I am posting my weekly words a little early because we're about to pass through what’s called the Lion's Gate Portal which, this year, happens to coincide directly with the New Moon on August 8th.
While I was growing up, we called this time of year the Dog Days, the hottest, most miserable time of summer. That term can be traced to ancient Greece describing the same and also the time of year when Sirius (aka the Dog Star because it’s part of the Canis Major constellation) rises and is visible above the horizon in the morning at dawn, just before sunrise.
The ancient Egyptians also honored Sirius and this time of year as it was when the Nile overflowed and flooded the Delta.
These days, many astrologers and New Age writers refer to the period of July 28 to August 12, as the Lion’s Gate Portal, culminating on the 8th of August. I couldn’t tell you when this trend started but personally, I can buy into the idea that this is a special moment in time. Especially this year. Especially in conjunction with the New Moon.
Without getting into a cosmic mashup of theories about energetic resonance, the basic idea of the Lion’s Gate Portal, is that this is a time of increased cosmic energy flowing between the spiritual and physical realms, between heaven and earth.
If the stars transmit energy, and of course they do, then it stands to reason that, because we’re all traveling through space in various configurations, on occasion, Earth will find itself in a certain proximity to massively energetic stars that can’t help but have noteworthy effect on Earth’s systems which happens to include us, the human beings. Some of us humans are more sensitive than others. It’s only logical that some of us, especially those of us who are aware of these astrological moments, might take advantage of and be affected by the same.
There’s no getting around the significance of this simultaneous New Moon which is already a time of darkness, star gazing, and quiet, providing perfect opportunities for new intentions and fresh starts. This New Moon is in Leo, and Leo is ruled by fire and connected with the heart, with courage.
There’s also a numerological significance to his event. August 8th is the 8th day of the 8th month. That’s a double 8 which represents spiritual enlightenment and intelligence. It’s also the number of constellations in the sky.
And, as it happens, August 8th is the 220th day of the year! In numerology, 22 is the master number of the builder, bringing together the spiritual and the material.
There it is again. The connection of the sublime and the material.
I am spending the 8th communing with nature, meditating, and entering a new phase of my life. How about you?
You can listen to my long-time fave, Gregory Scott's take on this New Moon, and another regular fave, Molly McCord's New Moon and Lion's Gate Portal.
I've jettisoned my old list and have started a new mailing list for this phase of my life and work. You can sign up here to receive at least monthly mailings.