♌︎ Mastering the ego
Updated: Aug 30
Leo, the fifth sign of the Zodiac, is unique in that it is ruled exoterically and esoterically by the Sun; the only sign under this rulership. This is fitting since Leo symbolizes the individual self. Depicted as the Lion: a symbol used for divine rule and will, this sign has something to teach us. Leo introduces us to the most central work of developing our identity and sense of self. The work of being who we are, what we value, and how we express ourselves and live our lives.
Leo is a symbol of self-mastery over our ego and of having confidence in who we are.
We are tasked with confronting the greatest challenge to every individual: the lower ego of inner judgement and comparison; the desire for domination, lust, greed; our darker nature. In bringing the light of consciousness within we can better navigate the complexity that is identity, our virtues, and intentions. This is the lesson of championing the proper principles within for the sake of spiritual and inner fulfillment.
In this blog we explore these themes alongside the history and symbolism of the Solar Sign.
Leo: The light within
Leo teaches us that every person carries a unique spark. Yet much of life is spent hiding that spark beneath fear, insecurity, and/or self-doubt. This sign is representative of the inner leader helping to bring out our inner light - to tap into the internal source that keeps us lively despite external conditions. The Inner Sun is who we naturally are.
The Hero's journey is the development of our character and Leo is central to this. Here we consider our vision, our creative potential, and the mindset we are cultivating: What kind of person am I becoming? What experiences am I helping create? The answer to these questions shapes the direction of our lives.
Leo symbolizes the personal recognition of our individual self and our journey to acquire knowledge, specifically from the lessons thus far: Aries with control over our thoughts. Taurus, power over desires. Gemini, unity within our reasoning. Cancer guides our connection to our emotional world and intuition. They come together in this sign as the foundation for the great work of personal self-knowledge: Power over the lower ego. The intention for a great life.
As an ancient symbol for power and the internal will, Let's explore the key symbology further.
The History of the Sign
Leo as the Lion is one of the oldest symbols for royal-ship and divinity. Originating in the constellation of Leo, in modern tropical astrology; the Sun transits into Leo from July 19-24 to August 19-24 (This date varies in the Gregorian Calendar) .
Ancient Babylonia
In Babylonian star-lore, the constellation we now call Leo was known as the Great Lion, a symbol of high summer, war, and kingship. Its radiant mane represented the scorching power of the summer sun, while the lion’s ferocity made it an omen of war, death, famine, and destruction. The Lion was also associated with the king and the fate of the realm, while the bright King Star, Regulus, marked the king himself. Leo was connected to Inanna, the goddess of war, whose lion was said to roar across the heavens and announce battle. Also, the Babylonians used Regulus's place on the horizon and proximity to Venus to determine the outcomes of battles. Leo's early history emphasizes the destructiveness of power.
Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians connected Leo with the flooding of the Nile and the life-giving power of the Sun. Lion-headed deities like Sekhmet embodied strength, protection, and divine authority.Like an angry mother lioness she was worshipped for protection against external forces, similarly she was a ferocious force herself that sparked fear in even her devotees.
Ancient Greece
The Greeks associated Leo with the Nemean Lion. According to Hesiod, the lion was raised by Hera and sent to terrorize the hills of Nemea. As one of the Labours of Heracles, the hero was tasked with confronting a lion whose skin could not be pierced by weapons. Sometime after this first encounter, Heracles made the lion return to his cave. The cave had two entrances, one of which Heracles blocked; he then entered through the other, making sure the lion had no way to escape. In the dark and close quarters, Heracles stunned the beast with his club. He eventually killed it by strangling it with his bare hands.
Ancient Rome
The myth of Heracles became Hercules and the story was told similarly enough with the lion ultimately being placed among the stars. It teaches the essential lesson of Leo: The lion cannot be defeated from a distance, it must be confronted directly and personally.
Now we see how this sign is symbolic of the internal willpower; the inner sun. Let's briefly touch on the connection between Leo and the great hero myth.
The Divinity of the Hero
The labor of Leo is not the slaying of a beast, it is confronting our own pride, vanity, self-centeredness, and the need for external validation. It is not about what others are doing, but instead what are we doing. The beastly lion represents the untamed lower self. The heroic task is to use our power for the best possible use. We seek not to control but to create. This process is described as the dual forces within ourselves, the higher self and the lower self coming into right order.
The lion's heart is developed one choice at a time and so the modern task for us is to manage our attention. Am I placing my attention toward noble pursuits? Am I becoming distracted by that which does not serve me? The way to overcome this challenge is true illuminated will. This is the continued purification of the heart and the whole path of our hero's journey. Let's define the key archetypes that we are pulling from.
Archetypes of Leo
Sun - The Lion - Strength
The Sun is the visible symbol of life itself, a force said to govern the self and the personality.
The Number 5 is associated with individuality, experience, and the development of the human being through direct participation in life.
five is the number of man, because man is a divine son of God... In the language of the psychologists, man is a self, a continuation of mental and emotional states, vitality, and the response apparatus of the physical body. These four we have seen brought into relation to the involving soul, in the four preceding signs. - Alice Bailey
The Lion represents courage, nobility, leadership, and the mastery over instinct.
Fixed Fire is persistence and radiance: the power to embody and express one's inner fire.
The Strength card in the Rider-Waite Tarot depicts a woman calmly holding open the jaws of a lion, symbolizing the mastery of instinct through gentleness rather than force. The lion represents our wild nature such as passion, desire, courage, anger, and vitality; while the woman represents conscious awareness, patience, and compassion. Above her head, the infinity symbol suggests limitless inner power, while the roses represent love, beauty, and desire. Associated with Leo, the lion reminds us that true strength is not about suppressing our animal nature, but having control over how we use our fiery internal energy.
Together they represent how each year provides us the opportunity to foster greater strength over our mind and body, inner balance and moral justice; creating inner peace and illumination.
Love over Fear
We all have a higher and lower ego: We can see them as our loving thoughts or our fear-based thoughts. Am I thinking this thought from a place of love or fear? While caution is important, the worst trap to fall into is being stuck in a state of fear and anxiety. The great spiritual task is to not be controlled by fear. Having fear is normal but to listen and act on every fearful emotion within us becomes the difference to having a good life. To overcome fear with love is, then, the great task.
Leo teaches us that growth occurs when we willingly enter the cave within. The place where fear, pride, insecurity, and self-doubt hide. The lion is there to teach us something about ourselves, that our loving light is greater than any negative force. The hero's journey has built up toward this vital task where intention is not always enough. We must travel further and deeper, we must be consistent and courageous in our practice.
Ego & The Shadow
The final aspect in this sign that I will highlight is the courage needed to do inner work. It takes courage to look honestly at ourselves. It takes courage to acknowledge our negative aspects. It takes courage to be a better person, one who loves more.
Leo teaches us that our individuality is a gift meant to be expressed as a service of love to the human beings around us. We are here with something special to share.
The courage to embody our true selves starts by acknowledging the negative behaviors about ourselves that we rather avoid. What is holding me back? What energy am I unconsciously projecting onto others? This is the path to what is commonly referred to as shadow-work. This unraveling of our behaviors is done by taking responsibility to understand and control our own lower aspects. Through grace for others we make the our world a better place for not one human being on this planet is perfect.
The other aspect to this is spiritual egoism where we hold judgement over others and thinking we are better than other people, regardless of reason. Anyone could be taken over by egoistic desires and so the grace, humility, and kindness are to be constant, if we are are to overcome.
Sol Journal (Sunday writing)
Yet dealing with our negative/sad thoughts and emotions is easier said than done.
This is where writing comes in to help clarify our inner world and recenter our attention.
Step by step. Thought by thought. Page by page.
Writing allows us to examine the stories we tell ourselves.
The fears that keep us small. Agreements we believe for no good reason.
And there are dreams inside us asking to be expressed.
Writing in alignment with the days empowers us to begin anew, always.
On Sun-days we invite you to ask:
How can I honor myself today? What is my intention for this órbit?
What is my intention for this journey ahead?
ÓS Journaling provides us with a tool in self-mastery through greater clarity toward our life. The more honestly and confidently we can answer these questions, the stronger we become, and this strength is only found within ourselves. It needs no validation, only daily practice.
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