On the Cusp: What Being a Mix of Big Leo Energy and Virgo Perfectionism Means for Your Personality
Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs. Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or the very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor.
As we wave goodbye to the summer season, Leo and Virgo signs share the astrological spotlight. Below, Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author of Surviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, explains what happens when zodiac queen bee Leo (July 23 to August 22) merges with the absolute perfectionist Virgo (August 23 to September 22).
Forgive me, end-of-summer babies, but I always see August as the Sunday of best the season. And I'm sorry to say that this stance often makes me feel withdrawn and overcome with premature nostalgia. Some years, I'd rather just cancel the whole month and dive into fall—and whoever's responsible for moving up the drop date for PSLs every year up clearly agrees. Still, there is beauty to be experienced in riding out the season's remaining days and anticipating the crispness of what's coming next. If you're born on the Leo Virgo cusp, you're probably emblematic of that very YOLO energy.
"Those born near the Leo Virgo cusp exquisitely sum up that end-of-summer, back-to-school longing," says Weiss. "They like to linger at the beach but are secretly excited to start sharpening their pencils and picking their outfit for the first day of class."
"Those born near the Leo Virgo cusp sum up that end-of-summer, back-to-school longing. They linger at the beach but are secretly excited to start sharpening their pencils and picking their outfit for the first day of class." —astrologer Stefanie Iris Weiss
To riff on a very apt end-of-summer song, I ask Weiss to tell me more, tell me more! But before we jump into the details about what it means if you or a friend is on the Leo Virgo cusp, a reminder: You are always one sign on the other. Being born on the cusp means that your neighboring sign may simply inform some aspects of your personality to lean one way or another.
Classic Leos often have these traits
Leos are warm, generous leaders with big hearts and bigger attitudes. They're the people you want on your side of a fight because Leos are likely to take center stage when it comes to protectiveness—and just about anything else. This means the Leos you know are likely to be your biggest advocate or enemy.
That said, the arrogance and attention-seeking qualities that come with Big Leo Energy are definitely liable to get on your nerves. At their best, though, Leos are essentially the physical embodiment of Lizzo's "Juice." If she shines, everybody shines (as long as she shines the brightest).
And to all Virgos out there, this checklist of traits describes you well
And I know y'all have a checklist.
Virgos are kind, hardworking, completely Type-A, and will go above and beyond to make sure everything is just so. This reality can also describe their weaknesses.
Because Virgos are textbook perfectionists, they can be overly critical and drive their loved ones crazy. (Case in point: my Virgo mother is going to read this article later and say she loved it but there was one little thing that could use some tweaking in the fourth paragraph. Can't wait!)
So what does it mean to be on the cusp of Leo and Virgo?
An interesting point about being on the Leo Virgo cusp is that the two signs tend to carry completely different egos. One is usually served, the other is usually the servant. As a result, being on the cusp may provide some lovely balance.
"Those born at late degrees of Leo are still archetypal diva-kitties, but they’ve got the extra edge when it comes to Virgo-like task-mastering," Weiss says. "These Leos love the spotlight but also understand that backstage precision is essential for a perfect show. They can be a bit harder on themselves than mid-Leo Suns for fearing criticism and seeking approval. And more than typical Leos, late-season Leos love to serve, and they do so with a dramatic flair."
So while all Leos would theoretically be great in the entertainment industry, a Virgo-influenced Leo is a better fit to be a star director than an A-list actor. And even though early-season Virgos are "quintessentially detail-obsessed," they come with less anxiety and self-flagellation than those born in the later degrees of the perfectionistic sign.
"Depending on the rest of the makeup of their natal charts, close-to-cusp Virgos crave love and loyalty in a Leonian fashion," Weiss says. "Like all Virgos, they know they came to Earth to help other people keep it together, but when they tie up loose ends, they’ll do it with more flair than mere efficiency."
Basically, those on the Leo Virgo cusp soak up only the good bits of end-of-summer energy. So, bask in the sunny times, you perfect lionesses.
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