Big Picture

STRENGTH / LEO / LUGNASAÐ

Strength to balance mercy and severity.

Kundalini - Power of Grace

• Gaia, the Empress, and the woman in Key 17, The Star, tames the powerful and dangerous lion.

• The mountain in the background also shows in Key 6, The Lovers. It is Sinai, Olympus, Fujiyama, Manitou, Denali - abodes of the Gods. It suggests climbing, aspiration, and attainment. Higher ground beckons.
  
  

"The central mountain is everywhere"
Chief Black Elk

• An infinity symbol hovers over her head, as in Key 1, The Magus. In Key 21, The World , the same symbol takes the form of ribbons. The horizontal figure eight is ascribed to Hermes, Thoth, Mercury, and shows dominion.
  
  
• The "8" is a sine-wave, or a Möbius strip. It represents rhythm, involution/evolution, the double helix of DNA, and the cyclic nature of the universe. It is related to the Yin-Yang glyph, and the Tipharet Helix.
  
  
• The eight is also a serpent, biting its own tail. Many cultures have the serpent/circle image, often as surrounding the universe, like the Norse Midgard Serpent. 8 is the number of the eighth Sepher, Hod, or Splendor.
  
  
• Tet is the beginning of the second seven, commencing the sequence of laws, or agencies.

• "Tet" means "serpent," another symbol of strength. The Hebrew letter even looks like a snake. It shows up in myths and religious beliefs of most societies, in many different roles. It is associated with rejuvenation (because it sheds its skin), with immortality, and phallic vigor.

  

  Because they live under rocks or in holes, they are associated with the underworld, the dead, fertility, and the unconscious mind. Christianity sees the snake as the personification of Satan, having tempted Eve with the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
  
  

• The woman wears white, symbolizing the first sepher, Keter, and its direct influence over lower nature. Her control of the lion also shows mental control over animal instinct.
  
  
• Her apron of flowers, like the ones in her hair, are roses, showing adaptation and use of mind over desire.
  
  
• She controls the lion's mouth, either opening or closing it. This is control of speech, an important, and difficult to acquire skill.

  
  
  

• The Sun is the German Wotan, the Egyptian Ra, and the Greek Phoebus Apollo.
  
  
• The lion is a perennial symbol of strength, grace, majesty, and leadership.

  
  
  

• LUGNASAÐ - (pronounced lood-nah-sadth) - August 1 - Also called "Lammas," Lugnasað originates from the Celtic Sun-God Lugh, who presided over the first grain harvest of the year. The Corn King dies here, at the height of his glory. The God's strength has reached its peak, and is honored with loaves of bread from the year's first grain. "Lammas" is an Anglo-Saxon construction of "Loaf Mass." This is the Druidic fire festival celebrating The Feast of Lugh.

LEO

July 22nd to August 22nd.

Ruled by the Sun.

I will.

Showman or show-off.

Fixed Fire. Inventiveness, creativity, enthusiasm, and courage, all characteristics of fire, peak in Leo, in its sun-like perfection. Leo is the height of summer, the bloom of the rose, the King-like grace of dominion. Leo influences in the chart (Fifth house, or planets in Leo) create an emphasis on realized potential. This can manifest as resounding success, and a warmth of heart in the face of any obstacle. "It's good to be king."

Leo, when active in the chart, is stable, dynamic, dependable, assured, motivated, confident, inventive, tactful, a leader, inspired, optimistic, dignified, has self-respect, integrity, honesty, honor, is regal, ambitious, brave, takes command, charming, repels negativity, intelligent, independent, frank, has stamina, loves praise, vital, vigorous, generous, affectionate, inspiring, helpful, responsible, works well with an audience, trustworthy, good memory, good planner and organizer, self reliant, thinks big, persuasive, wins through seduction rather than combat, progressive, enthusiastic, philanthropic, hard working, generous in praise, talented, well mannered, intuitive righteousness, idealistic, ethical, dependable, trustworthy, focused, persistent, and self sufficient.

- ART FOR ART'S SAKE -

Unfavorable Leo can be overbearing, tyrannical, pompous, arrogant, bossy, grabs the spotlight, egotistical, hot tempered, impatient, ignores advice, stubborn, dominating, power hungry, a know-it-all, vain, self-centered, dogmatic, dictatorial, irritable, easily offended or angered, a social climber, impatient, conceited, argumentative, falls in love too fast, adversarial, reckless, unable to be quiet, uncooperative, takes on too much responsibility, depressed, lonely, or self-isolating.

"Leo rules by divine right and Capricorn by delegated authority."

Domains of Leo are leadership, business, family, community, and theater, anything needing initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm.

Leo is symbolized by a lion, a straightforward and clear metaphor, befitting the clarity of its sign. It is the fire in the heart of the sun, or a furnace. Leo, if unafflicted, is always dignified. When afflicted, Leo's ills are the most heartbreaking to watch, as Leo is always in the spotlight, good or bad. But even when dethroned, Leo maintains its dignity. Leo's sense of honor and loyalty is very strong, and Leo knows how to protect the dignity of others, and is naturally respectful, on top of being on top...

Lessons for Leo include learning to delegate authority, not trying to do it all, learning to serve a higher purpose.

Leo rules the heart, back, and spine.

For Leo, the Shadow takes the form of Other's being unfashionable, vulgar, or "Part of the Mob," while pretending to be more. You fear being accused of this yourself, and can overcompensate by putting on airs. Work with your shadow, and the people you project it onto, by getting off your throne, and being the "One of Us" kind of King. The more you deny your Shadow, the more it will manifest itself and attract what you will interpret as disruption or pain.

The Fifth house has the character of Leo: planets in this house are concerned with Actualization; the realm of what a person creates, one's 'children,' one's 'place in the sun,' self-expression, speculation, love affairs. This house shows the use of will and love force. The fifth house begins the 'cult of personality' trend of the second four signs.

The fire triplicity is Leo (fixed), followed by Sagittarius (mutable), and then Aries (cardinal).

In the natural order of the signs, Leo is fire, preceded by Cancer (water), and followed by Virgo (earth).

The opposite axis, or antidote to Leo, is Aquarius.