Leo II: Triumph, Shadow and Superman

 We continue our series on the 36 Decans of the Zodiac today with Leo II, the second Decan of Leo. Leo is a fire sign, so it’s all about inspiration, and it’s ruled by the Sun. The Sun, of course, is the object in the sky that all the other planets revolve around, so it has this centering force. It’s connected to creativity. If you think about the Sun, it provides warmth and joy. It allows for photosynthesis, which enables things to grow on Earth. So there’s a creative, playful quality to Leo as well. It’s about shining for other people, as Leo has a social quality.

Leo is also a fixed sign. This means it brings a consistent energy—this ongoing, steady quality of shining forth. But what makes the second Decan of Leo distinct from the others? One way to understand this is by looking at the planets that rule it under the Decanic system. In this case, it’s ruled by Jupiter, and under both systems, it’s Jupiter. Alongside the Sun, this combination has a lot of energy to unpack.

I’ll be breaking that down in the upcoming video—what it means to combine the expansive energy of Jupiter with the solar energy of shining forth in the world. We’ll also draw on some ancient esoteric texts that describe this face. This will deepen our understanding, including exploring some of the shadowy sides of this Decan. Then we’ll look at the Tarot cards associated with it, dive into some numerology, and reference Kabbalah.

Finally, we’ll close with an example: Christopher Reeve, who played Superman, is the perfect illustration of a life tied to this Decan. His ascendant degree falls right here in the Zodiac. So, there’s a lot to explore. I hope you enjoy this! If you do, please like and subscribe—it really helps people find my content.

Ruling Planets: Jupiter, Jupiter, and the Sun

Let’s start by talking about the planets that rule this Decan: Jupiter and the Sun. The Sun rules the sign of Leo and Jupiter rules the decan under both decanic systems: the Chaldean order and Triplicity. A great way to understand Jupiter is to compare it to Saturn, because the two planets have very opposite energies. Jupiter is all about expansion, abundance, optimism, and growth. Saturn, by contrast, is the planet of limitations, restrictions, responsibility, and discipline. It’s the farthest planet we can see with the naked eye, so it represents the boundaries of the material world—what’s possible through hard work over a long period. Saturn sets limits, while Jupiter wants to break free of those limits and expand outward.

So, when you combine the Leo energy of shining—putting yourself out there—with Jupiter’s expansive energy, you get people who are confident, outgoing, and willing to leap into situations other people wouldn’t. They’re often rewarded with acclaim and positive recognition. I see this with clients who have Sun-Jupiter contacts in their charts. It’s a wonderful energy to have because it gives you the confidence to say, “I can do this!” However, I always caution people with this combination about the potential for hubris.

Hubris: The Greek Myth of Icarus

The Greeks had a concept called hubris, which is a kind of overconfidence or arrogance that leads to downfall. A great example is the myth of Icarus. Icarus and his father, Daedalus, were trapped on the island of Crete by King Minos. To escape, Daedalus built wings made of wax and feathers. He told Icarus, “Be careful not to fly too close to the Sun, because the heat will melt the wax.” But Icarus, being young and headstrong, ignored his father’s warning. He flew too high, the wax melted, and he plunged to his death.

The Greeks used this myth to illustrate what can happen when someone becomes overconfident and forgets their limitations as a mortal. In psychology, this is called inflation. If your ego gets inflated, you lose touch with reality and forget who you are. This is the shadow side of Leo II. While this Decan’s energy can lead to incredible success and admiration, it also carries the risk of becoming puffed up or overly self-important.

Ancient Texts on Leo II

Now, let’s take a look at the ancient texts that describe this Decan.

• Ibn Ezra, in The Beginning of Wisdom (12th century), describes the second face of Leo as:

“A man whose nostrils are fine. On his head is a crown of white myrtle, and in his hand, a bow. He is fierce like a lion in his anger and is wrapped in a cloak that resembles a lion.”

This description connects to the Roman custom of triumph. In ancient Rome, when a general won a great victory—like sacking a city—there would be a celebration where they were paraded to the Temple of Jupiter, crowned with laurel or myrtle, and honored with applause. But beneath that triumph was often violence or conflict.

• The Picatrix, an 11th-century Arabic text on astrology and magic, describes this Decan as:

“A man wearing a crown of white myrtle, holding a bow. This is a face of beauty, horseback riding, and the ascension of a man who is ignorant and base. This is a face of war and naked swords.”

Interestingly, this description mentions horseback riding, which we’ll see later ties directly to Christopher Reeve’s life and his tragic horseback riding accident.

Tarot and Kabbalah

The Tarot card associated with this Decan is the Six of Wands. In the Rider-Waite deck, this card shows a man riding on horseback, crowned with laurel, and celebrated by a crowd. It’s a clear depiction of triumph and acclaim. If you pull this card in a reading, its meaning depends on the surrounding cards. Positive cards suggest success and recognition, while negative cards indicate the potential for a fall from grace.

In the Thoth deck, this card is called Victory. The intersecting wands symbolize success and hitting your stride, and at the point where the wands intersect, fire ignites, representing a moment of creative energy and triumph. The violet background represents divine energy, reflecting the idea of triumph in Roman times, where a victorious general was celebrated almost as if they were divine.

In the Hermetic Kabbalah, this Decan corresponds to the sixth Sephiroth, Tiferet, which translates to beauty and harmony. Tiferet represents balance and is located at the heart of the Tree of Life, mediating between higher spiritual Sephiroth and lower earthly ones. It’s the point where the divine and human meet. This reflects the challenge of Leo II: balancing great success with humility and remembering your mortal limitations.

Christopher Reeve: A Case Study

Christopher Reeves has his rising degree in Leo II and his life perfectly illustrates the energy of this Decan. His big breakthrough came in 1978 when he starred as Superman, a character with godlike powers—superhuman strength, invulnerability, and the ability to save humanity. Reeve’s life seemed destined for success. Everything flowed for him, and he gained enormous fame and acclaim.

But in 1995, tragedy struck. Reeve, an avid horseback rider, was thrown from his horse, Buck, during a competition. His hands tangled in the reins, and he was paralyzed. This accident forced him to confront his mortality and work through deep depression.

Astrologically, his chart reflects this. He had his ascendant conjunct Pluto, the planet of transformation and profound challenges. He also had a Yod—a “Finger of God” aspect—involving the Moon, Mars, Uranus, and Jupiter. This configuration often points to karmic challenges and transformative life events. Mars and Jupiter together can signify risk-taking, while Mars-Uranus aspects (like Reeve’s) are often linked to sudden accidents.

Reeve’s response to his accident exemplifies the positive side of Leo II. Despite his challenges, he became an advocate for paralysis research and inspired millions with his resilience.

Final Thoughts

Not everyone with placements in Leo II will experience something as dramatic as Christopher Reeve’s story. For some, the shadow side may manifest as aging and the loss of physical beauty. For others, it may involve the struggle to stay grounded amidst success. The energy of Leo II is about balancing triumph with humility and learning from both the highs and the lows.

I hope you enjoyed this exploration of Leo II. If you did, please like and subscribe—it really helps people discover my content. See you soon for the next Decan of Leo!