Today the planet Venus moves into Leo at 1:50am Pacific Time (8:50am GMT), saying goodbye to the soft romantic Crab and hello to the flashy bold Lion. It will stay there until July 10th when it moves into Virgo. In Leo Venus is free to express itself without limitation, a happy situation for Venus which likes little more than being able to openly express itself. The trap of Venus in Leo is being too big and giving away the self too freely without retaining anything.

Venus rules over the realms of relationships, art/expression, worth (both personal/self and physical/monetary), and values. As planets move around the signs each sign tempers and refines the one before it, so Venus in Leo takes the personal emotional lessons learned in Venus in Cancer such as the ability to open up and be true to one’s self and uses them as fuel to ignite it’s own exaggerated and flirtatious nature, expressing the self and the ego as effectively as possible.

Venus’ journey from solitary Cancer to outgoing Leo can be an abrupt change for those comfortable in the nurturing and emotional water sign or a welcome one to those more at home in the heart of the flame. In Leo Venus is encouraged to be bold, risky, and daring, but also risks a bruised ego in the process due to it’s larger than life nature. It doesn’t think, it acts, and can suffer the consequences later.

Because Venus in Cancer taught us about our personal relationships with each of the realms Venus rules Leo can then take that new knowledge and start expressing it to anyone and everyone who will listen.

There can be a tendency to overexpress or give away Venusian items during this time, including money and personal self-worth in the hope of gaining approval and recognition. Leo loves attention, approval, and recognition, and so any personal endeavors are often motivated by that subconscious or conscious desire. The bruised ego comes in when that desire is not met. Because of this personal relationships can become strained if both parties are looking for recognition but not giving any to the other.

When Venus in Leo is well-expressed it is done so by finding a balance between the Cancerian nurturing and Leo expressing, making sure you and everyone else is heard and appreciated. While not always easy to achieve, that is the work of Venus in Leo.

This is a broad look at the effects Venus in Leo can have. How you personally will be influenced by Venus’ transit through Leo will also depend on your birth chart: the sign and placement Venus is in as well as the house and planet(s) you have in Leo. To find out your own planet and house placements you can cast your own chart for free online. For a personal chart reading I am also available for consultations.