Heliacal Rising of the Fixed Star Sirius

The Dog Days of Summer End with the Star's Return

The phrase “Dog Days" conjures up the hottest, most sultry days of summer. The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days or so beginning around July 3 and ending around August 11, coinciding with the heliacal rising of the Dog Star Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.

The Dog Days of Summer are so named after the Dog Star Sirius or Alpha Canis Major in the constellation of Canis Major. When Sirius aligns with the Sun in early July, it disappears from the sky and the hottest days of summer begin. Some ancient sources associated the Dog Days with a highly inflamed and lethargic public mood. In the 1813 Clavis Calendria, the Dog Days are desrcibed as a time wherein “the sea boiled, the wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became languid; causing to man, among other diseases, burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies [frenzies].” Greek and Roman astrologers connected these days with heat, storms, mad dogs, weariness, fever, and bad luck.

Please see my previous article about the annual opening of the Sirius Gateway that occurs every year in early July, which is a time when spiritual energy floods the Earth for those who are open to receive it.

When Sirius moves away from the Sun and reappears in the predawn sky in early-to-mid August, the Dog Days begin to come to a close in many locations. It's interesting to note that in 3000 BC, the heliacal rising of Sirius and the auspicious flooding of the Nile occurred near the summer solstice. This event also marked the Egyptian New Year. Today the heliacal rising occurs in mid-August, owing to precession of the equinoxes. The Nile still floods today, but the waters are contained in Lake Nasser behind the Aswan High Dam.

The date of the heliacal rising of Sirius changes depending on one's location. Where I am in New Mexico, the heliacal rise of Sirius occurred approximately on August 7. In New York City, it occurs around August 12; and in Seattle, around August 19.

If you can arise a while before sunrise and look eastward to find the brightly twinkling star Sirius near the horizon, you will know that the hot and sultry Dog Days of Summer are coming to a close and the beginning of late summer season is moving in.

Or, you can check the latitude for your locale on a map like Maps of World and reference the approximate date of Sirius’s heliacal rising for that latitude (thanks to Sky & Telescope's David Dickinson and Ed Kotapish for the data used in this table):

• 32° August 3

• 33° August 4

• 34° August 5

• 35° August 6

• 36° August 7

• 37° August 8

• 38° August 9

• 39° August 10

• 40° August 11

• 41° August 12

• 42° August 13

• 43° August 14

• 44° August 15

• 45° August 16

• 46° August 17

• 47° August 18

• 48° August 19

• 49° August 20

• 50° August 21

Preceding the rising of Sirius in the pre-dawn sky now is Orion the Hunter, who also just recently reappeared in various locations either in late July or early August. Sirius will follow Orion into the sky as the predawn darkness gives way to dawn, and their appearance signals a change in the seasons.

“In late July or early August, the mighty constellation Orion the Hunter returns to the east before dawn. As can be seen, the Hunter rises on his side, with his 3 prominent Belt stars pointing straight up.” https://earthsky.org/tonight/orion-heralds-return-of-sirius/

Sirius is the Sun behind our Sun, and as such has an impact on our spiritual being and earthly life. According to the late Theosophical teacher Alice Bailey in Esoteric Astrology, Sirius is the great star of initiation because our Hierarchy (an expression of the second aspect of divinity) is under the supervision or spiritual magnetic control of the Hierarchy of Sirius. These are the major controlling influences whereby the cosmic Christ works upon the Christ principle in the solar system, in the planet, in man and in the lower forms of life expression. It is esoterically called the ‘brilliant star of sensitivity’.

The Star, Goddess of Hope, by Emily Balivet, 2013 Acrylic on 11x14 canvas:

Sirius has been invisible to us during the Dog Days, and thus is said to have undergone a mysterious metamorphic journey in the underworld. Now that it reappears, we may start to see seeds of change planted for us during this time. In Ancient Egypt, Sirius was associated with the Goddess Sopdet (Sothis in Greek). She is the consort of Sah (Orion). Sopdet was worshiped at the heliacal rising of Sirius. Her themes revolve around cycles of time (and timekeeping), destiny, and fertility.

She who brings increase, spread your living waters over me, make my seeds sprout, my fortunes multiply, and my work prosper.” And so may it be for all beings everywhere!