Preface
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.
The Sun began its transit of the sign of Leo on July 22, 2013 at 8:55 a.m. PDT.
Leo Energy at a Glance
Here are some of the descriptive terms used to describe Leo characteristics:
| v Expressive | v Dramatic | v Creative | v Proud |
| v Royal | v Dignified | v Self-assured | v Spontaneous |
| v Child-like | v Childish | v Joyful | v Grandiose |
| v Strong | v Courageous | v Charismatic | v Needing Adoration |
Leos Speak Madonna Leo Singer/Songwriter/Dancer Born August 16, 1958  |
“I always thought I should be treated like a star.”
Mick Jagger
Leo Singer/Songwriter and Founding Member of the Rolling Stones
Born July 26, 1943
“Don't you think it's sometimes wise not to grow up.”
Jennifer Lopez
Leo Dancer/Singer/Actress
Born July 24, 1969
“But from the time I was very little, it was something I would do all the time, just sing, dance, and act. So it wasn't something that was fake or contrived as I got older.”
Fidel Castro
Leo and Former Prime Minister and President of Cuba
Born August 13, 1926
"I have a heart of steel and I will be dignified till the last day of my life." (From a letter he wrote to his sister Lidia during his imprisonment between 1953-1955)
Mae West
Leo Actress, Comedienne, and Writer
Born August 17, 1893 and Died November 22, 1980
“Getting married is like trading in the adoration of many for the sarcasm of one.”
In Memoriam
Helen Thomas
Leo White House Reporter and Journalist
Born August 4, 1920 and Died July 20, 2013
In her recent article* about Helen Thomas, journalist Karen Tumulty said that this pioneering and risk-taking reporter “planted the ‘first woman’ flag on about everything she did.” She lived up to what many say is the true purpose of journalism, to reveal and publish the truth, regardless of how it makes the powerful feel. One wonders if we will ever see the likes of her in the mainstream press every again, because it seems as if the only reporters of her ilk are in alternative journalism. May she rest in peace.
What Astrologers Say About the Sign of Leo
Leo’s Rulership, Symbols, and Characteristics
The Sun has completed its transit of Cancer at the beginning of summer, and it 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.
The lion is the symbol of the sign of Leo. This sign’s glyph, shown below, resembles a flowing mane or a curling tail of a lion. Astrologer Bruce Nevin says that Leo and its animal lion can be associated with the kundalini, the source of physical animal energy.[i]
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, human Leos must have their own “kingdoms” where they can be in control, and where they can shine. [ii]
Like other fire signs, Leos demonstrate spontaneity, high energy levels, quick responses, expressiveness, and high spiritedness. The passionate natures of fire signs can inspire others, and they are attracted to the dramatic and the risky. These signs are comfortable with attention, particularly in the case of Leo. Astrologer Nevin adds that the Leonine personality also demonstrates courage, heartiness, pride, and strong personal will.[iii]
As a fixed sign, Leo will tend to moderate any tendency for impulsive actions. They 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 expansive viewpoint, along with a positive nature, tends to make Leos “executive material.”
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.[iv]
Some obvious examples of the Leo personality in the entertainment industry are Madonna, Mick Jagger, Sean Penn, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These are hardly shrinking violets! Leos in other walks of life include Fidel Castro, Napoleon, and Barack Obama.
Finally, Leo rules the fifth house, which is associated with artistic creativity, performance, fun, children, risk, and gambling. The fifth house realm also pertains to romance, particularly the showy and fun expressions of courting.
Leo’s Purpose
What do astrologers view as Leo’s purpose at this developmental stage of the zodiac? 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.[v] From another vantage point, 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 believes that Leo is about the development of an ego, not its transcendence.[vi] Forrest says that Leo’s essence can be captured in the self-dramatizing, present-tense spirit so universal among children[vii] Astrologer Caroline Casey offers a third perspective, observing 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.[viii]
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. Although 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.
For me, the musical A Chorus Line epitomizes the Leonine process as it relates to vocation. Dancers and other types of performers have to maintain a Leo type energy, in spite of the hard knocks of reality. The performance of “What I Did for Love” captures this “heartiness” of a performer. The musical number is in response to the question “What would you do if you couldn’t dance anymore. The character’s response is that she would have no regrets because she did this all for love.
ENDNOTES
[i] Nevin, Bruce (1982). Astrology Inside Out. Rockport,MA: Pararesearch Publishers, pp.82-83.
[ii] Houlding, Deborah. (June/July 2006). Leo the Lion. The Mountain Astrologer, Issue#127, pp.29-35; 105.
[iii] Nevin,Bruce. Op Cit.
[iv] Houlding, Op. Cit.
[v] Nevin, Bruce. Op Cit.
[vi] Forrest, Steven (1988). The Inner Sky. San Diego: ACS Publishers, pp.56-60.
[vii] Ibid.
[viii] Casey, Caroline. (1998). Making the Gods Work for You. New York: Harmony Books, p37.
A Look at the Natal Chart of Risk-taker Leo Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Leo Lifestyle Guru, TV Show Host, and Magazine Publisher
Born August 3, 1941
Introduction
Over the past 20 plus years, most Americans have come to know domestic superstar Martha Stewart through her TV shows or TV appearances, or because they have perused her Martha Stewart Living magazine. In true Leo style, Stewart has expanded her business empire to include the sale of her line of cookware and linens. She has become one of the most successful self-made businesswomen in contemporary times.
Martha Stewart’s natal chart appears at the end of this section.
Brief Biographical Profile
Born in New Jersey on August 3, 1941, Martha (née) Kostyra was the second of six children born to a working-class couple of Polish heritage. She was raised in the community of Nutley, which is located close to New York City. She began working early, modeling in various venues, such as in fashion shows or for advertisements that appeared in print media or television. Martha attended Barnard College, where she earned a bachelor’s in European and Architecture History. During her college years, she met her future husband, Andy Stewart, who was a student at Yale. After the birth of her daughter, Martha began a five-year career as a Wall Street stockbroker.
The Stewarts began a new life in the community of Westport, Connecticut, where they purchased a 19th century farmhouse, the focus of a major restoration project. Soon thereafter, Martha decided to pursue a career in gourmet cooking and catering. By the 1980s, Martha had become a prominent cater and a successful author of books on entertaining and cooking. With the strain of a long separation from her husband, her marriage eventually ended in divorce.
By the early 1990s, Martha had expanded her brand, with a new magazine publication, followed by a newspaper column, a radio show, a cable TV program, more books, and a website with e-commerce capacities. In 1999, her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public. It was estimated that her net worth once reached $1.2 billion.
Aside from her visibility as an expert resource for the homemaker, Martha Stewart also became known for her legal woes. In 2002, she was investigated for insider trading when she sold off major shares of stock in a company that had developed a new cancer drug, which did not obtain FDA approval for sale on the market. Stewart was ultimately tried and sentenced to five months in prison on a number of charges.
Although her businesses may have initially experienced some downward turns because of her legal difficulties, Martha Stewart has continued to reinvent herself and her lifestyle empire. Even now, she continues to generate controversy, as in the recent Macy’s suit against her and J.C. Penney. Nevertheless, she and her products continue to thrive.
Some Observations About the Natal Chart of Martha Stewart
The natal chart of Martha Stewart presents us with an example of an individual who has both her Sun and Midheaven (cusp of the 10th house of career) in Leo. We see clearly that the need to perform before the public is very strong. With Pluto (representing the powerful and influential) conjuncting the Sun, Stewart will shine because of her affiliations with the powerful. Indeed, Stewart “catered” to the very wealthy of Westport and environs and she made a name for herself among those who could propel her into center stage.
From her biography, we know that Martha got an early start in the public eye through her modeling career. Appropriately enough, Venus, the sign of female beauty and charm, is in her 10th house, which not only refers to career, but the place where we are most visible to the public.
With her Moon in Sagittarius, astrologer Noel Tyl would say that Martha has a “reigning need” for her opinions to be heard and respected, and because this luminary is in the second house, her opinions need to be on display and rewarded monetarily. The ruler of Sagittarius is Jupiter, which in Stewart’s chart, is in the sign of Gemini. The ruler of Gemini is Mercury, which we find in Stewart’s all-important ninth house, the location of her Sun and Pluto in Leo. However, her Mercury is in the domestic sign of Cancer. Isn’t Martha Stewart the queen of perfect domesticity? In astrological language, Stewart communicates (Mercury) her brand of domesticity through the publishing (ninth house and Sagittarius) of her magazine, Martha Stewart Living!
What in astrology’s symbolism and language might account for her investment actions that led to her conviction and brief incarceration? Of course, an astrologer would look at her advanced chart, i.e. the transits, progressions, and directions which bring the natal chart into the present time, or that are associated with the timing of an event. Aside from looking at the advanced chart related to her trial and incarceration, can we see clues in her natal chart that might explain her behavior? My own view is that Stewart is a risk-taker, and sometimes risk-takers may push their limits in a situation. In Stewart’s chart, Mars, a planet of personal volition, is in the sign it rules, Aries, thereby describing a person who actively pursues their ambitions. Moreover, Stewart’s Mars is in the fifth house, naturally ruled by Leo, a risk-taking sign. Furthermore, Mars is trine her Midheaven, which is in Leo. Lastly, the second and eight houses represent the axis of resources in the chart. Her second house contains the Moon (instinctive behavior) in the expansive sign of Sagittarius, while her eighth house of other people’s resources (including investments) is occupied by its ruler, Jupiter in mischievous Gemini. These are not cautious planets and signs! Sometimes Stewart gives one the impression of being a rather stodgy and conservative matron, but her natal chart reveals a quite different personality. I can almost hear Martha roar!
Sources for the Martha Stewart Natal Chart Profile:
Noel Tyl (2007). Vocations: The New Midheaven Extension Process. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, pp. 30-32.
