Stillness 8-8: Today Sirius, the Dog Star, becomes visible just before dawn, rising with our sun. Sirius is the source of our spiritual energy, while our Sun is the source of our physical energy. Sirius reveals to us our inner light that shines in the east, opens the gates to undiscovered realms, and illuminates our way forward.
In Ancient Egypt, Sirius was one of the most important stars in the sky, and most of its deities were connected with it, including the great Thoth-Hermes. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on lunar cycles and the helical rising of Sirius, which also coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River. The pyramids of Giza were built in alignment to this time of the year, which marked the opening of the Lion’s Gate Portal and the start of the new year.
This is what we know astronomically about Sirius: It has an enormous amount of energy! Close to it, orbits a partner-dwarf star whose interior has a density 3000 times that of a diamond. It spins on its axis about 23 times a minute, and creates enormous magnetic fields whirling around it. Sirius and its little partner rotate around each other, exchanging fierce energies and particles, bringing vivid brightness and sparkles to our night sky. These electro-magnetic currents stream through the galaxies on magnetic field lines.
Sirius is the brightest star we can see and it is the source and destination of a powerful force or starry energy. Its effects are recorded in countless ancient myths, temples, and art. All around the globe it’s described as being a dog, wolf, or coyote: In China, Sirius is known as the “star of the celestial wolf.” Native American tribes call it “Dog-face” (Blackfoot), “Moon Dog” (Inuit), and “Wolf Star” (Skidi). We may be most familiar with the ancient Greek legend (and constellation) of the hunter Orion and his hound, Sirius.
It’s why we call this long, hot, sweaty, dank part of the year, when the Lion’s Gate portal is open, “the dog days of summer.”
This year it’s “open” from July 26 to August 12, and is at its fullest expression today: On the 8th day of the 8th month we are at the fulcrum of the infinity sign, which is an 8 on its side. At this turn of the year, we are asked to live fully in the present, while looking at the year behind us and the year ahead. On this extra-special new year’s day, feel your lion-like inner royalty, conscious power, awakening, and freedom to live from your powerful, generous, compassionate heart forces.
Imagine you’ve been inundated by a great flood, with mosquitoes, dankness, and loss. When the waters finally recede, there stands the Lion’s Gate portal. Enter your personal gateway to grace, good fortune, abundance, creative self-expression, playfulness, and romance.
Feel the starry energy of your new year.