Every August, my social media feed lights up with posts about the Lion’s Gate Portal — “the most powerful portal of the year,” they say. It’s said to be a time of massive soul upgrades, divine downloads, and quantum leaps. I’ve seen people call it the “New Year” for starseeds and lightworkers. There’s talk of the Sun aligning with Sirius, manifestation reaching peak potency, and the cosmos unlocking its highest frequencies.
But as someone who studies astrology — and uses it daily in both my personal and professional spiritual practice — I had to pause and ask:
Does this actually check out astrologically?
So I opened my astrology software, tuned into the sky, and did some digging. And y’all... what I found might surprise you.
The Sun Is Not Conjunct Sirius on August 8
Let’s start with the heart of the claim — that the Lion’s Gate Portal opens on July 26 and peaks on 8/8 when the Sun aligns with Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky. According to the popular belief, this conjunction supposedly creates a powerful portal for transformation.
But here’s what I found in the tropical zodiac, which most modern Western astrologers use:
- Sirius is currently at 14° Cancer (tropical).
- The Sun conjuncts Sirius around July 5–7 each year.
- By August 8, the Sun has moved to 15–16° Leo — a full zodiac sign away.
That means that the Sun–Sirius conjunction happens a month before August 8. So, astrologically, there is no Sun–Sirius alignment on 8/8. None. It already happened!
What About Sidereal or Vedic Astrology?
I checked that too.
In sidereal astrology (used in Vedic traditions), Sirius is around 20° Gemini, depending on the specific calculation.
This places the Sun–Sirius conjunction sidereally around July 16–17 — again, not August 8.
So whether you're using tropical or sidereal astrology, the Sun is not conjunct Sirius on 8/8.
Where Did the Lion’s Gate Portal Idea Come From?
The Lion’s Gate Portal is a modern spiritual fusion of several traditions — but it’s not anchored in astrological reality. Let’s unpack it:
- Ancient Egypt: Sirius (called Sopdet) was deeply sacred. Its heliacal rising (when Sirius rose just before the Sun) marked the flooding of the Nile and a time of renewal. This rising typically occurs late July to early August, depending on your location. But this is visual astronomy, not zodiacal astrology.
- Tropical astrology: In early August, the Sun is in Leo — a sign associated with courage, heart-centeredness, and divine radiance. So yes, it’s “Leo Season,” hence the name “Lion’s Gate.”
- Numerology: 8/8 is a powerful number date. The number 8 symbolizes infinity, balance, power, and abundance. This gives 8/8 symbolic spiritual weight.
So what’s happening here is a spiritual mashup — part ancient starlore, part numerology, and part astrological energy — rolled into a modern narrative that has taken root in New Age circles.
But from a strictly astrological perspective, the Lion’s Gate Portal as popularly described doesn’t exist.
So... Is 8/8 Still Important?
Here’s the thing: meaning is created. If you feel powerful energy on 8/8, that’s valid. Collective intention and focused ritual practice can absolutely create transformational shifts.
But if you’re someone who anchors your spiritual practice in astrology, like I do, it’s important to stay rooted in what’s actually happening in the sky.
Maybe instead of automatically buying into the 8/8 hype, ask:
What was moving through my life around July 5–7, when the Sun was conjunct Sirius?
How can I engage deeply with Leo Season themes — courage, creativity, embodiment — without needing a false portal to validate it?
Final Thoughts: Let’s Stay Grounded in the Cosmos
I’m not here to shame anyone for feeling aligned with Lion’s Gate energy. Honestly? I’ve felt powerful shifts in early August too — but those shifts happened because I was present and intentional, not because the sky opened up a magical wormhole on 8/8.
Let’s honor both symbolic meaning and astrological accuracy.
If we’re going to talk about portals, alignments, and cosmic energy, let’s make sure we’re working with the real movements of the stars — not just what’s trending on Instagram.
Your practice can be both mystical and grounded. That’s where the true magic lives.
Tenacious Taurus Tarot & Astro Insights