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Leo tarot cards

23 Jul – 22 Aug (approximately) · Fixed fire · ruled by Sun · suit of Wands

heart · pride · creativity · generosity · need for applause

Leo is fixed fire at the height of summer, warm, proud and made to be seen. Strength is its trump, a woman calmly closing a lion's jaws: power used through gentleness rather than force. Its decans are the Five, Six and Seven of Wands, a run through rivalry, public victory and holding your ground against many. It is ruled by the sun, so it shines when it is generous and sulks when it is ignored.

The cards of Leo

StrengthMajor ArcanaStrengthcourage, gentle power, patienceFive of WandsDecan 1Five of WandsSaturn in Leo · 23 Jul – 1 Augcompetition, lively conflict, testingSix of WandsDecan 2Six of WandsJupiter in Leo · 2 Aug – 11 Augvictory, recognition, public successSeven of WandsDecan 3Seven of WandsMars in Leo · 12 Aug – 21 Augstanding your ground, conviction, defending a positionKing of WandsCourt card (modern scheme)King of WandsFixed firevision, entrepreneurship, decisive leadership

Leo cards in a reading

Leo cards ask about heart and visibility. Strength suggests the courage to stay kind under pressure; the middle Wands show competition, recognition and the defence of a position won. Ask whether you are performing for others or creating for yourself.

Reading for a Leo

Reading for a Leo, start with what is going well; they open up when they feel seen. The Six of Wands often appears for them about recognition, and its reversal about praise that has not come.

A Leo season spread

Leo season (about 23 July to 22 August) suits creative work and taking up space. Draw this to find what you want to make and share.

  1. 1. My light: What in me wants to be seen?
  2. 2. Where to shine: Where should I put this energy?
  3. 3. The rival: Who or what am I measuring myself against?
  4. 4. Gentle strength: Where does softness serve me better than force?
  5. 5. What I can create: What can I bring into being this season?
Draw the Leo season spread

Questions

What tarot card is Leo?
In the Golden Dawn system used by the Rider–Waite–Smith deck, Leo is Strength. Its three decans are the Five of Wands (Saturn in Leo, 23 Jul – 1 Aug), the Six of Wands (Jupiter in Leo, 2 Aug – 11 Aug), the Seven of Wands (Mars in Leo, 12 Aug – 21 Aug).
What court card is Leo?
In the modern scheme that gives cardinal signs to Queens, fixed signs to Kings and mutable signs to Knights, Leo (fixed fire) is the King of Wands. Older Golden Dawn tables split each court card across two signs, so you will see other answers.
What planet rules Leo?
Sun rules Leo in classical astrology, whose tarot card is The Sun.
Can I use tarot without knowing astrology?
Yes. The astrology is one layer of meaning built into the cards; every card can be read from its picture and its written meaning alone. The correspondences help when you want another angle, or when several cards of one sign or planet turn up together.

Correspondences follow the Golden Dawn system the Rider–Waite–Smith deck was made within (tropical zodiac, dates approximate; they shift by a day in some years). Other traditions assign some cards differently. See the full table for all 78 cards.