Leo and Aquarius

Leo

• Fire
• Fixed
• Yang (masculine)
• Sun (masculine)

Aquarius

• Air
• Fixed
• Yang (masculine)
• Uranus (masculine) and Saturn (masculine)

This is one of my love-hate matches, as with all the 7-7, opposite sign patterns. Except that this specific one hits a little bit closer to home, me being an Aquarius. I'll try not to be biased, and detail this compatibility match with as much detachment as possible.

I have Leo problems. That much I will say. This is an incorrigible, cut-and-dry rule with me. Usually I'll guess a person is a Leo when I feel both intensely attracted to them and intensely repelled at the same time. Getting into astrology has helped me make sense of this consistent energetic polarity I feel when dealing with Leos.

I thought this feeling worth mentioning because it's a perfect description of two polar-opposite energies meeting. When Leo and Aquarius first meet, most likely there is an instantaneous charge between the two, followed by insatiable curiosity about the other.

Aquarius is fascinated by the regal way in which Leo holds themself, and might be taken aback, even unreasonably irritated, by the Leonine pride and vanity where the self is concerned. Aquarius might decide then and there that Leo is self-centered. Aquarius would be right - Leo is, at least, more self-oriented than forward-thinking, progressive Aquarius... the Sun is the at the centre of the solar system, after all. However, Aquarius should not form the impression that Leo is unkind - being a Fire sign, Leo has the spontaneous warmth, playfulness, and impulsive generosity that may be more subdued in the mental Air sign of Aquarius. Leos have a rep as the most generous of the zodiac signs. Anyway, the scientific, logical approach of Aquarius towards life will never allow Aquarius to accept a specific idea about Leo as valid until Aquarius has submitted every facet of the Leonine personality for dissection.  

That's something Leo will find flattering. Leo needs an audience. How can Leo help it, when the Water Bearer, who usually forgets their own name and legitimately cannot tell down from up at any given time, actually remembers who Leo is, and asks Leo those outrageous, disconcerting, and tactless questions about their inner self? But Leo's pride stands a good chance of being tempered when Leo catches onto the fact that Aquarius asks everyone those blunt, embarrasing questions. Here lies the opposition between the two signs: Leo is concerned with matters of the self, whereas Aquarius belongs completely to people. It's not that Aquarius doesn't find Leo especially interesting - Aquarius might, especially if they start acting fidgety and a tad cold with Leo, or start to tease relentlessly. The nature of Aquarius, however, is an impersonal one at the root. Aquarius doesn't see individuals, preferring to look at the big picture instead. People aren't "Sally" or "Harry" to Aquarius, they're just people, and those are mighty interesting creatures for the experimental Water Bearer.

There will usually be an inherent unspoken rejection of the other's ideals between these two. Since Leo is exactly 180 degrees apart from Aquarius on the karmic wheel of life, their approaches towards life can be markedly different. Owing to the Fixity of their sign, there is quite a large number of Leos with traditional approaches to life. Leo desperately needs not only the approval, but the applause, of society. The greatest delight of Aquarius is opposing the conventions of society - it's a funny thing that the older Aquarius gets, the more Fixed in their erratic approach to life they become. Internally, Aquarius doesn't give much attention to what people think. Aquarius will surely listen to a monologue about how they're going about things all wrong, but Aquarius, like Leo, is a Fixed sign - once a conviction is stuck in their head as right, nothing can change the mind of Aquarius. With Aquarius, the appearance of conventionality is just that - a facade. Leo, however, will flinch at the Water Bearer's weirdness, and will not take kindly to being made a fool of by the Water Bearer's antics, funny clothes, and even funnier friends.

A big area of contention between the two of them will be their joined double-masculine planetary influences. Leo is a masculine sign, ruled by the masculine Sun. Likewise, Aquarius is a masculine sign, ruled by the masculine Saturn, and the more androgynous, but still masculine, Uranus. Pride and ego on both parts may be the major downfall of this relationship. With Leo and Aquarius, it becomes necessary to actively put more affection, gentleness, and understanding (the so-called "feminine" characteristics) into their association, or else their home, workplace, classroom, what-you-will stands a good chance of being transformed into a splendid war-theatre. Just as Leo needs applause to feel alive, Aquarius lives and breathes mental and emotional freedom - Aquarius will chafe under Leo's well-meaning, but domineering and bossy, approaches to life. Aquarius will resent the smoldering Leonine jealousy. Whereas Leo is easily roused to jealousy, it takes a studied amount of effort to spark up the green monster in Aquarius. I really feel for Leos on this point, since the free-for-all, inquisitive attitude of Aquarius will anger Leo and cause them to assume the worst. To be honest, Aquarius is not the most fidelity-inclined sign before you've nailed them down to a serious relationship (and feel free to take that literally - this might be the minimum effort you'd have to exert to get Aquarius to commit). That's not to say Aquarians are a particularly sexed-up bunch. Actually, the natural Aquarian inclination is to remain romantically and sexually unattached. Next to Virgo, the sign of Aquarius holds the highest number of bachelors and bachelorettes in the zodiac. Despite that statistic, the experimental and fun-loving approach of Aquarius towards sex and romance should not be overlooked by Leo in the early stages of such an association with Aquarius. It would do Leo a world of good if they could cool their fiery ego a bit when Aquarius goes out with a particularly attractive friend. Aquarius most likely hasn't noticed, or else doesn't care.  

Anger might be a recurring theme in this relationship. Leo, being a Fire sign, has an undeniable temper. The Fixed quality of Leo makes this temper more subdued than in the more volatile Fire signs, Sagittarius and Aries, but still, if Aquarius steps on that cat's tail too often with their weird behavior and breezy detachment, the Water Bearer becomes liable to hearing the Lion's roar. Aquarius, additionally, is no whimp in the temper department. The other Air signs, Gemini and Libra, remind one of the peaceful, floating-on-clouds quality of Air - Aquarius represents the "thunder, lightning, and rain" aspect of the Air element. Uranus is the unpredictable planet of sudden changes. The Aquarian temper is more spontaneous, and ultimately more shocking and dangerous, than that of Leo. What's more, it's always difficult for people born under Fixed signs to apologize to one another. And Leo will expect Aquarius to be the one to apologize, all the time. Leos have too much pride, remember? You can go to sleep at night peacefully, though, dear Leos - Aquarius spits everything out, and then the anger's gone. Little pent-up resentment there over the long run. Plus, the rational thought process of Aquarius won't permit them to leave wrongs uncorrected if they feel they've been intolerant or cruel towards Leo.

All this inevitably spills into the topic of sex. The sex life of the Water Bearer and the Lion is, I'm more than willing to bet, the redeeming quality of their relationship. Aquarius is innately friendly, and understanding of the quirks of human nature. The open-minded attitude of Aquarius will allow Leo to feel as though they can let their guard of superiority and proud airs down, and give more warmth and loving affection (Leo's strengths) to the Water Bearer than they could towards a lover of another sign. Whoever invented the expression "academic interest" must have been referring to the Aquarian approach to sex. Aquarius has in-bred doubts about their sexual attractiveness and style. Typically, astrology will tell you that Gemini and Libra get the job of debunking those Aquarian insecurities done well. However, Gemini might prove too light a lover for the more persistent, intense Aquarius, and Libra's romanticism and sweetness might leave Aquarius intimidated and unable to respond. Leo provides exactly the right mixture of romantic passion and physical eroticism to warm the otherwise placid nature of Aquarius, and elicit a strong response from Aquarius - stronger, at any rate, than with any other lover besides Leo. Usually, Aquarius might avoid sex for a long time, especially once they realize they actually have to do something. However, Aquarius won't successfully avoid Leo's seduction for long - the polarity chemistry is that powerful. Let's be honest - the reason Leo attracted Aquarius in the first place was probably 100% sexual. The Water Bearer might have found themself absolutely flabbergasted at the dirty thoughts springing up in their head due to Leo. This relationship is erotically charged at its core, and for Leo and Aquarius, sex can be the binding factor that keeps them going through the trials and tribulations of the more mundane aspects of their life together.

On the financial front, Aquarius should be the one to watch out for Leo's tendency towards extravagant spending - not that Aquarius is any good with money. Just better than Leo *smirks mischievously*. Frequently there comes to be a grudging, but sincere, respect between these two, that helps them overcome the challenges posed by their Fixed, masculine natures. Likewise, their relationship will always be a learning experience in tolerance and compassion, and might prove to be more nourishing than an easier sign compatibility.

Have questions? Wanna share your Leo and Aquarius story? My e-mail is bemgcasrbaquarian@gmail.com

See you, blog readers.

Signed, your friendly Water Bearer.