Leos love kids. Oh sure, there's one or two here and there who's ego is so big that they don't want the competition, but basically, Leo rules the 5th house which relates to kids and avocations/sports. That's why you'll see sports stars giving a lot of their time to help kids in need - the energy goes hand in hand.

Now, I don't know whether Ron Clark the teacher is a Leo, but his love for kids and his desire to make teaching fun, certainly reflects the possibility. If he isn't a Leo, he might have Leo rising, or a bunch of planets in the 5th house. But, Ron Clark knows how to teach kids and reach them in a manner they understand; and making it stimulating and fun at the same time. Teaching doesn't have to be all left-brain facts and figures - we learn more with color, pictures and rhyme from the right brain....at the very least we need a balance of both. Leos know that. Leos have a natural ability to perform and they like the adulation and attention (as opposed to maybe Virgos who eschew the limelight as much as possible) of the crowd. As I've noted before, they enjoy making people laugh and turning a frown into a smile.

So, whom did they cast in the role of Ron Clark? Matthew Perry, "Chandler Bing" of "Friends" fame, and soon to be known as "Matt" on "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip". Matthew is a Leo, born August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was great in this role, and one that fit him to a T. His warmth for kids and his innate humor came across with skill and subtlety. He proved a few years back on "The West Wing" that he is as good a dramatic actor as he is a comic actor....maybe even more so. If you want to get a good idea of what Leos are like, get "The Ron Clark Story" when its in rerun or I'm sure it will be on dvd at some point.

Matthew Perry 's chart shows he has a Scorpio Moon, with Mercury and Pluto in Virgo, and Uranus conjunct Jupiter in Libra. No wonder the money has come easily to him. Pluto in the 2nd house is often one who has wealth. One noted astrologer said once that "millonnaires don't believe in astrology but billionnaires do". With Pluto in the 2nd house of money (and this is a solar chart), he had a good chance of 'following the money", but add Jupiter and Uranus conjunct, it's almost assured....you'd have to be really self-destructive not to gain from that configuration!!

Prior to his acting career, Matthew was a top ranked junior tennis player. Leos are natural sports enthusiasts, and here he has Mars in the 4th house, and people with Mars "on the corners" - 1st-4th-7th- and 10th houses often do well in sports......or at least are interested in it.

Matthew has a legendary sense of humor that keeps the cast and crew loose and relaxed on the set. Now therapists will tell you that humor is a defense against getting into really intimate relationships. I can see that as a reality for some personalities, but Leos are genuinely warm and natural showmen, who walk into a room and lighten it up. My son was a Leo, and I don't see his humor and desire to see the irony and fun of life as anything but bringing joy to his life and others, and I would think Matthew is the same way.

Yet, as I say that, Matthew has had his problems with substance abuse, and we can see in reruns how, in the ....was it second year of "Friends"?....that he was almost too thin; fortunately he pulled himself out of it and saved his career (...actually, when he put on weight the last year or so of "Friends" and producers were wringing their hands, he was also at his sexiest to me - really had that Leonine look).

There is a Pagliacchi element to Leos that can have a tear on the inside while being a clown on the outside. Leos will often have some Cancerian planets, and here, Matthew has Venus in Cancer, and that makes him more sensitive than people think he is; and that can be where the substance abuse problem comes from, having two water signs - (also a Scorpio moon) - the Leo personality can seem indestructible but the Cancer/Scorpio provide a sensitive side that few people see, and he can get his feelings hurt without others realizing it.

As of this writing on 8/18/06, a day before his 37th birthday, Saturn is moving thru Leo, and fortunately won't get to his sun sign til August of 2007; long after his new series gets under way. Matthew is in the midst of his Pluto square (Pluto square Pluto), so he's probably going thru some power struggles with the powers that be with this new series, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", but with his stature, he'll probably sail into his empowerment, which Pluto can bring at this time of life.....after a period of testing. Pluto won't let you get away unscathed. He also has some really positive transits mixed in with the other. Saturn going over Leo planets are generally of short duration but combined with the Pluto square may see those in authority trying to get him to bend to their will. I doubt, in this period of life, with that Pluto/Jupiter/Uranus threesome so dominant, that he has to acquiesce to anyone.

This fall, Matthew will star with Bradley Whitford in this new "Studio 60" series, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme (Christine Lahti's husband), who were instrumental in the success of "The West Wing". Can it fail? I would think not. I rented the pilot on Netflix, and Matthew and Bradley have a terrific chemistry. Combine that with the writing that gave us "Sports Night", a behind-the-scenes look at a tv sports show (of which Stuido 60 has related elements), it should be a big hit.

CHINESE ASTROLOGY

Matthew was born in the Year of the Rooster and the month of the Dragon. The Rooster deals with a lot of fear and insecurity, yet lends a practical approach, The Dragon relates to the Leo energy. As I've written elsewhere, there is a need to 'have' and enjoy the finer things of life, just to 'have' them; sometimes not utilizing them too much....Yet, don't think they aren't appreciative - 'having' things sometimes is enough. Another element is 'internalizing'. Dragons can internalize experiences and have stomach issues because of it. They need to realize that "Food IS"....it isn't an emotion and it isn't a past experience, it's just nourishment to keep us alive.

copyright 2006, Pamela Leigh Powers, all rights reserved.