Every year, around the first week of August, you’ll hear talk of a ‘portal’ opening. Some people treat it like a full moon on steroids. Others barely notice it. But for those tuned in to astrology or spiritual cycles, 8 August—8/8—lands with weight. It marks the peak of what’s called the Lion’s Gate Portal, an annual alignment between Earth, the Sun, Sirius (the brightest star in our sky), and Orion’s Belt. It’s not just symbolic. It’s also rooted in actual astronomy.
The full “window” of the portal runs from around 28 July to 12 August. But 8 August is the moment it’s believed to hit its highest energy.
At exactly 8:08 AM and 8:08 PM, many spiritual practitioners pause for meditation, intention-setting, or just to sit with what’s rising. It’s not about believing in magic. It’s about tuning into a rhythm—and giving that rhythm a bit of room in your day.
Ancient Egyptians noticed its heliacal rising (when it reappears just before dawn after being hidden by the Sun) coincided with the flooding of the Nile. That event meant renewal, fertility, and survival. They associated Sirius with the goddess Sopdet, a figure tied to new beginnings and cosmic timing.
In modern astrology, Sirius still carries a sense of power and higher intelligence. Some describe it as a spiritual sun—a symbol of clarity, insight, and deep remembering.
When Sirius rises in line with the Sun in Leo and the belt of Orion, astrologers say the physical and spiritual worlds overlap more than usual. Think of it like a thin veil—or a better signal.
In tarot, the eighth card is Strength—usually shown as a woman calmly taming a lion. It’s not about brute force. It’s about quiet power, the kind that lives in the gut. That symbolism is echoed in Leo season itself: confidence without noise, boldness without ego.
Astrologer Vishakha Bokil explains, “On 8/8, the energetic frequency is like a cosmic amplifier. Your thoughts are more likely to align with divine intelligence. It’s as if the Universe is listening with a stethoscope.”
Instead of charging forward, you might feel pulled to look back. To reassess, revisit, reframe. Old thoughts might surface. Patterns could show up again—not to annoy you, but to ask: are you still choosing this?
Astrologer Sai Avani says, “This is a very powerful time just to tune in and be very accepting of your experience.”
So if the day feels emotional, that’s not a distraction from the portal—it’s part of it.
1. Clear your space.
Light a candle. Burn incense. Or just tidy the room. Clean space, clean mind.
2. Meditate for 8 minutes.
Sit still. Focus on your breath. Imagine golden light running through you. You don’t have to believe in anything specific. Just breathe.
3. Write down your intentions.
Keep them short and in the present tense. “I am focused.” “I am ready.” “I am letting go.”
4. Speak them aloud.
Yes, really. Leo is ruled by the Sun and linked to expression. Use your voice. Claim it.
5. Say thank you.
Gratitude closes the loop. Thank yourself. Thank the day. You don’t need a reason.
If you're into specifics, 8:08 AM and 8:08 PM are considered key times to sit with these practices. But honestly—any time you make space for yourself that day is the right time.
This isn’t about dramatic energy shifts or cosmic fireworks. It’s about attention. Whether you believe in portals or not, taking a moment in your calendar to pause, reflect, and reset—especially as the seasons begin to shift—is no bad thing.
It’s a symbolic gateway. What you bring to it is up to you.
You don’t need to “believe” in the Lion’s Gate Portal for it to be meaningful.
It’s one day out of the year that invites you to stop, look inwards, and ask yourself: what do I want to carry forward? What am I done with? What needs more of my attention?
You’ve got from 28 July to 12 August, but 8 August is the centrepoint. That’s the invitation. What you do with it is entirely your own.
The full “window” of the portal runs from around 28 July to 12 August. But 8 August is the moment it’s believed to hit its highest energy.
At exactly 8:08 AM and 8:08 PM, many spiritual practitioners pause for meditation, intention-setting, or just to sit with what’s rising. It’s not about believing in magic. It’s about tuning into a rhythm—and giving that rhythm a bit of room in your day.
Why Sirius gets so much attention
Let’s get this straight: Sirius is not just a pretty star. It’s the brightest one we can see from Earth, often referred to as the Dog Star. It’s twice the mass of our Sun and burns 25 times brighter.Ancient Egyptians noticed its heliacal rising (when it reappears just before dawn after being hidden by the Sun) coincided with the flooding of the Nile. That event meant renewal, fertility, and survival. They associated Sirius with the goddess Sopdet, a figure tied to new beginnings and cosmic timing.
In modern astrology, Sirius still carries a sense of power and higher intelligence. Some describe it as a spiritual sun—a symbol of clarity, insight, and deep remembering.
When Sirius rises in line with the Sun in Leo and the belt of Orion, astrologers say the physical and spiritual worlds overlap more than usual. Think of it like a thin veil—or a better signal.
Lions Gate Portal: The power of 8
Numbers matter here, especially the number eight. In numerology, 8 is linked to strength, abundance, and balance. Flip it sideways and you’ve got the infinity symbol. It loops back, but it moves forward too.In tarot, the eighth card is Strength—usually shown as a woman calmly taming a lion. It’s not about brute force. It’s about quiet power, the kind that lives in the gut. That symbolism is echoed in Leo season itself: confidence without noise, boldness without ego.
Astrologer Vishakha Bokil explains, “On 8/8, the energetic frequency is like a cosmic amplifier. Your thoughts are more likely to align with divine intelligence. It’s as if the Universe is listening with a stethoscope.”
This year comes with a twist: Mercury Retrograde
In 2025, the Lion’s Gate Portal doesn’t arrive alone. Mercury—the planet tied to communication, memory, and reflection—will be in retrograde in Leo. That means the energy of the portal might feel more internal this time.Instead of charging forward, you might feel pulled to look back. To reassess, revisit, reframe. Old thoughts might surface. Patterns could show up again—not to annoy you, but to ask: are you still choosing this?
Astrologer Sai Avani says, “This is a very powerful time just to tune in and be very accepting of your experience.”
So if the day feels emotional, that’s not a distraction from the portal—it’s part of it.
So what do you actually do on 8 August?
No, you don’t need crystals or a full moon ritual. But if you want to work with this moment—not just scroll past it—here’s a simple approach:1. Clear your space.
Light a candle. Burn incense. Or just tidy the room. Clean space, clean mind.
2. Meditate for 8 minutes.
Sit still. Focus on your breath. Imagine golden light running through you. You don’t have to believe in anything specific. Just breathe.
3. Write down your intentions.
Keep them short and in the present tense. “I am focused.” “I am ready.” “I am letting go.”
4. Speak them aloud.
Yes, really. Leo is ruled by the Sun and linked to expression. Use your voice. Claim it.
5. Say thank you.
Gratitude closes the loop. Thank yourself. Thank the day. You don’t need a reason.
If you're into specifics, 8:08 AM and 8:08 PM are considered key times to sit with these practices. But honestly—any time you make space for yourself that day is the right time.
What if you don’t feel anything?
That’s fine.This isn’t about dramatic energy shifts or cosmic fireworks. It’s about attention. Whether you believe in portals or not, taking a moment in your calendar to pause, reflect, and reset—especially as the seasons begin to shift—is no bad thing.
It’s a symbolic gateway. What you bring to it is up to you.
You don’t need to “believe” in the Lion’s Gate Portal for it to be meaningful.
It’s one day out of the year that invites you to stop, look inwards, and ask yourself: what do I want to carry forward? What am I done with? What needs more of my attention?
You’ve got from 28 July to 12 August, but 8 August is the centrepoint. That’s the invitation. What you do with it is entirely your own.
