Placements · Leo decans
Leo decans: the crown, the torch and the battle cry
Every Leo shines. The decan says how: by simply being itself, by lighting up a bigger idea, or by charging in first.
Urania's Mirror, London 1824 · Library of Congress
At a glance
Leo 1st decan: Jul 23 to Aug 1. 2nd decan: Aug 2 to Aug 11. 3rd decan: Aug 12 to Aug 22.
- 1st decan, 0° to 10°
- Leo · SunFive of Wands, Strife · Saturn
- 2nd decan, 10° to 20°
- Sagittarius · JupiterSix of Wands, Victory · Jupiter
- 3rd decan, 20° to 30°
- Aries · MarsSeven of Wands, Valour · Mars
Leo · fire · fixed
Same sunshine, three different spotlights
Try this today
- Think of the last time you felt truly proud. Was it being seen, learning something huge, or winning? Carry that memory through the three sections.
- Leo has two decan lines, in early and mid August; if your birthday is close, enter the time too.
Leo is the sign everyone thinks they can spot from across a room. Then you meet a quiet, bookish Leo and the stereotype wobbles. The decans help explain why.
The lion's thirds go to fire, in this order: Leo, then Sagittarius, then Aries. Note it carefully. Because the sequence starts from the sign itself, Leo's decans run Leo, Sagittarius, Aries, not Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Up to 10° is pure Sun: warm, proud, generous, made for an audience. The middle adds Sagittarius's search for meaning and adventure. The last adds Aries's competitive spark and urge to lead from the front.
The heart of Leo does not change: loyalty, creativity, a big laugh and a bigger heart. The decan just moves the spotlight.
The sky behind it
Longitude 120° to 150°. 2026 lines: Jul 22, 2026, 19:13 UTC, Aug 2, 2026, 06:23 UTC, Aug 12, 2026, 16:47 UTC. The 1st decan holds the Sun longest here, 10.46 days.
Five of Wands, Strife
1st decan Leo: the Sun on its throne
Try this today
- Make something purely for the joy of it this week and show it to one person.
- Compliment someone sincerely in public. Leo generosity is the best kind of spotlight.
Sun ruling Sun: nowhere else in the zodiac is the solar note so concentrated.
Leos here are warm, expressive, loyal and very aware of how they come across. They tend to be creative, playful and fiercely protective of the people they love. The challenge is the classic Leo one: wounded pride when the appreciation does not arrive, and a dislike of sharing the stage.
Saturn, the Chaldean face, is a surprising and useful brake: discipline under the glitter. The Five of Wands, Strife, shows five young people sparring with staves, the work of holding your ground among other strong personalities.
Typical birthdays: July 23 to August 1.
The sky behind it
Jul 22, 2026, 19:13 UTC to Aug 2, 2026, 06:23 UTC; Jul 23, 2027, 01:04 UTC. July 22-23 · 10.46 days · 50.6 min (New York). Jupiter Jun 30, 2026 to Aug 14, 2026.
Six of Wands, Victory
2nd decan Leo: Sagittarius's wide horizon
Try this today
- Teach someone a thing you love, in ten minutes, today.
- Before your next big promise, ask yourself what it will take to keep it.
Jupiter takes the middle of the lion as sub-ruler, by way of Sagittarius. The fire grows outward: more curiosity, more travel, more conviction.
Optimistic, honest, adventurous and inspiring, this is, the Leo who wants their shine to stand for something. They are natural teachers, performers with a message, and generous friends. The shadow is preaching, or promising more than they can deliver.
Jupiter holds the face too, so old and new agree on a big, expansive, lucky reputation. Six of Wands, Victory: a rider crowned with laurel, the public win after the struggle.
Typical birthdays: August 2 to August 11.
The sky behind it
Aug 2, 2026, 06:23 UTC to Aug 12, 2026, 16:47 UTC; Aug 2, 2027, 12:09 UTC. August 1-3 · 10.43 days · 51.0 min (New York). Jupiter Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026; Jupiter Feb 26, 2027 to May 28, 2027 (retrograde).
Seven of Wands, Valour
3rd decan Leo: Aries in the front row
Try this today
- Pick one challenge this week that scares you a little. Sign up before you talk yourself out of it.
- Let one small argument go unanswered. Notice how little it costs.
Mars arrives at 20°, carried in from Aries. The fire turns active, competitive and brave.
Here the lion has more drive and directness than the other two: the leader who goes first, takes the risk and dares the rest to follow. They tend to be passionate, athletic, impatient and quick to defend the underdog. The lesson is pacing, and remembering that not every disagreement is a fight to win.
Mars again as Chaldean face makes this Leo's fiercest third. Seven of Wands, Valour: one figure holding a high place against many. Courage is the theme, with the reminder that not every hill needs defending.
Typical birthdays: August 12 to August 22.
The sky behind it
Aug 12, 2026, 16:47 UTC to Aug 23, 2026, 02:18 UTC; Aug 12, 2027, 22:34 UTC. August 12-13 · 10.40 days · 51.0 min (New York). Jupiter Oct 3, 2026 to Feb 26, 2027; Jupiter May 28, 2027 to Jul 26, 2027.
Find yours
Which Leo decan are you?
120° to 150° of longitude; 153 minutes to rise over New York, 170 London, 94 Sydney, 119 equator.
What do you have?
Already have a chart? Type the sign and degree of any placement: Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Venus, anything.
26°00′ Leo is in the Leo 3rd decan.
Your placement
Leo 3rd decan
20° to 30° of Leo
Triplicity decan: Aries, ruled by Mars.
Chaldean face: Mars. Tarot (Golden Dawn): Seven of Wands, “Valour”.
More to read
Shorter reads. Each opens in place.
In real life
Leo decans in love
Late-July lions love loyally and lavishly and need to feel adored in return. Early-August lions want a travel buddy and a co-conspirator in big plans. Mid-August lions love passionately and protectively and are drawn to people with their own fire. Every lion wants to be chosen, out loud, on purpose.
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2026 to 2027
Slow planets in Leo's decans
Jupiter, 0° to 10°: Jun 30, 2026 to Aug 14, 2026.
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Jupiter, 10° to 20°: Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026.
Jupiter, 10° to 20°: Feb 26, 2027 to May 28, 2027, returning by retrograde.
Jupiter, 20° to 30°: Oct 3, 2026 to Feb 26, 2027.
Jupiter, 20° to 30°: May 28, 2027 to Jul 26, 2027.
Quick answers
What decan Leo am I?
July 23 to August 1: Leo. August 2 to August 11: Sagittarius. August 12 to August 22: Aries.
Why is the 3rd decan of Leo ruled by Aries?
The triplicity system gives each sign's thirds to the three signs of its element, starting from itself and moving forward through the zodiac. For Leo that is Leo, Sagittarius, then Aries, so the 3rd decan is the Aries decan, ruled by Mars.
Which Leo decan is the most dramatic?
The Sun-on-Sun stretch, roughly July 23 to August 1, is the most classically Leo, so it wears the drama label. The 3rd decan, with Mars, can be just as loud when something feels unfair.
