Mercury has just gone retrograde, and today it makes an exact conjunction with Venus. This is occurring during the activation of the 2024 Lionsgate portal; it's a super powerful event within the powerful event this month. So I thought it would be awesome to bring back my original article on the Lionsgate (and spruce it up a bit with my current level of consciousness). Before we get into it, let's talk

8 things you need to know about the August 2024 Mercury Retrograde:

1. It's Retrograding from Virgo to Leo

In ancient astrology, Mercury is considered to be exalted in Virgo. When Mercury is in retrograde, we can expect communication errors and delays, as well as transportation and technological issues. We all experience a call to be more introspective, which can result in major miscommunications. This will especially be the case in your Virgo and Leo houses. Here is a really great explanation of Mercury retrograde from The Astrology Podcast—check it out!

Under the lens of Evolutionary astrology, these signs also show us the cosmic child’s coming-of-age story. Leo rules the child and inner child, and Virgo is the next sign in zodiacal order which can represent spiritual duty. As Virgo's playtime is over, discernment is needed to keep the child alive and continuously purify itself through the harsh realities of existence, which is by nature mercurial or dual. We are guided through this process by the “big kids” a.k.a. our helpful and loving angels and guides (Virgo)

2. It Begins Its Retrograde in Conjunction with Venus

This conjunction coats the retrograde with themes of what we value and can end up being deeply personal for each of us. The configuration suggests there are things we don't like about our lives right now. It's messy and dirty, but we also feel like we can do no better. This is because Venus in Virgo is at its fall. In the origins of Messianic astrology, we learn that a primordial Venus that we understand as the Divine Feminine in this condition feels abandoned or exiled by God. It has forgotten that the "fall" was a conscious descent. It's only through her adventures in the underworld (signified by the detriment phase in Scorpio) that she can take small steps to uncover her true potential. There is something we feel unworthy of, and it will take squares to Uranus and trines to Chiron in the furnace of Mercury in Leo to restore.

3. Speaking of Chiron and Uranus...

Uranus is not the easiest energy. It's jittery, jumpy, contradicting. Sometimes it’s loud, and sometimes we ignore it because it’s too unnoticeably quiet. Uranus is not really lightning; it's the second strike of lightning that nobody is expecting. This energy can have our mind very unstable or focused on trying to keep the foundations of our lives stable. Uranus will shake up how we are thinking about these things, ultimately trying to help us liberate our minds from the old ways that don't serve our evolution and where we are heading. This can mean letting go of a community if this is in your 11th house or a mentor that you've outgrown if this is in your 9th. But for the entire Leo portion of retrograde, Mercury will be trined by the asteroid Chiron in Aries (known as the wounded healer), promising healing and more independence if we trust the uncomfortable process.

4. Uranus and the Mind of the Higher Self in Messianic Astrology

Like Mercury, Uranus is another incarnation of Pluto and is one-third of what I call the Plutonic Prism of the Soul, or simply the Plutonic Prism. This consists of Mercury (the physical body), Uranus (the etheric body), and Neptune (the astral body). Uranus speaks to the MIND/WILL and also gives our soul its insatiable nature (which is why we feel like we are something more than just our flesh and bone). It is the soul's inherited genius ability from GOD to use the mind in highly complex processing, like using the principles of inversion, for example. But it's also the hue of the god complex that the soul can become trapped in. Uranus is Mars and Venus post-Christed state. A "higher version" of Mercury—the being it was before "the fall" and incarnation as two separate spiritual forces.

So this directly points to Uranus being our higher selves.

5. Support from a Hypernovic Mars

Mercury will also get some boost from an Apollonian Mars, and not just an Apollonian Mars but one that has just made a conjunction with Jupiter, supercharging it. This is a very benevolent Mars, especially since this is happening range of the Lionsgate. The sextile often acts like a softer Uranian energy. Synchronicities or angel numbers are some “soft Uranus” examples. This is a mini-portal where you can draw in the power of this Mars in Hypernovic evolutionary dignity. Be on the lookout (and keep your ears perked) from August 18 to August 28 just as Mercury stations direct. Be open to Mars’ assistance.

6. A Reflection on Your South Node Story Before the Finale

The retrograde period will also unlock the few remaining chapters in your Libra South Node journey. We may even see this in the world as alliances are renegotiated or severed altogether. The South Node in Libra represents this collective weighing between our new paradigm and our old paradigm that we are currently faced with. This period, the second Mercury retrograde of the year, may be the most important and the most usable for diagnosing and treating the unhealthy mental servitude we have with others or to the Libra-ruled area of your chart and life

7. Gratitude Overkill Is the Way Forward

Remember when I said that because Jupiter is in detriment its retrogrades for the next year should function a lot more positively? This period is when we can see that in action. It has been a chaotic summer, and this retrograde will allow us to integrate everything that happened since late last year. You may feel some sort of resemblance to where your mind was 11 months ago. And because Mercury causes you to do things twice, it's sort of a sequel and, in some cases, a prequel to September 2023. There may be some information that your higher self is trying to convey now, and the square to Uranus forces you to upgrade your internal script.

With Jupiter in the other sign of Mercury, being grateful for every single aspect of your life down to the microscopic scale is super crucial. Set an alarm or timer for 5 minutes multiple times a day and go in; otherwise, there is equally so much to be pessimistic about, and it will invade your mind with all the other planets more or less in volatile conditions and aspects in the cosmos at the moment. Something you can try during this period is asking yourself, "What would my higher self say?" or define the life of your higher self. Be specific and precise, and don't share it with other people; retrogrades are always a more reflective time.

8. Classical retrograde energy and cultivating Zen

The Fire and Earth elements don’t usually pair well so this Mercury retrograde is very much like a brain teaser. On one hand, our internal flame and inner child can be revisited, but on the other, its spark can be crushed or damped out by life lifeing. We have this vision for something new but attachment to what is already established, it really invites the maximum archetypal expression of a retrograde. But at the same time, because of this dynamic, it’s also the most rewarding because the soul is forged with divine fire and the results imprint on physical reality. When all is said and done, we should be able to stand on molten rocks while maintaining zen. This Mercury retrograde is classically: Mind over matter.

The Lionsgate (2024)

Lions are some of my favorite animals; I feel it's almost impossible for someone to dislike them. In preparation for the Lionsgate Portal 2022 occurring on 8/8, I sometimes get the urge to research lions around this time. It started last year for me. Leo rules the 10th house in my natal chart.

Natal Chart: A circular chart, often 2D, that is essentially a snapshot of the Sun, Moon, Venus, and all other astrological planets and points at the moment of an individual's birth. Astrologers can decipher the meanings and decode the themes and symbology that prevail throughout a person's life experience by providing innumerable interpretations of the chart's configuration.

I sometimes like to think of the 10th house or Midheaven as a North Star. (Even though technically the North Node in the natal chart can more directly correlate to the North Star or one's True North.) The 10th house is often how we wish to be, and even if we don't wish it, how we end up being perceived by the public (and by extension, the world.) It's the house of mastery, where we want to be known for whatever the sign there is about, and whatever planets are in this house. This is the impact we make through our career, what we did with our time here, and the legacy we leave in the world.

With my 10th House in Leo. I'm often put in situations where a spotlight is on me. This is also because I have the Sun, which rules this Leo 10th house, in the 1st house of self. I can definitely say I want to be remembered for my unique personality that in some ways is as cool as a lion. I'm often the star at the places I work, and I can be either very laid back or very bossy, but usually with my introverted, water energy, you can guess what my persona is like. Ever since I was a kid, I loved to entertain people—singing, and dancing. I always wanted to show off my creativity and bring joy to people.

Prince also had a 10th house in Leo; needless to say, I'm going to be known as someone who was a bit dramatic and over the top, especially creatively. I'm very family-oriented, but I often hunt alone, and I'm very prideful about my work because I view my creativity as a direct reflection of me and my genius.

Another thing I notice about my Leo 10th house is that I'm often either the hunter or the prey. In the documentary, I was watching this weekend about lions, one line in particular really resonated with me: "If a hungry lion is a dangerous lion, a lion with a full belly is a safer lion. Keep the glade pride fed, and there may be peace between natural enemies." In the context of the Lionsgate, this makes so much sense.

We can think of the full calendar year as the hunting period. You get some kills, you lose some and starve. It's survival of the fittest, and this is reflected in almost every area of life. People compete for attention, to be seen. The media is in constant war with the internet, competing for your eyeballs. As an independent musician myself, there are so many obstacles to getting "the kill," be it financially or having your marketing campaign succeed so your song breaks through to the masses. Even vaccine companies—seriously, why are there so many? It's downright confusing. Look deeper, and you'll find a race between these organizations to produce the best, most efficient vaccine. The housing market. The dating market. Three hundred sixty-five days it really be like a jungle out here!

This is what, in my opinion, makes the Lionsgate so special. It's a day in the middle of the exhausting year when all your arrows are replenished. All your swords are sharpened. Your night vision picks up again from 61% to 99% (as if a baby Metroid put its claw on your nose.) We walk through a portal, leaving behind the cub and becoming the beast we're meant to be. Why is this? Astronomically, it has something to do with the brightest star in the sky Sirius becoming visible.

Destiny roars once again on 8/8

Rising in the sky, this fixed star's peak of visibility just so happens to be around August 8 every year, and it's one of the most spiritual stars. Sirius energy can be likened to Jupiter and Mars; it inspires, uplifts, and motivates. It brings lots of confidence and loves to behave very flashy and regal. It can also be a little too ambitious at times, similar to the energy of Rahu or the North Node. For example, Hitler had his North Node conjunct Sirius at 2 degrees. Marilyn Monroe had her Pluto conjunct Sirius exactly at 0 degrees. With Pluto ruling power and obsessions, the Sirius conjunction gave her a spotlight that made her outrageously "sexy" and "sultry," becoming the obsession of America and powerful people like the President. Michael Jordan, as well as Albert Einstein, both had their Ascendant conjunct Sirius exact as well. Incredible what the Sirius energy can do, huh? These are all people whose light was so bright, that it influenced masses of people and, in some cases, changed the course of the world.

Although we all aren't lucky enough to be born with Sirius making a close conjunction to one of our planets or chart points, we can go outside in the dawn of 8/8 and soak up the energy of the Lionsgate opening, just as the Sun and the Earth aligned with our “spiritual sun.”

Conjunction: When a planet or point is in the same sign within an orb of 10 degrees from another planet or point in the same sign. This creates a blending or a melding of energies that is inseparable and difficult to differentiate which energy is doing what. The closer the orb to 0, the more exact and more powerful the conjunction.

The Dog Days of Summer: Sirius in Ancient Times

Sirius' name derives from the Greek Σείριος (Seirios) meaning "sparking" or "scorching," and it was originally a star in the constellation Canis Major known as the "Dog Star" (so be careful around overly enthusiastic dogs; Sirius is associated with dog bites!) Of course, our universe is constantly shifting and evolving, so it's not found in the exact place where we discovered it thousands of years ago.

Hellenistic astrology connected the "Dog Star" with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck.

It's also said to be twenty to twenty-three times brighter than our Sun and, according to Wikipedia: "The heliacal rising of Sirius marked the flooding of the Nile in Ancient Egypt and the 'dog days' of summer for the ancient Greeks, while to the Polynesians, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, the star marked winter and was an important reference for their navigation around the Pacific Ocean."

Heliacal rising: The annual rise of a planet or star just as it becomes visible over the eastern horizon, making it a "morning star." The most important among the celestial risings being Sirius'.

The Messianic Ophiuchization Ritual

In Messianic Astrology, we can utilize the Lionsgate portal to rectify negative energy in a chart because it acts as an Ophiuchization (basically a cosmic transmutation of energy) The Lionsgate energy is the same energy (just on a lesser scale) that allows Venus and Mars to jump from their “Perfected” dignities into their “Hypernovic.” Messianic tradition considers this to be a time where you essentially perform a substitute ritual using the Sun or Pluto to burn off your earthly self and switch places with your "higher self." You essentially would be working with your Pluto or Sun placement. (Mine happens to be in conjunction, but you can only choose one because it takes a tremendous amount of energy.)

Pluto favours focus so the key here is meditation. You'll need to enter a meditative state as soon as the rising sign of the hour hits your intended degree for your Sun or Pluto. You can utilize the sound of the element of your placement like a waterfall for water signs or a tempest for air signs. Or you can also use white noise with subliminal messaging stating your intention and invoking the highest spirit of the Sun, Christ. (This is the single most important step!) Then, you would stay in meditation for the same amount of time as your planet’s degree.

The idea is that Sirius' energy will work on any malefic forces against your evolution and neutralize worst-case scenarios. Your higher self will also be present in your body, though, the intoxication of your higher light will wane by the 8th day. You can do this with any planet or point in your chart; though in my opinion it is redundant and it's just most powerful, comprehensive and less ego-driven with the Sun or Pluto. It's best to avoid directly on your Ascendant because it might overwhelm you. Pluto is so incredibly discreet and is the planet that leads your evolutionary process, which is why I suggest it. As for results, everyone is different, but you can start to notice things are different during the next new or full moon in that sign close to the degree the ritual was performed on, or, an eclipse on that degree (exact hard aspects only, to be clear.)

So, are you in need of the strength to reclaim your kingdom? Well, you certainly will. Sirius is twice as massive as the Sun, so it no doubt boosts your solar energy and drive. The Lionsgate can realign you with your mission and purpose, especially for my men of the cosmos who are here to shake the world. The 8/8 portal will thrust you over the edge, unshackling you and allowing you to overcome your fears, foes, and obstacles with the might of your divine self. Your energy will burn through your enemies like you were one of my Phoenix characters in my fantasy novel. The only thing to be wary of is over-zealousness, burnout, dehydration, and as I said earlier, dog attacks. (but this is rare, so don’t be paranoid *smiles*)

As we move into the activation of the Lionsgate portal this year, really reflect on the Leo house in your chart and maybe check out some of these videos, bathing yourself in the flood of light energy from Sirius.

This year in numerology is an “8” year, and so I highly, highly suggest you get into your messianic bag and take some things into your own hands like the master you are.

If you want some personal guidance on what to do with this year's Lionsgate activation and how to use it on your Pluto, Sun, and want to know which element to use for all 12 Sun/Pluto/Chiron etc. signs in your chart or want a custom subliminal message, don't hesitate to get in touch with me. Otherwise, join my Zodiac Society and become an premium member where I'll be releasing an Lionsgate Ophiuchization resource guide.

Godspeed.