Leo Season
It's August, which means we're right in the middle of Leo Season. Let's get the technical details out of the way first... Leo is a fixed fire sign, ruled by the Sun, with birthdays from July 23 to August 22, my favorite time of year. Leo is symbolized by the lion, the king of the jungle, so it’s more than appropriate that people under this sign are seen as regal, proud, dramatic, larger than life, and natural leaders.
Some of my very favorite people in the world are Leos; my podcast partner, Alison Price, is a bright and bossy Leo in all the best ways. She's a creative force of nature and she lights up the room with her effervescent storytelling and artwork.
Another dear friend will roll his eyes when he finds out I wrote about him, but he exemplifies some of the absolute best qualities a Leo can possess. He is generous, loyal, joyful, a delightful conversationalist, a true film buff who can remember lines from almost any movie you throw at him, and one of the most moral and upstanding people I've ever met. (Love you, Timmy!)
My ex-husband, who I don't talk much about, since it was so very long ago, was a Leo. I met him my first year in art school and we spent six roller coaster years together in my formative 20s. Although we both outgrew the relationship, I have nothing but good things to say about our time together. Even though we were broke half the time, struggling both financially and relationship-wise, it made me who I am... and that's what your 20s are for, right?
Leo Rising
The rising sign, or ascendant, is the sign that was on the horizon at the moment of your birth. As such, it is a huge part of your personality, especially the part that people see when they first meet you. It’s your outward appearance, your fashion sense, the initial impression you make before you’ve even said a word.
People with Leo rising don’t tend to go unnoticed. They’re loud and proud, often with big blonde hair (whatever their natural hair color or racial identity). Donald Trump is one example. Marilyn Monroe is another. The color most associated with Leo is gold.
Bastet, the Cat Goddess
The goddess at the top of this post is Bastet, sometimes known as Bast, the ancient Egyptian goddess associated with home, fertility, protection, and, most notably, cats. Originally worshiped in the form of a lion, she is often depicted with the head of a lioness or a domestic cat. Bastet was a protective deity, believed to ward off evil spirits and malevolent forces, just like all our beloved house cats of today.
Cats were famously revered in ancient Egyptian society for their grace, hunting abilities, and independant nature. Bastet's feline appearance represents both the nurturing and ferocious, aggressive aspects of a lioness or mother cat.
In the early periods of ancient Egypt, Bastet was more closely associated with the lioness and was depicted a fierce war goddess. Her status grew as cats were domesticated and her cult spread to Italy, where her symbols and statuary have been found in the ruins of ancient Rome and Pompeii.
Glorious Cats
Cats have always been my pet of choice, to the degree that you can ever really “choose” a cat (as all cat lovers know, the cat chooses you). Some of the first pictures of me as a tiny baby show me laying on the floor trying with all my might to chase our poor cat Samwise. He was my singular motivation for learning to crawl!
We always had cats when I was growing up, at least one or more. We had dogs, too, when we lived somewhere with enough space, but cats were the default. If someone says they "don’t like cats,” I might still be friends with them, but I’ll always have a suspicion in the back of my mind that they’re not quite right in the head.
This is not to be confused with people who are legitimately allergic to cats (and there’s nothing a cat likes more than someone who says they’re allergic!). I’ve even met one or two people who were afraid of cats, which is pretty common in some parts of the world. In North America, however, they’ve recently overtaken dogs as the most popular pet.
I love dogs too, but as an introvert, I just can’t imagine having dog energy in my personal space 24-7. With cats, you can safely assume they want to be left alone at least as much as you do.
Leo Season
Happy birthday month to all my Leos! Pay homage to the goddess Bastet and all our wonderful Leo brethren by doing something on a grand scale. Go to a music festival, block party, concert or play. Sing karaoke or dance with wild abandon while everyone is watching. Worship the sun (I know I will!) and do something generous for someone.
Thanks for reading!
Art & Astrology
Check out my RedBubble shop for Bastet and other Badass Goddess prints, coasters, clothing, notebooks, phone cases and more.
My Badass Goddesses book is available in paperback, hard cover and digital format.
Listen to the Starzology Podcast, hosted by Alison Price (Leo goddess!) and me.
