LEO THE LION: THROUGH MY JOYFUL HEART I ENGAGE THE WORLD AND GIVE THE GIFTS OF CREATIVITY AND LOVE

LEO THE LION

Preface:  As I do every month for each of the signs, I want to emphasize that if your birthday does not fall during the Leo timeframe for the year you were born, this DOES NOT mean that you do not experience the energy of Leo, because somewhere in your natal birth chart, it is present.  All twelve signs of the zodiac are expressed in your being, although some signs, and therefore their corresponding energies, may be more emphasized than others.

The Sun sign is about your essence, your vitality (what makes you feel alive), and your self-image.  Whatever your Sun sign, you are on a life-long journey to discover and fully embrace this sign’s energy.  You may be tested in life to experience the meaning of your Sun sign’s energy.

The Sun began its transit the sign of Leo on July 22, 2011.

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 “Only from the heart can you touch the sky.”                         

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"Gamble everything for love"

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"If I love myself

I love you

If I love you

I love myself"

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Excerpts from poems by Rumi

Persian poet of the 13^th century

Introduction

C

oleman Barks says that the mystical poet Rumi was known as the “heartmaster” in his 13^th century Persian community (in the geographical area known today as Afghanistan). Coleman Barks is a well-known American translator of the works of Rumi, and a poet in his own right. Barks says that the work of Rumi’s religious community was to open the heart to that mystery of union.[i]

I quote lines from the works of Rumi because the zodiac sign of Leo is about heart. Some may argue that Rumi’s subject matter may be too mystical for the territory ruled by Leo, and that it may be better suited to the realms of Pisces. I have not studied Rumi, so I cannot give you an expert opinion about this. I can only say that from my understanding, Rumi talks both about the love between two people, as well as about the mystical love with the divine (if indeed one sees a distinction between the two). The records from the time of Rumi describe him as being joyful and spontaneous when performing his poetry.[ii] This is what inspired me to quote Rumi in this profile of Leo.

Leo’s Rulership, Symbols, and Characteristics

The Sun has completed its transit of Cancer at the beginning of summer, and now enters the midsummer, when the climate is hot and steamy, and ripe for the passions to ignite. Cancer withdrew inward to explore its realm of feelings. Now, in midsummer, the feelings are turned outward, and this display is open, quite public, and there is no concern for privacy or protection. The name of the game in the sign of Leo is shameless performance from the heart.

Leo rules the fifth house whose purview is fun, children, gambling and risk, romance, and creativity. The lion is the symbol of the sign of Leo. This sign’s glyph resembles a flowing mane or a curling tail of a lion. Veteran astrologer Bruce Nevin says that Leo and its animal lion can be associated with the kundalini, the source of physical animal energy.[iii]

Leo is a fire sign, and like fellow fire signs Aries and Sagittarius, it demonstrates spontaneity, high energy levels, quick responses, expressiveness, and high spiritedness. Their passionate natures can inspire others. Fire signs are attracted to the dramatic and the risky. They are comfortable with attention, particularly in the case of Leo.

Leo is associated with romance, the type of love where we are courting; it is the early dating stage where we try to impress the other. The depth of Scorpio will not be found here, nor is it the more reality-based, long-term committed relationship.

Leo is a fixed sign, and this will tend to moderate any tendency for impulsive actions. Leos take their time to formulate an opinion. Leos tend to take a broad view of situations, rather than delving deeply into a subject area. This viewpoint, along with their positive natures, tend to make them “executive material.”

The Sun is the ruler of Leo, and it rules no other sign. Just as the Sun is the heart or center of our solar system, so Leo identifies with a need for being a focus of attention and, and some might say, a motivation to rise above the ordinary. The Sun symbolizes power and command, asserts astrologer Deborah Houlding. In traditional astrology, Leo was associated with royalty, and its personality can take on a persona of grandeur. Houlding claims that Leos perceive themselves as the royal center of activity. In the wild, lions develop boundaries for their territory, and they must have an area where they rule. Similarly, Leos must have their own “kingdoms” where they can be in control, and where they can shine. [iv]Astrologer Nevin says that the characteristics associated with Leo are courage, heartiness, pride, and strong personal will.[v]

Houlding elaborates on the darker side of Leo. When Leo is confident about his territory, he can be the warm, sunny, and the generous personality that the sign’s stereotype promotes. If Leo is less secure and feels threatened, the traits can be quite bestial, with acts of destruction and savagery. Less extreme traits might include airs of superiority, conceit, and a bullying nature.[vi]

Leo’s Purpose

Nevin posits that in the phase of Leo, humans are to learn dominion, not over others, but over one’s own internal forces, and this process can only be accomplished through love.[vii]

Master astrologer Steven Forrest says that the endpoint for Leo is the development of personality, and the strategic behaviors used to this end are free expression, the celebration of life, and a positive attitude. Like other fire signs, Leo lives in the now. Being in the now is very much how children live, which is why Leo is seen as the sign of children. Children find it easy to be joyful and happy. Leo utilizes its childlike qualities to advantage, where spontaneity, innocence, and creativity are necessary ingredients in its growth process. Forrest says that Leo is about the development of an ego, not its transcendence.[viii]

Think a moment about what children need and how they behave. Of course, not all children have the same personalities, but they will utilize their own unique personas to express their creativity. Small children are intent upon seeking attention. They will often perform (dancing, singing, joking, sports) to get attention, and they relish the approval they get for their performances. Forrest says that it is this self-dramatizing, present-tense spirit so universal among children that captures Leo’s essence.[ix]

I know that it takes me a while to understand in greater depth the meaning of an astrological sign. In contemplating the meaning of Leo, I asked myself how children, creativity, performance, courage, risk, and love are related. I settled on the theory that Leo is about passionately engaging the world through the path of creativity and romance. Leo passion is different from the fire sign Aires, which is more concerned about the self. Leos require an “audience,” even if it is a transitory relationship. The love for creative expression and the desire to be loved is a driving force for Leos. Diving into these processes require courage. It is a risk to perform creatively and to love. After taking risks, Leos may experience at least some success, and this builds courage. Even without success, there is a need to believe in the self and to do what we love, and this involves the development of ego strength.  The development of a healthy ego is not an absolute guarantee of success. It does improve our chances of having the guts to play whatever game we are intent on playing, whether it is the love of a vocation or the love of another person.

The musical A Chorus Line epitomizes for me the Leonine process as it relates to vocation. Dancers and other types of performers have to maintain a certain Leo energy, in spite of the hard knocks of reality. The performances of “What I Did for Love” and “One”captures this “heartiness” of a performer. The first musical number is in response to the question “If today were the day you had to stop dancing, how would you feel?." The character’s response is that she would have no regrets because she did this all for love. The second number “One” tells of the desire to be that special person who rises to the top over other performers. Below is a You Tube video (not the best sound quality) clip from one version of A Chorus Line, which was posted by abo1121 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udgWlpRAr5Q&feature=player_embedded

Click on the link in blue above this photo for video

Sage astrologer Caroline Casey observes that the fixed signs act as stewards of some resource, and that in the case of Leo it is creative energy that flows through them. In its grander form, says Casey, Leo’s creative energy goes beyond the struggling child ego to inspire others.[x] Inspiration is a gift of the fire signs.

I penned this poem in honor of the sign of Leo. I have entitled it “Leo the Lion in a Celebration of Life.”

Born in midsummer, these children of the radiant Sun

Spontaneously show us ways to have the most fun.

Leos lead us all in a joyful celebration of life.

They say “yes” to opportunities, taking risks to feel alive.

Leos learn dominion by having a space over which they rule.

They make fine leaders, because they take a broad view.

Their steadfast positions can make them appear loyal,

When it’s really their desire to rise above, much like a royal.

Leos love the stage, and will do anything to perform

Drama or comedy, it’s how lions freeform

The other interest that may capture their hearts more

Is the flush of love in romance for the ones they adore.

Our sun sign represents the journey we take to master the lesson of that zodiac sign. Think of famous Leos who are on that journey in this lifetime. Some obvious examples are Barack Obama, Madonna, Mick Jaggar, Bill Clinton, and Monica Lewinsky. These individuals learned to believe in their talents.

Here is a more complete list of those born while the Sun transited Leo in the respective year of their birth.[xi]

July 23, 1865 - Max Heindel - Occultist
July 24, 1895 - Robert Graves - Writer
July 24, 1897 - Amelia Earhart - Pilot
July 24, 1900 - Zelda Fitzgerald – Socialite wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald
July 24, 1902 - Alexandre Dumas - Writer
July 26, 1856 - George B. Shaw - Writer
July 26, 1875 - Carl G. Jung - Psychologist
July 26, 1894 - Aldous Huxley - Writer
July 26, 1943 - Mick Jagger - Musician
July 28, 1929 - Jacqueline Kennedy - First Lady
July 29, 1905 - Dag Hammarskjold - Statesman
July 29, 1907 - Mevin Belli - Attorney
July 29, 1938 - Benito Mussolini – Fascist leader/head of state of Italy
July 29, 1928 - Peter Jennings - Newscaster
July 30, 1818 - Emily Bronte - Writer
July 30, 1863 - Henry Ford - Industrialist
July 30, 1947 – Arnold Schwarzenegger - Actor
August 1, 1819 - Herman Melville - Writer
August 1, 1936 - Yves St. Laurent - Designer
August 1, 1942 - Jerry Garcia - Musician
August 2, 1924 - Carroll O'Connor - Actor
August 2, 1932 - Peter O'Toole - Actor
August 3, 1940 - Martin Sheen – Actor

August 4, 1961 – Barack Obama- U.S. President
August 4, 1792 - Percy B. Shelly - Poet
August 4, 1900 - Queen Mother Elizabeth - Royalty
August 4, 1929 - Yassar Arafat - Political Leader
August 5, 1806 - John Huston - Director
August 5, 1926 - Sydney Omarr - Astrologer
August 5, 1927 - Andy Warhol - Artist
August 5, 1930 - Neil Armstrong - Astronaut
August 6, 1809 - Alfred Tennyson - Poet
August 6, 1881 - Sir Ian Fleming - Writer
August 6, 1911 - Lucille Ball - Actress
August 7, 1860 - Alan Leo - Astrologer
August 7, 1876 - Mata Hari - Secret Agent
August 7, 1942 - Garrison Keillor - Writer
August 8, 1937 - Dustin Hoffman - Actor
August 9, 1963 - Whitney Huston - Singer
August 10, 1874 - Herbert Hoover - U.S. President
August 10. 1904 - Norma Shearer - Actress
August 11, 1933 - Jerry Falwell - Religious Leader
August 12, 1831 - Helena Blavatsky – Occultist/Theosophist
August 12, 1881 - Cecil B. De Mille - Producer
August 13, 1899 - Alfred Hitchcock - Director
August 13, 1927 - Fidel Castro - Political Leader
August 14, 1969 - Magic Johnson - Sports Figure/Basketball player
August 15, 1769 - Napoleon - Emperor
August 15, 1872 - Sri Aurobindo - Religious Leader
August 15, 1879 - Ethel Barrymore - Actress
August 17, 1786 - Davey Crockett - Frontiersman
August 17, 1876 - George Llewellyn - Astrologer
August 17, 1943 - Robert De Niro - Actor
August 18, 1927 - Rosalyn Carter - First Lady
August 18, 1933 - Roman Polanski - Director
August 18, 1936 - Robert Redford - Actor
August 19, 1743 - Mme. Du Barry - Courtesan
August 19, 1882 - Cocoa Chanel - Designer
August 19, 1902 - Ogden Nash - Poet
August 19, 1946 - Bill Clinton - President, USA
August 20, 1946 - Conning Chung - Newscaster
August 21, 1906 - Count Basie - Musician
August 22, 1904 - Deng Xiaoping – Chinese Political Figure
August 21, 1936 - Wilt Chamberlain - Sports Figure

ENDNOTES

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[i] Moyers, Bill (2001). Fooling with Words. New York: Perennial, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, pp.16-30.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Nevin, Bruce (1982). Astrology Inside Out. Rockport,MA: Pararesearch Publishers, pp.82-83.

[iv] Houlding, Deborah. (June/July 2006). Leo the Lion. The Mountain Astrologer, Issue#127, pp.29-35; 105.

[v] Nevin,Bruce. Op Cit.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Nevin, Bruce. Op Cit.

[viii] Forrest, Steven (1988). The Inner Sky. San Diego: ACS Publishers, pp.56-60.

[ix] Ibid.

[X] Casey, Caroline. (1998). Making the Gods Work for You. New York: Harmony Books, p37.

[xi] Modified list from Ecentral.com