Sun Sign Secrets (13 page)

Leo's Opposite Sign

Aquarius, the Water Carrier, is the complementary opposite sign of Leo. There may be tough relations between them, but Aquarius can show Leo how to share without needing appreciation, and how to give the center stage to others. This can be a big challenge for Leo, but it is a way in which he can learn to stand alone and value himself. Aquarius does not approach life from Leo's sunny perspective, and in this way, the Lion can be a good example for Aquarius to copy.

Pairing Up

In general, if people display the characteristics typical of their sign, intimate relationships between a Leo and another individual can be described as follows:

If Things Don't Work Out

The partner who is unfaithful to Leo, or who walks out on a serious love affair, will leave behind a very wounded person. It will take Leo months to recover from such a deep hurt and may make him very wary of risking serious love again. Leo will need to heal not only a broken heart, but a broken spirit as well. A love affair that ends badly can greatly impact Leo's ego and self-esteem.

Leo at Work

It is good for a Leo to be creative, no matter what her job or career. This always requires her to look at what projects and tasks she tackles in a new way. A Leo should not just accept that she knows the best way to accomplish a goal at work. It is very important that a Leo does work that allows her to somehow express her ability to create solutions to problems and general improvements. Leo could even try to bring in someone, maybe even a young person, and explain the problem to him. The fresh look of his eyes may provide a surprising solution.

Although Leo has the ability to work as an effective team member, she doesn't necessarily have the temperament for it. She is accustomed to being the “idea person” on projects, as well as the dynamic force that gets the project done. Also, it is difficult for Leo to abdicate the role as authority figure, harder still to admit learning a better way of doing things from someone else. Other than creative input, Leo's best attribute in the workplace is a genius for organization.

Typical Occupations

A job in traditionally creative fields such as music, dance, acting, writing, design, or fashion would be wonderful for a Leo. Leos possess a strong creative and dramatic personality, and you will find many in the theater, television, and film industry. They become stars of stage or screen, talented musicians, or well-known painters, so a career opportunity in the arts could be pursued. Other jobs that may be good for Leo are investing, sports-related work, gaming of all kinds, and opportunities to display goods, either for ads or in the place where they are sold. Leos may also find that they are called on to do some public speaking, another opportunity to display their innate creativity.

Leos do well in careers where they can rise to the top. In the political arena, they keep going until they reach a powerful position. In business, you can find Leo as chairperson or president or on the board of directors. Leos are ambitious by nature, and prefer to take charge and delegate. Many Leos go into business for themselves.

Behavior and Abilities at Work

In the workplace, the typical Leo:

• must be in charge
  
• makes a good impression
  
• has many talents
  
• gives wonderful speeches
  
• can't admit mistakes
  
• likes to dress the part
  

Leo As Employer

A typical Leo boss:

• can create enthusiasm for a project
  
• cannot tolerate tardiness or failure
  
• is charming and gives compliments
  
• cannot have his authority undermined
  
• is generous with time and money
  
• takes the credit for successes
  
• instills confidence and devotion
  
• has a huge ego
  
• knows how to get the job done
  

Leo As Employee

A typical Leo employee:

• responds to genuine praise
  
• is very loyal and trustworthy
  
• needs to have his work recognized
  
• likes to prove that he is the best
  
• works hard to be promoted
  
• can create a congenial atmosphere
  
• likes to show off success
  

Leo As Coworker

Leos needs to be involved with people and in projects where they are able to use their leadership qualities. Whatever their job, they make sure they steal the limelight, which sometimes causes rifts with coworkers, even though they naturally get along well with others. Leos love to display pictures of places they have traveled, or of them at a memorable event. They need to inspire admiration, so they often display status symbols as well.

Details, Details

Because Leos' chief ability is leadership, it may be believed that they can't handle the details of a project, but this isn't the case. It is precisely because they are so good at balancing the importance of details with an ability to see the whole picture that they are successful. However, even though they make use of details in an admirable way, they can show disdain for them if they get in the way of a larger concept.

Leos can also be quite creative in work that requires physical labor. They don't believe in cutting corners and always adhere to the prescribed guidelines or safety standards. Leo often shows her inner strength when under the pressures of a deadline or crisis. Even in the most chaotic, stressful, and messy situations, Leo's ability to keep track of detailed information and use it to the best possible advantage shows just how helpful her organizational skills can be.

Time management is a Leo specialty. Leos are especially prolific leading a team effort that is deadline sensitive. Because of their natural leadership ability and gift for prioritizing tasks, Leos prove that to be detail oriented does not mean being shortsighted!

Money

Leos can benefit from taking calculated risks in the stock market and other legal forms of gambling, or from taking a chance on a new idea that comes as a creative inspiration. A Leo's good fortune can best come through having fun, enjoying love and romance, and being creative. If a Leo can look at even his routine tasks as pleasurable, it will bring into his life wealth and success in the fastest time possible.

Games, including sports, performing, creativity, and children, can benefit a Leo financially. A Leo is also in very good position to profit, not only from all these things, but also from taking a chance on a calculated risk or gamble. Investing, a more socially respectable form of gambling, is also favored. Leos enjoy spending lavishly and would be wise to keep to a strict budget most of the time.

At Home

Leo sees his home as his castle. Lavishing attention on its care, beautifying it, as well as showing it off to others are his ways of showing what it means to him.

Every Leo has at least one object at home that others might consider ostentatious. A Leo needs to be able to be comfortable and completely herself at home and will get anxious to the degree that this is not possible.

Behavior and Abilities at Home

Leo typically:

• is able to complete household odd jobs
  
• is king of his castle
  
• shows strength of character in emergencies
  
• offers comfort and affection to family
  
• has a taste for elegance in the home
  
• needs others to respect his space
  

Leisure Interests

Leos derive much benefit from allowing their creativity free rein. The rewards given to true artists are secondary in importance to the pleasure they get just from taking the time to make their art. Leos need to exercise their creative talents, in whatever manner they enjoy.

The typical Leo enjoys the following pastimes:

• watching competitive sports on TV
  
• reading celebrity biographies
  
• shopping for clothes
  
• keeping a journal
  
• going to concerts
  
• giving parties at home
  

Leo Likes

• a lot of action
  
• adoration and recognition
  
• being creative
  
• receiving gifts of gold
  
• famous people
  
• the theater
  
• an appreciative audience
  
• children and pets
  
• exotic food and restaurants
  
• warm places
  
• designer clothes
  

Leo Dislikes

• not being appreciated
  
• cold weather
  
• physical inactivity
  
• being ignored or not being chosen
  
• working behind the scenes
  
• cheap perfume
  
• being taken for granted
  
• being told she can't do something
  
• tacky furnishings
  
• eating every meal at home
  
• subtlety or subterfuge
  

The Secret Side of Leo

Privately, the typical Leo craves love more than anyone would ever guess. A true Leo is a person who wants to be on top, to be the one in charge, and to be listened to, without question. Yet, both the aspiration as well as the reality put great stress on Leo. While typical Leos may appear to be confident, especially when they take center stage, they have secret doubts about their true worth and may seriously undervalue themselves.

The Sun

The sign Leo is ruled by the planet the Sun. Though Sumerian and Babylonian astrologers knew that the Sun was a star, they counted it as a planet, the most important one. The ancient astrological symbol for the Sun, a dot in the center of a circle, shows they knew that the Sun was orbited by the planets. It also symbolizes us in the center of our personal “solar system” of friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. The Sun gives light and life to our world, and in astrology the Sun symbolizes the ego. The planets revolve around the Sun, which is why it also rules celebrity, status, and the power to reign. The Sun's heat and light give life, and so the Sun represents fatherhood in a warm, giving, illuminating sense. It represents a father who gives life to his offspring, believes in the abilities of his creations, and is proud of them. The Sun rules our hearts.

Bringing Up a Young Leo

Most little Leos have turbulent emotions and often act out in dramatic ways. They always enjoy the limelight at school and often take the lead in tasks and activities.

The friendly Leo nature endears Leo children to everyone, including strangers. Since they are generally outgoing, they need to be taught discernment when it comes to talking to strangers.

Parents may find a bossy little Leo on their hands if they don't use enough discipline and convincing to impress the importance of homework and doing jobs around the house. It is good to reward a Leo, as she needs plenty of love, hugs, and praise for her achievements.

She should also be taught to handle her allowance, as she is likely to spend it frivolously at times. As it is in almost all things with a young Leo, what is taught is not as important as what caregivers and other teachers demonstrate in their interactions with adults. Leo children have an innate knowledge that what people say and what they do are often two different things. Young Leos can become surprisingly comfortable with and adept at stretching the truth to suit their purposes if the adults around them fail to demonstrate that duplicitous behavior whose purpose is the avoiding of hurt feelings is the only proper use of not telling the truth.

Leo children are naturally happiest when doing something physical. As they grow up, they will be attracted to the opposite sex, get huge crushes, and fall in and out of love. A parent of any Leo needs to understand that Leos can be overdramatic, especially about romance, so they should encourage them to tell the truth.

The Leo Child

The typical Leo child:

• does not like to sit still
  
• tries to be the center of attention
  
• loves games and playacting
  
• has a lot of energy
  
• is sunny and friendly
  
• is adventuresome and brave
  
• enjoys being catered to
  
• is generous with playmates
  
• dislikes being ignored
  
• loves parties and group endeavors
  
• is interested in romance from an early age
  
• will try to direct the actions of other children
  
• can sometimes stretch the truth a bit
  
• likes to pretend to be a parent or an authority