2023 Leo Horoscope Preview

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Leo Horoscopes, the Year 2023: Summary/preview of the year ahead for the zodiac sign Leo.

This forecast is for those with the Sun in Leo (approximate birthdates in the range from July 23rd to August 22nd)* AND those with a Leo Ascendant. Be sure to also see the full Leo 2023 Yearly Horoscope.

By the way, if you want to know your Ascendant, find out with an Ascendant calculator, such as our What’s My Ascendant?, but do note that an Ascendant cannot be determined for unknown birth times.

2023 Leo Horoscope Overview

(Click on any sign above to navigate to that sign’s preview horoscope).

Areas of Expansion in 2023 for Leo: Spirit, Outlook, Beliefs, Career, Reputation

Your Leo 2023 Horoscope points to areas of life that are destined to expand and grow.

Vision/Outlook
Spirit
Sense of Adventure, Life Experience
Learning/Further Education
Status
Career/Responsibilities
Life Path

Until May 16th, a wonderfully refreshing theme continues in your life. Your belief systems, learning experiences, and hunger for adventure continue to develop, grow, and expand. You feel more courageous and spirited as you sense that there is more “out there” for you to learn and take in. This transit is a happy one, although it can be subtle since it runs so smoothly! We may not always notice when things are purring along well.

This influence spans two date ranges, with the first wave having happened last year, and the second one with you as you begin the year 2023 and running to mid-May:

from May 10-October 28, 2022,
and from December 20, 2022-May 16, 2023.

You’re on the second and last step.

At this time in your life, you’re less likely to sweat the small stuff. You see the broader perspective on life, and you generally feel supported so that more minor inconveniences don’t stress you out quite as quickly.

Your positive outlook is notable during this cycle. It’s wise to aim to learn as much as you can now in preparation for the next cycle, running from May 2023 to May 2024, which puts your career on center stage. You’ll want to be prepared!

Your views on life in a broad sense are changing, growing, and maturing. Connections with faraway cultures, people, or a wider knowledge base can open up opportunities to grow personally. Teaching and sharing knowledge can be in strong focus. It’s a good–perhaps even ideal– time for publishing, writing, and media.

You might consider fine-tuning your talents and skills with higher education or experience during this cycle.

New learning experiences and “life” experiences (adventures, new activities, contacts with others of a vastly different culture than yours, and so forth) are likely to emerge.

During this period, you might have the opportunity to reach a broader audience. You might choose to learn a new language or take on other exciting studies.

You get exceptional support from friends and associations, or you are particularly inspired to grow, improve, explore, discover, and move outside of your comfort zone. It’s a good time to feel both motivated and inspired. People and experiences outside of your norm can affect or inspire you.

You’re likely to enjoy opportunities to expand your experiences and impress others. Education can be transformative now, leading to meaningful opportunities. Picking up new interests and expanding your knowledge can profoundly impact your love life, leisure time, or creativity. For creative sorts, your creations can reach a much wider audience during these periods of your life.

From May 16th onward, Jupiter is a guest at the top of your solar chart, reaching the peak, and it helps you shine! Your ambitions, career, business goals, and reputation grow and develop. Your talents and skills are recognized now like rarely before. Much of the hard work you’ve put in begins to pay off and reaps the rewards – or at the very least, it’s recognized.

This influence lasts a little over a year: from May 16th, 2023, to May 25th, 2024.

You are in the limelight in some way during this cycle. You could find yourself in a position that truly suits you, and you take great pride in your work. For some, more prestige or a higher social standing is part of the picture. You can be quite charismatic in a position of authority or responsibility. Advancement in achieving an important goal can occur at this time in your life. There can be significant enhancements to your reputation or public image. Perhaps most importantly, you have more faith in your goals and aspirations during this period of your life.

Although it’s an excellent period for expansion and recognition on a professional level–and you should take advantage of it–choose your projects carefully. It’s best to take on only what you can handle. Watch also for gossip or mishandling of information–be wary of situations that could easily get blown out of proportion or misunderstood.

For the most, it’s a booster period for your reputation or position. It can be a time of significant progress in the outer world, a fortunate change in status, and/or increased recognition.

People more readily or openly recognize your accomplishments now. Creativity, love, self-expression, or hobbies could connect closely with your career during this period. You feel more excited about achieving your longer-term goals and ambitions.

It’s undoubtedly a time when believing in yourself, your competency, and your ability to take the lead opens up opportunities for you. Love matters or pursuing your joy more heartily can encourage you to reach your highest potential. It can be a time of a promotion or a position of leadership. Or, your creativity comes to the attention of the public. You might also bring more creativity to your work or be recognized and esteemed for your art or hobbies. Aim to expand your reach.

In May when this transit begins, there can be initial challenges balancing your relationship and career goals. Some obsessiveness with or in a partnership could affect your work and possibly your reputation. New people in your life may stimulate you to question your current status, life path, or relationships. The challenge is finding a balance between the two worlds instead of pushing or rebelling against either. Avoid ego-based decisions. Know what you truly want. Free yourself of those things holding you back from success, but do so prudently.

Fortunately, in June especially, your expectations, both of your finances and the people in your life, even out. You’ll see definite improvements in your life as you let go of unhealthy expectations and pressures. You more readily find support and guidance, and you might stumble upon a helpful person or project at this time that can change your life.

It’s important to make time for your responsibilities. Taking the lead can benefit you tremendously now.

Areas of Contraction and Lessons in Simplicity: Partnerships, Contracts

Your Leo 2023 Horoscope points to areas of contraction, restriction, and necessary “slimming down” in order to test for stable foundations. There are always areas of life that require more simplicity. Tests may be part of the picture as you learn that life with only growth and expansion can run away with itself.

A Significant Other or Association
One-to-one Relationships
Shared Finances/Resources
Debts & Support

Until March 7th, the areas of your life that continue to require a “back to basics” approach are associated with the sector of your solar chart that governs close personal relationships, such as marriages and other committed partnerships, long-term associations, open enemies, negotiations, agreements, and contracts. There may be tests of sorts in these areas of life, as if the universe is checking that the foundations are strong. Things built on weak foundations may very well crack under the pressure of these tests. Those that are suitable will endure and strengthen.

This influence began in 2020 and ends in March 2023.

It can be felt most strongly earlier or later in the cycle, depending on whether you were born earlier or later in the sign of Leo. This year, those born with a Leo Ascendant of 23 to 30 degrees and those born from August 15 to 22/23 are most directly affected.

For those of you in committed partnerships, there can be some strains on your bond during this cycle. For example, a partner might feel like a “heavy” in your life–perhaps even a dark cloud hanging over you at times–and any feelings of restriction that you feel or have felt in this area of life magnify in your mind. A partner might instead seem cautious, distant, critical, or defensive. It would help if you opened your mind to the possibility of someone providing you with important life lessons – about traditions, simplifying your life, and responsibilities. In other words, do not automatically discard what they have to say. Take your time on this one. If, however, a partner is challenging you to the point of breaking, then steps need to be taken to improve the situation.

For those of you who are not in committed relationships, it is less likely that you’ll enter a new long-term partnership or commitment rashly. Some of you might begin one but will do so quite cautiously and carefully. Some of you might be attracted to older or more mature and established people as partnership “material.” This can be a make-or-break period for many of you. If you decide to commit to someone, it’s likely to be a long connection.

Those of you who are single might nevertheless feel some angst or pressure. This lack in your life might suddenly magnify, and it can feel like a gaping hole. You might lose hope, temporarily, that you’ll ever find a robust and committed partnership. Feelings of loneliness may run deep this year, but the universe is sending you a message through this experience regardless, awakening you to a need. In time, you will find ways to satisfy this need. Patience is usually necessary during Saturn’s transits.

Some of you could be committing this year. A relationship can encounter some tests or complications, but if it’s strong, it will weather the storm, and you could decide to take it to another level. If not, remember that relationships lost during a Saturn transit to your partnership sector, if at all, may have needed to end. This is a time when you may be seeing the less flattering side of others, and through your relationships, of yourself as well!

Others may be restricting you, or at least that’s how you might perceive things, and you may not be at your best in terms of overall energy. Some areas of your life may seem to break down before they get better. There can also be bone and teeth problems – something that often happens with hard Saturn transits. Tidy and organize your life as much as possible to minimize the challenges.

Seek ways to balance your life in terms of pleasures and responsibilities. Don’t turn your back on commitments and traditions entirely, and aim to learn and grow as much as possible from your experiences. The benefits of this transit are great, even if they sometimes feel slow to make themselves known! Incidentally, the last time this theme occurred was from 1991-early 1994.

You might partner up to work or improve your health, or you could meet a significant someone through work or pursuing your health goals.

From March 7th, the areas of your life that require a “back to basics” approach are associated with the sector of your solar chart that governs intimacy, sharing, and shared finances, or money and property that comes from a source other than your personal income. There may be tests of sorts in these areas of life–as if the universe is checking that the foundations are strong. Things built on weak foundations may very well crack under the pressure of these tests. Those that are suitable and good will endure and strengthen.

This influence runs from March 2023 until 2025/2026.

You feel this theme strongly earlier or later in the cycle, depending on whether you were born earlier or later in the sign of Leo. In 2023, those most directly affected by this transit are those born from approximately July 22 to 29 and those with an Ascendant of 0 to 7 degrees Leo.

Tests can come to your financial and intimate worlds during this cycle. You may deal with fears of surrendering yourself, emotionally or financially, to others. Support from others may not be as forthcoming as it has been in the past. For example, there can be a reduction in a partner’s income, or another form of financial support goes away or decreases during this period. Whatever the case, you might assume more independence in making a living.

Emotionally, there can be a feeling that others are not as supportive. There can be delays or difficulties, in general, with getting what you want or need from others. Intimacy may seem to dry up before it gets better.

However, it’s a strong time for handling financial matters, especially debts and taxes, logically and realistically. These are unlikely to be drastic changes but rather more on the lines of slow but sure progress, little by little. While it can be gradual growth, it’s real and long-lasting.

While this period can be a tad challenging at times, particularly when Saturn forms a quincunx to your Sun or Ascendant, there are some dazzling spots, making it a rewarding period overall, mainly if you focus more on long-term benefits and less on short-term frustrations. Saturn often brings on enough realism to help you get yourself on track.

The last time Saturn moved through this area of your solar chart was from 1993 to 1996–you could experience similar themes you did then, if applicable.

Especially in March, your need to learn, share, and be free doesn’t seem to mesh smoothly with equally powerful nudges to specialize or get serious about your inner world or intimate life.

Fortunately, you can find some real joy in simplifying these areas of life. You’re productive and committed. You may make an important commitment or form a powerful alliance or attachment. You can benefit from some self-discipline in these life departments, and it’s a powerful time for positive lifestyle changes. It feels good to straighten out key areas of your life. It’s also a good time for securing a supporter or some backing, although this can take some trial and error.

During this trend, your work could involve handling and managing others’ money or talents. Your day job or daily routines and health can be going through a transformation.

Especially in April, June, August, and October, your special attention to structure and discipline can help boost your career or reputation. Your expectations of finances and the people in your life even out. You see definite improvements in your life as you let go of unhealthy expectations and pressures.

Areas of Excitement, Innovation, Independence, and Speed

Your 2023 Leo Horoscope points to areas of your life that seem to speed up so that you can take some risks, innovate, and revolutionize.

Career
Reputation
Responsibilities
Life Path or Direction
Long-term Goals

All year, your career, professional projects, reputation, and public image continue to open up and change. These areas of life can be unpredictable – the wildcard areas of life – but also highly stimulating and innovative. You can bring fresh insight to your work.

This may be a time when you take an unexpected turn in your work. Be sure you don’t jump on a bandwagon that is impractical. Also, while you prefer to set your own pace in your work, try to avoid becoming a loner in your professional life. Others can have valuable input you might miss while you’re too busy asserting your independence! Otherwise, this can be a robust period of innovation.

Your career, professional projects, reputation, and public image continue to speed up, stimulate, and open up this year. You might learn to let go of limiting self-consciousness in these areas. As long as you don’t push it too far, you can free yourself from some of the fears you may have of not living up to others’ expectations, particularly those of parents or society in general.

Your career, life path, or direction can alter now as you seem to need to express yourself more authentically in 2023 and in the years ahead (it lasts until 2025-6). More courage is with you for breaking out along new paths.

You often bring a progressive, innovative, and unique spirit to your work or reputation. You are getting in better touch with your intuition these days, which can greatly affect your career or direction. A spouse can be integral to this process, or a relationship motivates a change in approach to your status, career, and reputation.

While there can be times when an erratic, unpredictable, abrupt, or rebellious theme in these areas of your life can clash with other life departments, in 2023, you seem better able to take advantage of the positive potentials of these themes. Particularly in late March and early May, there can be opportunities to advance materially or emotionally by thinking of your future. These are times when being progressive and willing to make minor changes can pay off.

Note that this influence runs until April 2026! It’s a significant, sometimes disruptive, but ultimately enlightening transit.

Areas of Change, Purging, & Transformation

Your Leo Horoscope reveals areas of your life in which change and transformation take place in the year ahead. It’s a time for “out with the old, in with the new.”

Health
Work
Routines & Habits
Partnerships & Negotiations
Career or Life Path
Responsibilities & Reputation
Home Life
Communications & Beliefs

Until March 23 and from June 11 forward, attitudes towards work, any services you provide for others, daily routines, and health continue to transform. This long-term, overarching trend continues in 2023 but is on its way out. It’s a good period for ridding yourself of bad habits or routines, but be careful not to replace one bad habit with another!

This is a very long-term influence that began in 2008 and lasts until 2024, but is on its way out this year.

Of course, there can be times when these alterations cause friction, such as pressures to perform and obsessions with taking care of details. Watch for excess and burning the candle at both ends, which is a real temptation.

However, this theme is also strong for making long-lasting beneficial changes to your habits, work, and routines. You’ll find it easier to direct your energies constructively, especially in February, when you’re finding solid ways to combine attention to detail with bigger-picture thinking or work and mind expansion. You’re feeling a sense of purpose and mission. Embracing your ambitions comes more readily and with more support.

From March 23rd to June 11th, a new Pluto theme is with you. This transit won’t kick in consistently until 2024. While it’s only a sneak preview of a transit that will stick around for years, you’ll see some changes in 2023.

Attitudes toward partnerships, close personal relationships, compromise, and significant others begin to transform this year. This is due to Pluto’s presence in your opposing sign – a long-term visitor. This stay begins in 2023, but it weaves in and out this year and next, after which it will continue for two decades!

Aim to arrive at a deeper understanding of your needs from your partnerships, whether romantic, platonic, financial, or therapeutic. These connections are complex and sometimes complicated during this cycle, but they also hold the potential for rich learning experiences. Power struggles are possible, and it’s best to take an honest look at fears of failure, success, and betrayal that can emerge.

Alternatively, this can be a time when someone helps and encourages you to connect with ambitions, goals, and desires you never knew you had, or when a relationship goal has a similar effect. Even jealousy can help reveal your desires now.

In 2023, the nodes and eclipses continue to challenge you to pour more concerted effort into your career or responsibilities. However, a new theme is developing, and you’re also paying special attention to communications, beliefs, and personal interests.

The North Node continues to transit your solar tenth house until mid-July, promoting special attention to your career, life path, responsibilities, and reputation. This transit calls on you to sort out your life plan, and it can be about discovering your needs to balance your professional and personal life. Aim to nurture, embrace, and develop your desire to feel accomplished and to meet your responsibilities for best results.

Note that with the North Node at the top of your solar chart until mid-year, it can be crucial to strive toward putting yourself “out there” more often. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic move–in fact, you can do so in steps–but allowing yourself to feel entitled to express yourself professionally or as a leader in some way will grow on you. Over time, you’ll feel more comfortable and natural about it.

The October 28 eclipse brings resolutions and endings to this theme in your life.

From mid-July forward, the North Node enters a new sector of your solar chart, and the Solar Eclipse in April gets the ball rolling, starting you on a journey. This new theme enters and builds this year centering around education, travel, adventure, learning, publishing, and exploring new possibilities and horizons can figure strongly.

This influence challenges you to grow and improve your perspective, studies, publishing, sharing ideas, and transportation. You can benefit greatly from expanding your view. One of the primary keys to happiness is learning to reach out and connect beyond your usual bounds.

It can be a time to seek personal growth through expanding your horizons, such as through higher studies, philosophical pursuits, travel, or adventuresome experiences. Aim to learn as much as possible about your trade. There may be an important beginning or culmination in education.

You might reach a wider audience if you are in business, a writer, or the like. Big changes in transportation and mobility may be in the works. Particularly around the April and mid-October eclipses, you’ll be learning important things, picking up new interests, possibly ending some, and making important discoveries.

Your Planetary Ruler in 2023: The powerful Sun is your planetary ruler (although it’s technically a star, not a planet). The Sun never retrogrades, and while you are not immune to the retrogrades of Mercury and other planets, of course, you tend to plod along at a steady pace. Still, in 2023, Venus retrogrades in your sign from July 22 to September 3, meaning there can be some obstacles or slowdowns.

The Sun is in your sign every year from approximately July 23 to August 23. This period can be a time for renewal, after which there is a new personal beginning. The Sun particularly supports you from March 20-April 20 and November 22-December 21, and is in especially good shape on April 11, June 9, August 12-13, August 19, and December 7.

*It’s important to note that birthdates for Sun signs are always approximate since the starting date and time varies a bit every single year. If you were born on one of these cutoff dates (commonly known as a “cusp”), you can get a definitive answer using a Sun Sign Calculator. You can also write reports@cafeastrology.com with your birth information and we can let you know your true Sun sign if you were born on or beside the approximate date range given for any sign of the zodiac.

2023 Yearly Overview Horoscopes:

See also 2024 Summary Horoscopes for neat summaries of the year ahead for each sign, 2024 Yearly Horoscopes for detailed forecasts for each sign, 2024 Yearly Love Horoscopes for love guides to the year, and 2024 Preview Horoscopes for a preview of the year ahead.