Cancer – the New Paradigm for the World

Most people who make their way to this blog read “SCORPIO – the Sign of the Times” that I wrote in 2006.  We are currently in the process of exiting from this heightened Scorpio ‘hotspot’ that affects the world from 2005 until 2015, but with the upper half of the bell-curve located 2007 to 2011/12.  This Scorpio hotspot is currently being replaced by the sign Cancer, and Cancer will be the paradigm of note for the next five years (2012-17) but it has a wider bandwidth than the normal five years.  This Cancer period will be stronger than the effects of most five years quasi-micro age decans but it will not be a hotspot like the previous Scorpio quasi nano-age that resonated with the large Scorpio sub-age overflow (1970-2148)

For those new to this blog, a micro-age is approximately 15 years long and is one-twelfth of a sub-age (approx. 178 years).  Each age of approximately 2,150 years has twelve sub-ages.  These small micro-ages can be divided into three equal parts using traditional astrological techniques.  One third of a micro-age is a micro-age decan.  Associated with all ages and their sub-periods, including micro-ages, are quasi periods comprising the last half of the current period in question with the first half of the next period.  This explanation of a quasi-period in relation to the astrological ages can suffice at this point, and those readers wanting to delve into the subject can purchase my book “THE DAWNING – Shedding new Light on the Astrological Ages”.

If each sign has three decans, one of which is the same as the parent sign, then sometimes the parent sign and sub-period will be the same.  This is the case with the current Cancer quasi-micro age decan.   The Cancer quasi-age decan (2012-17) is derived from the Cancer micro-age decan (2010-15) and is the last decan of the Cancer micro-age (2000-15).  Due to the overflow effect, as the influence of all periods rolls over the following period similar to a wave, the full extent of Cancer is the Cancer micro-age and overflow (2000 – 2015 – 2029).  We can easily verify the arrival of this 29 year period – in 2001, the 9/11 attack upon the USA brought to the forefront of world affairs the situation in the Muslim world.  The key zodiacal sign associated with Islam is Cancer.  This Cancer period has increased the status of Islam in the world for better or worse.  In response to this attack, the USA and its close allies attacked Afghanistan and then perversely attacked Iraq – two nations in the Muslim heartlands.  The Afghanistan war has now become the longest war of all times for the USA.  The other key region in the world that has strong Cancer associations is China. Though we cannot pinpoint China’s ascent to world stardom to the exact year 2000, it has certainly exhibited its daunting lurch forward in economic development over the last ten years.

The arrival of Cancer is noticeable, but the whole period under the rulership of Cancer is not homogeneous – it is more like a giant bell-curve.  In 2007  is the beginning of the Cancer quasi-micro-age (covering the period 2007 to 2022) indicating this central area of heightened Cancer activity.  Again we can clearly see the arrival of this increased Cancer influence with the GFC that commenced with the sub-prime crisis of 2007.  In 2007 it became obvious to traders that a huge swath of derivatives based on real estate mortgages were worth far less than their market value. Homes and consequently real estate is a strong Cancer archetype.  The collapse of this sub-prime market led to the collapse of a number of banks and resulted in the GFC which was basically aligned to the Scorpio quasi-micro age decan (2001-12) that comprises one of the decans of Cancer.

Not only did the rising intensity of Cancer precipitate the sub-prime mortgage crisis, it increased the temperature in the Muslim world, and by 2011 a number of governments of Islamic nations fell to protestors or commenced civil wars or periods of ongoing dissent. The temperature increased in 2012 with the arrival of the five year Cancer quasi-age decan (2012-17) – the upper echelon for Cancer in its assigned 29 year period.  We can expect further unsettled conditions in the Middle East and we can expect China to soon peak – which does not insinuate it is ready to ‘fall’ – this is merely the dreams of American Republicans nostalgic about America being the only superpower of note in the world.

Cancer is not limited to Islam and China.  Cancer, the ruler of homes, always witnesses mass migrations of people looking for a new home and whom we sometimes call refugees – but governments and right-wing politicians and their supporters generally prefer the term illegal immigrants.  This practice by human beings over the last tens of thousands of years (hundreds of thousands of years?) to move to locations where conditions are better has now been made basically illegal.  In response to mass migrations, governments often resort to another archetype associated with Cancer and build a defensive wall (in medieval times a fortress with moat).  The USA is constructing and upgrading its border with Mexico as is Israel building massive concrete walls against Palestinians.  Under Cancer we can expect the number of refugees and ‘illegal immigrants’ to increase exponentially, and extreme approaches to ‘defend our borders’ – perhaps we should buy shares in company’s specializing in fortifications?

Another aspect of Cancer is that it is opposite the sign of Capricorn.  Capricorn represents the status of leaders and those with rank, especially with a conservative approach, plus it also rules the long-term view and long-term plans.  Both these are under threat under the current Cancer period.  The leaders of countries are falling, either democratically voted out by their citizens incensed at their handling of the GFC or falling to insurrection such as we have already witnessed in the Middle East.  In place of Capricorn long-term policy and wise decisions the world will be ruled by changeable public opinion for a number of years, as the public is ruled by Cancer.  I thought the Cancer world today was a threat to the re-election of President Obama as public opinion can swing wildly under Cancer, but in the end he was probably saved by opposing Republicans in the Capricorn camp.  Conservative leaders are on the nose to the general public and I don’t think the general public took kindly to Romney stating that the Democratic 47% of the populace were parasites on the system.

Unfortunately this lack of Capricorn long term view has derailed the international effort to curtail climate change.  At a time when leadership is required, the major carbon producing nations have their heads in the sand and are bickering about their relative carbon emissions.

Countries with Capricorn predominantly in their respective astrological signatures can expect additional turmoil.  Two countries that are unambiguously in this camp are the USA and India.  The USA was first settled by Europeans under the highpoint of the Capricorn sub-age and overflow (1433 – 1612 – 1791) – the first sub-age in the Age of Aquarius.  The USA’s conservative credentials are strong relative to the other First World nations basically due to a large fundamentalist Christian faction derived from the austere and conservative Puritans and religious folk who fled from Europe to escape religious persecution.  The first Cancer micro-age the colonists encountered was from 1687 to 1702 with its overflow period extending to 1716.  For example in 1688 the first group to denounce slavery occurred in Pennsylvania precipitating the split in American values leading ultimately to the much later American Civil War.  Another similar public statement was made by a Boston judge in 1698. In 1689 two insurrections occurred, one in Boston and the other in New York based on divided loyalties between Jacobites and supporters of the new English king, William of Orange. In 1692 twenty `witches’ were executed in Salem. In 1699 a yellow fever epidemic killed many people.

The next Cancer micro-age and overflow was (1836-1851-1866) which naturally includes the American Civil War (1861 – 65) at the end of the Cancer micro-age overflow period (1851-1866).  If this war was replicated in the current Cancer micro-age and overflow, it would occur from 2023 to 2028.  While I am not suggesting that there will be another American Civil War in the current elongated Cancer period, it does suggest that the USA will pass through a very stressful time in the next two decades.  It turns out that the American Civil war coincided with a Gemini micro-age decan (1861 – 1866).  It is therefore possible that the American psyche has aligned itself strongly to the Sagittarius sub-age and overflow (1612-1791-1970) and therefore any Gemini period may be difficult as Gemini is opposite to Sagittarius.  The Gemini micro-age (2015-29) is not just another Gemini period.  The year 2029 marks the end of the Gemini sub-age decan (1970 – 2029) and the beginning of the powerful Gemini sub-age decan overflow (2029-2089) with 2029 the very highpoint of Gemini.  So while I don’t expect another American Civil War, I do expect great tensions and stresses in the American psyche at this juncture.  This will possibly be the culmination of the stress fracture between progressives versus the fundamentalists and conservatives that appeared in the 1970s with the arrival of the Gemini sub-age decan.  Alternatively it could be a major opposition with China or the Muslim world.

India is showing no signs to date of succumbing to the Cancer micro-age and overflow.  Any strategic change may relate to its Capricorn cast system that remains a strongly entrenched social practise even if illegal.  Greater India includes Pakistan and so they may use their nuclear arsenals against each other, but unless this occurs by 2015, it is more likely to be a conventional disagreement.

There is a lot more to Cancer than refugees, American dissent, fall of leaders, lack of long term planning, China, India and Muslim countries.  My research on historical events over the last two centuries indicates a number of developments that congregate around the sign Cancer.  These include everything to do with ships, canals, food (including eating disorders such as bulimia, binge eating and food intolerance), mental health, Mexico, the Moon, mines, New Zealand, photography, protectionism, Russia, Scandinavia, temperance, water (including tsunamis and floods), women and the Working Class. I am not suggesting that this list is exhaustive as I expect great developments towards curing the disease cancer during the current Cancer period, which is already happening.

More blogs on these subjects associated with the sign Cancer is planned!

SCORPIO – the Sign of the Times …. Revisited Part 2 – Nuclear Issues

In my 2006 article:  SCORPIO – the Sign of the Times  published in the Astrological Monthly Review (Vol. 68, No. 11, November 2006, pgs 27-31) I stated:

“The world has arrived at another hotspot which stretches from 2005 to 2015 but the most potent time is between 2010 and 2015.  Already some early indicators of Scorpio’s increased presence is making itself felt.  One of the most noticeable aspects is a new concerted push to expand nuclear energy production.  Australia, the major supplier of uranium in the world, is moving towards increasing the number of mines and production and possibly even introducing nuclear reactors into Australia.  Other nuclear developments are North Korea’s claim in 2005 that it had developed a nuclear bomb and the belief in 2006 that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon.  If the last Scorpio hot spot is any guide, some nuclear calamity due to aggression or accident may be around the corner, especially between 2010 and 2015.”

The key nuclear issue (to date) associated with the current Scorpio hotspot is the Japanese disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant following the tsunami in March 2011.  Until this accident, the current Scorpio hotspot had seen a sharp revival of interest in building more nuclear reactors around the world to a level not seen for decades (since the previous Scorpio hotspot).  Currently 60 nuclear plants are under construction – with the majority in Asia and many existing plants are being upgraded.  The plants in operation in 2009 provided 15% of the world’s electricity. 155 nuclear reactors are in the planning stage with another 320 proposed.[1]  As one adverse aspect of this new push towards nuclear energy, the German government suffered some serious political humiliation early in 2011, after the Japanese tsunami, due to its strong promotion of nuclear power prior to the Japanese accident. Japan naturally has put on hold plans to expand its nuclear energy. In my 2006 article I stated that the current Scorpio hotspot would see

“…. a new concerted push to expand nuclear energy production”.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster may not be the only “accident” in this period.  Apart from some other similar nuclear accident, there is also the possibility of a dirty bomb or increased threats to use nuclear weapons by rogue states.  We are not out of the woods yet.  With the increased fervour to build many more nuclear reactors, there will be the increased chance in the future that further accidents will occur for the same reason that no matter how safe new jet passenger airlines are constructed, some will still crash!  One key time for future nuclear accidents will be the next Scorpio hotspot due in 2059 to 2069 with the most potent time 2064 to 2067.

Of course, the desire to produce electricity by nuclear power is driven by the needs of an energy hungry world trying to cut its addiction to carbon-based power stations and their attendant pollution.  The real solution, supported by the sign, Scorpio – the sign of our times, is that the world’s population needs to drastically decrease, people need to consume far less and there should be a greater reliance upon sustainable power sources. The vested commercial interests, generally represented by the conservative political parties and therefore supported by an enormous number of the general public around the world, believe that the sustainable approach to ecology will have a disastrous effects upon the capitalistic world economy.

The sustainable ecological approach will be fiercely resisted until people are dropping due to the adverse effects of pollution.  And even at this point there is no guarantee that the moneyed class and supporting political apparatus will effectively respond when people start dying from pollution.  China is giving us a preview of this now.  By 2009, it was estimated that air and water pollution was prematurely killing 2 million people a year in the world, with at least 656,000 of these in China and over 500,000 in India.[2]  In 2007 China suppressed the release of a report on this problem for fear on inciting social unrest.[3]  This is the coming reality for much of the world. It reminds me of some graffiti I use to observe in Sydney in the last Scorpio hotspot (1960s-70s)

“mutate now, avoid the rush”.

The strong Scorpio flavour at our part in the Aquarian age suggest that the world will continue on down its current path until it goes past the point of no return, and then try and rectify the situation when most of the calamity has occurred or the damage is mainly irreversible.  This dire forecast however is offset by another astrological reality that will commence to unfold in the world at an increased level from around 2029 onwards.  From 2029 onwards, the astrological energy shifts to ‘anti-expansion’ due to a Gemini sub-age decan overflow (2029 – 2089).

Therefore there will be two opposing forces in the world for most of the 21^st century.  On the one-hand, the expansionary overflow from the Sagittarius sub-age decan and overflow (1612–1791–1970), that is linked to the Industrial Revolution and world-wide population explosion, will meet its opposite sign, Gemini at its peak power from 2029 onwards. In association with the frugal and contracting archetypal nature of the Scorpio sub-age overflow (1970-2148), the world should see the brakes consistently applied beginning 2029. The tensions between these expansionary and contracting archetypal energies will define most of the rest of this century.  There are early precursors to this evolving situation now (see When Will the World Slow Down? )

One of the reasons why the world is so ineffective in taking a stance against the coming peril of climate change due to extreme pollution is that the first third of the Aquarian age is ruled by the Libran age-decan (1433 – 2148), with Libra building in tempo as it approaches its highpoint in 2148 whereupon it should reign triumphant.  Libra promotes ease and comfort – including all the modern labour-saving conveniences that are available since the Industrial Revolution.  Libra is also anti-war but lacks will and decisiveness.  So it is easier to feed the world cheap consumer goods (often from the heavily polluted factories) rather than promote frugality, anti-consumption and sustainability.  This wishy washy approach to climate change will seriously “bite” the world in the coming decades.

So while the world remains in the current Scorpio hotspot until 2015, and especially strong until 2012, we must expect the strong possibility that either another nuclear incident will occur, or that the medium-term effect of the Fukushima nuclear plant incident will reverberate around the world truncating the rising demand for nuclear power.  This may be wishful thinking as commercial interests do not like being blocked from securing future profits.

This part 2 blog on revisiting Scorpio, the Sign of the Times, is part of a series that will update that 2006 published article with a strong focus upon the prime concepts associated with Scorpio:

• Revolution and general instability
• tyrants with their cruelty
• terrorists
• spiritual regeneration
• death, assassinations and murder
• waste products from any process, which naturally includes sewage and pollution
• atomic energy and bombs
• almost everything associated with sex
• taxes and debt (including credit cards)
• underground criminal organisations
• spy networks
• minimalism

In Part 1 of this series I concentrated upon tyrants and revolution.  When I commenced writing this series I was aware that ‘assassination and death’ (included in the list of above Scorpio archetypes) seemed under represented.  However the recent assassination of Osama bin Laden by American forces in Pakistan has corrected this situation. This event has multiple Scorpio archetypes attached to it – terrorism, revolutionary leader, assassination, spy networks (CIA and the Pakistan intelligence service) and finally an undercover operation resulting in bin Laden’s death.  Assassinations and death will be explored later in this series.  The next blog in this series will be part 3 on the Scorpio activities of taxes and debt – which has also recently risen significantly in stature as the US faces its many trillions of burgeoning debt.

Continue: SCORPIO – the Sign of the Times …. Revisited Part 3 – Taxes & Debt

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[1] “Plans For New Reactors Worldwide”, http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf17.html, downloaded 22 April 2010

[2] Kevin Holden Platt in Beijing, China, “Chinese Air Pollution Deadliest in World, Report Says”, for National Geographic News, July 9, 2007, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070709-china-pollution.html, downloaded 22 April 2010

[3] Clifford Coonan in Beijing , “China ‘suppressed report on pollution deaths’”, 4 July 2007, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-suppressed-report-on-pollution-deaths-455834.html, downloaded 22 April 2010

How will we be judged?

….. or to be more precise, how will our contemporary modern world be judged in one thousand years time?

I was inspired to write this blog after partially watching an interesting TV documentary Life After People.[1] This documentary explores the fictional notion that somehow all of humanity suddenly disappears, leaving the world intact as it is today but minus human beings.  Without humans, everything begins to decay.  Termites begin chewing through the wooden structures, iron rusts and vegetation takes over. Even concrete ‘dissolves’ as modern concrete is not as sturdy as the ancient concrete employed by the ancient Romans (and modern concrete produces far more pollution than Roman concrete).  In about 1,000 year’s time, there is virtually nothing left – except for ancient monoliths such as the Egyptian pyramids.

This documentary contrasted ancient monuments and modern construction techniques.  Modern construction materials are not orientated for longevity. Without constant rebuilding or intense maintenance, most of our constructed modern world will quickly deteriorate.  In stark contrast, the pyramids have lasted over 4,000 years, and many of ancient Rome’s impressive building remain available for tourists to visit. These remnant Egyptian monuments are likely to last for many more thousands of years.

The contrast between ancient Egypt and the modern world has an underlying astrological connection.  Ancient Rome was the empire of the Taurus age.[2]  The modern world currently is the product of the Scorpio sub-age and overflow[3] (of the Aquarian age). Taurus and Scorpio are opposite signs!  Therefore what is strong in a Taurean period is weak in a Scorpio period (and vice versa).  When we think of ancient Egypt we think of grand pyramids, the Sphinx and massive rock facades on valley walls – plus the aroma of incense, essential oils and freshly baked bread ….. and other sensual delights.  Ancient Egypt was Taurus made manifest.  There will be no other time in the world where Taurus will be as strong, as when ancient Egypt thrived, for round about another 19,000 years.  So despite the modern technological revolution, it is unlikely any society over the next 19,000 will produce a society that leaves so many archaeological epitaphs for many thousands of years compared to ancient Egypt.  Egypt has set the benchmark for a long time!

We automatically conclude that our modern world is superior to what came before.  However the astrology of the ages indicates otherwise.  For example, why hasn’t the contemporary modern world with vastly greater population produced a better poet than Shakespeare?  Why aren’t modern classical composers superior in quality and quantity compared to the classical musicians from a couple of centuries ago?  The answer is very simple.  At various times over the course of the Great Year (some 26,000 years long), there are twelve astrological ages, and these ages indicate a peak of archetypal energy associated with the zodiacal sign of the astrological age.  For example the Aries age and overflow (2916 BC – 1433 AD) indicates a peak time for war and violence.  Despite the fact nothing in the past is of the magnitude of the two world wars of the 20^th century,[4] the person who conquered more of the Eurasian land mass than anyone prior or later is Genghis Khan (c.1162–1227 AD).  This occurred under the influence of Aries and is unlikely to be repeated until around another 23,000 years when the world enters the next Aries age.  The sub-ages of ages also demonstrate this same trait. 

The modern world is a passing experience – and it does not mean that the modern world is superior to all of what came before.  From the perspective of the Scorpio age and overflow (1791 – 2148 AD) within the Aquarian age, that has produced much of what we recognize as the contemporary modern world, certain developments that are archetypally associated with Scorpio will set benchmarks that should withstand the next 2,000 years.[5]  What are these Scorpio benchmarks?  These include the internet, genetic engineering and all its spin-offs including GM foods, the sexual revolution, abortion, nuclear power and weapons, national and personal debt, loans, credit cards, tyrants (Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot etc), pollution, recycling, revolutions, underground criminal networks (e.g. the Mafia, Triad etc) and unseen forces such as insecurity and spiritual regeneration  – to name a few. The appearance of these Scorpio archetypes will withstand the winds of change for quiet some time. 

It is possible to predict the next peak of human activity based on the slow movement of the ages.  Of the twelve sub-ages (approx 179 years each) that exist within each astrological age, sub-ages can be broken down into three sub-age decans (of approximately 60 years each).  The Gemini sub-age decan and overflow (1970 – 2074 with its peak period 2029 – 2074) will witness the greatest manifestation of Gemini since 1073 AD (around 1,000 years ago).  What can we expect from Gemini – especially in the period around 2029 to 2074?  Firstly the continuation of the communications revolution due to cell phones (mobile phones), emails and the internet. Other areas strongly associated with Gemini include: the massive growth of education around the world[6] – especially pre-university education; the automobile revolution utilizing clean energy; a new futuristic road network; environmentally sustainable transportation; a revitalization of cities; and the minimalization of language due to texting; plus the greatest novelist(s) of the last 1,000 years. Amazon’s Kindle and Apples iPad are ongoing example of new direction in (Gemini) literature. On the negative side the world may be prone to major wind storms, deteriorating air quality and massive increase in lung diseases due to pollution.  Gemini currently remains in its formative period (1970 – 2029), and all the Gemini archetypes referred to will be at their most powerful in the period 2029 – 2074.

Though we can expect amazing novelists to spring out of the peak of the current Gemini influence around 2029, the influence of the larger and current Scorpio sub-age is much greater.  How will people in the future judge our modern world?  On the negative side they will see the modern period as the greatest example of rapine of the Earth where much of the oil and gas laid down over many millions of years and many other limited natural resources are extracted from the ground and used injudiciously with scant regard for future generations.  We are behaving like pigs at the trough.  We will be earmarked as that strange period when atomic energy and bombs were developed and utilized for good and bad – provided we have not blown the world to smithereens or totally polluted it with nuclear waste so that it is inhospitable to humanity.

On the plus side, we will be seen as that time in history when the world revolted, and dismissed its hereditary kings, monarchs and aristocracy.  The internet will be seen as a gift.  The Sexual Revolution will also be noticeable in one thousand years time when humanity commenced to be liberated from archaic sexual roles and gender inequality. We will be remembered for our spiritual and religious reinvigoration as displayed by the arrival of born again Christians, the growth of fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam plus the increased spiritualism associated with new sects and groups that have proliferated since the 1970s and the natural spirituality of the New Age movement.

Though it has not occurred yet, we will probably be well remembered for the grassroots revolution against rampant and ecologically unsustainable consumerism (this grass roots revolution is unlikely to see its culmination prior to the middle of the next century).  We will be seen as that strange time before the coming ecological golden age (2148 – 2863).[7]  Our modern world is actually the gear-change time where the 10,000 years momentum of unplanned and ad hoc development of the world collides with its ecological consequences.  This is part two of a mighty revolution that is underway.  Part one was the revolution that dethroned the kings – part two is the environmental revolution that we are only seeing the beginning.

Unfortunately we will most likely be remembered badly – because compared to what is to follow, we don’t look good.  The mini-golden age due around the middle of next century and lasting for around seven centuries indicates a world of balance, equality, ecological awareness and most likely a much smaller world population compared to today’s world.  Scorpio is the sign of pruning – how much of the world’s population will be pruned over the next 150 years or so?  From the current figure of 7 billion people, at least half may be pruned.  This is already occurring.  Most first world nations now have a negative population growth, with many second tier nations also falling in line.  Research indicates that the more educated and economically prosperous a region – the lower the birth rate.

The astrology of the ages supports the realization by many that the world is on a collision course with environmental degradation due to pollution.  How far will we go before something decisive and effective is done about the deplorable ecological situation?  The influence of the Scorpio sub-age strongly insinuates that the world will go past the point of no-return before anything effective is done – with some severe long-term consequences for this lack of timely and direct counter measures. Despite the appearance of a possible golden age next century associated with the Libra decan of the Aquarian age, Libra produces indecisiveness – as no zodiacal sign has only positive qualities associated with it.  So while the steady increase in Libra that has been occurring in the world has produced greater environmental awareness by a significant amount of the population, the amount of indecisiveness and the degree of luxury people want to experience (and damn the consequences) is also on the increase.  The perceived failure of the Copenhagen Accord in late 2009 on climate change to really tackle the issue head-on is an example of this indecisiveness.

We must put the present parlous circumstance of the world in context.  What period since the arrival of civilization has been viewed as a golden age?  The earliest and only recorded possible contender for a golden age is in the Gemini age many thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) when farmers first settled down into villages but no form of government existed.  It appears that political and social decisions were made through consultation and the family elders.  This golden age occurred at the cusp of hunter-gathers and the new farmers before all the developed attributes of civilization had evolved (i.e. laws, regulations, leaders, armies, police, religions etc).  Civilization brings great benefits and great problems.  Are the benefits greater than the problems?  On average perhaps not, but the next 150 years may be the exception to the rule where problems of civilization are far greater than the benefits.

I fear that in one thousand years time we will be judged badly but with two qualifications.  Firstly I am assuming that civilized society exists in 1,000 years time – which cannot be assumed.  Secondly I am assuming that people in 1,000 years time will be judgmental – like they are today, and seem to have been for many thousands of years.  Perhaps people in a thousand years will be more evolved and will follow the maxim “judge not and you will not be judged”?

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[1] see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_After_People and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtHICMmDJk

[2] Specifically the Taurus age overflow (2916 – 732 BC)

[3] the Scorpio sub-age and overflow (1791 – 2148) – the third sub-age of the Age of Aquarius (see Is the Aquarian Age Like a Block of Granite?). Basically each astrological age has 12 sub-ages.  The most influential sign currently in the Aquarian age is Scorpio.

[4] To be statistically correct, the many millions of deaths associated with the two world wars of the 20^th century need to be put in context of the world population at the time.

[5] In around 2,000 years time in the next age, the Capricorn age, there will also be a Scorpio sub-age.  The current Scorpio sub-age is the most powerful example of Scorpio until that time and therefore provides us with a 2,000 years Scorpio benchmark.

[6] India has just announced (in 2010) a massive plan to educate its vast millions of uneducated children over the coming decades.

[7] The ecological golden age is associated with the Libran age-decan of the Aquarian age.  Each age has three age-decans.

A Celebration 7,000 Years in the Making

We have anniversaries, biennial events, diamond jubilees, centenaries, bi-centenaries and even millenarianism but rarely do celebrations arrive around every 7,000 years!  Between December 2014 and 2029, a very special event takes place that has not occurred since 5122 BC.  The world in 5122 BC was a very different place.  The population of the world was about 25 million people in 3000 BC, and so perhaps 10 to 15 million people were alive in 5122 BC – about the size of present day Los Angeles.  Nevertheless, great things were stirring in the world as this period marked the first widespread settling down of humans, farming and domestication of animals.

Until 5122 BC the world was the closest in temperament to the society still being shaped by mankind in today’s Aquarian age in the 21^st century.  5122 BC marks the end of the Gemini age.  The Gemini age and Aquarian age are both Air signs.  The Aquarian age that arrived in 1433 AD is the first age of the same Air element since the Gemini age (7351 – 5122 BC).  Obviously, the world’s inhabitants in 5122 BC were not concerned about broadband, computers, the price of fossil fuel, pollution or over-crowding, but their heads were in an intellectually creative mode – something common with Air signs.

While these ancients may not have been making technological discoveries of the modern world, they were making farming and agricultural discoveries that allowed them to produce more food than they required – spurning on population growth and spreading their new agricultural technology far and wide.  The Gemini age also saw the first large villages or hamlets and the introduction of many discoveries around the world including the relatively simultaneous cultivation of newly domesticated crops in most continents of the world.  Pottery became widespread, primitive canoes were built, irrigation trenches first appeared and the white-skinned race continued to evolve as they turned to milk and

Old Sumerian goddess (possibly Lilith)

trekked further north where the sun shines weakly.  Gavin White believes that in this distant ancient period, people in Mesopotamia were investigating the night sky and commenced creating key constellations, including some of the zodiacal constellations [Ref: Babylonian Star-Lore, Solaria Publications, London, 2007, pp, 256, 259, 263]

The world in the Gemini age was on the move.  Probably more discoveries and inventions occurred in the Gemini age than in the previous 50,000 years.  While life was much slower and far less intense in the Gemini age compared to the current Aquarian age – similar intellectual inventiveness was evident.

The relationship between the Gemini age and Aquarian age deepens when the full context of each age is taken into account.  In reality, it was the Cancer-Gemini age and today we are in the Pisces-Aquarian age (see Is the Aquarian Age Like a Block of Granite?).  Cancer and Pisces are Water signs and Gemini and Aquarius are Air signs.  There are four elements associated with the 12 zodiacal signs – Water, Air, Fire and Water.  Each of these elements has specific characteristics.  Fire and Earth signs promote conservatism, patriotism and the status quo.  Water and Air signs promote change, evolution and instability.  The more Water and Air signs the more change and instability.  The more Fire and Earth signs the more conservatism.  When Reagan was president of the USA, and

Reagan & Thatcher

Thatcher prime minister of the UK the world was experiencing a mainly Earth and Fire micro-age influences and even here we can see the rise of conservatism on the small scale following the heady 60s when the progressive Water element was dominant.

The current Pisces-Aquarian age being Water and Air promotes evolution, change and instability.  Within the current Pisces-Aquarian age are 12 sub-ages.  Currently, the world is in the Scorpio-Libra sub-age (1970-2148).  Scorpio is a Water sign and Libra is an Air sign – the same combination as Pisces and Aquarius.  This is the first time in the Pisces-Aquarian age that we are in a Water-Air sub-age.  This is the first time in over 7,000 years that both the ages and sub-ages are all in Water and Air territory.  The plot deepens.  Each sub-age also has 12 micro-ages.  In December 2014 (plus or minus a month or two) the world enters a little 15 years Cancer-Gemini micro-age with Cancer a Water sign and Gemini an air sign – the same combination of Air and Water again!

Therefore from around December 2014, for the first time in over 7,000 years the world will be passing through an age, sub-age and micro-age that all aligned with Water and Air – with no Fire or Earth in sight.  This occurrence will occur nine times in the Pisces-Aquarian age, with the first three occurring between 2014 and 2148.  This period will, therefore, see the extreme of change, evolution and instability.  Over the last 7,000 years, the world descended into the opposite of what we are now facing.  In the Taurus-Aries age (2916 – 732 BC) the world experienced nine times when Earth and Fire elements ruled supreme without any Water and Air signs in sight.  The world was turning to the bedrock of conservatism, war and nationalism, during that time and the construction of ‘advanced’ societies and massive structures such as pyramids,  and palaces.

Early societies were mainly democratic orientated often involving elders in a tribe. The Taurus-Aries age coincided with the firm arrival of an entrenched aristocracy, pharaohs, kings and other forms of totalitarian governments who by and large were hell-bent on waging war with each other.  The world is like a pendulum that swings from conservative totalitarianism to ‘democratic’ liberalism. After 7,000 long years, the world is returning to progressiveness, liberal change but instability.  Those revolutionary and heady days of the 1960s and early 70s have nothing on what is coming – at best the 1960s and 70s is a preview of what is to come.

The conservative backlash (mainly in the USA and Islamic fundamentalists) following the 1960s and 70s was due to a small digression back into the conservative Virgo and Leo micro-ages – Earth and Fire micro-ages respectively. The stepping stones to the first all Air and Water period commenced with little fanfare in 2000 with the arrival of the Leo-Cancer micro-age (Fire and Water), but changed gear in 2007 (one year before the election of the first black president of the USA) when the Water element in the Fire and Water  Leo-Cancer micro-age (2000 – 2014) became stronger.  The world will finally move into all Water and Air territory around December 2014 for the first time in over 7,000 years.

What can be expected in the period 2014 to 2029 – the first of nine such periods in the Pisces-Aquarian age?  Unfortunately, the extent of what we can expect is hard to determine because historical records going back 7,000 are insufficient to provide us with clear antecedents.  Alternatively, we can examine some of the previous two hundred years or so and look for periods where they are closest to the ideal scenario of all periods elements being Air and Water.  In the Sagittarius-Scorpio sub-age (1791 – 1970) only Sagittarius was Fire, all other signs were Air and Water, so those micro-ages within the Sagittarius-Scorpio sub-age that were also exclusively Air and Water may provide us with a guide.  The particular periods include the Cancer-Gemini micro-age (1851-66) and the Pisces-Aquarius micro-age (1910-25).

Both these periods witnessed many instabilities including in the Cancer-Gemini micro-age (1851-66) the American Civil War, The Crimean War and the Taiping Rebellion with an estimated death toll of between 20 and 30 million alone.  Wikipedia states that

“The 1860s were an extremely turbulent decade in the world, with numerous cultural, social, and political upheavals in Europe and America.”

In the Pisces-Aquarius micro-age (1910-25) saw the end of European millenarianism and conservative influences with the arrival of the 1^st World War.  This triggered the abdication of various conservative monarchies and the fall of the last world empires (German, Ottoman and Austria-Hungary).  The arrival of the communists in full force with the Russian Revolution in 1917 introduced radical new concepts of how societies could operate.  The USA attempted to outlaw alcohol with prohibition. The Irish commenced throwing off their British overlords leading to the Irish Rebellion.  Fascists took advantage of political instability.

The instability in these periods was extensive, but so was the progressiveness.  Probably the most important breakthrough in the Cancer-Gemini micro-age (1851-66) was Charles Darwin’s publication of The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution by natural selection in 1859.  On a minor note, Paris became the fashion capital of the world.  In the following period, the Pisces-Aquarius micro-age (1910-25) Einstein did to physics what Darwin did to biology, and produced his revolutionary theory of general relativity while Alfred Wegener suggests that the continents drift and collide with each other.  Culturally radio, movies and jazz became popular and Pablo Picasso became the leading 20th-century painter, first with Cubism than moving on to Surrealism.  The 1920s introduced the Roaring Twenties or Jazz Age.

As a guide to the Cancer-Gemini micro-age (2014 – 29), we can expect great instability, but also progress – one way or another.  Though doom and gloom pundits may predict a 3^rd World War I don’t think this is a possibility as astrologically the world is turning away from war.  There is a bigger problem facing humanity than war – climate change.  However, even climate change can precipitate division.  One way or another the USA fractures in Gemini-Cancer micro-ages so some serious division, conflict or discord will occur in the USA.  Possibly this will occur due to a perception by conservative elements in the USA that they are losing control.  Mass dislocation of people and massive legal and illegal immigration is sure to be a factor in the world.

Climate change requires great adaptation by societies if it is to be successfully tackled, and this period does to a certain extent promote such change – more so from the general population than leaders.   If the last two Water and Air micro-ages produced Darwin’s evolution and Einstein’s relativity – some very significant breakthrough may occur in 2014 – 2129, perhaps the understanding of dark matter and dark energy that supposedly constitutes around 90% of the universe? Other alternatives include breakthroughs in nano-technology, AIDS immunization, a new and superior internet, longevity, DNA in medical technology, a cure for many cancers or even a replacement for fossil fuels.

It would be nice to say that in a Water-Air period that is soon to arrive in late 2014 that positive elements will succeed at the expense of negative elements but this should not be expected. In the 1960s and early 70s, though revolution was in the air for youth, many countries witnessed military coups and dictatorial governments.  Water-Air periods while producing advances both technological and societal, also produce instability which can be taken advantage of by the unscrupulous – particularly the military.  The desire by many people to be free will rise, and some existing totalitarian governments are sure to falter, but others will tend to extract revenge upon many of their citizens – such is the ugly nature of politics.  While public opinion and sentiment are sure to rise, leadership may be wanting in the years 2014-29.  Some key political leaders may actually suffer mental illness and behave like a modern-day Nero or Caligula.  Hopefully, they will not have their finger on the button!

The period 2014 – 29 is a celebration of over 7,000 years in the making – but what kind of a celebration will it be?  Will it be more like a party or a wake?  It is bound to have elements of both, but at the bottom line and despite whatever conflicts and turmoil occur, some very interesting, evolutionary and progressive developments are sure to claim our attention, awe and wonder like we collectively have not experienced for over 7,000 years.

Copyright Terry MacKinnell 2009

Illustrations (added later)

• Famous relief from the Old Babylonian period (now in the British museum) called the “Burney relief” or “Queen of the Night relief”. The depicted figure could be an aspect of the goddess Ishtar, Mesopotamian goddess of sexual love and war. However, her bird-feet and accompanying owls have suggested to some a connection with Lilitu (called Lilith in the Bible), though seemingly not the usual demonic Lilitu. By Manuel Parada López de Corselas User:Manuel de Corselas ARS SUMMUM, Centro para el Estudio y Difusión Libres de la Historia del Arte – Own work, Public Domain
• “FLASHBACK: Ronald Reagan Celebrates Royal Baby” by DEVIN DWYER WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013, abs NEWS, http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/royal-baby-flashback-ronald-reagan-margaret-thatcher-celebrate/story?id=19739217

 

Further resources from Terry MacKinnell

www.macro-astrology.com – details of purchasing the book available

Demystifying the Aquarian Age – General introduction to the astrological ages

At the Cutting Edge of the Aquarian Age – Cutting edge research into the astrological ages for astrologers

FaceBook – keep up to date with what is happening

Water Woes Will Replace Global Warming

The astrology of the Aquarian age strongly supports the reality of progressive adverse effects upon Earth from climate change at this section of the age.  However while the scientists claim the major problem is global warming, the astrology of the Aquarian age does not agree.  The astrology of the Aquarian age indicates that as the earth’s atmosphere is contaminated and polluted at an alarming rate over the foreseeable future, different symptoms will be expressed.  Global warming is just the first of many symptoms.

At present, the world is in the Aquarian age (c.1433 – 3574), but each age has 12 sub-ages of approximately 178 years each, and each of the 12 sub-ages has 12 micro-ages of approximately 15 years each.  The world is currently in transition from the Leo micro-age to Cancer micro-age.  Global warming arrived first as a contentious idea then as a more certifiable scientific fact under the influence of Leo.  This conforms to the fact that the sign Leo is ruled by the hot sun and is a Fire sign (along with Aries and Sagittarius) so it makes sense that in a Leo period, concerns and symptoms of global warming are paramount.  In this transition time as Leo wanes and Cancer waxes, the importance of global warming will also wane while the water woes in the world will grow.

Cancer is a Water sign (along with Scorpio and Pisces).  Cancer rules homes and real estate.  The current global financial crisis was precipitated by the sub-prime real estate fiasco where countless bonds based on almost worthless real estate lost most or all of their value sending banks, finance and insurance companies to the brink of collapse if not for government bailouts.  Cancer rules more than homes and real estate – many issues related to water are also ruled by Cancer.  Other key water items associated with Cancer are water supply, dams, canals, and riparian corridors and shipping disasters.

In this transition time, however, Cancer is still growing in strength and will not come out in full glory sometime around 2012 or 2013 – but will have a strong impact until 2022, with a residual influence until about 2029.  The Cancer micro-age will divert the attention from global warming to water woes.  This is already occurring.  The 2005 flooding of New Orleans is a classic example of Cancer as when the levees broke, New Orleans was flooded.  On March 26 2009 a state of emergency was declared in Minnesota crippled by flooding in icy conditions at much the same time as a dam collapsed in Indonesia killing many thousands of people as villages were washed away.

Further evidence of widespread water problems can be found in all directions.  For example, where I live in Queensland, Australia, the state government has recently constructed a sewerage recycling plant which basically purifies ‘toilet water’ and pours the purified water back into the dam that supplies the states capital city.  Other cities in Australia are building desalination plants to convert seawater into drinking water.  Australia’s major river system (equivalent to the Mississippi River in the USA) is in dire straights due to lack of water flowing in the river system – in many areas, it is just a series of mud puddles.

China in 2009 announced drastic plans to cut water usage by its industry and agriculture by 60% by 2020 following its worst drought in 50 years.  This drought is compounded by the rivers that are so polluted the water cannot even be treated effectively ⁽¹⁾.  China interestingly has more dams than any other country (China and dams are ruled by Cancer), and the recent earthquake in Sichuan that killed 70,000 people is also the location of the greatest concentration of dams in China.  Many of these dams were damaged.  Three decades ago a dam collapsed in China killing 80,000 people.  The frightening possibility is that as more dams are built in China, the likelihood some will collapse with significant deaths and damage will increase ^(2).

California declared a state of emergency in early 2009 as below average rainfall and snowfall has caused a major drought ⁽³⁾.  The United Nations has warned that by 2025 a third of the world may be scavenging for safe drinking water.  Places like Mexico City, Jakarta and Bangkok are depleting their non-renewable underground water sources at alarming rates.  Beijing’s aquifers now must go down an extra 40 feet to find water for the city.  Similar alarming situations are developing in India and Israel⁽⁴⁾.

Some unresolved issues about the allocation of water between different countries may exacerbate political tensions as many rivers pass through or border multiple countries.  This is the case with the Nile in Egypt, Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Turkey, Syria and Iraq and the Colorado River in the Southwestern United States.  Five of the 10 fastest-growing U.S. states are on the Colorado River’s catchment and consequently, only a trickle of water arrives in Mexico.  Other shared rivers include the Amur River between Russia and China, the African Niger River plus the Mekong in South-East Asia, and Indus and Ganges in Asia⁽⁵⁾.

We are at very early days for Cancer and the water problems that will be associated with Cancer.  No matter how dire and detrimental any damage or problems caused by excess water or drought over the coming two decades will be, this will not be the final or greatest problematical symptom of climate change.  The sign that follows Cancer is Gemini, and it will be three times more powerful than Cancer.

The fault with current predictions of climate change and global warming is that most scientists extrapolate current trends into the future in a straight line or following a fixed projection from the present data trends.  The earth is under great stress, and as more and more pollutants are injected into the finite atmosphere, many new symptoms will appear that were not originally factored into the equations.  The astrology says that climate change will first foist global warming onto the world, then move on to water problems from too much or too little water, then move onto the even more serious issue of the quality of the air we breathe.  It will not stop at air quality as it will keep moving – it may even lead to destructive global cooling in the last quarter of the 21^st century.

However I am an optimistic pessimist, I am not a doom and gloom merchant.  There are some very positive sides to Cancer.  It will promote the role of women, reduce the impact of iconoclastic authoritarian figures that believe they have the right to tell other people how to act and behave, increase the sensitivity or diplomacy between nations and increase the joy of day-to-day life.  Every cloud has a silver lining!

References:

(1)   New Scientist, 21 Feb 2009, Pg 6

(2)   New Scientist, 7 Jun 2008, Pg 5

(3)   Water Calamity – California drying up, The Sunday Mail, Mar 1, 2009

(4)   A thirsty planet looks for solutions to water shortage by Marlowe Hood, March 20, 2008  http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/a-thirsty-planet-looks-for-solutions-to-water-shortage-20080320-20ko.html

(5)   http://whyfiles.org/131fresh_water/2.html]

 

 

 

 

Is the World Doomed?

As a young child, I remember many cartoons depicting some misfit carrying a placard saying that ‘the end is nigh’ or the ‘world is doomed’.  There was a good reason for this despondency – there were enough nuclear warheads ready to blow humans to smithereens.  I remember a graffiti message from this era ‘mutate now and avoid the rush’.  However now, in addition to the nuclear arsenal, humans are attempting to pollute themselves into oblivion.

One thing we know for certain is that the world is definitely doomed.  Eventually, the Sun will reach its terminal stage, expand and snuff out the Earth like some unlucky cockroach whacked with a folded newspaper.  However, this reality of certain doom is not due for many billions of years to come.  In the meantime, we have to contend with the world’s nuclear arsenal and carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere at unnaturally high levels.  Will either of these potential doomsday scenarios arrive on our doorstep in the immediate or near future?

James Lovelock developed the Gaia hypothesis in the 1970s.  He basically stated that the Earth as a whole can be viewed as an interaction of living (organic) and non-living (inorganic) material that in combination with each other regulates the environment of the world.  Lovelock was instrumental in the worldwide CFC ban to protect the slowly depleting ozone layer that provides a protective shield for the world.  However, he is less enthusiastic about global efforts to protect the world from carbon emissions.  Basically, Lovelock says:

 “I don’t think we can react fast enough or are clever enough to handle what’s coming up”   [ref: We’re doomed, but it’s not all bad, New Scientist, 24 January 2009, Pg 31].

The astrology of the Aquarian age agrees with Lovelock.  Each age has twelve sub-ages that interact with each other and the Aquarian age to produce a basic outline of what can be expected.  Between 1970 and 2148 the key sub-age is the Scorpio sub-age.  The previous sub-age was the Sagittarius sub-age.  In line with Sagittarius’ expanding and positive qualities, the world went into overdrive with the Industrial Revolution and the world population explosion – both the key factors producing pollution.  Scorpio is a very different zodiacal sign – it does not promote expansion and positivity but rather contraction, pollution, vulnerability and financial duress amongst a menu of Scorpio archetypes.

Since the 1970s the world has been in a transition time where the baton is being passed from Sagittarius to Scorpio.  There are key timeframes in this transition.  The 1970s saw the first glimmer of Scorpio with the rise of environmental groups concerned about the degradation of the environment or promoting sustainability.  However, despite some improvements the world continued on its merry way of expanding with the associated expansion of pollution.  Money, profits, economy and jobs were more important than the atmosphere or environment.

Even in the current economic crisis, many politicians are saying that measures to limit pollution should be put on hold – clearly implying that the economy (i.e. profits) is more important than the environment.  A good argument can be made that it is the quest for profits that is either the key factor or a key factor in the degradation of the environment.  Another key ingredient that results in environmental degradation is debt – especially credit card debt.  Debt allows people to consume now what they cannot afford.  It is consumption that creates pollution.

Between 2005 and 2015 a second key Scorpio period appears, and during this time it is driving its point home – the world is on a collision course with global warming and environmental degradation.  In addition, Scorpio is the sign associated with debt – and the recent global financial crisis is one manifestation of debt gone feral.  This is the time that serious remedial action should be put in place – but this is unlikely to occur to the extent necessary.

James Lovelock discredits the current approach that world leaders are giving lip service to.  He is especially scornful of carbon trading (this merely props up the economic establishment with profit in their sights), carbon sequestration (“it’s a crazy idea and dangerous”) and believes that it’s already too late for emissions reduction measures.

Lovelock believes that the result of humanity’s collective stupidity is that the world’s population will have to plummet from a projected nine billion people to one billion people by the end of this century as a world four degrees centigrade hotter than now cannot support more than about one billion people.  Though the astrology of the Aquarian age cannot be as proscriptive to the actual numbers as Lovelock indicates, Scorpio is the sign that wants to contract.  Think of the biblical seven fat cows and seven scrawny cows – Scorpio is the scrawny cows.  The population of the world will contract – but the amount of contraction is difficult to say based exclusively on astrology.

Population contraction has already been occurring for decades – first in most of the developed First World countries, and now in the second tier nations such as Korea.  It is just too expensive to have many kids in the modern world.  This contraction is hidden by immigrants so that First World countries can still log an expanding population – but not by the birth-rate alone.  The comical result of this natural contraction of birth-rates is that many countries (including Australia) are providing significant financial bonuses for parents to have children.

The reason that the Earth is suffering from pollution is that there are too many people who are consuming too many goods and services that are producing too much pollution.  These same governments that are supposedly going to save us from our own folly in the environmental area are encouraging (Sagittarian) population growth – the old paradigm.  As Lovelock states, Kyoto was 11 years ago and the only thing that has happened is endless talks and meetings.  The reason that governments behave the way they do is that they reflect the views of the general population.

Any study of history will show that human beings can rise to challenges, produce mighty artworks, cultures and civilization but equally go to war, persecute their citizens or neighbors and murder and kill enormous numbers of people.  This is all done in the name of patriotism, ideology or religion – in essence, masking stupidism.  What will happen in the coming century? Is stupidism or awareness going to be the dominant paradigm that guides the world to either destruction or rebirth?

The current Scorpio influence within the Aquarian age cannot answer this question, but it does provide a shortlist of outcomes.  Scorpio promotes death and destruction, pollution, secret deals, debt and tyranny.  It also promotes rebirth, renewal, environment sustainability and minimalism.  Minimalism indicates a limit to the number of offspring, currently occurring voluntarily in the West, and by government edict in China’s one-child policy.  Which path will the world go down?  Will the world continue in its current trajectory towards environmental doom and a massive population cull?

I essentially concur with the outlook of James Lovelock but with an added twist.  I believe that the world will go the point of no return before serious effort is put into turning around our current consumption and polluting paradigm.  This may seem like a contradiction but in reality, the result is surprisingly similar to what James Lovelock surmises. Lovelock says he is an optimistic pessimist about the dire environmental issue facing the world.

Global warming and water scarcity are stepping stones to much greater problems.  The sub-periods of the Age of Aquarius indicate that air quality will be a much more serious problem from about 2030 onwards (at the latest).  When significant numbers or people commence dying prematurely due to atmospheric degradation (remember the air we pollute is the same air we must breathe), when breathing without coughing plague much of the world (with the attendant lung diseases and problems) – surely something more realistic and drastic will be done?

Fortunately, some very significant astrological elements appear in the current century that has not occurred in the world for around 7,000 years.  These astrological elements involve progressive and lateral thinking of the highest order.  The first one comes online between 2015 and 2029.  The second appearance occurs at 2074 – 2089 and wraps up with a final one around 2133 – 2148.  More of these revitalizing elements appear about 700 years later.

From a rational perspective (as provided by James Lovelock) the world is in a bad way and getting worse.  The astrological configuration on one hand supports this pessimistic assessment but equally, it supports the addition of an unexpected new spirit or sense of renewal that is available to humanity this century.  Even the election of Barack Obama as president of the USA may be a titillating foretaste of the potential change that is coming our way.  Barack Obama may be part of the advance guard preparing the way for a new perspective that does not have companies’ profits as the base.

There has been no century in recorded history that is not a combination of various degrees of difficulties, natural calamities, adversity and problems with advancement, survivability and relative peace.  There is no reason to believe that the 21^st century will be the perfect century or that any century can ever be a perfect century.  The 21^st century will be a century of change, fragility, passion, catastrophe, financial losses, renewal, transformation and rebirth.  The ancient Chinese would say to their enemies:

‘may you live in interesting times’.

Interesting times was a euphemism for upheaval.  The 21^st century will be an interesting time!

James Lovelock’s latest book is The Vanishing Force of Gaia

 

 

 

Windmills Windmills Everywhere

In my last post The Astrology of Global Warming I made the claim that global warming is a red herring except for some short term symptoms the world is currently experiencing.  Global cooling is more likely to be the real culprit, but this is extremely unlikely to occur in our lifetimes. Ten years from now people will be concerned about water supplies in place of temperature, though they may be connected.  There is a much larger issue looming that may have more serious consequences then global warming.

This is where astrology comes into its own.  Scientists around the world are extrapolating the current small increase in temperatures, and predicting the dire consequences that will result if this increase in temperature continues.  Remember when men first went into outer space and the moon?  Most of us thought that we would be holidaying in space in our lifetimes.  Current developments always seem the most important, but many current developments have a short time span.

Astrology can see global warming, but it is a 15 to 30 year wonder, with most of the worst already over.  It is the new developments that cannot be easily foreseen that astrology shows its mettle.  Astrology can see around the next corner before we get there.  It can see around the corner in the climate change direction, and the issue around the corner is not temperature (in our lifetimes at least).

The much larger problem that will arrive due to pollution is deteriorating air quality.  Even from a non-astrological perspective this makes sense.  The world is pouring into the atmosphere millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other toxic chemicals at an ever increasing rate.  The contamination of the atmosphere can affect temperature resulting in global warming, the acidity of the oceans and so on, but common sense says that greatest impact will be on the air itself rather than secondary manifestations.  Astrology indicates that the degradation of the air will impact the world at least three times greater than the current impact of global warming and drought.

The reason why air quality will be a very serious issue by the end of the third decade of this century (i.e. by 2028 or 2029) is due to wheels within wheels within the Age of Aquarius.  Since the world entered the Aquarian age in c.1433, the world has passed through the Capricorn, Sagittarius and Scorpio sub-ages (each 1/12^th of the Age of Aquarius and lasting some 179 years each).  The Libra sub-age stretches from 1970 to 2148.  It has three decans, Gemini, Aquarius and Libra.  The Gemini decan covers the period 1970-2029.

Gemini is associated with everything to do with communication, transportation, cities, lung diseases of all types, the metal mercury, schools, nervous system (Attention Deficit Syndrome).  We have already experienced a revolution in communication with emails and the World Wide Web.  Transportation is commencing its revolution with the oil price explosion, and the sharp increase in hybrid and electric vehicles.  Cities have come under enormous pressure over the last three decades with mass migrations from rural areas, especially in developing countries like China

The wave-like action of ages and their sub-periods indicate that when Gemini reaches its highest strength around 2029, like a wave it will break over the succeeding 60 years or so.  The period 2029 to 2089 is when developments with Gemini credentials will be at their strongest.  On the positive side this indicates far greater efficiency and developments in electronic and digital communications taking the email revolution to another level.  Mobile telephones will also see a spectacular leap in technology.  The greatest novelists and their novels for many centuries will appear.  Massive developments in public transportation and improvements in private transportation will take place.  Wind mills generating electricity will flourish and exceed solar power.

On the problematical side under Gemini the world will see the devastating and corroding capabilities of the atmosphere full of carbon dioxide and poisons as Gemini is an Air sign.  Gemini also indicates lung diseases (asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, TB, pleurisy etc), nervous system problems, mercury poisoning and stunted mental development.  Lung diseases makes sense – if the air is full of contaminants, it is the lungs that have the first point of contact.  At a certain point the level of contaminants in the atmosphere will be so high this will start to affect a large number of people, especially in the Northern Hemisphere where pollution is heaviest.

Cities are already the main source of pollution in the world.  Their combined growth in population around the world is staggering.  Carbon dioxide producing cars will be drastically reduced, banned altogether, or petroleum will be in such short supply anyway that economic necessities will force non-toxic forms of local transportation. Public transportation will see its heyday.  Public transportation is the way of the future.

Mercury poisoning is already a growing reality.  Recently health experts are advising people and especially children to avoid over eating large fish.  Large fish tend to accumulate greater mercury than smaller fish.  Already cases of children with stunted mental developments are occurring and health experts attribute this problem to regularly eating large amounts of fish.

Some places in the world are already experiencing chronic pollution and the types of problems mentioned above – Chinese cities are a good example.  The World Bank has stated that 750,000 people a year are dying in China prematurely due to pollution.  This calamity will spread unless cities take control of their pollution strategies.  Some cities are already doing this.  London plans to cut its carbon footprint by 60% of its 1990 level by 2025.  Though this may seem extreme, this is what they have calculated must be done to prevent the worse case scenario occurring, similar to what some Chinese cities are already experiencing.

Gemini also indicates that another development will take place from 2029 onwards which will help to significantly lower the level of pollution.  The opposite sign to Gemini is Sagittarius.  The key sub-age involved with the Industrial Revolution and the world wide population explosion is Sagittarius – the sign of expansion.  However the appearance of Gemini at full strength in the 21^st century indicates that the expansionary phase associated with Sagittarius will come to an end or be severely curtailed.  Preliminary indications of this slowdown are already evident.

The most demonstrable slowdown in the Sagittarian related expansionary process is the population explosion.  While the worldwide population continues to expand at an apparently unstoppable rate, the population expansion rate for the typical developed country is contracting.  Evidence of the slowdown in population expansion is also now noticeable in the second tier of nations while China has been enforcing their one child policy for many years.  Each person in this world contributes their share towards pollution – therefore the lower the population the less pollution.

Unfortunately a shrinking population and lower activity undermines the capitalistic economic system.  The period 2044 – 2059 is aligned to the sign of money and finances in a Taurus sub-period (within the Gemini sub-age decan overflow).  Research indicates that Taurus periods are generally aligned to recessions and depressions (the first serious economic period in the 21^st century).  Due to the adverse economic circumstances that will arise at this time, most likely due to the effects of having to deal with over pollution, a temporary lapse in applying anti-pollution measure is likely to take place with devastating adverse results.   Conservative reactionary elements in the world are bound to put pressure on avoiding dealing with the issues of pollution at this time (and at any time) to protect their wealth.

The astrology associated with the astrological ages indicates a menu of opt

The smock mill Goliath in front of the wind farm Growind in Eemshaven in the Netherlands

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Goliath_Poldermolen.jpg&oldid=186133698

---

THE WINDMILL

by

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (and corrupted by Terry MacKinnell)

Behold! a giant am I!
Aloft here in my tower

With my watts of electricity I power

  All the appliances I desire

Without polluting this world of ours.

 

Blog Index

The Astrology of Global Warming

Astrological ages are very long – approximately 2150 years each.  This is why it is better to refer to sub-periods of the ages for greater delineation.  Each age has twelve sub-ages of approximately 179 years each.  The 1960s and ’70s marked the peak expression of one of the twelve sub-ages of the Age of Aquarius – the revolutionary Scorpio sub-age.  It is this revolutionary characteristic associated with Scorpio that makes people mistake it for the actual Aquarian age.  Both Aquarius and Scorpio promote revolution and unsettling conditions.

Scorpio is currently the pre-imminent sub-period within the Aquarian age (see Scorpio – the Sign of the Times).  Scorpio also traditionally rules the waste product of any process and for example, can be aligned with sewerage works.  Pollution is the waste product of human activity and industry in the world.  Therefore when Scorpio is strong in the world, pollution can be a significant factor.

Another archetype associated with Scorpio is regeneration and transformation.  Therefore Scorpio can be also aligned with recycling and sustainable activity plus the transformational change that will be necessary to turn this world around from a polluting hive of activity to a sustainable hive of activity.  The growth of this new environmentally conscious approach aligned with Scorpio can be easily seen by the formation of Greenpeace in 1971 – only one year after Scorpio arrived at its peak energy.

The Scorpio influence that peaked in 1960’s and 70’s will extend well into the 22^nd century due to the Overflow Effect (see Is the Aquarian Age Like a Block of Granite?).  Therefore pollution will be a serious issue until the middle of the next century.  There are many consequences of pollution.  The media has been exploiting fears (as usual) about the effects of environmental degradation such as global warming, rising sea levels, acidification of the oceans, melting polar caps, drought, increasing frenzy in climatic conditions, loss of biodiversity and so on.  The astrology of the ages may shed some light upon the expected negative consequences of pollution gone feral.

Over the last decade much fanfare has been made over global warming.  Recently the issue of water supply due to drought both in Australia and overseas, particularly sub-Sahara Africa, has made headlines.  The astrology of the ages can indicate where the effects of pollution will be felt and the time frames involved.  This is accomplished by examining wheels within wheels within wheels.

In the same way, the world is currently experiencing the effects of a Scorpio sub-age within the Age of Aquarius, within the sub-ages are smaller sub-periods called micro-ages (lasting about 15 years each plus an overflow period of another 15 years).  For example between 1985 and 2015 the world has been experiencing significant effects from a Leo micro-age with its most potent period from 2000 to 2007.  Leo is the sign that traditionally rules the Sun and Leo is a Fire sign indicating its affinity to heat.  It is during this time that the issue of global warming has come to the attention of the world.  Scientists have been taking the data of the increasing temperatures and have extrapolated the rise in temperatures to the end of this century and more with dire warnings.

However, the astrological analysis indicates while global warming is currently a hot topic – this is only a short term consideration because it is associated with a relatively short-termed micro-age.  By around 2015 onward this ceases to be the prime issue.  Between 2015 and 2022 the main issue of concern will be water supply – including both oversupply in floods and undersupply in droughts due to climate change.  This is because the Leo micro-age will be replaced by a Cancer micro-age, and Cancer is a Water sign.  From 2007 to 2015 is a transition period between Leo and Cancer moving from the effects of global warming to issues related to water.

The grandfather of all Leo periods is the Leo age. The last time the world experience a Leo age was from c.11,880 – 9600 BC.  This correlated exactly to the beginning of the deglaciation of the world at the end of the last Ice Age.  Up until this time, almost half the northern hemisphere was covered in glaciers or experienced very cold conditions compared to today.  It is very appropriate that in the Leo age with the sign Leo `ruled’ by the Sun that basically the Sun melted the glaciers and commenced forcing the ice and cold back to the polar regions of modern times.

The Baltoro Glacier in Pakistan at 62 km (39 miles) is one of the longest alpine glaciers on earth.

The opposite sign to Leo is Aquarius.  The world has been in the Aquarian age since the 15^th century.  It seems logical that if Leo equals heat, that Aquarius should produce the opposite.  This runs counter to current thinking on global warming.  However, the astrology of global warming indicates that this is an extremely short term phenomenon.  Some scientists have recently expressed an additional concern that the whole weather of the world may be upset in a totally different way due to the melting and retreating ice and glaciers in polar latitudes.

Europe and much of the Northern Hemisphere depend upon the Atlantic Conveyor Belt current to bring warm water to Europe, making Europe much warmer then if it had to depend solely upon sunlight for warmth.  The Atlantic Conveyor Belt has been fairly consistent over the last 10,000 years or so but at times the Atlantic Conveyor Belt has shut down, plummeting Europe into severe cold snaps lasting many centuries.

The last severe cold period was the Mini Ice Age of 6200 to 5800 BC due to meltwater from a final major ice sheet in North America flooding into the North Atlantic and shutting down the Atlantic Conveyor Belt.  This coincided with the Aquarian decan of the Gemini Age (c.7351-5122 BC).  (In addition to dividing each age into twelve sub-ages, each age can be divided into three decans containing exactly four sub-ages each … see The Dawning of the Aquarian Age)  The Aquarian decan affected the period 7351-6608 BC while its more powerful overflow period carried forward the momentum of Aquarius to at least 5865 BC, almost perfectly in synch with the Mini Ice Age.

Though this does not prove that Aquarian periods bring cold or ice ages, it does support the hypothesis that there can be a correlation between Aquarian periods and coldness.  The relevance to us in the 21^st century is that not only are we in an Aquarian age (c.1433-3574) but also there is an Aquarian sub-age decan in the near vicinity (sub-ages also have their decans in the same way as ages).  The approaching Aquarian sub-age decan stretches from 2029 to 2089 however the most powerful period for the appearance of any sign is in the period following (which was also the case in the Mini Ice Age).

If the Atlantic Conveyor Belt was to shut down bringing a mini ice age to the modern world, the most likely time frame in the contemporary context is between 2089 and 2148.  Astrology cannot say what will happen, it merely provides higher or lower percentages for possibilities.  From the perspective provided by the analysis of the astrological ages and their sub-periods, it if far more likely the world will experience a mini-ace age in place of continuing global warming before the middle of the 22^nd century.

Left to its own devices global warming probably would continue proportional to the increase in carbon dioxide in the air.  However, the warmer climate melts the ice and the remaining glaciers.  The addition of this cooler meltwater to the oceans in the past has shut down the Atlantic Conveyor Belt.  If enough cold fresh meltwater is added to the Atlantic Ocean over the next 150 years it may cause the Atlantic Conveyor Belt to shut down again.  If the Atlantic Conveyor Belt shuts down it will most likely bring a mini nice age to Europe as it has done in the past.  This would be the most catastrophic event for Europe and the world since the appearance of civilization.

This astrological analysis does not conclusively forecast that a mini ice age is around the corner, but the possibility of a mini ice age is strong – as far as probabilities are concerned.  If humanity is smart it would wise up now and start being serious about the ramifications of the population explosion, production gone feral and pollution way out of control before it is too late.  Today people seem more concerned about the price of gas and fuel due to rising oil prices.  This problem is insignificant compared to the prospects of a mini ice age.

Astrology does not like a vacuum.  Scorpio rules pollution and environmental sustainability.  The vacuum must be filled somehow by Scorpio content.  If it is not filled adequately with environmentally sustainable practices it must fill the hole with something else ruled by Scorpio.  Scorpio is also a Water sign but of the three Water signs in astrology, Scorpio is the Fixed Water sign. Fixed Water is analogous to ice.  Even Scorpio wants more ice if given the opportunity.

It is unlikely that in a worst case scenario involving a mini ice age that this will affect any of us except for the extremely young. This is no reason to ignore it.  However, there is a more immediate problem looming due to pollution that has the potential to affect many of us in our lifetimes.  This more immediate problem may not be as catastrophic as a mini ice age but it is still serious.  Stay tuned for the next blog on this subject.

Postscript:  Maybe it is because I am a Sagittarian that I am an optimist.  I sincerely hope that humanity will get it together to deal adequately with the problems of pollution and all the possible negative ramifications of pollution whether it is in my lifetime or not.  I am not a doomsday merchant – every day I express thanks for the wonderful gift of this life, world and universe.

 

Will There be Peace in the Age of Aquarius?

 This week I received an email stating that the ‘Aquarian age will not truly begin until the whole of humanity is at peace’.  This is not a lone sentiment as many people look expectantly to the Age of Aquarius for a millenarian change.  Peace, security and harmony, for example, are all qualities that any sincere person would like to see manifest in this contrary world.  However will the Aquarian age respond in kind?

Peace has different meanings for different people.  For some peace means absence of war.  However if there is no war are people necessarily at peace?  I have also heard that peace is not the absence of war but a quality of its own.  In other words, someone can experience peace even in prison, the middle of a battle or war, but in a time of peace people may feel discontent.  This suggests that at a minimum, there are two kinds of peace, peace in the world, and peace within an individual.  My email commentator was looking for peace in the world.  However is peace possible in the world if people do not experience peace in their own lives?

In the early 70’s I had a reasonable exposure to the Hindu religion for a short period.  In the Hindu religion they have an interesting philosophy that this world is `maya’.  Roughly translated, maya means ‘illusion’.  This is not to suggest that what we experience, see and feel in this world is an illusion like a cartoon, but an illusion in the sense that it does not incorporate the ultimate reality or Truth with a capital ‘T’.  In the Hindu philosophy that I encountered, the ultimate reality is only found within an individual person.  This is probably the source of the urban myths of the states of nirvana, enlightenment or liberation.

Someone experiencing nirvana, enlightenment or liberation is like a lotus in a swamp.  The lotus is beautiful but exists and grows from the murky and muddy waters of the swamp, representative of the maya of this world.  From the Hindu perspective there is never peace in this world as peace and maya are mutually exclusive.  If the Hindu sages are correct, there will never be peace in the Aquarian age or any other age, but people can individually be at peace in any age.

Even if peace cannot exist in this world absolutely, the level of war, violence and mayhem varies over time.  Some periods of time seem less violent than others.  Some societies appear very peaceful while others are violent by nature.  For example before the Maoris arrived in New Zealand, an earlier group of Polynesian settlers lived there peaceably.  After the Maoris arrived these earlier settlers disappeared but a remnant group continued to exist on an island far off the east coast of New Zealand.  The whalers of the 19^th century discovered this remnant group and informed the Maoris.

The whalers subsequently took the Maoris to the island and the Maoris commenced killing the inhabitants.  The hapless inhabitants did not know what to do because all forms of violence was so far removed from their reality that they did not understand what was happening to them even as they were being slaughtered.  This fierceness of the Maoris’ saved them from defeat by the British in the 19^th century, and in place of conquest the British government entered into a treaty with the Maoris that continues to this day.

Some societies are comfortable with violence and other societies are not.  At certain times in history violence has been the dominant theme, while at other times a more peaceful existence ensured.  History indicates that the upsurge in war commenced about 5,000 years ago which coincidentally was aligned to the beginning of the Aries age in c.2916 BC.  Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, the traditional God of War.  Aries and war go hand-in-glove but Aries does also foster sport, competition, construction and achievement.

Before the arrival of the Aries age the world did appear somewhat less violent.  Historians have noted a general lack of defensive structures or armaments in Europe over 5,000 years ago.  This compares with the 1^st millennium BC where Europe was a series of hill fortresses on high military alert and there is wide evidence of swords.  As one historian noted, there is only one thing you can do with a sword.

Despite the lack of widespread warfare over 5,000 years ago, one of the oldest cities in the world is Jericho dating from 9000 BC.  From its earliest days Jericho was fortified by a defensive wall.  Obviously it needed a defensive wall to ward off raiding parties from surrounding inhabitants.  So even well before the violent Aries age, violence was still around, but historians state that it was not so widespread or as entrenched as later periods.

The arrival of the Aries age in c.2916 BC saw the arrival of mass warfare.  The Mesopotamians turned increasingly to war and the first empire gained through military means was the defeat of the Sumerian by Akkad under Sargon who reined from 2270 BC – 2215 BC.  From hereon in the history of the world is virtually the history of war.  At the end of the Aries age when the momentum of Aries had reached its full power, the little village of Rome was formed, ushering in a new age of war under the military-orientated Romans.

One quirky problem the Romans encountered as their empire expanded is that neighboring cities within the Roman Empire could not fight each other once they were incorporated in the Roman Empire. The traditional approach to government by the Romans was to allow conquered cities to maintain their own government.  However what these city governments wanted to do most of all was go to war with their neighbors.  This the Romans would not allow so often the sulky citizens refused to maintain their own governments.

The whole military and war momentum has continued in the world to the 20^th century but there are now indications that since the 2^nd World War the incidence of war has significantly subsided in the world.  Many people are not convinced however, but this is probably due to the unpainted wall syndrome.

The unpainted wall syndrome basically means that if a room has three walls freshly painted, and one wall in its original state, an onlooker will focus their attention on the unpainted wall.  If the unpainted wall is then painted except for a small one foot by one foot patch, this is where the focus will lie.  If this is painted but a mark or blemish is left in the painting, the attention is drawn to the blemish.

The unpainted wall syndrome applies to war in the world.  Wherever war, discord or military action appears, the media will focus upon it, and the general public will be made keenly aware of the effects of the war or skirmish.  The fact that modern media is incredibly adept at bringing war and conflict into our living rooms in full colour and in stereo increases the impact upon us.  But the fact remains that the effects upon the world by war is very small and shrinking despite the invasion of Iraq.

If Aries is linked to war, the opposite sign, Libra, should be linked to peace.  To a certain extent this is true.  This is good news for the world because the Aquarian age has three decans and the first decan encountered in the Aquarian age is the Libran decan – the sign of peace.  The full effect of Libra’s peace potential will not occur much before 2148 and the world may experience a mini Golden Age of Peace roughly between 2148 and 2863.  This may be peace on a relative scale (i.e. far less wars and conflict compared to the last 5,000 years).  But don’t despair if you are holding your breath for a more peaceful world – peace is progressively appearing, and the peace momentum shifted up a gear in 1791.

How could the peace momentum increased from 1791 when there have probably been more people killed in war since 1791 compared to all the previous wars in history with most killed in the 20^th century?  The answer is rather simple but overlooked.  If the world is to remove itself from its violent past, that commenced around 2916 BC, then some deterrent effect to starting wars should occur.  This is exactly what has happened.

Examine the following significant wars in the 20^th century which excludes civil wars, internal strife or border disputes as these types of conflicts have a different dynamic the internal wars usually involving throwing off an oppressive ruler.  After the war will be given the protagonist and if they won or lost the war:

1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War – Russia Lost

1914 -18 First World War – Germany & Austria – Lost

1939-45 Second World War – Germany, Italy & Japan – Lost

1950-53 Korean War – North Korea & China – Lost

1951 – Chinese Invasion of Tibet – China Won

1956 The Suez Crisis – UK, France & Israel – Lost War (won the military assaults)

1959-74 Viet Nam War – USA Lost

1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion – USA and Cuban expatriates Lost

1967 Six Day War – Egypt, Jordan, and Syria Lost

1979-89 Invasion of Afghanistan – USSR – Lost

1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War – Iraq Lost

1982 Falklands War – Argentina Lost

1990-91 Gulf War – Iraq Lost

2001 9/11 Terrorist Attack on USA  – Al Qaeda in Afghanistan – (Afghanistan) Lost

2003 USA’s Coalition of the Willing invasion of Iraq – USA (In Progress)

Based on the above 15 major wars or conflicts, but excluding the invasion of Iraq by the USA and the Coalition of the Willing, because its outcome in uncertain, the only war won to date is the invasion of Tibet by China in 1951 but even the long term success for China of this invasion is uncertain.  The moral seems to be that if you want to lose a war then start one including a pre-emptive strike!

This may be a bad omen for the USA in Iraq, but not necessarily so in Afghanistan.  The Afghanistan Taliban government protected Al Qaeda and while under this protection Al Qaeda attacked the USA.  Al Qaeda started the war and the Afghanistan government fell due to its support of the protagonists.

If there is to be a deterrent to war, having the protagonists continually losing the war is a good start towards peace.  The momentum towards avoiding war will continue in the lead up to the mini Golden Age of Peace forecast for between 2148 and 2863 but here is the problem.  The major problem facing the world in the 21^st century is not war but pollution.  Even if the world avoided war and conflict it could suffer far worst consequences from the effects of pollution and global warming.  Are we facing a no-win situation?

In the 1960’s and 70s the world faced the prospect of nuclear annihilation.  Now in 2008 the nuclear arsenal remains in place but in the addition of the ongoing possibility of nuclear annihilation, we are facing environmental annihilation in a worse case scenario, or significant environmental problems in a best case scenario.  What kind of world may be left when the mini Golden Age of Peace arrives mid next century?  Will there be peace because there will only be a remnant population left in the world following the disastrous consequences of environmental damage?

Are the Hindu sages correct?  If we want peace perhaps inner peace offers the greatest security and surety?  From the astrological standpoint the prospect of inner peace is currently at a peak due to Scorpio.  Within the Aquarian Age, the effects of the Scorpio sub-age are at their peak between 1970 and 2148 leading up o the mini Golden Age of Peace.  Scorpio is the sign that indicates rebirth, metamorphosis, regeneration and inner strength thus implying that enlightenment, nirvana or whatever is on the menu.  In any Scorpio period people feel vulnerable and lack security due to the instability in the world which is prone to cataclysmic upheavals in Scorpio periods.

The sign Scorpio indicates weakness on the outside but strength within.  The source of peace in a Scorpio period is within.  Maybe the path of inner awareness is the most reliable path to peace in this world of ours at this point of time.  If the requirement that the world be at peace before the Aquarian age arrives is correct, it is unlikely we will ever have an Aquarian age.