Traditional
Leo Traits
Generous and warmhearted
On the dark side....
Pompous and patronizing
The Leo type is the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert of all the
zodiacal characters. In grandeur of manner, splendor of bearing and magnanimity of
personality, they are the monarch's among humans as the lion is king of beasts. They
are ambitious, courageous, dominant, strong willed, positive, independent,
self-confident there is no word as doubt in their vocabularies and self-controlled.
Born leaders, either in support of or in revolt against the status quo, they are at their
most effective when in a position of command, their personal magnetism and courtesy
of mind bringing out the best of loyalty from subordinates. As they are
uncomplicated, knowing exactly what they want and using all their energies,
creativeness and resolution to get it, as well as being certain that they will, their
followers know where they are with Leonians. Leonians think and act bigger than
would normally be dared; although the ambitiousness of their schemes and idealism
may sometimes daunt their followers, their practical hardheadedness and ability to go
straight to the heart of any problem reassures them. If Leonians meet with setbacks
they thrive on the adversity.
On the whole they are powers for good, for they are strongly idealistic, humane and
beneficent. They have powerful intelligence and are of a broad, philosophical,
sometimes religious, turn of mind. Those who are devout may become very obstinate
in upholding traditional beliefs and will cling tenaciously, but with complete sincerity,
to practices and doctrines which liberal thinkers regard as absurdly out-of-date.
Their faults can be as large in scale as their virtues, and an excessively negative
Leonian can be one of the most unpleasant human beings imaginable, displaying
extreme arrogance, autocratic pride, haughtiness and excessive hastiness of temper.
If jealously suspicious of rivals, they will not hesitate to use cunning, lies and trickery
to discredit them. Self-centerdness, greed for flattery, boastfulness and bombast,
pomposity, snobbish superiority, and overbearing and intolerant disdain of underlings
- to whom they will nevertheless delegate the carrying out of minor details in their
grandiose schemes, and from whom they are not above borrowing immoderately if
an occasion necessitates it - any of these can be characteristic of Leo. Add to them a
passion for luxury, a lust for power, unlimited sexual lust and emotional indulgence,
and a character emerges that no one would want to know either in public life or
private. But their pride may go before a fall as uncontrolled impetuosity is likely to
bring them low. Fortunately it is rare that a Leo is so undisciplined as to give way
thoroughly to this list of vices, and their tendencies to them are usually balanced by an
innate wisdom.
In professional life they do well at any vocation at which there is room at the top. As
politicians they are content with nothing less than a powerful position in government.
In business they may be the chairman of their company's board, or at least directors
or managers. They are excellent organizers and overseers, and if from the artisan
ranks of society they will aspire to become the boss, partly because they are
ambitious by nature, partly because they dislike manual labour, preferring to take
charge of others doing it. If artistic, Leos can become stars of stage or screen (their
bent is serious rather than light drama), maestros as musicians when they will
gravitate toward the grand instruments or activities, such as the organ or conducting
of orchestras and as painters; anything grand in conception and scale appeals to
them. Leo women make exceptionally good welfare workers.
In his or her relations with others the Leo type is open, sincere, genuine and trusting.
Outgoing, spontaneously warm hearted and plain spoken, though never lacking in
kindliness, Leos are more disillusioned than the average if let down by those they
trust. They are not good judges of character and are inclined to favoritism and an
exaggerated faith in their followers which too often ends in disappointment. They
have a strong sex drive and are so attracted to the opposite sex that they find it hard
to be constant; they can be so intensely sexual as to become dissolute. They may
have numerous love affairs for their love of pleasure and beauty is liable to drive them
from one attractive partner to another. They are very much inclined to deceive. Their
marriages may fail for the same reason, yet they are sincere and generous to their
lovers while love lasts, and will remain attached to their homes so long as it is run for
their benefit. They demand service but are incapable of giving it.
Physically Leos have large, strong and active bodies, broad shouldered, big boned,
taller than average, yet narrow flanked and often lean in youth. Such physiques often
run to plumpness as the years pass (though usually majestically so!). Their heads are
large and round, their hair usually blond and curly, their complexions florid, their
expression imperious. The eyes, often blue or grey, are wide, prominent and keen.
They stride masterfully and in a stately fashion, their upright carriage reflecting the
sense that they have a right to be here.
Physiologically, Leo governs the upper back, forearms, wrist, spine and heart. Its
natives are subject to a number of ailments: pain in the back and lungs, spinal
complaints, diseases of the heart and blood, sickness in ribs and sides, convulsions,
pleasantries, violent burning fevers including, in former days when they were
prevalent, plague and pestilence jaundice and some afflictions of the eyes.
Creative and enthusiastic
Broad-minded and expansive
Faithful and loving
Bossy and interfering
Dogmatic and intolerant
