If you have a Leo moon sign, your deepest emotions and desires take on the qualities of the Leo zodiac sign: dramatic, flamboyant and expressive.

Ah, la luna! Your astrology moon sign indicates the “inner you.” If you have a Leo moon sign in your natal chart, it means that when you were born, the moon was traveling through the Leo zodiac sign. Your moon sign and your Sun sign combined make up a more in-depth portrait of your personality.

What is the difference between a moon sign and zodiac sign in astrology?

The moon sign in astrology governs our “inner selves”—those feelings, deep desires and soul urges that not everyone sees. Much like the moon waxes and wanes, reveals and hides itself, the lunar cycles can also affect how much we share or show. Your moon sign can reveal how (and who) you love, or what you need to feel emotionally secure. It also plays a major role in romantic compatibility, revealing how harmonious your dynamic will be.

Your Sun sign is considered your “main sign” and it’s the forecast you read on websites and in newspapers. The Sun changes zodiac signs approximately every thirty days, so people born in these clusters will share a Sun sign and many basic personality traits.

Your moon sign is your emotional personality

In the astrological birth chart, the moon sign is your “emotional personality,” a crucial part of understanding what makes you or someone else tick. Since the moon is the celestial body that’s closest to the Earth, our moods and feelings are governed by its movements. In a person’s natal (or birth) chart, the moon sign indicates what will provide us with a sense of home and security—what we need as individuals to feel safe, secure and comfortable. The moon also drives some of our “gut reactions”—how we respond on a primal, instinctive level.

Because the moon comes out at night, the moon sign can also influence our internal “shadow sides”—the parts of ourselves that only become visible when we self-reflect or get vulnerable with people. Often the moon sign doesn’t present externally or immediately like the robust Sun sign or masquerading rising sign, but becomes much more visible as you get to know a person and see how they respond to different life situations.

What it means if you have a Leo moon

Attention, attention! With the moon in show-stopping Leo or the flamboyant 5th house, your feelings are big, bold and impossible to ignore. Proud and confident, you can be quite expressive! What can you say? You’re a passionate person. While that can feel like a load to bear, it also makes you compassionate. When you feel people, you might even “become” them, channeling their voices, movements and gestures in a dead-on impersonation. This can even show up subconsciously as you mirror people’s moods and energy in conversation, which makes them feel safe and seen.

People may accuse you of being intimidating or aggressive, even if you are, at heart, a gentle soul. You don’t just cry, you have a full-on sob…or tantrum. When you laugh, it’s from the belly and it fills up the room. Courageous, kind, generous, protective and nakedly honest, you can be an endless source of entertainment, and also the most loyal friend. When safely steered away from ego-driven terrain, this moon sign energy leaves others feeling awakened and revitalized in an empowering way.

Who’s the boss?

This moon sign likes to be in charge, and you can be a noble, powerful leader. When you have a vision, you don’t like to compromise. Luckily, the ideas you dream up tend to be playful and fun. It’s easy to forget that others don’t experience life through such a potent filter. Yes, you might need to “tone it down” in certain situations, or else you risk burning bridges or overstepping lines of etiquette or professionalism. Yes, this fiery moon sign can be a lot to handle!

A true romantic, when you fall, you go hard! In relationships, the Leo (or 5th house) moon sign desires nothing more than complete, absolute adoration. You’ll do anything for love…yes, even that. While your heart has undoubtedly been broken multiple times, you won’t give up on amour. These experiences just give you the capacity to love harder and deeper the next time you meet someone who makes you swoon.

When you’re not channeling your passions into your lovers, you’ll direct that creative spark into art, poetry, music or any kind of performance. When it’s center stage you’re craving, it’s not hard to draw an appreciative audience your way. Carrying a little bit of that offstage drama into your everyday affairs can make life more colorful and exciting. But if you’re straddling the boundary between “stage” and “real life,” don’t forget where to draw the line!