Leo
July 22 - August 22
Symbol ▪︎ The Lion
Element ▪︎ Fire
Season ▪︎ Summer
Metal ▪︎ Gold
Color ▪︎ Fire & Gold
Ruling planet ▪︎ Sun
Modality ▪︎ Fixed
Nature ▪︎ Positive (extrovert)
LEO TRAITS
Exudes warmth and creativity
A little bit vain
Really big personality
Wants to stand out
Interested in luxury
Characteristics
Magnanimous
Creative
Generous
Confident
Hospitable
Loyal
Lavish
Bold
Caring
Enthusiastic
Warm
Passionate
Authoritative
Ambitious
Active
Optimistic
Faithful
Proud
Open
About Leo
WHAT KIND OF PERSON IS A LEO?
Leos are bold, warm, and loving. They are also the ultimate showmen. They can dazzle with the theatrical flair of a Broadway star and the charisma of a politician. They are captivating personalities. They have a way with words, and can speak eloquently on just about any topic, no matter how quickly they’ve just been introduced to it.
Leos inject ambition into everything they do. They are ruled by the heart. They are brash and confident and trust their instincts. Their actions are natural and effortless.
Leos have an unrelenting appetite for growth that is easily satiated by the praise of others. When they are hurting, it shows. They will use their anger as a protective wall to shield their vulnerabilities. They want to be perceived as unbreakable because they are scared of admitting vulnerability, needing things from other people, being incomplete.
WHAT ARE THE BAD TRAITS OF A LEO?
The bad sides of a Leo appear when their positive and admirable character traits cross over into excess. They can be perceived as overbearing, but this is due to their hyper-presence and warmth.
Leos have a reputation for being braggarts. To them this isn’t bragging, it’s sharing. Sharing their accomplishments with others makes them feel connected, and they expect the same in return from their friends. They want to be celebrated but they are equally happy to celebrate you.
Leos like to feel important. They don’t necessarily want to be worshipped, or be treated with reverence. They just want to be recognized for their authentic selves. The difference between admiration and worship is subtle, but it’s the difference between a Leo being preoccupied with themselves, or being focused on the good of the people they care about.
They want to be the center of the universe. They want to be rewarded for being the best and the brightest. They want to be given special treatment, but also feel deserving of it.
WHAT DO LEOS HATE THE MOST?
Leos hate being bossed around. They are very much in charge of their own worlds and their own destiny. Leos are perpetually wounded by the acts of betrayal and abandonment. Their pride is a sword that they wield to protect their sovereignty.
Their sense of honor is intense, they hold both themselves and others to a very high standard, and they are deeply wounded when someone breaks that code. There is an ingrained need for everyone to acknowledge and validate their existence. This can lead to what can be labeled as narcissistic or absolutist behavior that borders on the absurd.
They hate being told what to do, but if you can get them to listen, they can usually be persuaded—especially if you make them feel like it was what they wanted all along. But they’ll always secretly resent that they didn’t reach this conclusion alone. Leos don’t like to be told to do things, and they especially don't like being forced. They demand respect and they don’t take kindly to people who don’t respect them.
Leos in Love, Sex and Romance
This is most relevant to Leo Venus and Mars, though Leo Suns may identify with some traits.
HOW TO SEDUCE A LEO
Scroll back on their social media and “accidentally” like one of their first posts. This will immediately get them thinking.
Show them a Michelangelo painting and tell them that it reminds you of them.
Put in reflective contacts so they can see their own reflection while they stare into your eyes.
WHAT ARE LEOS ATTRACTED TO?
Leos are naturally energetic and passionate and often fall for partners that are equally enthusiastic. They are attracted to the same qualities in others that they see in themselves. They like partners that are confident and proactive. Who will go after what they want without apology.
Leos tend to be attracted to signs of obvious strength. They want someone who isn’t just confident, but sophisticated. They want to be with somebody who can not only formulate an intelligent argument, but can also present it in a smooth and articulate manner.
Leos love to be the center of attention, but are also secretly self-loathing. All their charm is a defense mechanism that is designed to compensate for their innate insecurity. Though it may appear natural, it is often a highly calculated way of being. Because of this, Leos tend to have an affinity for people who are more spontaneous and carefree than they are. They like a little bit of chaos in their lives to counteract the order that they impose on themselves.
WHO IS LEO'S SOULMATE?
Leos desire someone who can feed them both physically and emotionally. They want to be worshipped. They need to feel like the focus of your attention. They need to feel like you’d do absolutely anything for them—and that you’d do it not out of obligation, but by choice. They love to feel like they’re in a position of power, but they don't want to have to exercise it by force. To them, their natural charisma should be enough. They are fiercely independent, and they love to get their way. So in order to feel truly loved, they need a partner who is a little submissive—or who is willing to take on that role in the relationship.
At the same time, Leos need someone who is quietly and secretly powerful in their own right, someone who can help them realize their ambitions. Someone who can help them make a name for themselves in their chosen field, or in their social circle.
They need to be with someone who can get under their skin and occupy their imagination. Someone who can keep up with their endless emotional hunger. Someone who can help them feel invincible.
ARE LEOS GOOD KISSERS?
Leos love a challenge. They have an almost inherent need to compete and dominate. Because of this, Leo is known for being a very passionate kisser.
Leos kiss like they’re competing against someone else for your affection. It’s like they imagine that, somewhere in the world, there’s someone you love more than you love them, and they’re going to prove that their kiss is better by kissing you more passionately than this cosmic other lover possibly could.
Leos kiss like the only things that matter in the world are you and them and the way that their lips feel against yours. To be kissed like a Leo kiss is to be kissed like the whole world is watching. To be kissed by a Leo is to be kissed like there’s no other kiss but your kiss.
Leo in Friendship
WHAT ARE LEOS LIKE AS FRIENDS?
As friends, Leos are attentive, loyal, and generous. They always feel the need to give more than they receive. As one of the most playful and luxury-loving signs, they treat you the way they treat themselves, and will spontaneously do nice things for you just because they feel like it. They’re not really into keeping track of turns or even splits.
If you give a Leo a reason to feel special, they will shower you with the same level of attention, affection, and praise. Friendship means the world to them. And if you have a problem, they will drop everything and come help you.
That said, Leos are very proud and value their honor. If you hurt a Leo’s feelings, they will make you very aware of it while punishing you with their silence. They’ll be cold and distant for days. They can be vindictive and hold onto resentment for a long time. Even if you made them mad five years ago, they’ll still remember it. And they’ll remember it the way they want to remember it. They’ll hold onto their version of the story and you just have to accept that this is their way of forgiving you.
WHY ARE LEOS SO LONELY?
To Leos, loneliness is a captive state. It literally binds them to the cage of their own desire. They’ve got a hole inside of them that they try to fill with love, attention, and approval. They want to be loved for who they are. They want genuine connections, but take a long time to learn how to initiate them. They’re always searching for meaning.
Leos make a lot of friends, but they’re not so good at keeping them or developing them further. The problem is that they're able to form superficial connections with their ample charm, but have a hard time showing the vulnerability that deeper relationships require. While they’re great at communicating with the world, they’re not really that great at communicating their innermost thoughts and feelings.
In order to connect with people, they’d have to open up about their own emotions, and that’s something they’re not comfortable doing. What they don’t realize is that emotional expression can be the very catalyst for developing deep connections. They can feel the need for companionship, but they don’t know how to create a space for it to grow. They don’t understand that friendship is an art that requires constant work—and that you get what you put in. They’re the type of person who says “I’ll call you!” and then never calls. They’re always very busy.
Of course, Leos aren’t doomed to a life of loneliness. They just have to learn how to be vulnerable. They have to find a way to be friends with people without seeing others as only a source of attention.
