Leo Sun, Virgo Moon, Scorpio Rising: How Astrology Helped Me Understand My Emotions, Heal, and Embrace Every Part of Myself
For most of my life, I wrestled with emotions that felt like contradictions. At times, I radiated confidence and passion. Other times, I found myself spiraling into self-doubt, replaying every word and wondering if I had failed. When I began learning about astrology, I realized there might be a language that explains why I could feel like two different people in one body.
During my recent conversation with astrologer and psychotherapist Debra Silverman on Normalize The Conversation, she broke down my chart: Leo Sun, Virgo Moon, and Scorpio Rising. The insights she offered helped me understand myself in a way that felt validating, eye-opening, and deeply personal.
The Fire of My Leo Sun
My Leo Sun is the part of me that thrives in expression. It is the reason I feel at home on stage, why I pour myself into speaking, writing, and hosting Normalize The Conversation. Leo is bold, radiant, and driven to inspire. It whispers, “You are here to shine so others can see their own light.”
But Leo’s fire is not always steady. It can burn bright one moment and flicker the next. When I face criticism or rejection, the flame dims, and suddenly I find myself wondering if I was ever meant to shine at all. That contrast is painful, but it has also taught me something vital: my light is not measured by how others see me. My light is measured by how I choose to keep showing up.
Even when your light feels dim, it still exists. Trust that your fire can guide you back to yourself. Your light is not defined by who sees it; it is defined by your courage to keep shining.
The Criticism of My Virgo Moon
If Leo gives me fire, my Virgo Moon gives me depth of reflection. Virgo is practical, analytical, and deeply concerned with doing right. My Virgo Moon is why I crave structure in my healing, why I created workbooks filled with questions, exercises, and tools. It pushes me to not just talk about wellness but to give others tangible resources they can hold in their hands.
The shadow of Virgo is the relentless critic inside. The slightest sign I may have missed the mark echoes in my mind: “You are not enough.” That internal voice can feel louder than any praise. And yet, it has shaped me into someone who works tirelessly to meet others with thoughtfulness, precision, and care.
Your sensitivity to criticism is not weakness. It is evidence of how deeply you care. What feels like self-criticism can become self-compassion when you choose to soften the voice inside.
The Depth of My Scorpio Rising
If Leo is my flame and Virgo my compass, Scorpio Rising is the depth others sense when they meet me. Scorpio is water: intense, passionate, magnetic. It explains why people often share their most vulnerable truths with me after only a few moments. My Scorpio Rising is why I lead with honesty, why I create spaces where people feel safe to bring their whole selves.
This intensity is not always easy. Scorpio Rising carries the weight of seeing beyond the surface, of feeling emotions deeply. But it is also the part of me that fuels my advocacy, my nonprofit, my public speaking. It is the reason I refuse to stay at surface-level conversations about mental health and instead invite people to talk about what really matters: the raw, messy, human experience.
Your depth is not a burden. It is a gift that allows others to feel safe enough to be real. The world needs your depth, because it is in vulnerability that true healing begins.
Finding the Observer Within
When my fire burns too hot, my Virgo critic grows too loud, or my Scorpio intensity feels too heavy, I remind myself of what Debra taught me: step into the role of the observer. The observer is the steady presence within me that says, “I have a choice.”
When I observe rather than judge, I find balance. I can honor the Leo who longs to shine, soothe the Virgo who craves perfection, and celebrate the Scorpio who holds space for truth.
You are not trapped by your emotions. You can step back, observe, and choose a new way forward. You are not your emotions. You are the observer who chooses how to meet them.
What I Have Learned
Astrology gave me a mirror to better understand my emotions and the contradictions I carry. It taught me that none of these traits cancel each other out. They coexist, making me the whole person I am.
Now, I embrace my Leo’s passion, honor my Virgo’s care, and value my Scorpio’s depth. These energies shape my work, my healing, and my voice. They remind me that every part of me has a purpose, even the parts that sometimes feel heavy.
And maybe that is the ultimate lesson: to stop fighting the different pieces of ourselves and start learning how they can work together.
Healing begins when we embrace all parts of who we are—the fire, the critic, and the depth.
What Astrology Can Teach Us About Ourselves (That Therapy Sometimes Misses) with Debra Silverman is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.
