The Sirius star, the “Lions Gate”, and our Prima Materia
The term “Lions Gate” has come into prominence in recent times on the back of New Age interest. Every year around August, the fixed star Sirius rises and is visible again on the eastern horizon before dawn.
This cosmic event is where the term ‘Lions Gate Portal’ comes from. It revolves around the idea of tapping into the energy of Sirius and channelling it for spiritual purposes.
Whilst it is not the biggest astrological event, it gets a lot of attention annually during Leo season, when the Sun is in the sign of the constellation symbolised by the lion (hence e name).
As the Earth moves to the end of an era, the Lions Gate provides an opportunity for us to create and manifest our dreams in the height of the optimistic Leo season.
In this article I explore the history and significance of Sirius and the true nature of the Lion's Gate, and how it affects individuals during the season.
What is the Lions Gate?
Many believe that the Lion's Gate occurs on August 8th (8/8), aligning with the astrological sign of Leo, and creating a portal.
However, this notion is based on a deep misunderstanding of the true astronomical events as the Lions Gate is really based on the cycle of Sirius.
The name "Sirius" derives from the Greek word "seirios," meaning searing, scorching, heating, or burning. In ancient times, Sirius was closely linked to the hottest part of summer and marked the beginning of the dog days, a period associated with intense heat, droughts, and madness.
Sirius is the nearest and brightest star system to Earth
Sirius is the night sky's brightest star. You'll always know it's Sirius because Orion's Belt— three stars in a short, straight row—points to it. Sirius means “Glowing” in Greek (Alpha Canis Majoris (α CMa)).
During the months of July and August, when this star rises with the Sun, scorching hot days are called dog days, especially in the middle and northern latitudes. As it happens, the same phrase in English can be traced back to this expression.
Sirius, the heaven’s gate
It’s also known as one of the most spiritual stars, bringing a divine spark with it. In ancient culture including the Turkish, this star was a sacred gate that joined the Earth with the heavens, the luminous realm of the gods. The star was the frontier between the spirit realm and the material realm where mortals reside. You could also call it the line that separates gods from humans.
Dogon tribe & knowledge of the Sirius
The Dogon tribe (Africa) claimed that the Nomo, or group of beings descended to Earth to give them knowledge of the Sirius star system — that they could never have known as an ancient culture and that even our modern science is barely beginning to learn.
For example, that Sirius is a binary star system only became known on 31 December 1862!
The French anthropologist Griaule recorded the Dogon mythology in 1947 in his book, Conversations with Ogotemmêli:
"The Master of Speech deciphers the ancient mythology of the Dogon, an isolated African tribe who live along a 200-kilometre stretch of escarpment called the Cliffs of Bandiagara near Timbuktu.
The Dogon had knowledge of the triple star Sirius system that was told to Griaule long before modern astronomers discovered the third star in the system in 1995. The Dogon told Griaule they had obtained their knowledge from amphibious beings who came to Earth from the Sirius star system. After extensive analysis of this mythology, Dorey reveals that these alien beings called Nummo were responsible for human creation through genetic engineering. She further proves that their contact with the Earth resulted in the evolution of most of the world's major religions. The Master of Speech focuses on the connections between paganism, Christianity, and the Greek and Egyptian mythologies. It reveals the connection of the Zodiac to this mythology and refers to the destruction of the Earth as told in Plato's Timeas relating to Atlantis. It talks about the human unconscious and our relationship to time and immortality.
The information presented in this book will be disturbing for some individuals. The facts however speak for themselves. This is a must read for anyone wanting to come to terms with the truth about the beginning of human existence."
Sirius and Isis
Another clue to the significance of the Lions Gate, or the annual arrival of the Sirius star system is its link to Isis.
If you go beyond what Isis is to common identifies, to something primal. Or primordial, or prima materia. (...) You go back to the mother energy, which is the source of physical creation. Sirius is the Sun behind the Sun. what gives both to the Sun? The mother of the Sun. It makes perfect sense that Isis is associated with Sirius, i.e.,
prīma māteria ("first matter")
Sirius and the Egyptians
The fixed star Sirius was an important star to ancient Egyptians. When it became visible again every year around the same time, it indicated a flooding of the Nile.
This was a powerful time for those living near there as farming season would begin again and the soil would become fertile again.
However, while this is something the ancient Egyptians did celebrate, the popular perspective today seems to have distorted the original event into something the Egyptians never had nor ever called it. The name "Lion's Gate" sounds grand, but serves only to distract from what is really going on. Sirius was not "The Lion Star" to the Egyptians - it was "The Dog Star".
Sirius and Orion's Belt are fixed stars and are always in the same relationship to each other, and there is no special alignment between the Great Pyramid and them.
Egyptian mythology and the sign Leo have been conflated to make up an imaginary mythology to play in.
Sirius season, from 3 July to 12 August, when the Nile flooded the surrounding plains, giving life to the fertile soil, and the heliacal rising of Sirius, which took place at the end of the season was the climax.
What happens when we conflate Sirius‘ return with 8/8 Lions Gate hype and activations?
The Lion's Gate and its connection to Sirius are modern interpretations and not rooted in authentic astrological or religious practices.
While Astrology — the cycles of our Earth’s lights —can provide valuable insights into all life areas, including personality traits and behaviours, polluting it with New Age beliefs, including extra-terrestrial entities and ascension rituals, detracts from its historical foundations and makes a mockery of this ancient practice.
Glaringly, there is no 8 August (8/8) Lions Gate Portal every year. The date, in fact, is constantly in motion because the stars and planets are constantly in motion.
Not least, it is now known scientifically that the natural pulse given out by the human brain literally syncs with the pulse coming from the human heart, which syncs with the pulse coming from the Earth, which syncs with the pulse coming from the Sun, which syncs with the pulse coming from Sirius. What happens beyond that, we don't know yet.
The knowledge that we can change and form our reality at will. pharaoh Akhenaton (reigned 1353-36 bce) saw that his people were being split into false worship of multiple gods, and wanted returned to supremacy of the Sun (god) (called Aton was to be the only god). We could then see we did not need intermediariesbetween ourselves and god energy.
This was not always very popular among the priesthood’s. Eventually there was a military coup against Akhenaton.
Thus, perhaps we could look past the“Lion’s Gate” hype, and understand it is really the return of Sirius star bringing huge energy throughout this season.
It does offer an opportunity to upgrade vibrationally and heal, regardless of whether you choose to follow particular to rituals. If you do want to perform a ritual with Sirius, you should do so (with caution and clarity) when the helical rising of Sirius occurs, which is August 11th/12th. Or using the Ptolemaic aspects, on July 5th.
Where is your window of opportunity?
In 2023, the Lions Gate is connected to the Full Moon energies on 16 August.
Use this time by looking up which part of your chart Leo rules and set your intentions for this area. While this surge of energy does super charge your manifestations for all areas of your life, it will be especially potent for the area where Leo rules (your Queen or Kingdom).
Resources & Appendix
"2020, August 15-16: Helical Rising of Sirius"
https://www.thewisemag.com/mystery/sirius-the-mysterious-star-of-the-goddess-isis/
Bahaddin ÖGEL; Turkic Mythology 1, 2
Nil ELDEM; 10.000 Years Beneath the Stars
Alparslan SALT; The Dogon Mystery of Sirius
Robert K. TEMPLE; The Sirius Mystery
astronomer Jeffrey L. Hunt:
"From my latitude 41.7N, the sun and Sirius rose at about the same time (within a minute) on August 3 this year, according to U.S. Naval Observatory data. At 1350 B.C., just before the time of King Tut, the heliacal rising date at Giza was approximately July 19, from a quick look at the computer program Starry Night. Remember that we have had corrections to the calendar; so before 1582, the dates do not match the equivalent dates with today’s sun’s position."
The New Age Phenomenon: The Lion's Gate and Sirius.
