On August 8, the cosmos opens a rare and potent gateway. With the Sun rising in Leo and Sirius shining its brightest, the Lion’s Gate Portal peaks, a cosmic ignition point for courage, creativity, and abundance, and a chance to fan your internal flame.
This year, the magic continues with the Full Moon in Aquarius on August 9, illuminating themes of vision, community, and forward-thinking change. Together, Leo’s solar power and Aquarius’s lunar insight form a cosmic polarity, one fuels your personal fire, the other expands your collective vision to serve the greater good.
It is the perfect time to channel this dual energy through ritual, and there’s no better ally for grounding your intentions than a cup of Sacred Taste cacao.
What Is the Lion’s Gate Portal?
The Lion’s Gate Portal occurs each year when the Sun in Leo aligns with Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, along with Orion’s Belt. To the ancient Egyptians, Sirius’ rising marked abundance, renewal, and spiritual awakening.
Numerologically, the number 8 represents balance, infinity, and personal power. On 8/8, this vibration doubles, making it one of the most powerful days of the year to set intentions and release what holds you back.
The Aquarius Full Moon – Vision, Innovation, and Collective Growth
The Full Moon brings release and clarity. In Aquarius, the sign opposite Leo, the lunar energy shifts from personal self-expression to collective purpose. While Leo urges you to shine your own light, Aquarius asks: How can your light help the world?
This Aquarius Full Moon invites you to:
- See your goals from a higher perspective
- Break free from outdated patterns
- Innovate and imagine new possibilities
- Honour your role within the wider community
Why This Energy Matters
Whether you follow astrology closely or are simply curious, 8/8 is a natural checkpoint in the year, a chance to pause, reset, and realign with what matters most. Think of it as a cosmic reminder to let go of what’s been weighing you down and make space for the future you want to create.
Leo–Aquarius Polarity – Power + Perspective
This cosmic pairing is a reminder that personal power (Leo) and collective vision (Aquarius) are not opposites, they are partners. Your solar plexus fire fuels your courage to act, while the Aquarian Moon offers clarity on where to direct that energy, fanning your flames to light up the universe.
Why Cacao Is the Perfect Ally for 8/8
For thousands of years, cacao has been used in sacred ceremony to open awareness, connect with the divine, and anchor intention in the body. On 8/8, cacao becomes more than a drink, it is a bridge between your inner fire and your higher vision.
Ignite Your Solar Fire & Awaken Your Vision: An 8/8 Cacao Ritual
What you will need:
- Your favourite Sacred Taste Cacao
- A journal and pen
- A candle and incense
- A bowl of water
- A safe, comfortable, quiet space
- 20–30 minutes
Step 1 – Prepare Your Space
Choose a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed. Light a candle and incense. If you like, place crystals or symbolic objects nearby. This is your sacred container, a space for clarity, vision, and transformation.
Step 2 – Prepare Your Cacao with Love
Mix 1–2.5 scoops of cacao with water or milk. We recommend Ceremony alone or blended with Fire and/or Vitality (Air) to bring in the elements. As you stir, visualise the Sun’s energy infusing your cacao. Breathe in its aroma and set your intention for deep healing and transformation.
Step 3 – Drink Your Cacao with Intention
Hold the mug with both hands. Feel its warmth. Breathe in the aroma and speak your intention quietly: What do I want to learn? What do I want to let go of? Sip slowly, letting the flavour awaken your senses.
Step 4 – Activate Your Solar Centre
Place your cup down. Rest your right hand over your solar plexus (above the navel). Take 8 deep breaths, inhale for 8 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds, creating an infinite loop of breath. With each breath, imagine your inner flame growing stronger.
Step 5 – Expand Your Vision
Place your left hand on your forehead over your third eye. Take another 8 deep breaths, drawing the warmth of your inner fire up to your mind’s eye. Ask: How would I serve the world if I had no fear? Meditate on your answer. Envision your dreams for yourself and for the planet. Notice any blockages.
Step 6 – Write It Down
In your journal, create three separate pages with these titles:
1. My gifts to the world
2. How these gifts serve the world
3. My blockages that prevent me from sharing my gifts
Write as much or as little as you like, but keep going until you think you’ve said it all, then write a little more. Often, the most powerful insights come after the first layer of thought. And if identifying your gifts or blockages feels hard, that’s okay. Recognising that difficulty is already the first step in overcoming it.
Step 7 – Burn Your Blockages
Gently set your “blockages” page alight from the candle’s flame. As the paper burns, visualise these limitations dissolving into nothingness. Once the flame has run its course, drop the ashes into the bowl of water to cool and cleanse. You are free to move forward.
Step 8 – Display Your Gifts Page
Place your “gifts to the world” page somewhere you will see daily, on your altar, desk, mirror, or inside your journal. This is your living declaration. Let it inspire you to take even the smallest daily action toward sharing your light. Over time, these actions will weave your vision into reality, serving both you and the world.
Why This 8/8 Is Special
The Lion’s Gate and Aquarius Full Moon arriving so close together creates a rare energetic balance, personal empowerment meeting collective vision. Use it to ignite your solar fire while aligning with your higher purpose.
Final Thoughts
The 8/8 Lion’s Gate Portal and Aquarius Full Moon is your cosmic invitation to shine your light boldly and share it wisely. By pairing this moment with a Sacred Taste Cacao ritual, you anchor your vision in your body and heart, turning intentions into reality.
This year, make the ritual your own, and if you feel called, share your cacao moment with us on Instagram @wearesacred so we can celebrate your light together.
