One of the most important people in my life was a Leo. My mentor, fierce champion, trusted confidante, brilliant Torah and Zohar scholar, and sage, Rav Berg, was also my father-in-law. The Rav was born in this month, which is ruled by the energy of leadership, compassion, and loyalty. A great leader makes you feel that you, too, could be great. The Rav did this for me and countless others. He lived these values among so many more. One of his central teachings was to treat everyone with human dignity and respect. These lessons became a guiding principle for me.
Respect and dignity are the minimum that we can offer to everyone in our lives, and I think we can all agree that they are something the world needs, especially now.
Each new month brings with it a new energy to help guide us toward transformation. When we welcome a new month, we welcome a new experience and intention; we also welcome unique gifts and challenges. The symbol of this month is a lion—proud, straightforward, and determined—and those born under this sign also possess these traits. They don’t skirt around issues or hide their feelings. Their loyalty is unwavering. They defend the beliefs, values, and people they believe in. A Leo is someone you want to take with you into the trenches.
These attributes are available to all of us this month, no matter what sign we were born under; they bring us a lion’s share of opportunity for growth. Yet, we know that growth is not possible without challenge and discomfort. The opposition during the month of Leo comes in the form of our Achilles Heel: ego.
This is a good month to ask ourselves:
What holds us back from treating those around us with respect, dignity, and compassion?
What reinforces the idea that we are separate from each other?
What baits us into thinking the worst of others?
What is it that inspires blame, judgment, and withholding within us?
The answer, in short, is ego.
Ego is not connected to our true essence but rather is an aspect of our human nature, validating us in a wide array of negative thoughts and actions—for example, validating that it’s okay to treat another without respect and human dignity. Our egos are built on what we think, know, and need. If we look back at any tragic event in history, we will find somewhere within it a root of ego. Someone hungry for power. Someone afraid of loss and/or motivated by greed, fear, and hatred. While we think of these things as giant monsters that are far removed from our daily lives, they are not. They begin with us, and we each have the capacity to wreak similar havoc. It is part of who we are, but once we know the beast we’re dealing with, we can find ways to tame it.
The ego desires to receive for the self alone. When our expectations are not met, we tend to get angry or defensive. We blame, judge, and punish. When we are full of this anger and resentment, it becomes considerably more difficult for us to behave with kindness toward anyone—even ourselves. Our angry thoughts become reactive words that we speak and often manifest into negative actions. Before we know it, we’ve created darkness.
However, it takes just one action of positivity to turn the tide.
According to Kabbalah, our choices are either guided by our light (God-like nature) or our ego. Every moment, we are either choosing ego (desire to receive for the self alone) or we are choosing to give (desire to receive in order to share.)
This month, imagine you have the heart of a lion. It is strong, proud, and full of fierce love for everyone. As you move through the day, ask how this heart would respond to each moment.
How would you treat the unhoused person asking for change?
How would you spend your time and energy?
How would you respond to someone who disagrees with you?
Will you choose ego?
Or will you choose to be the best version of yourself?
To clarify, this is not an invitation to perfection. We’re all human, and there will be days that we find ourselves in judgment, blame, or reactivity. The point of this exercise is to catch ourselves in the moment and to replace those negative thoughts and actions of ego with positive actions of sharing. This month, notice the desires of your ego—and then choose the opposite.
By doing so, you’ll be activating your lion heart and opening it up to the world.