July 23 to August 22
Gender: Masculine/Extrovert
Element: Fire
Quality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: The Sun
On the day that you were born, the Sun was in the fire sign of Leo, the fifth sign of the zodiac. Leo is a fixed sign, indicating strength and stability. Your symbol is the lion, an emblem of strength, authority, and confidence. This is a masculine sign and is ruled by the Sun, the lord of the solar system, which endows you with your regal air.
All Leos will exhibit majestic qualities and will expect others to recognize their superior status. The word modesty is not in your vocabulary. You feel that the center of the stage is yours, by right, and anyone who tries to usurp your position will be summarily dealt with. Your need for recognition is your main motivation in all aspects of life. At the same time, you are generous in heart and spirit and like others to enjoy life as much as you do.
It is no coincidence that a group of lions is called a pride. All Leos are intensely proud, but this attitude can sometimes lead to a fall. When this happens, you will slink away, muttering that you are right and everybody else is a fool. This ultraconfident attitude may sometimes be seen by others as bragging and boasting.
An orderly, organized life is essential to you. This need also extends to the lives of other people, where you tend to take over if given the slightest opportunity. Of all the signs, you are most in danger of becoming a power freak. Enthusiastic and creative, you need to fill your days to the brim with action. You can't bear to waste time or talent, whether it's your own or somebody else's.
Short or tall, most Leos are well proportioned and carry themselves well. You're likely to have thick hair that is fair or red if you belong to a white race, and you probably sweep it back from your forehead, accentuating your leonine appearance. Your eyes, whatever their color, will be large and fearless.
Leos dress to impress and insist on quality. You'd much prefer to have two expensive outfits than half a dozen cheap ones. True to your standing as ruler of the jungle, only the best will do. Leo favors red, purple, and gold, the opulent colors associated with the Sun and royalty.
In affairs of the heart, the leonine nature comes to the fore. A Leo woman expects to be wooed by a prince among men. A male Leo wants a beautiful princess whom he can dazzle with his sparkling, charismatic personality. If your partner turns out to be wealthy—well, that's exactly what Leo deserves, isn't it?
A one-sided romance is no good to a Leo. It's essential that you receive as much love as you give. You're a wonderful lover who has the ability to make your partner feel special. Just be sure that your partner realizes that friendship and unconditional love matter to you every bit as much as sex—though you're no slouch in the bedroom.
Leos make absolutely loyal and supportive partners, but you also demand quite a lot in return. You expect to be proud to introduce your lover to other people, and you require them to exhibit the same high standards of behavior and appearance as you do.
You are likely to know your partner for some time before you commit yourself. It is essential for you to have a harmonious home background and you realize that, in order to obtain this, the partners need to know each other well. Love from a stranger is not for Leo.
All Leos are showpeople. It's essential that you hold a position of authority where other people will look up to you. If you have acting talent, the theater, films, or television are natural venues for you. Even if you start by sweeping the stage, you'll have your eye on the leading role. You need not act; you can be equally happy as a director, researcher, camera, or a sound recorder. However, you must be in charge. Leos find it almost impossible to take orders.
Whatever work you do, it is essential that you enjoy it. If you don't, you'll soon be out in search of a new venture. Because you are so confident and capable, finding work is not difficult for you. Leo can be markedly successful as a teacher, where you'll find a group of people who will believe every word you say. What could be more satisfying for Leo? You have marked creative talents and you will be happiest and most successful in any position that uses these.
Some Leos do have a lazy streak. This is not immediately obvious, but you may tend to rush about madly for a time only to slump into an uninterested attitude if you are disappointed in any way. Avoid being overbearing, too. This is part of your fixed-sign nature, and you need to be a little more flexible when dealing with other people. In all your relationships, endeavor to prove that your roar is considerably worse than your bite.
Because of your constant struggle for supremacy, you may be prone to stress, and this could lead to heart trouble, which is always a danger for Leo. Yours is the sign that rules the heart and the back—so leave the piano for others to move, while you advise on how the job can best be done. You like your food, too, and you sometimes use comfort eating to alleviate stress. Compromise by getting a fair amount of exercise, such as cycling or swimming, and by at least trying to eat sensibly.
Leos hate to be ill and make terrible patients. To you, illness equates with weakness. Try to endure the enforced inactivity with a good grace, and don't return to work until your medical adviser says you may. Why not indulge your lazy streak for once?
Because you have such a demanding nature, you're likely to require a great deal (probably too much) from your lover. You will certainly expect your partner to respect and admire you and to tell you so, frequently. Nothing pleases you more than a family gathering, so it's important that your partner share your clannish instincts. Leo doesn't much like change, and you'll appreciate a partner who will be content to remain in the same house for years. You are choosy, so your partner will need to meet your exacting requirements as far as speech, behavior, and appearance are concerned. Leo is loyal and stable in any relationship, and these are the qualities you will demand, above all else, from your companion.
A Leo-Libra union should be fine, providing there are no financial problems. Both partners enjoy the good things in life and like to create an impression of culture and affluence. You both enjoy what can be termed gracious living and are prepared to work hard to achieve this lifestyle. Libra is an essentially feminine sign and needs a steady supply of TLC—something that Leo is well equipped to give. In return, Libra must provide the appreciation and consideration Leo requires. Any arguments that do arise can be settled by Libra's well-balanced attitude and Leo's generous nature. A Leo-Libra partnership should be harmonious and long-lasting.
Scorpio may seem an unlikely partner for Leo, but this pairing can often work remarkably well. Because both Scorpio and Leo are strong characters and both are fixed signs, this will not be a peaceful relationship. The main point of conflict is likely to be money. Leo is not cheap but likes to spend wisely. Scorpio is given to sudden bouts of extravagance that are likely to provoke leonine roars of disapproval. The best solution to this problem is to have separate bank accounts. To some extent, this partnership can be regarded as the attraction of opposites. However, given your shared capacity for love and loyalty, a Leo-Scorpio relationship can be extremely successful—and never boring.
An alliance between Leo and Virgo is one that often puzzles other people because they seem such an unlikely couple. Yet they have a number of complementary attributes that can increase the union's chances of success. Virgo, the perfectionist, will provide the comfortable and beautiful home all Leos demand. Leo loves doing things in a big way, and Virgo will supply the organization needed to support these aspirations. Both partners have a great deal of pride. They quickly reach an agreement about what each of them expects from the partnership, and both possess the stability to achieve their aims. This may all sound cold, calculated, and dull, but a Leo-Virgo relationship is certainly not lacking in passion and can be immensely satisfying to both partners.
Libra prefers teamwork to lone ventures, so you will probably find your partner in the sort of job where there are plenty of people around. Librans dislike noise and bustle, though, and prefer the calm elegance of a legal office, a library, or something similar. Social or welfare work may appeal, as Librans' balanced outlook helps them to sort out all types of complex problems. They love music, so you'll find them at concerts or taking active part in a band or at a small club devoted to whatever pop music is on the cutting edge at the time. Discussion groups appeal to them. Other hobbies may include cooking, art classes, and computer clubs.
Scorpios are great achievers, so you will find them in any situation that requires ambition. They also love to investigate and analyze problems and often work as pathologists, market analysts, researchers, detectives, or police officers. You may find them in psychic societies, thanks to their urge to investigate. These people are athletic and energetic. You'll find them at soccer games and boxing matches or sometimes as race-car drivers. They're interested in archeology, psychology, and any scientific hobby that requires painstaking attention.
Virgo is critical, intelligent, and practical. You'll find your Virgo partner in jobs where extremely detailed work is needed. Virgos need to serve, so may well be found as teachers, psychologists, or counselors. As far as leisure activities are concerned, they enjoy the theater, movies, and music—though they'll invariably be critical of any performance. For some reason, weaving is a popular hobby with Virgos, and they have the patience to produce beautiful work. They certainly won't be satisfied with less.
Libra likes an orderly life, so don't expect your partner to do things impulsively. Librans will enjoy a gourmet meal at a quiet (and expensive) restaurant or a visit to the opera, but everything must be planned. Pushing through noisy crowds or rushing to catch a train will destroy their enjoyment of the occasion.
Scorpios are not easy to please and, whatever you offer, they will expect the gift to be beautifully packaged. They like unusual (and costly looking) gifts that they can nonchalantly display to friends, and if you assure them that you've hunted high and low for weeks to find that one perfect item, they will positively purr with pleasure.
Virgo is always delighted to be given books, preferably beautifully bound hardbacks, but do ensure that your choice is not already included in their library. Perhaps a gift certificate to a bookstore, though admittedly an uninspiring gift, would be a better choice. Virgos don't really enjoy personal presents like clothing or toiletries, but will greatly appreciate tickets for a show or a visit to a garden center—in fact, anything to do with their hobbies and leisure interests.