Leo

What is Leo like?

Leo is warm, loyal and big-hearted. They love big, they laugh loud, and they will defend a friend in public with real style. A Leo in your corner is like having your own brass band.

There is a strong creative streak. Leos want to make things and to show them: a song, a cake, a very good outfit, a child’s birthday party with a theme. Pride is part of it, but so is pure joy. They like the world to be brighter when they leave than when they came in, and they will take a small bow for it.

The side people miss is the softness. A Leo who has been praised will glow for a week, and one who has been ignored will feel it more than they will ever admit. Behind the mane, this is a very tender animal.

What are the weak spots of Leo?

Pride is the obvious one. A Leo finds it hard to say "I was wrong", and may need to say it in a roundabout way, with flowers. They can also take a joke about themselves badly on the wrong day, and they are not always sure which day it is.

There is a need for attention that can drown out quieter people. A good Leo learns to hand over the microphone, and finds that people like them even more afterwards.

They can also be stubborn, being a fixed sign. Once a Leo has announced a plan to everyone, changing it feels like losing face. They would rather finish the very long hike in the wrong shoes than turn around.

Who does Leo get on with?

Leo usually gets on best with the other fire signs, Aries and Sagittarius, who enjoy the heat and do not mind the noise. Gemini and Libra are good company too, because air keeps the fire going and they know how to pay a compliment. Aquarius, the opposite sign, can be a fascinating match: Leo wants to be adored by one person, Aquarius loves humanity in general, and they learn a lot from arguing about it.

Taurus and Scorpio are fellow fixed signs, so these pairs may lock horns, or claws, and they can also last for decades. As ever, your sun sign is a small part of the picture, and the compatibility pages look at more of it.

What is Leo like at work?

Leo wants to run something, or at least to star in it. Acting, teaching, politics, events, management, design, and any job with an audience tend to suit this sign. They are at their best when people can see the results, and they will work very hard for a word of real thanks.

A Leo boss is generous and loyal and likes a little ceremony. They remember who stood by them. A Leo colleague can wake up a dull room, and may need gently reminding to share the credit.

How does Leo handle money?

Leo likes to be generous, and it shows. They will pay for dinner, buy the good seats and pick the gift that is slightly too much. Quality matters, and so does how things look. A Leo can make a modest budget look like a very good party, and that is a real skill, but saving tends to come second to living well.

What does the Leo symbol mean?

The symbol is the lion. In Greek myth this is the Nemean lion, whose skin no weapon could cut, and which Hercules defeated as the first of his twelve labours. The glyph is often read as a mane, or the lion’s tail. The constellation really does look a little like a crouching lion, and its brightest star, Regulus, means "little king".

The Sun is the ruling planet of Leo, the only sign that the Sun rules, and it suits them well. It is also why a Leo season can feel like a birthday that goes on for a month. See what the sky is doing for you on the Leo horoscope. Everyone has the Sun somewhere, and a free birth chart shows you where yours shines, and which of your planets have less wish for a spotlight.