Element: Fire

Quality: Fixed

Planetary ruler: Sun

Birthstone: Ruby

Flower: Sunflower

Color: Gold

Key characteristic: Creativity

Strengths: Courage, integrity, confidence

Challenges: Egotism, selfishness, dominating to others

Leo is the fifth sign of the astrological year and is known by its astrological symbol, the Lion. Leo individuals are dynamic, self-confident, and highly dramatic. They are considered to be good organizers, with an ability to lead and inspire others.

The Leo Man
Leo men are good-looking and personable and possess a swaggering grace that makes them attractive to women. They are friendly and good-natured, although they have a tendency to sulk. They have a strong ego and can seem preoccupied with their own concerns at times. Image is important to these men, and they take great care in cultivating just the right one for themselves.

The Leo Woman
The typical Leo woman is glamorous and regal. She isn't complicated -- in fact she's more up-front and honest. She revels in the spotlight and often finds herself the center of attention. No matter how happy she is in her personal life, a Leo woman needs more. That usually means a career or, in some cases, an involvement in social or community affairs that showcase her creative interests and organizational skills.

The Leo Child
Leo children are so dramatic and outgoing that they can easily be classed as show-offs by parents who do not understand the necessity of their little one to "perform." Since Leo children normally take on a leadership role early, parents need to prevent adversarial relationships between them and other siblings.

The Leo Lover
From the amorous love letters of Napoleon Bonaparte to the liberated sexual antics of pop diva Madonna, Leos have always shown a driving need to express their true love nature. They have a talent for blending the tenderest romantic sentiments with bold sexuality. Leos are great devotees of the dating ritual. They love giving gifts and will go to almost any lengths to make their adored feel special. They retain their romantic persuasion even when they marry and continue to "court" their spouse by showing just how thoughtful and generous they can be.

The Leo Friend
Despite their winning personality, it isn't always easy to be friends with Leo people, whose talent and self-confidence usually seem to place them at the center of things. That leaves a Leo's buddies always hanging out at the edge of the circle, waiting for someone to notice them. Leo individuals are best in a one-to-one friendship where their ego is less likely to intrude upon the relationship. Leos need to be brought down to earth at times.

You should embrace: Quiet times, progress, sensitivity
You should avoid: Rash decisions, idle promises, egotism

Even if they are not particularly good-looking, Leos born on August 4 may seem to be highly attractive because their personality is so engaging. These individuals are highly rebellious and may have a hard time fitting into a conventional mold. They prefer to do things their own way, even if this means hurting their chances for receiving accolades.

Friends and Lovers
When it comes to making friends, August 4 individuals have a genuine love of people and are virtually incapable of judgmental thinking. Love is anything but conventional for these intriguing people. They are likely to have more than their share of heartaches, usually brought on by an overly idealistic view of romance.

Children and Family
Because August 4 individuals are rebel types, family background actually means little to them. They don't believe in having too much allegiance to family members. They make somewhat distant parents to their own children. Because of their involvement in career and humanitarian concerns, these individuals may not be overly attentive to their own household.

Health
These people have plenty of nervous energy and are always looking for some way to expel it. They benefit from aerobic exercise at least four or five times a week. Stretching and deep breathing exercises can be helpful too, since they often suffer from stress and sleep disorders.

Career and Finances
August 4 people have a love of science and other analytical studies. They are highly intelligent and make fine teachers, professors, chemists, health care professionals, and engineers. Money is a fluid factor in the lives of these folks -- it comes in and it goes out. Since they aren't interested in holding on to their loot, they sometimes experience temporary financial shortfalls.

Dreams and Goals
August 4 natives have an unconventional view of what constitutes success. They don't look to achievements to make them feel good about themselves, nor do they expect to find satisfaction through worldly things. Instead, they're more concerned with living up to a strongly prescribed code of personal conduct.

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