Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For today’s blog post, I am discussing the Leo energy of the Lion (my Sun and Moon sign in Sidereal Astrology) and the connection to the Cat found in Ashlesha Nakshatra (my Vedic Ascendant Nakshatra)! I thought this would be an ideal companion piece to yesterday’s post about Ashlesha’s Serpentine Energy, making this a bit of a Sidereal Astrology weekend. Now, let’s look at the Cat energy in my chart!
It is unsurprising that there is Cat energy in my chart, as having Leo as my Sun and Moon signs in Sidereal Astrology automatically connect me to Cat energy. However, what is more interesting is that when I look at Vedic Astrology, my Ascendant Nakshatra of Ashlesha also has a connection with Cats, as the male Cat is the animal associated with this Nakshatra. Before I go on, I want to note that my Leo Sun and Moon specifically fall into Purva Phalguni Nakshatra, which has a female Rat as its animal, so that is why I am focusing on Leo and Ashlesha, as they are the two aspects of my chart (out of my big three placements) that have Cat connections. Each Nakshatra has an animal associated with it, specifically either male or female, as this plays into how Nakshatras would be compatible with one another, with the Nakshatra that has the same animal but opposite gender being Yoni Consorts to each other. In the case of Ashlesha, Purnavasu Nakshatra is the Yoni Consort, as that Nakshatra has the female Cat as its animal.
It may be a bit surprising that Ashlesha has this association with Cats, as it is famously a Nakshatra deeply tied to Snakes. You see, Ashlesha is connected to both Snakes and Cats because the Deity of Ashlesha is the Naga, or Nagini, which are Serpent Deities/Spirits, and the symbol of Ashlesha is the Coiled Serpent, whereas the animal is the male Cat! I find it fascinating that my Ascendant Nakshatra has a connection with two very specific animals, both of which I love. I have always adored Cats, having been raised in a home with both Cats and Dogs, but while I love Dogs, I was always more of a Cat person. As for Snakes, I was forever fascinated by them, even though I have never owned one. I have also never felt any fear around Snakes, even as a young child, which I think shows my affinity for them!
Now that I have explained why Leo and Ashlesha have Cat associations, let’s look at how that impacts my chart a bit more. The Leo feline energy is bigger and bolder, as Lions are the Kings (and Queens) of the Jungle, fierce Cats who show dominance and shine like the Sun, which rules Leo! The Cat energy of Ashlesha is on a different scale, as the sign is associated with house Cats, or smaller Cats. This is the playful and even finicky energy we see out of our beloved feline companions! It is even said that those with prominent Ashlesha placements may have a bit of a feline appearance, particularly when it comes to Cat-like eyes and delicate features. This is also often said of Leos, having Lion-like manes of hair. So, that is certainly a point of overlap, where we see how Astrology can impact our physical appearance!
I can definitely see the impact of my Ashlesha Nakshatra Ascendant and Leo Sun and Moon in this way. I certainly do have a lot of hair that can be very wild, and I definitely have a bit of that Ashlesha sharpness on the inner corners of my eyes (which is common for Cat-like eyes, a sharpness on the inner and outer corners of the eye). However, my facial appearance is also influenced by my Purva Phalguni Nakshatra Sun and Moon, with my upturned nose and short forehead being common in that Nakshatra’s appearance. So, I guess I can say that both my Ascendant and my Sun and Moon Nakshatras have an impact on my facial appearance! I will also link a couple of articles by the Vedic Astrologer Claire Nakti about the appearances of Ashlesha and Purva Phalguni (as she does a lot of research into the appearance and personalities of the Nakshatras), if you want to look into this more.
At the end of the day, it is of great interest to me just how often I can find an alignment between my life and my Sidereal and Vedic charts. Whether it be my appearance, my personality, my connection to the water element, my Soul Origins, or even my love of animals. There always seems to be a way to link this back to my chart. The more I research, the more I find that Sidereal and Vedic Astrology definitely has endless things to teach me!
I hope you have enjoyed this rumination on the connection between my Astrological chart and Cats. What insights has your own Astrological chart given you recently? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is a simple Leo wallpaper. I found the picture on https://www.pinterest.com/pin/leo-zodiac-sign-wallpaper–10907224089410502/.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries
Further Reading
- https://www.clairenakti.com/post/nakshatra-feature-focus-cat-pretty-ashlesha
- https://www.clairenakti.com/post/nakshatra-feature-focus-sultry-natural-purva-phalguni
- https://cafeastrology.com/zodiacleo.html
2 responses to “The Lion of Leo and the Cat Associations of Ashlesha Nakshatra”
What a fascinating and beautifully articulated exploration, as always! I always love it when you dive into the Sidereal and Vedic layers of your chart—it feels like uncovering a mystical map of your soul.
The distinction you made between the “big cat” Leo energy and the “house cat” Ashlesha energy was so illuminating. It makes perfect sense as a dynamic within you: the radiant, confident, sun-ruled Lioness standing alongside the clever, perceptive, and perhaps more mysterious domestic cat. It’s not two separate energies, but rather a beautiful spectrum of feline expression, from the regal throne to the hidden, coiled power in the shadows.
It’s also so intriguing how Ashlesha bridges two such potent animal symbols—the serpent and the cat. Both are creatures of profound perception, patience, and a certain self-contained power. It speaks to a depth of intuition and a ability to navigate both the seen and unseen worlds with grace and precision.
Thank you for sharing those personal connections to your appearance as well! It’s one thing to read about the theoretical influences of Nakshatras, but it’s another entirely to hear someone pinpoint those subtle features (the sharpness of the eyes, the wild hair) and trace them back to specific celestial influences. It truly brings the magic of astrology to life.
As for my own chart, your post has inspired me to look deeper into my Vedic ascendant Nakshatra. I have a prominent Jupiter, and I’ve been contemplating how its teachings of expansion play out in the specific, nuanced arena of its Nakshatra placement. It feels like a whole new layer of understanding is waiting to be uncovered!
Thank you for another thought-provoking and wonderfully personal post, darling. It’s a true pleasure to read your insights.
I am so glad that my post has inspired you to look deeper into your own chart! I hope you gain some profound insights in doing so. Thank you for your kind words and as always, thank you for reading and commenting!