The heart of the Leo wound can be sifted from the myth of the Holy Grail, where young Parsifal's father is quite ill. Parsifal, has a vision or dream of the Holy Grail and believes it can save his father so he sets off in search of it, much to the dismay of his mother. He takes many detours from the search but years later as a man finds the Grail and with it finds his Grandfather. (Forgive me Joseph Campbell!).

Taking that little bit of the whole myth we see that Leo's start life with a grand vision, or belief that moves them deeply, spiritually. They will often recount early memories of how deeply they believed in the miracles around them and the magic of life. Somewhere in there development, there is a disillusionment or disappointment that is most often felt around the father or father figure and our Leo must go on their life quest for the elixir that will save him. The image of the sad mother held in the myth is often seen in the Leo's actual mother who very often is not perceived as happy from the Leo child's perspective.

Now, it's important to clarify that the actual father may have been an amazing man but Leos enter the world with a propensity to see the father as absent or not enough; not enough encouragement, not enough support or not enough strength, as a result they set off to find this feeling of father that they long for outside of themselves not realizing that it is deep within them. Everything outside of Leo becomes a potential father, an audience who loves them, a mate who dotes on them, a coworker who looks forward to seeing them. Leo's response to the outside world is an attempt to try to find acceptance because at this point in their lives they have none on the inside. To us, it looks arrogant; it seems like this person is a ball of self-absorption, never saying thanks, expecting to be nurtured and getting pouty if they don't get what they want.

But what is really going on is the search for acceptance, for love, for the kind of support they didn’t' experience and it may take a lifetime before they realize that the acceptance they so desperately want must come from within. Sooner or later they are going to have to face a disapproving world and still have something within them that tells them that they are beautiful just the way they are, in other words, the father within has got to come forward.

There is a certain magic Leo's have around them, notably they can shine that glorious Sun (their planetary ruler) on you creating a feeling of hope and safety. In this light, you feel special, chosen, and loved. How can one person change your mood so intensely; giving so much hope when things felt so bleak only moments ago? That's their magic. But for every ray of light that a Leo can shine, there is a shadow cast. For as bright as they can shine their light on you, they can also take it away leaving you in a cloud of overcast gloom! Suddenly the warm glow you were basking in is bleak and cool, there is no running inspiration and what you thought was a dream is now closer to a nightmare. This can happen when the lion has been hurt or offended or even worse, ignored. Perhaps you didn't ask their opinion on something or didn't recognize the amazing job they did or maybe you lit up like a light bulb when your friends came over after being lugubrious around your Leo all day. These are things that Leos don't take kindly to, after all they are the Lions and Lionesses of the zodiac and all of "their people" respect them and hold them in a special kind of esteem, if you break the royal code, you get the royal cloud, and you will feel it!

Speaking of royalty, Leos are the Kings and Queens of drama, and anything can be turned into one. The milk that was spilt, the mess the garbage men made, the remark a co-worker said, the phone call that hung up on them, the gift they are giving you, anything can be everything. Drama stirs things up and puts them at center stage where they can't be ignored. But let's face it; we wouldn't have time for drama if our own lives were fulfilled.

Leo's are a most generous sign with that charismatic fire energy that is very benevolent and caring. They often have the loudest, most contagious laugh fitting the archetypal image of a king like Henry the 8th or a Queen like Victoria. Don't let a detached exterior fool you, they are watching every nuance, every glance, taking notes of who is safe and who isn't because behind that roar is truly a kitten. Talking to a Leo is a breeze, they have stories to tell, mostly about themselves but as they get secure with the ground they are standing on they'll soon shine that light on you and want to know everything about you, often interjecting quips that they can relate to. They want you to like them and if possible, envy them. If you are aware of it, it's endearing, if they need more than you can spare it can be irritating.

Leo's love gifts (and love to give them as well). They are big kids at heart and make great companions to other people's children. As for their own kids, Leo's have to watch out for that urge to be the center of everyone's world (all the fire signs have a propensity towards competition regardless of how subtle it is portrayed) and unconsciously requiring the children to be the audience that they need. The Lion's LOVE flattery and receive admiration with an almost embarrassing ease.

Hair is important to the Lion. The Leo mane is often the trademark of these natives. Bald Leo's often shave their heads to add a look of distinction. They usually stand tall when entering a new "domain", eyeing the crowd for worthy subjects into their kingdom. Honest flattery opens their door but you had better mean it, they can smell someone kissing up a mile away.

Leo's are a grand tribe, each searching deeply for an inner acceptance of themselves. To learn this lesson quickly, they will often create a situation where they feel alone at some point in their life forcing them to choose themselves regardless of the collective around them. This is one sign where the men and women seem quite different. Leo Women seem happier more able to say what they want and pick partners who adore them while the Leo Men seem more hurt, picking partners who direct them. Perhaps it has to do with how each deals with the father. The men act more like their fathers while the women tend to "marry" them. In either case, both are working on remembering their inner magic, their inner Oz ultimately knowing that "there's no place like home". There is majesty to this sign that shines when their actual position in life more easily allows them to reflect it. A Leo that is stripped of their "honor" or not recognized as special may pull in, become lethargic and unmotivated. One gift every Leo can offer themselves is the gift of mastery; becoming the best at what they do, the expert in their field.

This month, while the sun is in the regal sign of Leo, it is a chance for all of us to master a particular area of our life, to shine like a beacon that reminds each of us individually that we matter; we matter a great deal regardless of what our external reality may reflect back to us. Thanks for reading! Mark