Leo is ruled by the sun and symbolized by the lion. If you've recently been made a grandiose gesture of generosity, been given a grand tour of the city in royal fashion, or been roused to action by splendid oratory, you've probably come in contact with the more familiar carryings-on of the big cat. Better not take these gifts too lightly, though. The lion will expect tribute for his condescension, and he'll feel sorely wounded if you don't show the proper respect and appreciation for the bestowal of his regal charms. In their bearing and manner, natives of this sign can show a remarkable similarity to their zodiacal mascot. Just as the lion is king of the jungle, Leos tend to rule over any situation they're involved with. They'll growl, paw, or stand with regal dignity just to make their presences known. If these fail to summon your dutiful homage, they'll let forth a commanding roar just to let you know who's boss. Not that the lion is an overbearing or dictatorial autocrat, that would be too rash an appraisal of his sense of fair play. Once his subjects come to know him better, they realize his roar is worse than his bite. In his more tranquil moods, he'll yawn lazily with self-contentment, contemplating his kingdom, quite satisfied with the effects of his realm.
You can expect human cats to very much resemble their animal counterparts. Many Leos will tend to be broad at the shoulders and trim at the hips, resembling the lion's anatomy, and they'll often strut when they walk, puffing out their chests and holding their stomachs in. An unmistakable trademark of Leo is the very erect and upright bearing of the upper torso, neck and head, as if to suggest the stance of a monarch glancing condescendingly upon his subjects. They'll usually have beautiful wavy blond or reddish hair that is distinctive in some way, either sweeping gracefully up and out, away from the face in mane-like fashion, or laying close to the head, scooping decidedly across the forehead. The eyes, which are commanding and fearless with sometimes a trace of haughtiness, are soft, usually brown, with a slight tilt at the corners. The nose is usually straight with a tendency to aquilinity, and the complexion is rosy or flushed. The whole expression is what is generally recognized as leonine, combining regal self-assuredness with an almost disdainful nonchalance. The Leo native is generally robust, and all his faculties and proportions, especially in regard to physical appearance, are in balance and harmony. The Greeks instinctively recognized this, making their Sun gods, Apollo and Hercules, models of the human form.
Like the majesty of the sun which is their ruling body, Leos can shine brilliantly among their peers, having an abundance of vitality and an inexhaustible zest for life. Just as the sun is the center of our planetary system, Leos tend to become the center of any project they become involved in, and all activity seems to revolve around them. It's their birthright to lead, and they'll naturally assume center stage without your asking. Let someone question leonine authority, though, or the whole group turn against the lion, and he may cut himself off from a project entirely. Leos simply can't function if they're not in a position to lead, and they'll brood despondently until their regal status has been reinstated or they find another group of loyal followers. Clouds of gloom will never dim the Leo 's normally sunny disposition for long . His magnetic personality soon gathers unto him willing subjects by the droves ready to do his bidding.
Leonine rule is not given without justification. In the work situation they'll exhibit marvelous executive capability, delegating responsibilities according to the task at hand, never succumbing to pettiness or favoritism. Owing to their natural largess and openness of heart, they'll become much-liked executives not only for their fairness, but because they can see a project in it's grandest perspective, imbuing in it a nobility of purpose. Leo natives have a disdain for details; those are left up to the specialized talents of underlings to whom the lion has assigned specific tasks. Their chief attribute in any job situation is the unique capacity for the overall manipulation of talent, means and substance to produce a desired result. This singular capacity is the mark of many industrialists, magnates and tycoons, and it is not surprising that more wealth is found under Leo than any other Sun sign.
The leonine tendency is to expansion, not in the abstract sense of the Sagittarian, whose consciousness is expanded to breadth of understanding, but in a more materialistic sense where the Leo becomes aware that his own capability for physical manipulation expresses his relationship to the larger world. Leo natives won't do things unless they can do them in a big way. They'll hate amateurism in all its forms, and will always want to work at the highest level in whatever they do. Rather than be intimidated by a project of grand proportions, Leos will be fired by the challenge, carrying out their duties with confidence and style.
In money matters, Leos can be generous to a fault. Their hearts are as big as their bank accounts, and if they feel your need is genuine, they'll spare no expense, financial or otherwise, to help you out of a jam. Even if their funds are temporarily depleted, they'll go out and borrow from someone else if they have to, just to see you through. They are no less open-handed when it comes to charitable causes. The Leo native, however, rarely gives money anonymously. You're not likely to find him dropping petty cash into the offering basket at Sunday church service or donating trivial sums of money to their favorite charities as the rest of us mere mortals. The kingly Leo is given to much more extravagance, and the donation of a new school wing, a hospital, or a concert hall is more in line with his philanthropic persuasion. Rather than give to several charities, he'd rather pool all his resources in one grand gesture of magnanimity, and bask in the attending glory. Just be sure you spell his name right on the cornerstone or plaque commemorating his contribution. Leos love to take credit and be appreciated, remember, and the more adulation the better.
Leos naturally have a flair for drama, and this sign is typically associated with actors, actresses and the theatre in general. The glint in the Leo's eye is a reflected glow of the limelight, and even if the lion has not plotted out for himself a career on the professional stage, you'll often find him taking a lead role in an amateur dramatic society play or production. Though occasionally there are one or two Leos who may fit the description of a ham, most August-born will take their creative efforts seriously, accepting applause only if they feel their job has been well done. Leos instinctively understand the heroic-tragic nature of earthly existence as typified in men's struggles with the forces of destiny, and the talent for conveying this awareness on stage is uniquely leonine. It is noteworthy that great character actors will always have predominating planetary influences, if not the sun, under the sign of the big cat. Leo natives have an innate capacity for expressing themselves in an elegant, almost regal manner, and they somehow find deep spiritual satisfaction in finding outlets for their creative abilities.
No matter where they happen to be, Leos tend to create their own dramatic scenarios, placing themselves in the leading roles, and you and everyone else in supporting roles, of course. In the domestic scene, the Leo native will expect to be king or queen of the castle, and you can sometimes see the children almost bow with a respectful politeness as they approach their regal parent. Though the average Leo will come to expect such ceremonious homage, his love of fun will easily take over, especially when it comes to children, and he'll soon be rollicking on the floor with them like a big, playful cat. Did I mention that Leos love children? Fewer things are more important to August-born than their own progeny, and they have a natural affinity for all children in general. Their attitude toward them, however, is not like the doting Cancer or the permissive Pisces. Leo parents will expect their offspring to emulate their kingly ways, like little princes and princesses learning ascendancy to the throne. The lion will lecture them endlessly about the do's and don't's of proper behavior, but seldom punishes if they disobey. For all their attempts at discipline and their insistent demands, Leos will spoil them shamelessly. Though the lion may sometimes feign indifference to children, the little ones themselves realize it is only a pretense, and they'll end up taking advantage of leonine over-indulgence every time. Leave it up to a child's intuition to recognize that for all his grumbling and growling, the lion is really soft-hearted at the core.
A group of lions is not called a 'pride' without reason. Leos have their share of pride and then some, and the ruddiness in their complexion is more apt to be a suffusion of dignity than a blush of shame. Just try and pay your Leo friend's way next time you're out to dinner with him. The lion can pay his own way, thank you, and he'll probably end up paying for your dinner as well. You'll rarely see the king of beasts accepting charity, even if he is in sore need of funds, and the idea of collecting welfare or unemployment benefits is really quite foreign to him. Besides, owing to his natural flair for wheeling and dealing, he can usually come up with some quick cash if he has to. Even in the face of adversity, financial ruin or failure, the lion never lowers his regal mane because he knows these conditions are only momentary obstacles to his rightful status. Besides, his energetic resourcefulness will never allow him to stay down for long.
There's hardly a lion or lioness who won't succumb to a sincere line of flattery now and then. Even if your honeyed words fall short of being all that sincere, the Leo will graciously accept them as stated, thinking nothing to the contrary. After all, any comment of praise or compliment must certainly ring true when speaking of royalty; it was just nice of you to point out the obvious. It is this tendency to believe deceptive flattery that is the Waterloo of many a Leo. Even after they find out they've been duped, most Leos are too big about it to retaliate. They themselves are incapable of actions that are in any way mean, base or underhanded, and they'll find it hard to believe anyone could be so insincere. In activities where these lower qualities are essential for success, the lion will always tend not to succeed. He has little understanding of baseness or subterfuge. True to the qualities of his ruling body, the sun, Leo goes into battle with his flags waving and his bands playing, expecting the same openness of his adversary.
No sign has a greater flair for romance than Leo. Lions like to do things in a big way, and this is no less true in affairs of the heart. They love to be extravagant, and they have a special knack for knowing what stirs the opposite sex. Female cats will dress expensively with all the fire of their Sun sign, and they'll know just how to catch their man, right down to the choice of jewelry, make-up and perfume. The male lion loves to lavish the object of his affection with expensive presents, knowing full well the meaning of the song, Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. He'll woo her in royal fashion, taking her to the finest places in town. Lions of both genders will expect to make their entrances with a flourish, getting the best table or seat in the house. They are men and women of the world, and they truly know how to partake of its pleasures.