Today the Sun moves into his own sign—ripening his favorite qualities! The Leo season celebrates love, self-confidence, generosity, romance, dignity, joy, enthusiasm, pride, courage, and passion. This is the month to see life through the eyes of a child. Children live in the moment; having fun is their primary goal. Especially when they’re feeling safe and seen, their hearts are wide open—to the joy of being an energetic being in a magical world. During Leo’s month you can discover magical powers, if only you’d surrender to its spirit of playfulness. Let yourself flow with the fresh, quick spirit of a child, ready for anything. Let worry and duty fall aside. Leo is the month to be creative, to stand in your own spotlight, to celebrate your life force.
I wasn’t always such a cheerleader for Leo. In fact, before I knew much about astrology, I knew one thing: I didn’t like Leos. My ex-husband had a Leo Sun, and so did many of the creative types we hung out with—dancers, musicians, and performance artists—energetic show-offs, always grabbing center stage. Leos, I decided, were just tap-dancing toddlers disguised as adults, forever crying “Look at me, look at me!” And throughout my childhood, I hated Leo’s month. It seemed an incredible waste of time—the dreariest stretch of my summer vacation, spent watching Divorce Court and reruns of Father Knows Best, when all I really wanted was to get back to school.
Imagine my surprise when years later when I discovered I had a Leo Moon. It was hidden in my chart’s Twelfth House closet, where what the psyche rejects is held. My dislike of Leo was my own deficiency: I was blocked in expressing its spirit. Perhaps I paid a steep price for being too kingly in a past life. As a child, whenever I won a school election or an award, I wanted to crawl out of my skin when my mother (the stand-in for my Leo Moon) dramatically ooohed and ahhed, calling me “The Big Cheese.” I wanted attention, but when I got it, I squirmed. And so in later years, when I saw others soaking up the spotlight, I considered their exhibitions shameful.
I have a friend who believes the answer to all life problems is a night on the town, full of drinking and dancing. That’s not how I have fun. But having fun—however one does it—is indeed Leo’s secret. When you can enjoy life, and enjoy yourself in the midst of life, your problems shrink and your confidence grows. I’ve since learned how to tap into the gifts of Leo’s season. I now relish the opportunity each Leo month brings—to be more fully alive, doing what comes naturally, when I enjoy being me. May you enjoy what’s special about you this month too!
If you haven’t been feeling appreciated lately, perhaps the outer world is offering a reflection of your inner world. Perhaps you haven’t been in much of a mood to appreciate anything, let alone what’s special about you. One way to reverse this trend is to start noticing all the gifts in your outer world–the people, places, and conditions that support you. The more you recognize what’s wonderful around you, the easier it is to start thinking about your own fine qualities. Appreciation is good heart medicine all the way around.
© Dana Gerhardt
Angela says
Love this article!
Marie says
“…my chart’s Twelfth House closet, where what the psyche rejects is held…”
Since Pisces is the correspondence match to H12… and I got my Sun in Pisces… does it somehow mean my psyche rejects my Self??
Dana Gerhardt says
It’s true that houses and signs have a certain correspondence, but they’re not completely equivalent. With Pisces, there can be an “ego loss” (which in the spiritual sense, is positive), but the boundaries of self can be so porous, that there is also the possibility of disappearing or escaping from the self, a self-dissolve (often accomplished through drugs or alcohol). But I wouldn’t say it’s a rejection.
Marie says
[disappearing, escaping, self-dissolve fits all in with attempted suicide]
Robert McDowell says
Don’t post this, but there’s a typo in the title. Please correct it. There is also a typo in the sentence that includes ‘all life problems’…should be ‘all life’s problems’…
Additionally, that sentence jars. It doesn’t fit well. Readers don’t care how you do or do not have fun. What you say about having fun just after that is legit.
Free editorial advice…take or leave.
Marie says
Leave it, Dana, that’s my advice…
Dana Gerhardt says
I’ve had purple streaks in my hair for ten years now! 😉
Karen Wheeler says
Mine are pink and Black but purple and green sound good too. I have some pink and black twisted braids I tie on when I am tossed out to have fun with no time to do the job myself.
Ignore the typo babble. He obviously did not get what you were saying here. so sorry for his loss.
Robert McDowell says
Hi, Karen,
No need to be insulting. “typo babble”? I’ve been an author, publisher and editor all my life, and I wrote from that foundation. My comments are accurate and meant to be helpful. I got what she was saying, thanks. You may have noticed I also requested that my comment not be posted, a request that was obviously ignored. I don’t know why. I thought comments were vetted before being posted, and so had every expectation that D.G. would see my comments, consider them and honor my request Not to post. May your path be a joyful one, Karen!