Before the Lion’s Gate Portal closes, reflect and realign
It’s the last day before the Lion’s Gate Portal. Huh? What’s that, you say?
For those who are newbies at everything New Agey, the Lion’s Gate Portal is supposedly an energetic event open from July 26 to Aug. 12. Its peak was on Aug. 8 (8/8). Just think of what occurred for you back then. It must have been memorable.
As the portal prepares to close, some are taking the time to reflect, realign, and set intentions before the energy wanes. But what exactly is the Lion’s Gate Portal anyway?
The portal of portals
The Lion’s Gate Portal is marked by an annual astronomical event, when the sun is in Leo, the star Sirius aligns with Orion’s Belt, and our little Earth floats in a particular position to receive what some call “galactic energy.”
Astrologically, Mars moves into Libra, trines to Uranus, with Gemini highlighting collaboration and connection. With an Aquarius full moon, the atmosphere is also supposedly transformational.
In numerology, the 8/8 date is believed to represent abundance mixed with power and evened out by balance. This makes it an apt time for “manifesting,” as the buzzword goes or, specifically, setting intentions of what you want in your life.
Sirius, also known as the “Dog Star,” is the brightest star in the night sky. The phrase “dog days of summer” also comes from Sirius, as its rising was thought to cause the hot summer weather.
In ancient Egyptian, Greek, and various esoteric traditions, the star was revered. And when Sirius rises in the sky, a phenomenon called the “heliacal rising,” its appearance during dawn is often seen as a time of renewal and insight. This time is said to be filled with “spiritual downloads,” a term used for sudden insight or bursts of inspiration from higher sources, which can manifest in visions, dreams, or feelings of clarity, peace, or even physical sensations.
But how can you bring about these spiritual downloads?
Even if you’re not into astrology, the Lion’s Gate Portal can be a lovely framework for pause and reflection, like a mid-year energetic reset to get grounded again. Here are a few simple (and not-too-out-there) rituals you can do.
1. Write down what you’re letting go
In a recent yoga session, my teacher Talor Amar at Pura Yoga kept repeating, “Let go.” And honestly, this applies to everything. On the yoga mat, let go of what position you can’t push your body to do. Let go of judgments of yourself or anyone around you.
With the Lion’s Gate Portal, take a few minutes to list and “let go of what no longer serves you,” as the yoga mantra often goes. Write down habits, mindsets, even grudges, and dispose of the list through burning (safely) or simply tearing it up and throwing it in the bin.
And if you can’t be bothered to get out a pen and paper, my best friend shared her practice with me of imagining whatever is bothering her as a piece of paper in her head. Scrunching it up and throwing it out of her headspace. This symbolic act helps draw a line in the sand.
2. Set intentions
On a piece of paper or in a journal, jot down what you want to call in: clarity, confidence, more disciplined routines, or peace. It can even be love, in a metaphorical way. Take an afternoon to paint a pair of birds and hang them up in your bedroom.
Or, as my editor said, he would like, “Money, money, money!” Write down a goal of what kind of cash you’d like to bring in through active or residual income.
Don’t be afraid to write down specifics of what you intend and dream of bringing into your life. It’s good to dream.
3. Step outside
Sirius is a bright star—visible in the early morning sky during this season, from nearly all vantage points on Earth. It may be hard right now with the torrential rains, but if you spot a clear afternoon, wander outdoors. If you’re in the city, focus your energies on whatever spots of green you can find.
Look for a place where you can watch the sunset, walk barefoot on the grass, or have a nice stroll with a loved one, phones off, connecting in real time.
4. Clean your space
There’s something almost alchemical about physically clearing space during times of transition, and maybe especially more so as the Lion’s Gate Portal closes. Organize a cluttered drawer, rearrange a small corner or altar of your home, or get rid of old clothes.
Even digital decluttering is good. Clean up your camera roll, unfollow accounts that drain you, clear out tabs, and delete files from your desktop.
Beyond appearances, when our surroundings feel chaotic or accumulate dust, it can mirror our internal state. Clearing physical clutter can help free up mental energy and create a feeling of lightness. The act of cleaning can become like a ritual of release.
5. Write yourself letters
This is something I’ve done for a few years now, which I found corny at first. But finding these letters months or years later, after forgetting about them, acts like a pretty cool time capsule.
One of the most grounding and revealing things you can do before the Lion’s Gate Portal closes is to write a letter—to your past self, your future self, or even both. This ritual turns your reflections into something tangible, helping you process growth, grief, and hope all at once.
Start with your past self, a version of you from one year ago, or even five. Write to that version with compassion, acknowledging all they’ve been through.
Then, if you feel ready, write to your future self, from whatever time. Imagine who you want to be, and plant written seeds that will harvest in real life later.
Who do you want to be?
You don’t need crystals, moon water, or a Leo rising to feel something during this time. Whether it’s yoga, dancing alone, or just stretching in bed, move in a way that helps you shake off lingering emotions. Move without pressure. Everyone always says, “Be present.” And the best way I find is to just breathe.
Whether you believe in portals or not, the idea of pausing mid-year to ask: “What am I becoming?” is something anyone can relate to.
As the Lion’s Gate Portal closes on Aug. 12, fear not—because it’s always a good time to map out your intentions. Many may see the temporal closing as a stark energetic closing, but it isn’t. In the period that follows, whatever revelations or emotions you might have felt stirred during its opening may still simmer.
And with that follows a slowing down and grounding, with subtle transformations in the surely busy “-ber” months to come.
