Leo-Aquarius
The sign of Leo is associated with acting, drama, theater, creativity, children, warmth, humor, the heart, generosity, play, parties, entertainment, performing, kings, queens, royalty, nobility and …ego. Leo is associated with the ego more than any other sign of the Zodiac, and that is understandable given the significance of Leo’s journey. Understanding ego and the process of individuation is key to understanding the spiritual path of Leo-Aquarius.
Our ego is not who we really are, but is an illusion created by our personality and character traits. It is a composite of all the learned behaviors, mannerisms, skills, customs, beliefs and values that we have accumulated in this and countless past lives.
The term ‘socialization’ refers to the process by which we learn the values, norms and beliefs of the group or society to which we belong. It is a process of conditioning, and we internalize it to such a degree that we ‘become’ it. Unwittingly, we get ‘lost’ behind the masks we wear, and in the roles we play, truly believing that is who we are.
In this way our man-made society defines us, and we become ‘typecast’ (a theatrical term for being identified with, and lost in, the role you are playing). As a result of this process we each have an idea about who we are. This idea of our self is our ego.
At the personality level Leo tends to become identified with his actions, believing he is what he does. At this level Leo is self-conscious: pre-occupied with his role, actions, reputation and behavior. He becomes so lost in the many masks he has to wear, each with their own particular set of duties and responsibilities, that he loses sight of his true Self. To discover who he really is, when not in a role, Leo needs the group consciousness of his opposite sign Aquarius.
The humanitarian group consciousness of Aquarius recognizes the whole of humanity as a single living entity: a connectedness, which is comprised of unique fully-realized individuals. Aquarius is associated with humanitarianism, science, individuality, uniqueness, technology, the future and groups.
Gather a group of Aquarians together and the one thing that they will all have in common is their desire to be unique: to be different from each other, and everyone else. Yet, somewhat ironically, the highest octave of Aquarius is group consciousness and the highest purpose of the integrated Aquarian Soul is that of World Server.
The secret to the future of humanity lies hidden deep within the mysteries of Aquarius, but before he can unlock them Aquarius has to access the heart-centered energy of his opposite sign Leo.
Air signs are all about Mastery of the Mind, and Fixed energy is all about stability. So, as the Fixed Air sign, Aquarius brings structure and stability not only to our mental processes, but also to the whole experience of our heart-mind. Only in the West do we think of heart and mind as separate: as if our mental processes were something distinct and separate from our heart and feelings.
The true path of Aquarius depends upon fusion and stability in the use of heart-mind energy. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul knows that the way to flow the energy of Love and Life is through skillful use of the mind: that mental energy is not meant to be ‘wasted’ as we currently do in petty conflicts or the pursuit of ‘mental games’ to amuse the ego, but that our mind is meant to be a focused ‘vehicle’ for the influx of spiritual energy.
At the level of the personality Aquarius can be aloof, emotionally cool, detached and distant, for the first thing the Aquarian personality has to Master is the use of mental energy. The intellect can be an obstacle in terms of our spiritual progress if we get caught at that level. With his brilliant and innovative laser-like mind, combined with the mental dexterity of a brain surgeon, Aquarius has a tendency to divide and separate.
The ability to label all incoming information and place it into categories earns Aquarius the distinction of scientist, and many distinguished medical doctors are born under this sign because it allows them to ‘marry’ their humanitarian ideals with a love of science. Unfortunately it can also make our Aquarian friend the ultimate materialist, reducing the value of everything to that which can be seen, observed, studied, researched, dissected, ...and labeled!
One of the ego traps for Aquarius lies in believing his own labels. Such divisions may help us when communicating and learning, but we would be wise to remember they have no basis in reality. The urge towards humanitarianism, and the tendency to have their attention on group activities, can also lead the Aquarian personality to miss the point of their own existence altogether: their own inner journey.
Although Aquarius has a great love of, and respect for, individuality it is actually in his opposite sign of Leo that he finds the gift of “opportunity through individuality” and finally manages to experience this for himself. The Aquarian personality, in his desire to please and remain loyal to his group, may actually keep himself stuck in group conformity. He will only access the highest octave of Aquarius (and thus Master the powerful spiritual energies that he is here to channel) when he allows himself to follow his heart, stand alone, and find his true individuality.
The Leo-Aquarius polarity teaches us a lot about the importance of individuality, and higher group consciousness. Mastery of this polarity is about integrating the heart-cenyered leadership of Leo, with the higher group consciousness of Aquarius, so that we realize that we are both connected as one, and within that we have an individual experience. We are one body of humanity, each having an individual experience.
