It’s upon us again, one of the luckiest days of the year! August 8th is the Lion’s Gate Portal. This powerful astrological alignment thins the veil, reminds us of our power, and remains one of the most potent days of the year for manifestation. So what’s happening in the sky during Lion’s Gate? Three heavenly bodies come into alignment; the constellation Orion’s belt, Earth and Sirius, all while our Sun returns home to the sign of Leo.
The portal is open from July 26 through August 12, but the date of 8/8 has special spiritual significance. August 8 is the peak of the Lion’s Gate potency. The number 8 in numerology signifies balance, inner power, strength, action, achievement and the eternal link between the spiritual world and the physical world. When you flip an 8 on its side it becomes the symbol for infinity. The power of the number 8 becomes clear on the eighth day of the eighth month. It is almost as if we can pull our dreams directly from the ether and into existence.
Born on the Lion’s Gate Portal? If you have an 8/8 birthday, you’ve got a charismatic personality and are seen as a natural leader. Ruled by Saturn, those with August 8th birthdays have natural luck but must be wary of rigidity.
In the Tarot, the 8th card of the major arcana is Strength. It is often depicted as a woman taming a lion with her bare hands. The Strength card is a symbol of inner strength, courage, and perseverance. It is associated with the element of fire, which represents passion, creativity, and energy. This card suggests that we have the power to overcome our fears and challenges through our own inner fortitude and courage.
The Strength card is also associated with patience and perseverance. This card can indicate a time of staying the course, even in the face of adversity, and trusting in our own strength and resilience. The Strength card reminds us to be patient and persistent in our efforts, and to never give up on our goals and dreams. It’s a reminder that we hold the power to control how we react to whatever the world throws at us.
This energetic background creates a fertile foundation for manifestation and magick. What is manifestation? Quite simply, it’s the practice of calling forth into the world what is in our imaginations. All creation is manifestation. A thing cannot exist without having been imagined first. The cosmic codes are the energetic blueprints for those manifestations.
The Guidance of Lion’s Gate
Sometimes portals bring us the opportunity for radical life changes. You may suddenly want to move, change jobs or careers or start or end a relationship. Before making any sudden moves, evaluate. Do some reflection and see if those moves would keep you on or remove you from your true life’s path. There are examples of how to reflect further on in this article.
The Cosmic Codes
The universe is always sending us cosmic codes, but that is amplified during portals like Lion’s Gate. What are cosmic codes? Quite simply they are packets of energetic information, sent to us through the web of energy that connects all of existence. Some people call them downloads or activations. Everyone has access to them, and they can be even more impactful if you seek them out intentionally. The whole point of this portal is to place us back in alignment with our cosmic purpose. Let’s explore how to harness that power, even if you’re a newbie to the world of woo.
Options for Beginners
Set aside some time to connect cosmically.
Carve out ten to 15 minutes for a quick meditation to connect to the universe. You need yourself, a journal and pen, and a candle. Even a tealight will do.
Find a spot to sit comfortably, and light the candle. While focusing on the flame, open your energies to the cosmos and welcome in any information that can help you have a better day, make intentional decisions or go after something you’ve been longing for.
Say: “I am open to the guidance and assistance that the universe has for me this Lion’s Gate. Lead me to my ideal path.”
As the inspiration hits, write it down in your journal. Don’t try to force it. We’re being open and allowing the energy to flow through us. Bonus points if you can make this into a daily habit. Remember these codes are available to you year round!
Supercharge your affirmations.
Grab that journal again. Make a list of 3-5 affirmations relating to goals you are looking to achieve over the next year. During the portal on 8/8, sit with your affirmations, and repeat them to yourself and the universe 8 times each. Focus on your throat chakra emanating the energy into the cosmos and know that you have the strength to see them through. Since the portal doesn’t close fully until the 12th, repeat as many times as you’d like.
Activate your Solar Plexus chakra
Lion’s Gate, the sign of Leo and the number eight all put a focus on our willpower. The solar plexus chakra is the energy center that houses our will and determination. Place your hand between your belly button and the bottom of your sternum and breathe slowly into this space. Bring an affirmation or a goal to mind and take 8 slow breaths in and out, while envisioning a glowing yellow spiral of light emanating from your center. Visualize your energies moving through you and supporting your goals as they move out into the universe. Everything is falling into place.
Close out some old cycles with reflection
Portals offer us an opportunity to connect the past, present and future since the veil is so thin. Look back over the past year to see where your life has been heading. If you have open loops- boundaries that need to be set, goodbyes that need saying or opportunities that lay unseized, start the process of checking these things off. Clearing your slate on this plane helps free energies on the etheric plane as well.
Options for More experienced practitioners
Create a Lion’s Gate Ritual
This simple ritual combines petition magick with crystal healing to create a talisman you can keep with you through the next set of portals until Lion’s Gate rolls around again.
Materials:
Your journal,
Loose paper
Something to write with
3 solar colored candles to represent your past, present and future
A crystal of your choice
Charge your candles- hold them in your hands one by one, and state: “I charge this candle to represent my past. I charge this candle to represent my present. I charge this candle to represent my future.”
Place the candles in their holders and arrange them in a triangle with the top point farthest away from you.
Light the candles and say: “As these candles burn on this Lion’s Gate Portal, I release my past, accept my present and welcome my future. This I affirm for my highest good. So be it.”
While the candles burn, take up your journal and write a bit about where you were last year, where you are now, and where you wish to be in the future. Feel all the feelings, the sorrow, the triumphs, and the accomplishments.
Now take your loose paper, and write down one key goal that you’d like to have accomplished by the next Lion’s Gate portal. Fold the paper up, towards yourself to draw in the energy.
Pick up your chosen crystal and say “I charge this crystal to root and ground this goal into this reality. As I hold it and keep it near, my goal draws ever nearer to me.”
Put the crystal on top of the paper and leave it in your sacred space until the candles burn out.
Keep the crystal and folded paper with you as often as you can. On other portals, such as Samhain/Hallowe’en and the 11/11 portal, you can recharge it by repeating this ritual.
Script your best life.
Use the time during the lion’s gate portal to write out the ideal version of your life that you’d love to step into. Cover everything, and make it present tense. Make it as long and detailed as you’d like and understand that in writing this you will be sending this information directly to the universe for completion. Your order has been placed. Expect fulfillment.
Crystals For the Lion’s Gate Portal
Here’s a quick list of crystals you can use to anchor your workings for the Lion’s Gate Portal.
Tigers Eye
Sodalite
Amethyst
Citrine
Sunstone
Blue Kyanite
And of course, clear quartz to amplify
Use these crystals in grids or as anchor points for manifestation workings.
Enlist the help of others
The Lion’s Gate Portal is a wonderful time to have your DNA activated or your chakras aligned. The cosmos itself is aligning and tuning into this energy will help keep you going on your ideal life’s path as well.
As you can see the Lion’s Gate Portal is a beautiful opportunity to welcome alignment and create for your highest self. The key to all manifestation is to be clear on what you want, and understand that the universe will conspire to bring it to you as long as you are open to it.
