Jupiter in Leo: Highlighting the gap between performative authenticity & embodied sovereignty

I stumbled across this picture that I created under the Leo Full Moon in 2021, and it struck me how 1) my mission to lift women up has been pouring out of me for a long time and 2) how well this picture captures the radiance that Leo energy can be: it’s about sovereignty, authenticity, using our voices, taking up space and creative expression in all forms. It’s bold and doesn’t wait to be recognized by someone else, because it already knows its inherent value. And all of these traits have been discouraged in women throughout history, so of course I want us to reclaim them!  

I think this is part of what makes this Jupiter in Leo transit (June 29, 2026–July 26, 2027), so enticing for people: it offers a beacon of hope, of how they’d like to feel. So many of us need to rediscover our joy, that childlike wonder and fresh eyes in how we’re viewing the world & what’s possible—and Leo has a hand in all of these things. I mean, Leo’s ruler is literally the Sun & who doesn’t want to soak up some rays?

I’m not here to burst anyone’s bubble, but there are some significant caveats to mention here. Because I think we’re all craving more authenticity and we all want to feel sovereign in our own lives. But how does one get to that point? 

I believe that to live authentically means to truly know ourselves and to align our lives accordingly—and that, my friends, is not all “light” work. That journey includes reclaiming our shadows, too. The pieces of ourselves that we’d rather not look at. The parts that have been deemed less “fun” and maybe not applause-worthy. It will mean looking at the ways in which we are not heart-led.

Because while Jupiter is the “Great Benefic” of the zodiac, bound to bring blessings, luck & abundance to whatever it touches, it’s also an amplifier. Meaning, it’s going to emphasize the ENTIRE spectrum of the Leo archetype—in all its expressions—including its shadow tendencies. (And Jupiter also has shadow tendencies of its own). 

I would argue that part of what is so appealing about this transit is that Jupiter and Leo’s shadows mirror much of what our culture currently esteems: we live in an era of over-sharing and excess in many ways. An era of celebrity and influencers and “pics or it didn’t happen.” Where expansion & optimizing are the continuous goals. We hold the Sun (and the masculine) in higher regard than the Moon (the feminine); often view being out in the world and loud & proud as more valuable than holding the frequency behind the scenes, for example. A society that often rewards those who are incredibly egotistical and puts people into positions of power that are the opposite of heart-led.

This transit will amplify ALL of these pieces so that we find a different balance. Because we learn through contrasts, we often need to see and experience what something is not to understand what it actually is. And come the end of the month, we’ll have the South Node moving in Leo, too, which will help to prune out the aspects of this archetype that are stunting our collective evolution. 

Think of the South Node as the “checks and balances” in this context, highlighting the shadow of Leo so that we can (personally & collectively) integrate. Because whatever we deny about ourselves, we only continue to overcompensate for. It doesn’t go away, it just comes out sideways. 

Think about a person with narcissistic behaviors/traits—a classic example of how Leo energy can show up when it’s inflated and left unchecked. On the outside, this person can present as very charming and even relatable. They tend to seem incredibly confident (they’ve even convinced themselves of this)! But it’s all performative. Because the moment you say or do something that feels even remotely threatening, you get a very loud response, and a very different version comes out. This is because, at their core, a narcissist has an incredibly fragile sense of self and rampant insecurities. Now, if they were able to turn towards these parts of themselves (with skilled supports) and learn how to provide nourishment to themselves, they might be able to stop seeking external validation from literally everyone else and cease their demonstrative, overcompensating behaviors that have been masking their festering wounds.

Actual sovereignty isn’t loud and boastful. It’s not striving to be seen as real. It’s not seeking approval from everyone else. There’s nothing left to prove because it speaks for itself. I define embodied sovereignty as internally sourcing the power that has been ours all along. It doesn’t mean feeling confident all the time; it’s about courage to live from the heart, even when that’s hard. It’s the ability to recognize when we’re wrong and make amends. The wisdom to know when we need more support. The willingness to be vulnerable enough to actually name what’s real. That, to me, is true leadership, and the potential of what this transit can assist us with embodying.