The Sun is making its annual visit through its home sign of Leo now. This is the place where he shines brighter than anywhere else.
It also shines the light on all things solar including royalty and that king of beasts, the mighty lion.
Strength is the Tarot card associated with Leo and also one of my favorite cards in the deck. So it is appropriate to reflect upon this card at this time of year.
The image shows a woman dressed in white and a lion by her side looking up at her. She is gently holding his head. The background sky is gold as is her hair. Above her head is a lemniscate or infinity symbol.
The eye focuses on the interaction between this woman and the lion. That she is able to keep him in check is nothing if not remarkable. After all, anyone with a house cat knows the strength of even a small feline--lions weigh four hundred pounds and can easily overwhelm the strongest human and then eat him for lunch (as they might do in the wild).
For that reason, I believe we can rightly infer the lion is willingly submitting to her.
But Tarot imagery is not to be taken literally. And like other cards, this one is metaphor also.
The lion is widely known as a symbol for passion and the woman dressed in white, a symbol of a civilizing force. The lion's passion invigorates the woman while the woman lends direction and focus to the lion.
I see this card as a reminder to ask yourself if you are living your passions? Does your life have meaning? Or has the necessity to deal with the day-to-day demands of paying bills and fulfilling other obligations taken the joy out of your existence.
If the latter is the case, then it is time for an overhaul. Because even if you need to keep your day job to pay the bills, you must make time for those things that draw you in and energize you.
The energy of the sign Leo is focused on self-expression. And whether you express yourself through the arts or just through force of personality, this is the time of year to focus on that part of you that is the creator. After all, Leo creates.
Leo is also associated with children, play, and the stage. Living your passion automatically puts you in touch with your inner child and approaching life with the open curiosity of a child is one way to put you in touch with your passion. The same is true with play.
So kick back, wriggle your toes in the sand, build a sand castle and take out your paint brushes. And have fun.
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