The Sun is currently in the sign of Leo, giving us even more reason to celebrate this beloved, fiery sign. And what better way to honor the confident Leo than to take a look at the dazzling relationship between Leo’s fire and the magical world of Tarot?
Tarot and astrology are brilliant metaphysical tools on their own; but when used together, they can work to uncover deeper meaning in many areas of our lives — highlighting our strengths and helping us overcome our weaknesses.
For instance, each sign of the zodiac is associated with and ruled by a card from the Major Arcana — the first 22 cards of a Tarot deck. There are also correlations within the remaining 56 cards, called the Minor Arcana. Exploring the relationship between Leo and the corresponding Tarot cards will show you more about your sign and give new meaning to every reading.
Traits of Leo
Leos are a Fire sign ruled by the Sun, the planet of the self — the higher self, one’s purpose, or ego. Your personality is charming, even magnetic, and you naturally draw people toward you. You are very honest, although your honesty can come across as too blunt at times.
Leos are generous and friendly, and they love to be in the spotlight. The passion of a Leo is boundless, and it can sometimes lead to volatile emotions or outbursts. Leos are represented by the lion, a symbol of bravery.
Leo in the Major Arcana: Strength
Strength is traditionally the 8th card of the Major Arcana, corresponding to the month of August when the Sun is in Leo. This card rules over and represents the energetic Leo, and its artwork typically features a woman stroking or standing next to a lion, the symbol of Leo. In one of the most well-known decks, the Rider-Waite Tarot, the beautiful woman is seen calmly holding the lion by his intimidating, yet relaxed jaws.
Though the lion may be fierce, the woman’s calm demeanor has tamed the aggression within the lion. She controls the otherwise dangerous lion with her serene, graceful nature and with love. In astrology, Leo rules the heart, as evidenced by the loving relationship between the woman and her ferocious friend.
The lion represents the passionate nature of the Leo—the emotions of courage and desire, and the need for human connection. When these needs are not met, or when feelings like desire become overwhelming, the destructive nature of the lion will manifest.
The woman in the card represents the self-love and self-acceptance that is necessary to keep destructive behavior patterns in check. She feeds the lion’s passionate disposition with the love needed to maintain an equilibrium between passion and anger.
This card symbolizes the importance of self-love for Leo. If you do not practice acceptance of and gratitude for who you are, you will find yourself feeling out-of-place in the world. While most everyone seeks some kind of external validation, it is impossible to appreciate the love flowing toward us if we do not have that love for ourselves living within us.
This card is also a reminder of the immense internal strength you possess to face challenges head-on. It refers to your resilience and ability to carry on.
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Leo in the Minor Arcana: 6 of Wands
The 6 of Wands is associated with Jupiter in Leo and represents the beautiful marriage between Jupiter’s expansive nature and Leo’s fiery, confident essence. This card indicates victory or public acclaim of some sort and correlates with Leo’s love for the spotlight. There is an air of optimism within this card that perfectly matches the positive, buoyant personality of the Leo.
Conversely, the shadow side of Jupiter in Leo can lead to arrogance or egotism — traits that must be avoided if victory is to be gained fairly.
In the Rider-Waite depiction of this card, a regal man rides atop a white horse — a crown of victory resting upon the man’s head. There is a crowd gathered around him, showing their support and cheering him on. The man enjoys, even adores, the attention — and he is carrying a wreath-decorated wand which further speaks to his accomplishments.
This card represents the public acclaim you may achieve if you can keep the ego uninvolved and play fairly. This card may also indicate that you have acquired the skills needed to highlight your talents and strengths without such distractions.
If you can learn to keep the ego reined in, you will be able to achieve your goals and receive public acknowledgment for them.
Where Have the Cards for Leo Shown Up in Your Reading?
If you happen to draw these cards during a reading, this information can help you better understand how the card might be speaking to you. While the cards and corresponding guidebooks of the Tarot contain a multitude of useful information, understanding the relationship between astrology and Tarot can bring out even more meaning from each card.
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