The leader of the zodiac pack, there's a reason Leo is represented by the regal lion. But beneath their old, and theatrical exterior, what is it that makes this star sign tick? Whether you have a Leo in your life that you're trying to figure out, or you're a Leo on a journey of self-discovery, we have you covered. Below, our resident astrologer Jules Ferrari is decoding this powerful star sign.

Leo personality traits, explained

You have come here to shine, in whatever way and outlet feels natural to you. Your radiance lies in your individual creative spark. Your ruler is the Sun, it brings all of us life simply by being itself, emitting its energy. This relates to your archetypal journey as well.

By you falling in love with your life and developing the confidence and courage to be who you are, it gives life to others. Your starshine is contagious.

How do you express life? How do you experience life? What lights you up and makes you feel vital? How often are you tapping into the sheer joy of existing?

Leo energy wants to leave its stamp on the world and that stamp is your own individual imprint, it is your story or trade or knowledge base expressed through you as an individual. Not how the group relates to a subject or expressive outlet, but you. Your map of living.

In developmental psychology, Leo represents the period when a child first realises that they can make their family laugh, that by expressing their personality, it has a reaction on the people around them, the audience. Some Leo’s are told that they are too showy or too much, some learn to dim their radiance or bestow it onto other people, making the other feel confident and singular.

Your relationship to validation is a part of your learning curve. Do you act in a way to get a reaction? Do you change yourself to fit in with the group? Again, it is worth noting what lights you up. How do you feel about yourself? Are you a fan? This is important as the more you can self-validate your ideas and expressions, without needing the group as a sounding board, the more you may open up to your singularity, to more of who you innately are. And when a Leo does this, the Sun shines on them, lighting them up to others.

This is why authenticity is often a theme for Leo’s. You have come here to discover and be and emit who you are, not what the group wants of you, not by curtailing yourself or dimming your starshine. And this is where your talismans of confidence and courage come in. The more you can back yourself and enjoy who you are, the more you shine and the more it has a follow on effect to those around you, who also feel confident to be who they are.

HEALING BALM

There is medicine for you in Aquarius, your opposing sign. This energy knows how to self-validate, enjoying the qualities that make them unique and individual. Part of the balance is that you find your real community (Aquarius) and sense of belonging when you emit more of your own frequency into the world.

POSITIVE EXPRESSIONS

You enjoy being you

Creativity

Vitality

Authenticity

SHADOW EXPRESSIONS

Blocked

Reliant on Self-validation

Attention seeking

Jealousy

FIXED | FIRE | SUN

MY EXPRESSION BRINGS THE LIGHT

Want to learn more about the other signs? Look to our comprehensive guide on the personality traits of all the zodiac signs.

TIFFANY & CO. RING.

PHOTOGRAPHY Ellen Virgona
FASHION & CREATIVE DIRECTION Charlotte Agnew
HAIR & MAKEUP Colette Miller
MODELS Tahlia Dunn, Marlo Hsieh @ Chadwick Models, Apuol Jacobs, Narah Baptista @ Chic Management, Rose Kon @ RÏN Models, Mercy Sang @ Kult Australia
PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS Drita Ajredin and Alexander Cooke
FASHION ASSISTANT Charlotte Jennings
BEAUTY ASSISTANT Amelia Odjers