Leone Abbacchio - Character Development through Tarot and Astrology
Happy birthday to my special boy! I am a month late. Because of a literature problem (yelling at literature problem). I am gonna do a little bit of thinking on him through astrology and maybe even do reading on some topics we open up!
Warning, I am awful at astrology. Most of my theory comes from learning tarot meanings. I do vaguely prefer Hellenistic astrology and older planetary assignments (Outer planets broke the beautiful symmetry of the original with very little to give and that's my hottest take.). However I also need to use some modern concepts here, because the psychological and narrative focus demands it. I can't whip out a full birth chart for a fictional character - and pretty much EVERY concept in the Hellenistic framework demands the context of some chart. This work is fundamentally syncretic, working with symbolism, personal and is mostly me having fun.
Astrology general
Leone's birthday is 25rd March, making him a fiery Aries. Aries is a sign of spring, of leaping into a new season of warmth. Here, agricultural work began - to bear fruit, the land needs sowing, working, seeds must be planted. It is categorized as a cardinal and fire sign. Leone isn't an initiator in the show, but when he catches wind of something, he will take initiative. Think of the fight against the boat guy. This interacts with his sacrificial willingness to die as well, and it is hard to analyze in context of wider personality.. We need take in his previous life experience - given how much guilt he feels, and, again, how OK he would be with death, one can say he that this tendency is buried (if you want me to get technical, this could be one of slowing planets in aspect with Sun, or Saturn in the Aries as well). Leone also loves functioning inside structures by nature and he hierarchizes quite openly. I’d even say that Saturn exists in some opposition to his Mars, or Sun He does move almost procedurally when he begins Stand engagement. However, he also often needs others to finish what he started. This tendency is a deep regret of his that in life he never got to resolve. The feeling he couldn't even finish things "correctly". I like to believe that in works focused on it, it could prove itself a merit and something that could be explored.
Aries is a fire sign - based on elemental theory (Empedocles and Aristoteles), it is a dry and hot element, with focus on hot. This division of elements was worked on by Aristoteles. Hot is movement - hot also tends to organize things that are similar, and move things forward to what they are supposed to be, while cold puts them in stasis. Dryness means that fire remains fixed and resists outside influences. As such, we can not be stubborn to the fire signs, albeit not as hard as the one assigned to earth signs, and we can also move and need for change. Fire is the catalyst for change and purification. Leone seems to oppose this somehow - he merely wants peace. But is that really what he is? He was idealistic, optimistic in the beginning of his police career, before becoming despondent and beaten down. There was an idea of stubborn change, before meeting the wall of trying to reform an inherently corrupt institution. The idea of change and working on his ideals has been frozen by external circumstances. And he is also thoroughly determined. If we accept that a core of his character is detective work - examining the past, noticing with, working with what he got - then we can also turn to the idea of purifying fire and heat that lets other things develop. Basic intelligence gathering which forms a foundation of attack. This can also hint towards his civilian occupation post survival AU's - bring past to life in many ways, such as working in museums or tracking down the past.
The symbol of Aries is a ram. There is an idea of sacrificial lamb, and it tracks with his role as the first protagonist death in the series. The legend says that the constellation depicts the golden ram sent to save Phrixus and Helle, children of the local king and Goddess of Rain, from being sacrificed. This sheep carried the twins across the sea, but lost Helle along the way, and it brought Phrixus to kingdom Colchis. There, Phryxis was incorporated into the noble family, and the ram was sacrificed to Zeus. It should be said this is the foundational legend that explains the Argonaut stories. Again, initialization and background before the action. The mythical golden fleece, remnant of it protected far more rigorously than the alive animal, proof of divine intervention and love for one's children. It was also a gift for permitting integration into the new royal family for Phryxis. A sheep needs a flock, no matter how lone wolf it acts. Now, my main criticism of the Vento Aureo is that it has the seed of a found family, very strong ones at that, but the pacing doesn't let us explore that properly. How does Leone feel about that? It should be said that life of crime aside, he said explicitly that he is willing to risk his life to keep up the peace that Bucellati brings him. Protection of what one has is clearly important to him. The fights of rutting rams are also important to bring up as toxic masculinity, or overt posturing, which he absolutely displays! He needs people to fall in line, and his "making the new guy drink piss" thing absolutely reeks of some tough guy initiation that he himself would have experienced in a police academy setting! Gender is an interesting thing to discuss with Leone, as he reads VERY feminine, yet VERY masculine as well, and then there is his fixation on Bruno and complete and utter loyalty to him that defeats his far easier loyalty to a larger institution. Yes I will say, I HC him as queer explicitly, but there is a lot of analysis to be done on gender expression in Jojo regardless. In light of this, it's easy to imagine that he himself went through shit of enforced masculinity he internalized (we see him with cropped hair in the past, and then largely grown out, now that he is a criminal). I wonder what his relationship with it (of course, in Jojo, gender roles doesn't seem to matter for visual effects. however it's fun to play with)
Last thing on the ram and sheep is the connection to the idea of "going with the flock" and being a herd animal. Leone is definitely interesting in that regard as going with the flow with the rest of the corrupt police force ruined him psychically and societally. He, however, still clearly prefers just following someone who can show him how to redeem himself now. Notably he’s not scared to talk back (again, watch the boat fight, he doesn't really act like Bruno's desire to hang back is...doing much to him, and again, he refused to stay in the mafia which was good for his need for structure and followed Bruno). Aries controls the head, in medicinal astrology. And while the animal, again, shows brute-forcing, the sign itself can also be quick thinking AND ability to think for self. And these two impulses just SMASH right into each other in Leone. His idealism, frozen shut, his obvious ideas, yet his passivity, all conflict with each other, all due to his old wound.
Interestingly enough Pallas Athena is the guardian of the Aries sign, according to Manilius. To add to our mythological wandering, Athena protects the heroes with wit, and she is the guide of those who make artifice. Tools and craft belong to her domain, together with wisely made war. And it brings up a new fate for Leone - who are the artificers of the modern times? Those who are in touch with their cars. Or simply enough, a bike, or any tool. Could he be a biker and paid to restore that? Not awful, and repair could be that which makes him smile. And even Manilius said that Aries gives rise to craftsmen, those who make simply that which is practical.
The Sun is exalted in Aries. It's not its domicile but the effect is still enhanced. To be exalted is to be an honored guest. It can be about performing very well, but overcompensating, not having the full comfort of your domicile.. What does even the Sun do in a chart? Well, other than hating women a lot, Greeks were fairly practical - it illuminated. It gives life, it is literally the planet you read the position of for health. And Leone, bless him, is a pretty healthy guy despite his silver hair. Aries in Sun could be him simply caring for his health, and exercising. A guy used to rigid hierarchies and an idealist would want to be a model cop, and later use that as an excuse to keep up exercise. Now, of course, he was likely an alcoholic due to circumstances, but Sun isn’t the only chart member. How does Leone function - how is he regarded? Strange, like he wants to be a light but he dims himself. Burning himself inside. It could suggest a night sect, aka, being born at night. This makes some of your day sect planets a bit cranky, sets the whole chart in a cold of the Moon and makes it be the tempo setter of life. THE luminary you look to for the stuff. Unfortunately I don’t have his Moon. How does the exalted Sun tolerate this whole sect thing? Well, it operates with friction. Slower. It’s cooled. So, the circumstances for reaching the true peace and power of the Aries Sun could come later in life. The Sun has a tendency to blot out other planets within a certain range, hiding their influence. This is called a combustion. An exalted sun shines so bright you can’t look at it. Man who keeps others at distance lest he burns them! An old ram that charges at the wolves. But Sun in Aries is exalted for it is a Sun in Spring, the awakener of life. Not really something we associate with Leone, but, again, if his heart melts he can be an initiator not only for himself but others. Shine, in his own way to make their obstacles melt and make them move. He just has to shine through his own storm of thoughts and bad experiences.
Rising signs have different focus and importance based on your practice. The Classic rising sign was one's entry into the world and corresponds to physical appearance, body, soul (sometimes understood as personality) and determined the Chart rulers. Because well, it’s what was on the horizon at birth. Alexandrinus claims that it is the place to determine if the child even survives, the Horoskopos, giver of life and breath which Steers us through life. The Only Way to Learn Astrology series and The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest are my main sources here, despite being modern. Liz Green has a good take but her whole framework makes me so mad that it distracts me from the whole point (yea guys, let’s talk about Leone’s Abbacchio powerful want to return to the womb why don’t we).
The first house, and in particular the Ascendant, shows your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself. It shows how people see you and the way you want others to see you. - The only way to learn astrology.
The first house symbolizes our optimal mask, the outer expression that best serves our inner needs. The more sensitively we respond to it, the stronger and more centered we feel. It gives a sense of autonomy, of self-knowledge, of authority over one’s own life. The ascendant does not create the outer personality. The forces that come together to produce it are far more complex. Rather it channels the totality of the birthchart into the world of action, flavoring and expressing the deeper material. - The Inner Sky.
I find the idea of locating Leone’s Rising to be an interesting puzzle. Appearance can give us clues if we listen to the ancient hellenistic philosophers. On this point, I do think some Saturn ascendant could also fit, since it’s wet and pale to the point of coldness and he thinks very hierarchically and inside structures. The problem is we have either Aquarius, which doesn’t really fit our two main definitions, he is nowhere near pure detached logic, or Capricorn, which also doesn’t fit neatly. As such, I think Saturn aspects either Chart Lord significantly, rather than being like the Big Daddy of the chart. Based on appearance, Demetra George presents an author called Teucer, and his description of Pisces and Leo may fit Leone. Leo also fits him fairly well in the Only Way To Learn Astrology Book II, which however goes from Moon and Ascendant to Sun and Ascendant. Appearance is thus a dead hint. With personality my first instinct is Scorpio, really. The Fixed Water is icy and he is icy for everyone, and the fiery Mars hides in there, ready to unleash on really any poorly written blond protagonists. However, there is also a massive problem of his personality pre-mafia and in the main series, which has been thoroughly destroyed by his mistakes in life. How much of the personality is our Ascendant and how much is the wound? Could it be something that can manifest as both idealism and desire to reform, and deep cynicism? His inner drive is in Aries, and the lens through he is expressed almost always seems to be … service. To community, to one man, to one’s own self-destruction, to random kids playing football. But there is also his pride and desire to see a job well done. And that’s Virgo, mutable Earth ruled by Mercury.
Mercury as Ruler of Ascendant, by some authors becomes the one that controls the chart of life. It was the first planet at which the ancient astrologers looked at, like … what is it doing ? How is it doing? It moved the querent towards their goal in life. Mercury is ah, a frustrating planet, because every author just shrugs at it. Is it morning, evening, masculine, feminine? Eh, who cares. It all depends. For how much the Moon is seen as a reflective woman, it's Mercury who seems to be a cosmic sponge of neighboring energy.
Starting with mythology then feels alright and theoi website has a wonderful little tidbit:
Hermes' sacred animals were the ram and the hare. In ancient art he rode on the back of a large ram. As the god of herds he was also closely associated with cattle, sheep and goats.
Of course! A sheep, which is also a shepherd. But can a sheep trust that its shepherd is guiding it well? Has Leone lost access to his inner shepherd, the one that is meant to guide him to his destination? What is this lack of trust in himself? Where did it come from? An important feature of Hermes is the guidance of lost souls to the underground. He thus serves a role as a psychopomp, an inhibitor of the both worlds. One can assume that he drags Leone there - an annoying swerve there and here, without knowing where your destination lies. Is it no wonder Leone feels there is no home to him, but also nowhere he wants to go. That is a man in exile. A soul lost between worlds, without no one to deliver him. A man in-between. Can he himself guide people out of there, people in similar, through sheer Aries-inian will?
The thing about Mercury is that he is a servant first and foremost. A lackey, a busy boy. Deliver this, do that, represent us. A patron chief of diplomacy, someone to save a baby Dionysus. What is your own history in the mythology outside of being a busboy? Well, this is literally someone who does, while everyone wants to waffle. So perhaps less of an exile and more of the man who is needed in many places. Is that something in the past? What specifically made Leone feel needed by many?. It also reframes his need to serve. A shepherd dog? Dogs and wolves are social in ways we fail to appreciate. And despite his name meaning lion, there is a canine quality to Leone. Guardian! Imagine when the guy guiding your fate is a businessman first and foremost. Mayhaps there is a need to stick your nose somewhere and try to solve it. Because you keep being dragged into it. Dragged into doing stuff for others, even if you are someone who doesn’t do people.
In the Whole Sign System, assuming Virgo ascendant, we can make assumptions on where Aries Sun lies, and it’s the 8th House. The Idle, lazy house, and also house of inheritances and death, Uh. Yea. I mean, it’s not the worst house, it’s moderate in strength, but these ancient Greeks, they weren’t hedging at all. And this particular problem is that 8th House is in Aversion to the Ascendant, which means it’s not “seen” from there. Which makes it particularly problematic for the Aries Sun, but loops us back to the idea of it being in a somehow of a darkness, like a light that needs to be relighted. Is it the Death of the person? Uh, not really - these silly Greeks had complicated ways to calculate time of death, or super dangerous time, and they were usually connected to malefics. But the idea of Death reinforces reading of psychopomp, and if this is where the Inheritance meaning bites super strongly. What did Leone inherit? From the police? From the mafia? From his framework? And notably, what would it take for him to survive? Because there is an interesting idea of fiery Aries powered Sun, burning through the darkness anyway. Perhaps a bit too morbidly, with almost Scorpio-like intensity (modern astrology links Scorpio with the 8th House, incidentally). The ram goes to death, while fighting against it. In a sense, the idea of Idleness comes from just getting something regardless of what you do. And what Leone does get is… the light and fire. Other people's resources could very much be their stories as well, ones he can see with his Stand. And his Sun Aries could even be something lit by other people rather than himself, burning their resources, or it is an Aries that doesn’t get much and has to fight for every last drop. But also, remember my night sect comment? Yea, 8th House Sun is above the horizon, so this is a day birth. Interesting situation where the sun is so dimmed it looks like night!
Incidentally, his Mercury either has to be in the same sign as his Sun, so Aries in 8th house, or it has to be 7th House Pisces, or 9th House Taurus.
Now, Mars. It is the planet that Sun bows its mighty head down to in his chart, and I am a bit too modern-pilled in that Sun is the gravitational pull of the whole chart. This is a massive drying influence on both his inside and outside, as well as a chart ruler! He puts aggression forward and inside as well. Mars, in classic astrology dessicates. It destroys life, it is a powerful and intense red heat. But, if we move away from that, how can Mars become tamed? Domesticated, even? What is this violence flipped into something beneficial? Arroyo, in his Astrology, Psychology and the Four Elements described Mars principle as “ Desire; will toward action;initiative; physical energy; drive”. Action, energy, warfare. Fight but devoted to non-destructive cause. Mars was also connected to metallurgy and iron. In the day sect chart, it’s the most problematic malefic, because its heat becomes even hotter. And it also causes and rules over violent deaths, which was very much Leone’s own death in canon. So, this planet showed the energy that led to his demise, but could it also be a powerful motivator? It rules over the placement of the Sun. Sheer stubborn survival even through the wound is properly indicated here by the Nature of Mats. And Ares is sometimes brought up as Saviour of the Cities, and someone you invoke to create peace. If you have something worth having, you fight to keep it safe. You built the walls, and you defended them. Interestingly, one of Ares’ myths deals with his trial, after he murdered the rapist of his daughter. Protectiveness and boundary making.
Congrats. You have something of yours. Now hold it tight.
In the final section, I plan to do some small readings on some open topics.
What could be the shape of his job?
Letter-Bear–Sun-Lily-Mice (Red Hand Lenormand)
So with the Sun being central card, his job would be a successful one. This is a major luck card that casts the whole of reading in sort of a positive light. Gives all these neutrals a bit of sunny shake-up.
If we read this as a sentence - "The work consists of communication between resources and provides vitality to the decaying older institution."
If we read the outer pair to frame it: Message + Mouse = Diseased Communication - Miscommunication, or incorrect information. Degraded communication.
Now why would that make anyone happy? Why would anyone make that a sucesful job, as indicated by the Sun? Well, the whole job of the Sun is to mitigate the negatives. And if we read it as a triad: Letter + Sun + Mouse = Letter (that) Enlighted of the Sabouteurs/Anxiety. This created the idea of a sort of inspector job, or a detective perhaps. The Bear and Lily flank the Sun, which could mean his job involves assertion over the established, more "mature" coworkers. Letter actually leads towards Bear which could mean "Obtained/Received/Found Communication as a Resource". Lily+Mice could be "Disease of the Older Age", which could be lack of modernization, but the Sun directly contrasts the miniscule problem of the Mice. Sun+Mice does feel a bit like "enlightment of piecemeal problems", with Sun in dominant position, so to speak. To return to the previous meaning, losing information is also an editing job,and preventing loss of written records suggests an archivist, or perhaps an guard at an instition.
Mercury delights in conversation and letters, but Mars demands action. Gathering information of some sort does come to mind, and can be more active. Reporter?
Regardless of many possibilities - a job where he gets to assert himself, where he sees the functional rot and this time, maybe get to fix it at least partially, since it's a bit of better task than fixing the police force. And maybe fixing COULD be his job.
What could let him unfreeze his idealism at least partly?
Justice - 2oW - 3oS (Terra Volatile)
Realizing he still gives a shit about fairness, but that's a tall order. The heart on the scales is made light by being exposed and pierced to shreds. There is something of the process itself, of the fact Justice is blind. 2ofW is still one before doing. Well, what's the map you decide on? Can you trust on the institutional habit of measuring what is correct? The man in 2oW doesn't look at Justice, but above her - what is influencing her scale?
Is there something simpler where you can begin? A simple sense of fairness? Leone should start small is what I mean. Microdose on small acts on goodness. Even if the instict from the heart can be wrong, as long as there is course correction this time, it can happen.
A small thing here is that Justice corressponds to Libra, Bruno's sign. Unfortunately, following him all along was not just a homosexual death wish, but also just a powerful mirror and recognition of what he believed in.
What is a feature that seems constant in Leone's life? 3oC - KioC - 7oS (Uncommon Tarot)
3 + 7 always equals 10, or whole, so I tend to read these as ratios, or parts - a pie chart if you will. There is a strong ratio of basic co-working skill, or sociability, but then that is drowned out by sheer sass and conflict-ness of the Swords. So bluntness. Yea, even if he does care for other people, I think Leone was, even before the whole fiasco, just kind of a snarky, scary guy. Or, even younger, he never really was the kind of guy to soften the blow, even if it comes out of concern for someone. But there is a King of Cups, which is someone very in-tune with people and understands them. Ship in the card does show being surrounded by ocean and weathering through it. So, yea, I feel like someone who gets people but has short fuse and would rather tell them what to do, than comfort them.
What specifically makes Leone feel needed? AoP, 9oW, 2oS, SeoP,Hiero (The Anthropologist Tarot)
Standing besides someone firmly once they made their decision and providing his whole self (Ace of Pentacles, Nine of Wands, Two Of Swords) Cutting through Noise and acting as a critical junction, making sure all work and planning is done properly (Nine of Wands, Two of Swords, Seven of Pentacles) He actually may feel necessary as a physical and discoursive teacher, with focus on specifically Socratic Dialogue (2oS, 7oP, Hierophant)
Overall, there is eartliness to this spread, which suggests practicicality - Leone feels properly utilized when there is physical work involved and he can offer certain degree of practicality. Note the lack of Cups - he feels out of his depth in emotional topics.
So, I know this is mega late, as I got a bit. Of. Deep-Dive into Astrology, that fully consumed me for a bit. Regardless, I hope some of these silly musings of mine entertain and make us think about this guy. He is one of the most important fictional characters for me and helped me retain my sanity for a rather long time by now! So Shout Out Leone!