of the initial letter of its Greek name (although
this is not universally accepted). It takes its
name from the Latin word for lion. Leo is associ-
ated with the back and, especially, the heart,
and individuals with a Leo sun sign are prone to
heart and back problems. The association of Leo
with the heart is the astrological background for
the common term “lionhearted.” The key
phrase for Leo is “I will.”
Like many of the other signs of the zodi-
ac, Leo lacks a developed mythology. It is said to
be the Nemean lion slain by Hercules and placed
as a constellation in the heavens by Zeus to com-
memorate the event. Turning to lion symbolism
more broadly, the lion is often regarded as the
king of beasts, known more for its kindness and
mercy than its ferocity. Aesop’s fables include a
number of lion tales, such as The Lion and the
Mouse,in which the merciful King of Beasts
releases the mouse, who later nibbles through
the lion’s bonds to rescue him; The Lion in Love,
in which the lion allows himself to be declawed
and detoothed in order to be allowed to marry a
woodsman’s daughter, only to be driven away
after he has rendered himself powerless; and The
Lion’s Share,in which the King of Beasts invites
other beasts to hunt with him, but then keeps all
of the spoils (moral: Many may share in the
labors but not in the spoils).
Like the lions and kings of mythology
(the sign is associated with royalty), Leos can embody some of the best as well as some
of the worst of human traits. On the positive side, they can be brave and noble to a
fault. Associated with the heart, they can give everything for love. On the other hand,
they can be ferocious and brutal. Leos have big egos, but these egos are peculiarly sen-
sitive: Whereas ego signs like Scorpio neither need nor seek compliments, Leos
require constant acknowledgment. In a group, they often seek to be the center of
attention. The need for acknowledgment by others is so great that, like the lion of The
Lion’s Share,they can take credit for the labors of others. Like all fire signs, they are
fond of physical and social activity.
The sign that the Sun was in at birth is usually the single most important influ-
ence on a native’s personality. Thus, when people say they are a certain sign, they are
almost always referring to their sun sign. There is a wealth of information available on
the characteristics of the zodiacal signs—so much that one book would not be able to
contain it all. Sun-sign astrology, which is the kind of astrology found in newspaper
columns and popular magazines, has the advantage of simplicity. But this simplicity is
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [397]
LeoThe constellation Leo from Poeticon Astronomicon,
c. 1497. Reproduced by permission of Fortean
Picture Library.