What is Lion’s Gate?

Get ready to roar! Lion’s Gate is an excellent opportunity for manifesting that takes place every year from July 28 to August 12. The peak is August 8 — easy to remember as 8/8!

Understanding Fixed Stars

Most of the time, practicing astrology requires monitoring the positions of objects that move around the Zodiac. However, fixed stars stay in the same place instead of cycling through all the Zodiac signs. While their position does drift very slightly due to the precession of the equinoxes (approximately 1 degree per 72 years), they will not go very far during your lifetime.

The fixed star Sirius is key to understanding the Lion’s Gate phenomenon. On Astro.com, you can see this if you go into “Extended Chart Selection,” select “Additional objects,” select “List of fixed stars,” and then select Sirius before you generate your chart. You should find Sirius around 13° or 14° Cancer in your chart. Try it with charts of people born at different times of year and with people who are several years older or younger than you. They should all have Sirius around 13° or 14° Cancer too.

The constellations that people have known well for many years, like the Big Dipper, are also made of fixed stars. Sirius is the brightest star of the constellation Canis Major, which means Great Dog. Ancient Greeks therefore called the hot time of year when Sirius rises just before the Sun the “dog days” of summer.

Lion’s Gate: Beginning a New Year

The ancient Egyptians realized that the heliacal rising of Sirius was correlated with the annual flooding of the Nile, which was crucial to their agricultural efforts. The rising of Sirius therefore became the beginning of their agricultural year.

Some modern observers of Lion’s Gate also see Lion’s Gate as the beginning of their year. Although the Sirius star is always in Cancer no matter what else is going on these days, the Sun is in Leo, the next sign, when Sirius rises just before the Sun in Giza, Egypt. For this reason, these events surrounding the rise of Sirius are given the symbolism of the sign of Leo and called Lion’s Gate.

The three stars of Orion’s Belt, which always form a straight line pointing to Sirius in the sky, also align with the three Pyramids of Giza at this time.

How to Celebrate Lion’s Gate

Although Leo season is known for having a playful vibe, it’s more serious than it sometimes looks. Leo rules the third eye chakra, which is associated with insight. Therefore, Lion’s Gate is a great opportunity to really look within and see what you want to do with your life.

Lion’s Gate is a relatively new observance, and it may not be observed in the same way forever as the precession of the equinoxes subtly shifts alignments over large spans of time. In ancient Egypt, the alignment took place earlier in the summer. In the distant future, it’s expected to happen later.

Even so, there can be a lot of power in many people coming together to set positive intentions and goals. Leo is a social sign, so Lion’s Gate is best celebrated in community with others. Even if you don’t have local friends who are into it, you can know that strangers around the world are putting their best intentions out into the universe along with you.

The number 8 is associated with abundance in many traditions of numerology. Celebrating on 8/8, with the powerful number doubled, is therefore a nod to that as well. Beyond numerology, Leo energy is about celebrating and enjoying life — and good things might find it easier to come to you when you’re in a positive frame of mind. Leo is ruled by the warm and nourishing Sun, so try to embrace that warmth in any way you can.

To learn how to flow with the energy of the cosmos throughout the year, consider joining the Astro Yoga Experience!