Lion’s Gate is such a potent and beautiful time of year. This post talks about the current energies and using the Medicine Wheel as a tool to shift through this phase.
Today, August 8, is the day that represents the height of Lion’s Gate – and the point of mid-summer. Astrologically, Lion’s Gate takes place July 26 through August 12, though many feel its energies extended beyond these dates. This corridor of time represents prosperity and fertility. It also looks to physicality and strength – but through the lens of wisdom, love, and higher thinking. It is a powerful time of manifestation and can be enhanced by using powerful tools like the Medicine Wheel.
Since ancient times astrologers have connected the patterns of the heavens to various elements of life on earth. As above, so below. Our connection with celestial phenomena is a reflection of our connection with all of life.
The astrological sign of Leo currently rules the heavens. From July 22 to August 21, we are ruled by the Sun and the element of fire. It is a time to focus on not only physical strength, but also strength of heart, mind, and soul. By exploring and strengthening all of our aspects, we create the spark that enables us to embrace higher wisdom, take bold action and manifest as we meet this season of the bountiful harvest.
Our human ego-self is limited in vision and scope so it is important to remember that we can overcome this smallness. Summer is a time to release self-imposed limitations and to cast off the illusion of lack. Summer is represented by the element of fire which is purifying. Physical change is also a part of this active phase.
It’s the perfect time to explore and tap into feeling from our hearts and living from our higher selves. If we are to gain personal freedom, we must learn to understand and balance all our aspects so that through healing and growth we may become sovereign beings.
What does that mean? Many of us start on our healing path because we want to feel better, overcome trauma, or find more meaning in our lives. As we begin to explore our gifts, manage our energy, and stop focusing on our problems, we open up the space to start pondering the mysteries of the Divine. This is when we truly begin to awaken to our higher selves, tapping into the universal collective and innate wisdom.
Accessing our inner wisdom will allow us to move forward on our paths. Seeking to clear ourselves of limitations and negativity so that we may reflect benevolence can be done through the ongoing development of a deep understanding that reflects love, compassion, strength, and patience. Each of us is on an entirely unique path so this will look different for each person.
This present time is perfect for honoring ourselves through self-care, and not just the materialistic kind that you might read about in a pop-culture magazine. We need to authentically care for ourselves in all our many aspects and one way to approach this is to use The Wheel.
All indigenous cultures have used a form of The Medicine Wheel – traveling from one direction to the next, exploring all the facets of the human existence. The term medicine does not refer to medical matters, rather medicine represents the inherent life force found in all of nature. Travel occurs in the South, West, North, and East as we circle through the seasons and phases of life.
There are numerous variations of the medicine wheel, yet they all drive us to reflect on similar principles and ideas. As we journey through the wheel, we tend to all our aspects – physical, emotional spiritual, and mental. This allows us to honor ourselves by integrating all our aspects and to connect them with the present emphasis on manifestation during this time of the Lion’s Gate.
We begin to travel through the Wheel from the South, where we consider physical aspects. Self-care can take on the form of exercise, massage, diet, and other self-care modalities. Also be aware that the south represents manifestation. Tend to your finances, make lists of what needs to be done, make plans for your business, nourish your dreams, care for your living spaces and belongings, and give care to all areas of physicality in your life.
Next we travel to the West, the place of emotion. It is here where we watch for our inner cycles for understanding of the subtle tides that regulate the inner workings of self. When we take time to examine, understand, heal, and grow our emotional selves, it allows us to heal and grow in other areas of our lives as well.
Society often teaches us to block out our emotions or to dwell on negative emotions such as hate, jealousy, judgement, and greed. By examining and learning to direct your emotional health, you can make major changes in our life. Carefully select what media you consume and find time to connect with nature all year long. Eliminate anything that does not honor your sacred soul and embrace that which gives you joy, hope, courage, and confidence.
Take time to examine your emotions, seeking to clear out anything that feels less than benevolent. This often requires hard work and determination. You might decide to seek out a life coach, therapist, counselor, past life reader, tarot reader, energetic healer, or another professional who offers insight. Be sure to select someone who intuitively feels like a good fit. You might also seek out self-help books, videos, workshops, resources, and materials that resonate with you.
The North is the place of the spirit and connects to our soul’s journey. Every step we take is sacred and offers us the opportunity to learn and grow. Understanding that we are one with the universe and connected to every thing and every living being helps us to align with our higher selves and our life purpose.
Seeking out spiritual wisdom and experiences are a part of the north path. Deciphering the messages in our dreams, delving into a yoga practice, meditating, visiting an Energy Healer, and paying attention to the messages of the universe are a few of many ways to connect. Incorporating positive affirmations, creating inspiring spaces, working with the elementals, and spending time in nature are a few of many ways to connect with your spirit; we may assimilate elements from the other directions in developing our spirituality in the North. These are tools that help us to transform. Our goal is to find that place of stillness, where we are divinely connected. We absorb this energy and spread it out into the world, sharing our light.
And finally, we visit the East, the direction of the mind. Ancient wisdom allows us to create using wisdom, knowledge, and our mental abilities. The east is represented by the Eagle who flies high over the land with courage and swiftness. This represents an expansive view that offers great detail as well as an understanding of the overall picture. It signifies an awakening of the mind that represents our visionary selves. It is here that we learn about tools of personal alchemy and how we can harness the natural forces of the universe.
Working to reduce and eliminate mind chatter strengthens the mind and provides us with the freedom to be our authentic selves. Purposefully utilizing the mind is most helpful when you are first and foremost connected to your heart. Living through our heart and soul is the path to living a life of purpose. When we recognize this, we can then utilize the mind as a tool and understand its purpose.
Travelling through all the segments of the Wheel allows us to be more thorough in our self-care efforts and affords us greater opportunity to manifest at this potent time of year. The Wheel also represents peaceful interaction between all living beings on earth. This is a reflection of that which we wish to achieve within and without ourselves.
People have celebrated the cycle of life through circles and wheels throughout all of time. The wheel is an integral part of our spiritual heritage. As we grow, we change like the seasons as we pass through layers of the wheel, learning from each segment.
We live at the center of the wheel and we want to be in balance. We want to be at the center of knowledge and the rhythm of life. We often circle back around in layers to certain people and situations throughout our life, each cycle offering a lesson and an opportunity. It is your choice to take responsibility to face your fears, overcome your shadows, and to know that you have the power to heal yourself and set the course of your direction.
The sun has moved into the ruling sign of Leo which has cleared the way for the constellation of Sirius to rise up clearly without obstruction from the Sun, signifying completion and rebirth. Sirius is the brightest star in the Earth’s night sky and its name means “glowing” in Greek because it is so bright. It is also known as the “dog star” and is over twenty times brighter than our sun and is twice as massive.
Ancient artifacts indicate the great importance Sirius has held for humanity. Sirius is connected to divine creation and represents the feminine. It represents manifestation without ego. Sirius also represents an expanded consciousness that encompasses both physical and non-physical dimensions.
August is the eight month of the year and Eight represents progress, activity, and manifestation. Embrace these aspects now so that we can transition to the unconscious influences of autumn and then the silence of winter so that we may be nourished and prepare for the cycles as they meet us. Yet be mindful that there are many competing energies at this time and that you may feel less than energetic.
Allow yourself time for rest and relaxation so that you may regain your strength with ease after times of repose. Use times of energetic enthusiasm to address those things needing your attention in a more physically and mentally demanding way. Adjusting to the flow of life is like a river embracing the ever-changing land, moving with the seasons and varying conditions.
At this time of vitality, fullness, ripeness, and maturity, we prepare to move forward to a time of surrender, the autumn, where intuition and the unknown take over. The present is a powerful time to conquer our shadows and honor the divine as we grow and create. I invite you to take time to examine your aspects through the directions of the wheel, to care for yourself, and to embrace the manifestation of that which brings divine love and positive self-empowerment into your life at this auspicious time.
Awakening The Core 