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and takes away the obligation.
Also, Leo sometimes unconsciously surrounds himself with creative people so that he can shine himself. This happens when Leo isn't doing what he loves, when he hasn't got a chance to create himself. But then he doesn't reward them with the recognition their efforts deserve, and sometimes - unconsciously - takes the idea as his own. He may play on the fact that he was the one who gave them the break, or the favour, and never really allows them to go free to blossom on their own. And when they protest, he has a knack, with all that charm, of making them feel guilty and unappreciative when he has been so generous and so tolerant. It's difficult to know what to do with a Leo in this kind of mood, because it's his own insecurities breaking through that make him behave in this less than honourable fashion. You know you've been had, but there's nothing you can put your finger on. When you've been had by a Capricorn, or Virgo, or Libra you know exactly how and in what fashion. In fact, Leo is usually so generous and magnanimous that you can't really think of any situation you can blame him for. So, he hangs on to you, and makes you feel good because you've helped him, and the Leo shadow gradually subsumes all your ideas and takes them for his own.
It's a rather dark shadow, this one. But Leo does everything in a big way, and his nobility is equally grand. Leo when he shines stands head and shoulders above everybody else; when he's in shadow, he's that much darker. The real root of this shadow is the 'I, the King' psychology. To Leo, the other people in his life are often extensions of himself. He genuinely believes that their creativity is his, their ideas are his, and that he has a right to help himself, because, after all, it's all his universe anyway, and he's the King. It's a kind of blank insensitivity, a lack of recognition, of other people's individualities. It comes from being so preoccupied with his own individuality. He doesn't mean to do it. Some Leos forget to give credit to others for accomplishments when the shadow is at work. Or they fail to offer compliments and genuine encouragement. Leo, the King and Father, often believe that people he loves are his children. Unfortunately, the children have a way of rebelling against his autocracy. Then Leo feels wronged, and tells the world about it.
This is one of the reasons why it's so terribly important for Leo to develop his own creative outlets. He needs recognition for his own abilities, and should be prepared to put plenty of time and energy into making sure he produces something that can earn it. The lion who hasn't created anything too often becomes sour and jealous, and then you see the shadow peeping through. He'll try to steal centre stage from anyone who happens to be on it, forgetting that they might have worked hard to get there.
There are other adjuncts to this shadow. One is the 'I know what's best for you' pattern, which afflicts many otherwise warm-hearted and honourable Leos. They mean well. Really, they do. Their advice is helpful, and they offer it freely, and are incredibly generous with their time and their efforts to assist you. The trouble is, you might not have asked for it. Leo has a reputation for sometimes being pretty interfering. And sometimes it can be maddening, especially if the Leo happens to be your mother or your best friend, when they invite themselves to sort out your life for you and then look so desperately hurt when you reject their advice. Leo needs to be needed. Even more, because his myth is the hero myth, he needs to be looked upon as a redeemer, someone who's really done something for others. If he can't redeem somebody, then how can he be a hero? And if you protest - say, because you don't really need redemption, or would prefer to find your own - then he thinks it's your fault, because you're ungrateful and unappreciative.
A third adjunct of this shadow is the 'I know everything' syndrome. This is the Leo who cannot bear to admit that he can't do something, or doesn't know something. It's got a slight resemblance to the Virgo shadow, another know-it-all. But the motivation is different. Virgo has to know it all because he's terrified of the unknown. Leo needs to know
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