You also shine when you direct the revolution from behind the scenes.

As a planet that’s already a tad grandiose, Jupiter in Leo is either the ultimate hype-person or the diva with a novel’s worth of dressing-room requirements. With your larger-than-life persona, it’s essential that you find outlets for your fiery passions rather than burn out in a blaze of bravado. The world is truly your stage, and the generosity you model is a beacon for us all.

Saturn is in its detriment in Leo, meaning the planet of hard limits can feel at odds with the sign’s sunny nature. If your Saturn is in Leo, stage fright could haunt your most important performances, or your inner critic could be more intense than most. With this placement, you’ll find that the struggle against perfectionism is real. But your creative discipline is also a gift. When you learn to incorporate play and improvisation into your endless dress rehearsals, your life’s true masterpieces materialize. Singing, dancing, or collaging as if nobody’s judging is significant Saturnian medicine for you.

With Chiron in Leo, you may be bruised by moments when your triumphs go unsung. To be victorious is not necessarily to be courageous. Chiron in this placement knows that, for those who are truly regal, strength of character must precede fame or recognition. The necessary lesson here? Stop outsourcing your validation. After all, Leo’s ruler (the Sun) doesn’t wait around for anyone to congratulate it. Its glory is the life that springs forth from its light.

If you have Uranus in Leo, you know that the best creations are subversive, anarchic, and sometimes inconvenient. In fact, you’re ready to shatter every glass ceiling. Uranus loves to disrupt the status quo, and in Leo, it’s known for its avant-garde spirit, playful acts of protest, and unapologetic championing of the inner child (or clown). Though your colorful placards are sure to turn heads, your radical vulnerability is what’s truly revolutionary.

Neptune hasn’t been in Leo since 1929, which means the next generation of people with this signature won’t exist until 2078. In this sign, Neptune brings its themes of illusion, fantasy, and idealism to the performing arts. The last time Neptune was in Leo, Hollywood celebrity culture was born, along with the “star system,” which molded, glamorized, and exploited actors to draw bigger audiences and earnings.

Anyone with Pluto in Leo transforms the world through colorful performances of the self. Though Pluto hasn’t been in this sign since 1957, and it won’t be again until 2202, those with this placement are celebrated for emboldening themselves, and the collective, through creative self-expression, transformative pop culture (hey, Boomers), and iconic teenage rebellions.

With the North Node in Leo, you have an insatiable appetite for creative self-expression, and your courage is infectious. Just remember to pause and read the room before you launch into your next performance.

With your South Node in Leo, your more playful side can feel hemmed in at times. Or you might expend a lot of energy “performing” without receiving the laurels you crave. But if you distill your art to its spiritual essence before you make your grand debut, your creations will evoke something more than mere accolades. And touch something deeper.

If your MC (or midheaven) is in Leo, you often make yourself known through your career, vocation, or public roles. Whether you’re an accountant or an opera singer, it’s crucial that your life path is steered by your natural talents. And that you shine a light on other people’s gifts along the course of your life’s path. Your most important work could be centered on performance, leadership, personal branding, passion projects, and/or children (or those who are young at heart). Whatever paw print you leave on the world, it must be undeniably your own.

With your IC (or imum coeli) in Leo, your home, family life, and lineages sparkle with colorful characters, glamorous grandparents, and beloved ancestral arts. Your connection to your caregivers may have been creative and performative — think: shadow-puppet plays with cousins or tambourine tunes with the family band. But even if your kin modeled self-expression and confidence, you may still be disentangling their more self-absorbed or overbearing tendencies.

Your DC (or descendant) in Leo tends to magnetize colorful, flamboyant, and even theatrical figures, and your irresistible warmth draws out the playfulness in all who cross your path. It’s important that your besties, beloveds, and collaborators reflect your shine and celebrate your gifts. But you’re more than happy to redirect the spotlight on the accomplishments of your most important people too. As much as you crave an audience of adoring fans, it’s crucial to make a habit of stoking your own flames. As you validate and affirm yourself, the urge for others’ approval recedes.

Affirmation for Leo

I am allowed to love the applause I receive.

Want to learn more about the signs in the zodiac? Click the links below.

| | | | | |  

| | | |

Then download the CHANI app on or for additional readings.