Leo: The Embodiment of Potential and Renewal

Many people carry certain stereotypes about zodiac signs in daily life—Leos are often seen as dominant and proud, while Scorpios are perceived as aloof and hard to approach.

However, not everyone fits the generalized descriptions attached to their sun sign. If you look closely, you’ll also notice that zodiac dates don’t align exactly with calendar months. Instead, they often correspond with the beginnings of solar terms, key markers in the traditional lunisolar calendar.

In this article, let’s explore why certain signs, like Leo, share universal traits—from the perspective of solar terms. I hope to offer a fresh, insightful, and more holistic way to understand astrology.

Leo’s Solar Terms: Great Heat and Start of Autumn

Leo is governed by two solar terms: Great Heat (Dàshǔ) and Start of Autumn (Lìqiū). These periods shape the Leo personality—fiery, proud, yet deeply warm-hearted.

Great Heat usually begins around July 23rd and ends around August 7th. It’s the hottest time of the year, with intense sunshine and sweltering temperatures, often overlapping with the peak of summer known as “mid-heat.” This is when people train hard and show off their progress—which may explain why Leos are known for their competitiveness and love of recognition.

According to ancient Chinese phenology, Great Heat is divided into three phases:

Rotting Grass Generates Fireflies: High temperatures bring out fireflies hunting for food. Like stars dotting the night sky, fireflies emit a captivating glow. Leos, much like these luminous insects, shine brightest when the moment calls for leadership or inspiration.
Earth is Humid and Hot: The soil is moist, ideal for crops to grow. Similarly, Leos are naturally generous and supportive, providing nourishment and care to those around them. Their innate desire to help, however, is sometimes misunderstood.
Heavy Rain Often Falls: Sudden downpours are common during this season. While rain may not relieve summer heat as effectively as air conditioning, it serves as a metaphor for Leo’s passionate, sometimes overwhelming emotions. Leos should reflect: is their help a refreshing rain or an unexpected storm?

The Transition: Start of Autumn

If Leos of the Great Heat period are more outwardly passionate, those born during the Start of Autumn (around August 7–23) tend to be wiser and more intriguing. Though autumn has technically begun, the heat often lingers—symbolizing a Leo who contains inner fire beneath a calm surface.

This solar term is also described in three phases:

Cool Winds Arrive: The first soothing breezes of the season offer relief from summer’s intensity. Leos possess a keen sense of timing—they know when to offer comfort, support, or space, much like a welcome cool wind on a hot day.
White Dew Appears: Morning mist begins to form, bringing moisture and gentleness. This mirrors the growth journey for many Leos: learning to balance strength with softness, presence with subtlety. The goal is not to overwhelm, but to nurture—like refreshing dew, not flooding rain.
Cold Cicadas Sing: Cicadas chirp as they sense the approaching coolness. There’s a touch of melancholy in their song, reminding us that even Leos have moments of vulnerability. They may hide their struggles, but they feel deeply. When a Leo is hurt, their emotions can be as powerful as a summer storm.

Embracing the Duality

Great Heat gives Leos their radiant confidence and drive, but it can also make them overly assertive. Start of Autumn brings wisdom and charm, but also hidden sensitivity. Leos born under Great Heat can benefit from softening their approach and practicing humility. Those under Start of Autumn can grow by building unshakable self-belief and inner strength.

As an old saying goes, “Unexpectedly, red summer ends; a cool breeze secretly welcomes autumn.” These two solar terms gift Leos with boundless passion, magnetic charm, and endless potential for renewal.

Whether in leadership, love, or personal growth, a Leo’s energy is both a force of nature and a work of art—shaped by the sun, refined by the seasons.