In my last text, I wrote about the symbolism of Aries in its aspect of competition, strength, and struggle. Today I will move on to the second of the three fire signs of the Zodiac: Leo.
Leo Symbolism and its Meaning
In this text, I will not deal with the characteristics of those born under the sign of Leo, but rather with the symbolism of such a sign, that is, the teachings of life represented by the attributes that Astrology associates with the zodiac as mentioned for the Leo sign.
Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac and the second of the Fire sign triad. In the words of the great astrologer Liz Greene, “at the psychological level, the element Fire symbolizes the power of the imagination – chaotic, without form, but with an unparalleled power – which offers those prepared to work with it, the power to generate a reality from the inner self.”
Therefore, like Aries and Sagittarius (the other two fire signs), Leo symbolizes the need for self-expression and power over oneself inherent in the element of Fire. However, unlike the first stage of Fire, represented by the symbolism of Aries, Leo indicates that it is not enough to mark our presence in the world and fight firmly to impose ourselves. We must find our true vocations and desires within us and express them in the world. It is necessary to “be able to generate reality from the inner self,” leaving a mark on the world. And for that, we need to learn what the big cat has to teach us: self-love and self-esteem.
Note that, while Aries is ruled by the god Mars (warlord), Leo is a Sun’s son. The archetype of the Sun has been present since ancient civilizations and can be explained as follows:
Thus, Leo symbolizes our need to express ourselves as someone unique in this universe more than establishing his presence in the world (an attribute of the Aries symbolism). It is closely linked to the ego and our need for authority, respect, acceptance, and love.
Deepening the issue, the symbolism of the Sun and Lion means that we must find authority within ourselves, based on the development of self-love and the principles of honor, pride, dignity, and generosity (remember that the Sun sheds its light to all, indistinctly – without reservations and hesitation).
Until we develop these internal capabilities, we end up looking for external applause and respect as an end in ourselves. We live our lives according to what we believe that others (including society) expect of us instead of finding creative ways to pursue our inner fulfillment.
This relentless pursuit has dramatically enriched the antidepressant industry. Everyone must have an internal father (inspired by the divine masculine) capable of giving us self-confidence, strength, and authority to make our own decisions and be who we were born to be. The only genuinely satisfactory approval is that of the father / king / inner Sun; external applause is the consequence of simple action in the world based on the dignity that comes from within.
The great warning that this symbolism of the Lion, the Sun, and the Fire, brings us is that if not guided by the principles of honor, panache, dignity, and generosity, this fiery inner strength burns out and becomes the “sick king.”
I will clarify further. As we are here in the domain of ego, self-love, and the exercise of authority, we are all at a serious risk of becoming arrogant or pretentious, underestimating others, and overestimating ourselves (the area of life in which this tends to manifest will depend on the home of the natal chart occupied by the sign of Leo). The “sick king” translates into a very jealous partner, an authoritarian boss, an insecure person who protects himself by diminishing others, an egoist/individualist, a dictator, a celebrity without substantial content.
Apollo was caught up in the search for unattainable love, closed like Narcissus in his love, which prevented the entrance of the longed-for love of others.
This lesson does not come only from Astrology, and it can be found in the myth of Apollo in Ancient Greece, with which the sign of Leo is associated.
According to such a myth, a giant snake haunted people, whose name was Python. Such a snake hid in the caves of Monte Parnaso, and Apollo, with his courage, went there and killed it with one of his arrows, freeing everyone from that monster. Shortly after, Apollo realized that a boy was playing with the bow and arrow recently used to kill Python.
Outraged, Apollo scolded the boy, saying that it was a hero’s weapon and that the little one should limit himself to playing with his own child’s bow and arrows. It turns out that said boy was Cupid. Not satisfied with Apollo’s arrogance, Cupid, who had two types of arrows, one that fills the heart with love and the other that fills the heart with the repudiation of love, hit Apollo with the first arrow and the nymph Daphne with the second.
Apollo then fell head over heels in love with Daphne, but she rejected his love, wanting to be single forever. And when Apollo managed to catch her in his arms, Daphne cried out to her father, who turned her into a laurel tree. From then on, the laurel leaves were used by Apollo in his crown.
Consequently, Apollo was trapped in the search for unattainable love, closed like Narcissus in his love, which prevented the entrance of the longed-for love of others.
This story teaches that pride and arrogance are our downfall and prevent us from receiving the genuine love and recognition that we seek so much. Such rewards must be deserved. It is not enough to act heroically, and it is necessary to be humble in the sense of not subjugating anyone.
From the point of view of Astrology, the great way out of this dilemma is in the opposite and complementary sign to Leo: Aquarius. Once again, opposite to a fire sign (therefore, linked to impulses, creative force, and generation) Aquarius is an air sign associated with the use of reason.
Aquarius teaches that any authority that we intend to exercise must be done with the observance of collective needs. All creation and self-affirmation represented by Leo must be preceded by a conscious and impersonal look at oneself and the environment around oneself so that the needs of others are also heard. In short, Aquarius teaches that those who intend to reign and be heroes must first do an impersonal self-analysis and oppose their desires to collective needs. Interestingly, Astrology intends to reveal that for the “I” to express itself positively in the world as a unique subject worthy of respect, recognition, and love, the collectivity must be observed because nobody reigns alone.
In the Aries-Libra axis, the dilemma was between the “I” and the “we,” representing more personal relationships. The Leo-Aquarius axis, on the other hand, contemplates a more advanced stage in the symbolism of human development, in which the “I” is opposed to the whole collectivity of society. Here, this “I” doesn’t just want to exist and protect itself. It wants to “be someone unique” and influence a wide range of people, and it wants to transform the world through the manifestation of its personality. Here the “I” yearns to express itself but to do that, you need to listen to the audience.
If, on the one hand, this “I” cannot succumb to the wishes of others, nor allow itself to be manipulated, that is, it needs to kill the Python symbol of the fears and blocks of the past, on the other hand, it needs to find an intelligent way to develop their individuality, self-expression, and authority, to meet the needs (not whims) of the community. Only with reason and Aquarian technical/cultural knowledge is our Leo side able to express itself successfully. With the combination of Aquarian’s impersonal logic with Leo’s self-esteem and courage, the individual can develop individuality in his expression without being individualistic.
This need to take charge of ourselves and walk to our destination is also represented in the myth of Apollo.
It is known that Apollo also symbolized the human gift of predicting the future. The unique key of this prediction, however, is not to unveil fatalisms. On the contrary, in his temple at Delphi, an inscription on the door said: “know yourself.” Thus, Leo comes to teach us that our personality is our destiny. And, without the impersonality of Aquarius, it is not possible to know us or move towards a more prosperous future. A selfish look at oneself leads us to the destination of Cupid’s arrow that prevents us from receiving the love we seek.
The difference between the authoritarian chief or a dictator and a leader to whom people devote respect and recognition spontaneously is precisely in the use of an impersonal logic, capable of adopting the principles of fraternity, equality, and freedom symbolized by Aquarius. It is associated with self-confidence, self-respect, discipline and a noble, creative and generous spirit of Leo.
In the end, a leader has done a severe internal job of developing self-love, self-confidence, and creativity, from an impersonal and rational look of himself and has managed to express this by paying attention to the needs of those around him.
Leadership is not merely a set of postures written in a booklet. It results from a severe work of self-knowledge, which requires courage and an impersonal look at oneself so that these attitudes cease to be business marketing and become a genuine reality. After all, no character lasts long.
In short, for those who wish to take the reins of their destiny or even exercise a leadership position or, further still, seek internal mechanisms in their companies to cultivate a leadership culture, it is worth reflecting on this Leo – Aquarius zodiacal axis, as it is in the analysis archetype of that axis that Astrology teaches that from the balance between self-love and impersonality, freedom and authority, equality and distinction, fraternity and firmness, logic and passion, leadership and outstanding achievements are born from there.
Symbol of Leo (The Lion)
The lion represents the sign of Leo. The Greek legendary Nemean Lion is linked to the constellation Leo. A lion, its mane, and two heart portions are shown. The image perfectly captures the assertiveness and wit of the Leo sign. The sign, known as the showman of the zodiac, encourages energy, loyalty, and enthusiasm combined with a self-centered mentality.
The Sun is the planet that rules Leo
Sun is Leo’s governing planet. While the Lion rules the jungle, the Sun rules the planets! The union of two monarchs is a complete coincidence! Born leaders, Leos take pleasure in developing bonds with others who are creatively and innovatively motivated. As they grow older, they become bold optimists who resist failure and look for rich sources of inspiration.
Lucky Stone for Leo
With the brilliance of the fortunate Red Onyx stone, the power of Leo is tripled. The fortunate gemstone aids in overcoming depression by improving your capacity for creativity and communication. Red Onyx can bring love, happiness, and joy into your life by bolstering Mercury’s weak position.
Element of Leo: Fire
The radiant energy of fire brightens the area around it. It is a natural component that stands for the idealistic actions and concepts that Leo’s intellectual mind is nourished by! Along with other fire signs like Aries and Sagittarius, fire is strong and plays a crucial role in forming the Leo personality.
House that Leo rules: fifth
The fifth house, which rules Leo, represents pleasure and creativity. Body components are mostly the focus. the circulatory and digestive systems According to Vedic astrology, the fifth house controls one’s abilities, passions, and desires. Also referred to as the “succedent house,” it deals with romantic connections, artistic abilities, and the capacity to produce new beings.