Leo

Inside every Leo is a king or queen waiting to jump out. (In a little Leo it'll be a prince or princess.) But whatever the rank, Leos do like to wear the crown, hold the scepter, and be in charge. It's a Leo who will lead a little old lady across the road, even when she doesn't want to go! (You try arguing with a lion half-way across a zebra crossing!)

Leos aren't going to like this, but what makes many of them tick is acres of applause. They like to be the centre of attention and know that their public whether it's 5,000 fans or the boy next door - appreciates them.

There are some very colorful Leos around, but there are some very grey ones too. Think of a Leo, and you'll see someone blond and blue-eyed, with a magnificent mane of hair. The men always look like Apollo, who is associated with this sunny sign. And the women are stunningly striking, and have long golden tresses (even if they are out of a bottle!), which shimmer every time they toss their heads in a majestic manner. However, there's another sort, too. This breed look a little like moles, not lions at all, with black barnets, piggy peepers and a rather shifty air! It's very hard to believe that they belong to this splendid sign, but they do!

But whatever they look like, there's no doubt that positive Leos will offer you the earth and give you their hearts. (Gold-plated ones, of course). There is a gorgeous grandioseness about Leos, but sometimes they can be all mouth. It's only when it's too late that you realise the Lion was just out to impress you.

There was a Lion I used to know, who would offer everyone the earth. He made you feel there was nothing he wouldn't do for you, and promises, offers and assurances flew from his mouth like bees from a hive. The trouble was that those bees never made any honeyl It was all hot air, and that's very disappointing indeed from a Lion.

You must never forget (as if the Lions would let youl) that Leo is ruled by the Sun, the centre of the solar system. This star controls almost everything and we'd die without the heat from its rays. So, a lot of Leos can live their lives with a Sun complex. The modest wee beasts feel that as the Sun is the centre of the solar system, so they are the centre of the human race!

As a result, of course, they expect people to put down the red carpet for them. Everything has to be done in a stately, stylish way, as if entertaining royalty. When a Leo comes to tea, he or she won't want to be fobbed off with just one fairy cake, but will demand a three-tiered Victoria sponge. This is a regal, dignified and imperial sign, and the Leo will be either an Emperor Nero or Good Queen Bess. But whatever part he or she is playing, it has to be one that doesn't go unnoticed. Leos don't like to be just one of the crowd, like an extra in a scene from Gone With the Wind. They want to be Rhett Butler or Scarlett 0'Hara. (lions with strong Cancerian links will want to play Tara. the 0'Hara home!)

In astrology, the Sun is our creative core. So Leo is said to be the most creative of the signs. Leos may portray this by playing Annie in Annie Get Your Gun at the local amateur dramatic society or by painting their self-portraits on a 40-foot canvas. If they can't be creative themselves in an active way, they'll do it passively, taking off to the theatre, or burying themselves in a book. (Why not start with this one?)

Make no mistake, Leo is the sign of the Hollywood musical extravaganza. It may be a bit brash, but it'll have a massive orchestra, and you'll be spellbound by the majesty of it all. And that's what Leos love most. Neptune was tripping the light fantastic through Leo during the great age of Hollywood musicals, which is why they were so lavish. And believe it or not, lots of film producers and directors are Leos Sam Goldwyn, Alfred Hitchcock, Busby Berkeley and Cecil B. DeMille were all born under this splendid sign of the silver screen. (Leos certainly know how to do things in style.)

There's a fantastic feeling of leisure and pleasure about this sign. Leos love enjoying themselves. (And that's not as obvious as it sounds. Virgos and Capricorns sometimes feel guilty when they have a good knees-up.) They also adore being seen with the right people. (Upmarket Leos will be the people the other Leos want to be seen with!)

What makes most Leos tick, though, is very simple. It's the biggest heart imaginable a sort of titanic ticker. Positive Lions can be wonderfully warm and lastingly loving. And as if that weren't enough, they have a rich sense of humor running through them that will surround you and make you feel safe and secure.

Some Leos aren't lovable Uons at all, but are cheetahs, literally. This sneaky side of the sign comes from the Leonine lust for power. These crafty cats won't have the personality or warmth of the positive Leo, so will have to achieve their ambitions through underhand acts. Don't expect all Leos to want to be centre-stage, because some of them will prefer to wait in the wings, looking on. But most Leos love the limelight, and are happier playing the main man or leading lady. (They may even stick gold stars on their bedroom doors at home.) These Leos aren't concerned with the chorus;

they want the bright lights and all that goes with them. Their love of luxury means they can look and dress the part to perfection. But very often they'll behave abominably, and treat everyone as if they were their servants. Don't let a Lion make you his or her skiwy!

Just because a Leo chooses not to come on like a Hollywood hotch-potch of Mae West, Cleopatra (don't let her get the needle), and Napoleon Bonaparte, doesn't mean he or she Is negative. Sometimes, it's quite the reverse! All you need is a peek at a pirouetting and preening prima donna to see what produces a positive Leo. Some Lions will convey their creative concerto in a quieter, more controlled way. (A Moonlight Sonata rather than an 1812 Overture!) But a positive pussycat will always be the sunshine of your life.