The 7th Day of the 7th Month: The Day When the Heaven’s Gate Opens

Many Koreans believe that Heaven’s Gate opens on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar each year. On this day, we believe that our souls can connect with Heaven, allowing us to remember why we came to earth and discover the plans Heaven has in store for us for the coming year.

There is a famous folktale that every Korean knows—a love story between a princess from Heaven and a young man from Earth. This story has always stirred a deep longing in my heart, like a nostalgic yearning for my true home.

In this article, I will introduce you to this folktale and explain how you can align yourself with Heaven.

In 2024, the 7th Day of the 7th Month of the Lunar Calendar will be August 10th of the Solar Calendar.

The folktale goes like this…

(You can find many different versions of the story, but this is one of them.)

The seventh daughter of God in Heaven was a weaver. She longed to experience life on Earth, so she escaped from the celestial realm and, while exploring the earth, met a cow-herder. They quickly fell in love and married, keeping their union hidden from the God. However, the God eventually discovered that His daughter had neglected her duty to weave celestial fabrics and was living with a mere mortal on Earth. The cow-herder, too, had become lazy in his duties, spending most of his time with his wife. Angered, the God separated them and returned each to their original duties.

The cow-herder, heartbroken, cried desperately but was courageous enough to set out in search of his beloved wife. With the selfless help of an ox, he managed to reach the celestial realm, but God, fearing they would again neglect their duties, refused to let them reunite. To ensure their separation, the God scratched the night sky, creating a wide river to keep the lovers apart.

The weaver became Vega, the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra, while the cow-herder became Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila, the Eagle. The river separating them became the Milky Way, stretching across the night sky.

Once a Year…

Longing for each other, the weaver and the cow-herder cried every day, and their tears turned into raindrops, causing floods on Earth. Magpies and ravens, seeking refuge from the rising waters, moved to treetops, but the rain did not stop, and the floodwaters continued to rise. In a selfless act, all the magpies and ravens decided to create a bridge across the Milky Way so that the lovers could meet and their tears would cease.

Since then, on the 7th day of the 7th month every year, all the magpies and ravens in the world gather together and fly up to the celestial realm, forming a bridge that passes the Cygnus constellation.

The raindrops that fall on this day are now believed to be the tears of joy from the weaver and the cow-herder, who are destined to meet only once a year.

A Secret of the Story

I grew up hearing this story. At times, it made me sad; other times, it filled me with hope. Sometimes, it taught me about patience and responsibility, and other times, it stirred a deep sense of nostalgia within me—a nostalgia that made me feel like I was part of the legend.

As I delved deeper into Korean spirituality, I discovered a much deeper meaning in this story. There are reasons why our ancestors wanted us to remember it, why it has been told and retold for thousands of years.

Because it’s OUR OWN STORY.

A Spiritual Meaning of the 7th Day of the 7th Month

The number seven (7) symbolizes Celestial Yin Energy, while the number three (3) symbolizes Terrestrial Yang Energy. When 7 meets 3, it forms 10, which signifies completion. Just as 70% of the earth is covered by water, where Celestial Yin Energy is absorbed, and 30% by land, where Terrestrial Yang Energy is formed, these numbers also reflect the composition of the human body—70% water and 30% matter.

In the legend, the Weaver Lady represents the Celestial Yin Energy in the 7th dimension. She weaves the cosmic fabrics that form the foundation of the universe, embodying wisdom.

The Cow-herder represents the Terrestrial Yang Energy in the 3rd dimension. He herds cows, pioneers, and leads the creation of the material world with strength.

On the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, Celestial Yin Energy reaches its peak, opening the separation between dimensions and reaching down to the Terrestrial Yang Energy. On this day, Yin and Yang energies meet beyond the barriers of their respective dimensions.

Our ancestors wanted us to remember this connection.

How Does This Day Affect Our Life?

The myth serves as a metaphor. The two lovers don’t necessarily represent two different people; rather, they symbolize the higher self in the celestial realm and the lower self in the terrestrial realm.

Originally, they were one and inseparable, but now they are temporarily separated. The higher self and the lower self share the same frequency, allowing them to recognize each other no matter how far or how long they have been apart.

On the 7th day of the 7th month, as celestial energy reaches its peak, our higher self seeks to reconnect with the lower self. It wants to remind us that this 3rd-dimensional life is not our final destination and that we are here to complete our studies and fulfill our mission on Earth.

Just as we reflect on our earthly life at the end of the year and plan for the next, we reflect on our celestial purpose and align our plans for the coming year on the 7th day of the 7th month. The union with our higher self recharges our mind and spirit with celestial energy, encouraging us to move forward unwaveringly on our destined path.

Traditional Tao practitioners believed that their spiritual achievements over the past 12 months would be evaluated by the celestial realm, and they would be given new directives, opportunities, and courses for the next 12 months. If you are spiritually dedicated, you may receive new guidance from the celestial on this day.

How can we meet our higher self? Through meditation.

When Is The Best Time to Meditate?

During the first seven days of the seventh month, you may experience a significant energetic adjustment. This may manifest as changes in your sleep patterns, eating habits, or emotions. Certain memories may resurface unexpectedly, or you might feel drawn to try something new that you’ve never been interested in before. Don’t worry—these are part of the process of adjusting your energy system. You don’t need to resist; just be receptive.

The first seven days are an ideal time to meditate, with the night before the 7th being especially potent. On the evening of the 6th, before you go to bed, take time to meditate.

In 2024, the best time to meditate will be the evening of Friday, August 9th, in your time zone. On that night, you’ll find the exact half moon (waxing) in the sky.

How to Meditate

The most effective meditation involves emptying ourselves and remaining receptive. It’s easy to say but often challenging to do. Begin by fully relaxing your physical body, detaching from your emotions, and becoming aware of your entire existence. Allow yourself to receive multidimensional perceptions without judgment.

Then, invite your higher self to guide the meditation.

You can do this through intention or affirmation. For example, you might say, “I surround myself with Celestial Energy and ask my higher self to guide this meditation.” You can also ask, “What life lessons have I obtained over the last 12 months?” or “Guide me to find my mission for the next 12 months.”

I don’t recommend meditating for more than 45 minutes unless you have considerable experience. For most, 15 minutes will be sufficient.

If you’re not aware of what happened during the meditation, you can ask your higher self to help you recognize it consciously. Your higher self may then reveal insights to you through your dreams or synchronistic signs in your daily life.

I Send My Best Wishes to All of You

I hope you feel a true sense of home as you connect with your celestial self. May you strengthen the bond with your higher self and discover your higher path for the next 12 months’ journey.

Thank you and Happy Chilseok Day!!

(Chil 七 means Seven or Seventh, Seok 夕 means the Evening Moon. Chilseok 七夕 means the Seventh Evening Moon. )

Aloha, My name is Shawn S Lee. I’m a life coach, a meditation teacher, and a Jungbub student. Please feel free to read my blog. If you like to receive my newsletter -just about once a month-, leave your name and email.

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