Discover the significance behind a once-every-four-year phenomenon...
Like a last minute guest, squeezing in at a big family dinner, the compassionate and gentle sign Pisces makes room for an extra day once every four years. This extra day is a necessary adjustment to keep our calendars in sync. It is also the birthday of a small group of very special people born on the 29th day of February.
Our calendar year is 365 days. But out in space, it actually takes 365 days plus six hours for our Earth to make its yearly circle around the Sun. To keep the months from slowly slipping from their accustomed places, an extra day, every four years, was added to the standard calendar in 238 BC. Thus, the tradition of the February 29 Leap Year began.
Leap Year babies, sometimes called Leapers or Leaplings, are born near the tenth degree of the sign Pisces. Their energy is creative, receptive, and often very unique. To be born on this day is to have a kind of magical "sixth sense" about the world. They are believed to be naturally lucky and often possess special talents.
A willingness to be grateful and the good sense to embrace opportunities that come along could be the secret to a Leapling's reputation for good luck. Leaplings may be able to draw out the best in others. It is smart to pay attention to the perspective and interests of a Leapling friend or family member.
Certain traditions have sprung up around Leap Year. In much of Europe, permission for women to propose marriage to men on Leap Year day has been a tradition for centuries.
From an astrological perspective, the energy of a Leap Year can be challenging for anyone. It magnifies the demands that come with Pisces. Be willing to let go, give up, and go with the flow. Accept that we are one small part of a larger picture. Do not be afraid of change and emotional honestly. A man who embraces this energy just might let his girlfriend ask his hand in marriage!
Just as Pisces is the sign of the mystic or the martyr, Leaplings feel special or neglected, depending on their point of view. It can be fun to have your "sweet 16" birthday when you are 64! But to get there, a February 29 native must endure a certain amount of good natured curiosity or teasing throughout life. With such an unusual birthday, Leap Year natives learn from the start that not everything that might be considered "normal" is set in stone.
This year, February 29 will bring certain unique lessons. Coming from a powerfully optimistic sense of what can be, this is a time to identify what is true for you. Be sure the causes you embrace are worthwhile. The need all humans have to love and be loved can be expressed in profound ways on Leap Year Day.
If February 29 is your birthday, the energy will be especially busy. You may feel scattered and pulled in several directions at once. The more you share your ideas, the more you will attract good luck.
This year, all Leaplings, and also those Pisces born in the week before February 29 have an opportunity to shine in a way you may have not previously thought possible. Even if people argue or seem to block your path, action attracts opportunities. It is vital for anyone born in Pisces to shake off any sense of uncertainty, bitterness, or desire to drown your sorrows. When you have the courage to speak your most authentic truth, transformation happens.
2012 is a year of destiny for the Leapling. You may find yourself ignoring the rules people around you prefer to follow. Spend some time identifying practical ways to achieve your ideal future. Refuse to give up your dreams and they will grow beyond your highest expectations. You can do all this, and have fun at the same time! Enjoy this very special day.
