The Story of Sirius & Lion’s Gate

If you regularly do sound baths, yoga or know the meme channel @healingfromhealing, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Lion’s Gate”.

Somewhere, at some time, someone probably told you that it’s a powerful portal for cosmic energy and manifestation, that peaks on August 8th but lasts for about a week before and after. 

Well— someone told me that. And to be honest, I didn’t think critically about it. You can pretty much come up to me and say “Wednesday, the 21st at 2pm is going to be a powerful portal for spiritual awakening” and I’ll say, “let’s go”

Why not?

When our next “Sound Healing Symphony” date on August 4th landed near the Lion’s Gate portal, it seemed like a no-brainer to name the event after it. Everyone knows that it’s a powerful time for meditation, inner healing and manifestation. 

…well….right?

At some point, I realized that all I knew about this “spiritually significant” portal was rumor. So I took a closer look.

The idea of the Lion’s Gate Portal is relatively new—not ancient. It’s a New Age spiritual synthesis that blends together real celestial movements, astrology, and a modern hunger for meaning and transformation.

Each year around late July to mid-August, the Sun is in the zodiac sign of Leo. At the same time, the star Sirius—the brightest star in our night sky—rises and becomes visible just before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This is known as its heliacal rising, and it’s been meaningful for thousands of years.

To the ancient Egyptians, Sirius (they called it Sopdet, and later the goddess Isis) rising meant the Nile would flood—a life-giving event. It symbolized rebirth, fertility, and divine order. This moment marked the beginning of their New Year. They built temples aligned with Sirius, and its annual return was woven into their spiritual worldview. But they didn’t call it a “portal,” and they weren’t using zodiac signs the way we do today.

Now fast-forward to the 20th century.

As modern astrology evolved and the New Age movement emerged in the 1970s and beyond, thinkers began to combine ancient astrological knowledge with metaphysical frameworks: sacred geometry, planetary ascension—anything, you name it. In this mix, people noticed that Sirius’ rising still lined up with the Sun in Leo (a sign ruled by the Sun and associated with the heart, courage, and personal power). Add to that the date 8/8, which in numerology symbolizes infinity, balance, and abundance, and you have the makings of a full-on cosmic myth.

But here’s the thing—this isn’t an ancient Egyptian holiday. The Egyptians definitely revered Sirius, and they celebrated its heliacal rising (when it first became visible before dawn) because it signaled the flooding of the Nile—a big deal for agriculture and life. They even started their New Year around it. But they didn’t call it “Lion’s Gate.” That part is a New Age rebrand, inspired by the Sun being in Leo (hence the “lion”) and our love for mystical-sounding portals.

The term “Lion’s Gate” seems to have popped up in the late 1990s or early 2000s, circulating among spiritual teachers, astrologers, and channeled messages about Earth’s ascension. People began tuning in to August 8th as a numerologically potent day (because 8/8 = infinity, abundance, balance), the lore grew, and eventually it became a part of new age culture. 

According to these teachings, during the Lion’s Gate, we’re more receptive to downloads, activations, and quantum leaps in awareness. People report insights, emotional release, clarity about their purpose, and a strong sense of connection to something greater.

So is it real?

Well—define real. Just like Mercury Retrograde or full moon chaos, it’s real if we feel it. If millions of people are tuning in to healing, opening their hearts, and raising their intentions during this time... something is happening. 

Of course, this isn’t scientific. You won’t find NASA tweeting “portal status: open.” But that’s not the point.

Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, often talks about the power of “intersubjective reality” or “intersubjective belief.” These are things that exist neither objectively or subjectively, but rather because many people believe in them and act accordingly. 

When thousands (maybe millions) of people are tuning into self-reflection, journaling, healing, prayer, meditation, breathwork, sound baths—something does shift. The power of Lion’s Gate lies in symbolism and collective focus. It’s like a global group intention-setting ritual.

So on August 4th, when we gather for the Sound Healing Symphony—whether you believe in portals, Leo vibes, or just want to lie down and relax—the magic is what you make of it.

And if the stars are aligning? Even better.

Snag your spot for ‘The Sound Healing Symphony’– Lion’s Gate!