Generational Astrology – Introduction (Part 1)

 

THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO A SEPARATE BLOG EXCLUSIVELY DEDICATED TO GENERATIONAL ASTROLOGY.

Introduction to Generational Astrology

Ebola, AIDS & the Black Death

The recent flare up of Ebola in West Africa is obviously a cause of concern based purely on the media attention given to it, especially in cases that are appearing in Western nations.  The general public is already feeling highly vulnerable with the ISIS threat in Syria and Iraq and with firm memories of the recent GFC.  Astrology can provide insights into many situations, like a relatively accurate ‘weather report’. In this case, I am using the Ebola epidemic to demonstrate the efficacy of macro-astrology.[1]  Can the 2014 Ebola epidemic be linked to any of the sub-periods of the Aquarius age in a meaningful way?

My methodology is to take a twofold approach. Firstly, what zodiacal sign or signs can be associated with previous major epidemics in general and secondly, what are the active signs present in the world during the current Ebola outbreak?  Finally, can a link be made between the two approaches?  Based on Rex E Bill’s “The Rulership Book”[2], epidemics are linked to Mars and Pluto with a possible association to Neptune and the 12^th House.  In macro-astrology only zodiacal signs are employed, so converting planets and houses to signs, the associations pertaining to epidemics are primarily linked to Aries and Scorpio (Mars rules Aries and Pluto rules Scorpio) with a possible association to Pisces (Neptune rules Pisces and the 12^th house related to Pisces – the 12^th sign).  In addition, the Ebola virus is transmitted via bats that are carriers but do not get afflicted by the disease.  Bats are tentatively assigned to Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio.

The Aries-epidemic connection makes sense as Aries is commonly associated with the primary indicator of well-being and health.  Scorpio is the sign of death and commonly associated with sudden negative changes of fortune.  Pisces is the sign of ‘endings’ and general calamity and though Rex E Bill is unsure of the association of Pisces with epidemics, my own research strongly suggests a connection.  Pisces was in full calamity mode when the Black Death swept Europe in the mid-1300s. At least one quarter of Europe’s population is believed to have perished and some villages lost around 50% of their population in a matter of weeks.  This disaster occurred in a Pisces hotspot towards the end of the Pisces age in the Pisces sub-age (1253-1431) in the years 1346–53.[3]  This is Pisces at full strength and this calamity remains unparalleled in Europe to this day.  However the Pisces sub-age is the same period of time as the Aries sub-age overflow.  Therefore even elementary evaluation of the Black Death suggests a possible connection to both Aries and Pisces, supporting the research of Rex E Bills.  The years 1346–53 are also in the Scorpio-Cancer sub-age decan (c.1312-1371).  The big question is – was the Black Death associated with Cancer, Scorpio or both?

The years 1346-53 is a period of seven years – suggesting that the Black Death is also associated with a micro-age with the order of magnitude 15 years. The Black Death occurred totally within the Virgo-Leo micro-age (1342-1356) with Virgo noted as ‘the health sign’.  However the magnitude of the disaster of the Black Death affected Europe for well over a century, if not more. So this suggests the emphasis should remain with the sub-ages and sub-age decans.

Like airplane crashes, there are epidemics occurring all the time[4] but the most recent major epidemic since the Black Death was the 1918 flu pandemic (January 1918 – December 1920) commonly referred to as the Spanish flu.  It infected 500 million people across the world, and killed about 50 to 100 million people – 3% to 5% of the world’s population.[5]  This disaster occurred in another Pisces hotspot – the Pisces-Aquarius micro-age (1910-25) in the Pisces-Scorpio sub-age decan (1910-70) of the Scorpio sub-age (1791-1970).  The Pisces hotspot in 1910 is the strongest for Pisces in around 500 years and will not be partially matched again until around 2566, and even at that future date, it is unlikely Pisces will be as strong as it was in the period around 1910. The commonality between the 14^th century Black Death and the Spanish flu of 1918 are the signs Pisces and Scorpio with the major emphasis on Pisces.

The one notable pandemic since 1918 is the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is believed to have killed up to 30 million people, mainly in Africa since the 1960’s.[6] The 1960’s was at the tail end of the Pisces-Scorpio age-decan (1851-1970) and very near the peak expression of Scorpio at the end of the Scorpio sub-age (1791-1970).  Cancer does make a minor appearance as the Scorpio sub-age ends with a Scorpio micro-age (1955-70) with the first decan the Cancer micro-age decan and overflow (1955-65).[7]  The AIDS epidemic however is not linked solely to the Scorpio micro-age (1955-70) but to the whole Scorpio sub-age overflow (1970-2148) and suggest that this epidemic has a long time to ferment.  However, it has come under relative control and is no longer perceived as a daunting disaster ready to befall the world.

Despite the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in 2014, it has a similarity to AIDS inasmuch it has been present since at least 1976 with various outbreaks between 1976 and 2014.  Therefore, similar to AIDS, Ebola can be linked with the fortunes of the Scorpio sub-age overflow (1970-2148).  There are two Scorpio hotspots in the 21^st century, and the first one is the Scorpio micro-age decan and overflow (2005-December 2014).  The current Ebola outbreak has also occurred in a Scorpio mini-hotspot within the 10 year Scorpio major hotspot due to a Scorpio nano-age decan and overflow sitting within the Cancer nano-age (October 2013 – December 2014).  The Scorpio nano-age decan and overflow (February to December 2014)[8] is what I call the sting in the tail of the Scorpion.  This is where the current Ebola epidemic has appeared.  What does this tell us?

Firstly, in the previous major epidemics examined (the Black Death and Spanish flu), the two key signs were Scorpio and Pisces, with Cancer making a smaller appearance.  The 2014 Ebola epidemic is certainly stimulated by Scorpio, and Cancer makes a reasonable appearance near the 2014 peak of the Cancer micro-age and overflow (2000-2014-2029) but there is no concentrated Pisces in sight!  This suggests that the Ebola epidemic is a localized epidemic that will not create a (Pisces) apocalyptic scenario (that was reserved to the first half of the 20^th century).  It should be noted that the source of the Ebola epidemic is due to people eating tainted bush meat (infected by bats) compounded by the less than desired hygienic standards and medical facilities of West Africa.  Therefore the loci of the epidemic will always be in Africa and the spread of the disease from person-to-person is a secondary feature of this epidemic.  Whilst hygienic measure may be below standard in Africa, it can be expected that the application of stringent hygienic standards in western nations will  therefore having greater control on the spread of the disease.

The big unknown in this situation is the role of Cancer.  If Cancer is a key ingredient in the astrological signature for this 2014 Ebola epidemic, then it could run at current elevated levels for an additional one-and-a-half year up to seven to 15 years. There is evidence that Cancer is involved.  One key feature of the world when it was under the influence of the major Cancer age-decan overflow (713-1433 AD) in the previous Pisces age was naturally the Middle Ages with knights in shining armor defending castles with moats.  These all have strong themes associated with Cancer.  The Ebola health care workers are the new knights, except this time they are wrapped in waterproof protective clothes in place of knights’ armor.

It is Scorpio with the assistance of Cancer that is driving the epidemic.  This suggests the current outbreak could be similar to AIDS and may affect the next seven to fifteen years if the Cancer micro-age overflow (2014-29) is the driving force. Ebola may be a nuisance for another one-and-a-half centuries and will flare up a number of times, especially whenever a Scorpio hotspot appears. The next Scorpio hotspot is not due until 2059-69, but Ebola outbreaks are not limited to Scorpio hotspots.  If Scorpio is the driving force the epidemic may only last a few more months but always  ready to break out a number of times after a dormant period over the next one-and-a-half centuries.

Note: also see Scorpios Parting Shots posted 21 Oct 2014 about other correlations to the Scorpio nano-age decan and overflow other than Ebola

Graphical Ephemerides:

The first four sub-ages of the Age of Aquarius

The first four micro-ages of the Scorpio sub-age overflow (Libra sub-age)

The decans of the Cancer micro-age:

The Dawning – purchase details available at: http://www.macro-astrology.com/purchase.html

References:

[1] ‘Macro-astrology’ is, as the name suggest, ‘big-picture’ astrology based on the astrological ages such as the Age of Aquarius.

[2] Rex E Bills collated the associations used by astrologers with as many topics as possible without verifying the validity of these associations.  Nevertheless, his approach has proved to be relatively accurate.

[3] Black Death. (2014, September 24). In Wikipedia, Retrieved 03:05, October 14, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Death&oldid=626833230

[4] List of epidemics. (2014, October 13). In Wikipedia, Retrieved 03:23, October 14, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_epidemics&oldid=629384368

[5] 1918 flu pandemic. (2014, October 13). In Wikipedia, Retrieved 03:27, October 14, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1918_flu_pandemic&oldid=629391085

[6] List of epidemics. (2014, October 13). In Wikipedia, Retrieved 03:23, October 14, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_epidemics&oldid=629384368

[7] The Pisces micro-age decan and overflow within the Scorpio micro-age covers the period 1960-70.

[8] See http://cuttingedgeaquarianage.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/the-scorpio-nano-age-decan-economic-influences-in-2014/

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

Taxes and debt are also relevant issues for our current Scorpio hotspot.  The GFC that appeared in full force by 2008 coincided with the arrival of the current Scorpio hotspot.  Scorpio is a “contracting” sign, and as a general rule, periods associated with Scorpio will see the equivalent of the Biblical seven years of emaciated cows.  The GFC achieved this admirably well.  However as the Scorpio tempo increased from 2010 onwards, some additional serious financial calamities have appeared.  By early 2010 a number of Eurozone countries were experiencing debt problems including Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium.  Greece had to be bailed out in 2010, and later in the year Ireland found itself in the same situation with Portugal falling in line in early 2011. More countries with a debt crisis can be expected.

However the fringe European countries suffering debt crises pale to insignificance at the prospect of the USA going virtually bankrupt.  This situation developed primarily due to the mainly conservative US government in the first decade in the 21^st century lowering taxes at the same time as engaging in new and expensive wars and increasing government expenditure.  It is one of the ongoing political ironies that the conservatives (Republicans) in the USA shout the loudest to reduce government expenditure and reduce taxes but whom when in office increase government debt the most.  The American voting public seems unable to understand this nebulous aspect of their political culture. This is unlikely to change much as the prime sign for the USA is Pisces, and clarity is nearly always absent when Pisces is strong.

Laurence Kotlikoff in February 2011 states that the current state of finances in the USA is worse than Greece when it had to be bailed out in 2010 by the European Union.  One of the reasons the USA is in such a parlous situation is that it has adopted ENRON styled accounting and for several decades has kept future social security liabilities “off the books”.  To correct this situation, the US government needs to raise all federal taxes by two-thirds the current levels.[i]  Not only are the rich in the USA currently paying reduced taxes, the tax take from corporations in the USA has plummeted in recent decades.  By 2002 and 2003 it was reported that US companies were paying their lowest proportion of taxes since the Second World War.  In the 1950s, corporations paid over 25% of all taxers collected in the US, which dropped to 20% in the 1960s. By the second half of the 1990s it dropped further to 11% and by 2002/3 corporate taxes provided a mere 6% of the US tax base. Apart from corporate tax reductions provided by the US government, major US corporations take undue advantage of various tax reduction schemes to minimise their taxes.  This includes paying massive bonuses to their leaders and employees, much of which they claim as a tax deduction – but not shown as expenses in their financial accounts to their shareholders.[ii] 

The prime zodiacal sign associated with both the USA and corporations is Pisces, which may explain why the USA deifies corporations and capitalism – and thus honouring them with paying far lower taxes as the years roll by.  The Roman senators in the Roman Republic were equally short-sighted in their approach to tax.  In the 2^nd century BC they outlawed taxes.  This is understandable as the Roman senators represented the same rich constituency as the American Republican Party, and people that have financially benefitted from society due to their enterprise or ingenuity, seem to dislike paying taxes to the same society they benefit from.  This folly by the Roman Senators resulted in an ongoing lack of funds for government expenditure, especially for their armies.  As a consequence, the Roman generals had to find other financial means to pay their soldiers, either from the booty of war or other means.  This slowly tied the loyalty of the soldiers to their generals rather than the Roman state.  It was only a little more than a century after this taxation change by the Roman senators that generals with their armies usurped the Roman Republic and moved to the dictatorial end of the political spectrum. 

What will be the short, medium and long-term trend in the USA if corporate taxes are kept significantly below their real taxation responsibilities and the rich continue to pay minimal income taxes?  It will not take long to discover.  The next Cancer micro-age overflow (2015 – 2029) will bring out all of the dirty washing in the USA.  Previous Cancer micro-age overflows experienced in America does not paint a pleasant picture.

The worse countries in the world for debt are basically the western nations of Europe, North America, Australia plus Japan.[iii]  The richest countries in the world are accumulating the greatest debt indicating a significant fault line. From a rational point of view, the poorest countries should have the greatest debt in an attempt to try and catch up with the developed nations.  Ultimately debt means bringing forward expenditure than normally would have to wait.  Bringing forward expenditure also means bringing forward the associated pollution.  The mainly western-developed nations are behaving like the old medieval aristocracy, demanding a far higher material quality of life and lording over their serfs (Third World countries) – but throwing them some crumbs from time to time.  We live in the delusion of a progressively democratising world, but in reality, democratic countries do not behave as equals on the world stage.

As an example of the relationship of (Scorpio) debt to economic well-being, there were only two years in recent history when the US household debt was the same as the GDP – in 1929 and 2007.  The first coincided with the Great Depression, and the second with the GFC.  In response, Columbia professor David Beim stated that the economic problem may be blamed on the banks and financial institutions, but the real culprit is the general public.  People are living beyond their means and are borrowing far too much money to support their dreams.[iv]

However it is the banks and financial institutions that are getting the bulk of the bad press.  From the astrological perspective this is understandable as banks are ruled by Taurus, and Taurus is opposite Scorpio.  In a Scorpio period Taurus banks will be in 7^th house mode.  They will either be in attack mode or under attack.  With some significant bank failures and problems around the world and the perception banks resorted to exotic financial instruments that caused the banking collapse associated with the GFC, the status of banks have plummeted in the last few years.  This is entirely in accord with the current Scorpio hotspot. 

As of May 2011 many smaller banks continue to fail each month in the USA.[v]  It is instructive that the cause of bank failures for the most part relate to the massive drop in real estate prices associated with questionable loans linked to questionable collateralized debt financial instruments.  Everything to do with real estate is associated with Cancer, and it must be remembered that the current Scorpio hotspot is the Scorpio micro-age decan and overflow (2005–15) within the Cancer micro-age (2000-15).  Scorpio debt is the problem sitting within the context of the Cancer real estate market shake-down.

The result of over-borrowing is default and bankruptcy for individuals, businesses, banks and countries.  The fact that a number of European nations plus the USA are currently experiencing the downside problem associated with debt is due to the previous over-reliance upon excessive debt.  Debt is one of the scourges of the modern world, and may be one of the Four Horseman of the Modern Apocalypse.  If the world was run by a world government that acted rationally, permanent steps would be put in place to counter debt in the same way steps have been put in place in many nations to limit other scourges such as cigarette smoking and AIDS. This is not the case so whatever patchwork approach is taken by governments to offset mounting debt is unlikely to prove effective in the short term at least.  There remains four more years until 2015 when excessive debt will cause further problems.

A number of conservative governments and other governments that have fallen foul of their debt have significantly changed the ratio of their taxation to spending levels.  For conservative governments they mainly try and keep taxes low and reduce services.  For other debt-ridden countries, they not only reduce services but must increase taxes.  Taxes will be in the march in a Scorpio period.  This is the source of social unrest in some countries like Greece and Spain where the populace are venting their displeasure at their falling collective wealth.  Taurean wealth will always be in detriment in a Scorpio period.

The banking and GFC are further convincing evidence that the world is currently under the influence of Scorpio – the sign of our times.  Taxes will continue to be an issue and the rich plus banks will be aggressive in trying to defend their turf. This is a time of seven-emaciated-cows so temporarily at least, the world must tighten its belt, reduce its consumption, pay more taxes and therefore exist with less money and wealth – all the hallmarks of Scorpio.

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[i] Laurence Kotlikoff, “America is bankrupt”, Feb 11th 2011, http://www.economist.com/economics/by-invitation/guest-contributions/america_bankrupt, downloaded 22 April 2010

[ii] Robert McIntyre and T.D. Coo Nguyen, “The Gap Between Statutory and Real Corporate Tax Rates”, First published by the Multinational Monitor, Vol 25, No. 11, http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_welfare/real_tax_rates_plummet.php, downloaded 22 April 2011

[iii] “World debt comparison – The global debt clock”, http://www.economist.com/content/global_debt_clock?page=6 , downloaded 23 april 2011

[iv] Household Debt Vs. GDP, http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/02/household_debt_vs_gdp.html , downloaded23 April 2011

[v] “Bank Failures in Brief”, FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) http://www.fdic.gov/bank/historical/bank/index.html downloaded 28 May 2011

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

Baby Boomers in the Age of Aquarius

Everyone wants to live at the beginning of an age.  Every half century or so someone somewhere thinks we are at the beginning of some new age, era or epoch.  The Nazis thought they were at the beginning of a glorious thousand years age under the swastika.  With the Mayan calendar finishing in 2012, many people will proclaim this the beginning of a new age and some have already claimed (erroneously) that 2012 marks the start of the Age of Aquarius.

Though we are not at the beginning of the Aquarian age, Baby Boomers are an identifiable generation that is associated with the Age of Aquarius.  Where do Baby Boomers sit in the Aquarian Age?  This is not as difficult as it sounds as there is only one sign that booms (if you exclude the boom of cannons which would make it Aries).

The best way to approach this question is to think of a clock with an hour, minute and second hand.  In the Aquarian age the hour hand points to Aquarius.  Just as in each hour there are minutes, each age has sub-ages.    The equivalent to the second hand is a micro-age.  Ages are approximately 2150 years long, sub-ages 179 years and micro-ages 15 years.

It is the second hand, pointing at micro-ages that indicate the relationship between Baby Boomers and the Age of Aquarius.  Between 1940 and 1955 was the Sagittarius micro-age with its momentum carrying over up to 1970.  The Sagittarius quasi micro-age (1948-1962), representing the peak of the Sagittarius micro-age bell-curve aligns itself remarkably well to the baby Boomer generation.  According to Wikipedia, Baby Boomers are those people born between 1946 and 1964, peaking around 1957 but plummeting from 1964 onwards due to the availability of the birth control pill.

Sagittarius is the sign that is associated with expansion, good fortune, optimism and good luck.  The Baby Boomers is the generation that far exceeded the normal population explosion in western culture both before and after this generation.  Expansionary Sagittarius aligns itself well with the Baby Boomer generation.  Sagittarius is the sign that booms – preferably an economic boom.

What can Sagittarius tell us about the Baby Boomers in general?  On the positive side it indicates that the Baby Boomers are lucky, optimistic, fortunate and have had expanding possibilities in their lives.  In addition Baby Boomers have had plenty of opportunities for overseas travel, philosophical reflection and excess materialistic resources.  On the negative side this generation has over-consumed, gained too much weight (or allowed their children to do so), devoured too many resources, overly moralistic and prefers to depend upon luck to solve problems rather than wisdom.

If we pull back from the second hand and examine the minute hand that calibrates the sub-ages, the Baby Boomers were the last generation born under the even larger boom time of the Sagittarius sub-age and overflow (1612-1791-1970) .  The Sagittarius sub-age brought to the world the Industrial Revolution and massive population explosion over the last two centuries.  The Baby Boomers are the last hurrah of this expansion gone mad.

Once the second hand moved on from Sagittarius it encountered Scorpio well and truly by the mid 1960’s.  On a larger note, the Sagittarian Sub-Age was overtaken by the influence of the Scorpio Sub-Age around 1970.  On two counts Scorpio has arrived at the Baby Boomers doorstep just as they were getting out of their diapers.  Scorpio is a very different sign than Sagittarius but the Baby Boomers have brought their innate good fortune into Scorpio territory ever since the 1960s and 70s.

Scorpio is the sign of revolution, contraction, minimalism, pollution, nuclear weapons and energy, sex, debt, instability, the world wide web, underground criminal networks and hidden power plays by politicians to name just a few associations.  The Sagittarian Baby Boomers hit the new Scorpio paradigm with the throttle full steam ahead.  This created those heady revolutionary days of the 60s and 70s where anti-war, anti-conscription and anti-government protests, demonstrations and riots were the order of the day.  Revolution was a growth industry in the 60s and 70s.

Remember when a significant number of the Baby Boomers discovered marijuana.  Their innate optimism thought it would be legalized within a few years.  They flouted sexual taboos, dropped out and created the counterculture.  They did everything in the booming extroverted way always associated with Sagittarius.  The 60’s and 70s was an optimistic Scorpio revolution of the youthful Baby Boomers in an extroverted Sagittarian manner.  Only people without materialistic concerns can drop out – you don’t see many starving Sub-Saharan Africans willingly drop out.

Since the 60s and 70s things have calmed down somewhat because at the end of the day the world has moved on from Sagittarius to Scorpio.  The Baby Boomers may not have been born at the beginning of an age, but they were early witnesses of the transition from the expansionary days of Sagittarius to the minimalist sign of Scorpio, mostly during their teenage years or early twenties.

Scorpio is a cold, brooding almost malevolent sign compared to Sagittarius, with Death as its patron saint.  In the same way that in Lord of the Rings Gandalf told Frodo that the ring wants to be found and returned to its evil master, Scorpio wants the world to contract – and in many ways.  It wants a serious drop in population, output and production but it will foster anything in its own camp.  Scorpio will promote debts (national debt, credit cards etc), financial instability, destruction and death, the world wide web, nuclear weapons and energy, genetic engineering, pollution, AIDS, the sexual revolution, instability and seeking inner truth.  For a full assessment of Scorpio see Scorpio – the Sign of the Times.

It is unlikely the Baby Boomer generation will have to deal with the full impact of what Scorpio has in mind, as Scorpio has all of the next few centuries to reveal its hand.  Baby Boomers continue to bring their sometimes groundless enthusiasm with them whenever they look to the future.  Why bother about global warming and pollution – scientist can go and invent something to solve the problems.

Will future generations idealise or curse the Baby Boomers?  They will probably look back enviously at these carefree (Sagittarian) days.  Days where a significant amount of the world’s oil reserves, that took hundreds of millions of years to create, get consumed in a matter of seconds, relatively speaking.  Days when stock markets, business opportunities and travel appeared to provide a never ending vista of possibilities and new horizons.  Jumping in a V8 and putting your foot down – a Sagittarians dream.

Baby Boomers will want to continue in their modus operandi of expansion until the day they die, but morose old Scorpio has different plans.  Scorpio wants to pull the rug out from under Sagittarius.  The fact that Scorpio will do this is unquestionable, the question is, how much success will Scorpio have in the Sagittarian Baby Boomers’ lifetimes?

One very demonstrative way Scorpio has surreptitiously insinuated its way into our lives is through the collective feeling of vulnerability.  People feel incredibly more vulnerable today.  As a result people don’t want their kids out playing in the streets and parks, they want to see what they are doing all the time.  People feel vulnerable travelling due to the spectre of terrorists – yes terrorists are ruled by Scorpio, so they are a growth industry for the next couple of centuries.

The media is on the payroll of Scorpio – any problem, death, unrest, violence and so on virtually anywhere in the world can be brought into your home in a matter of hours in full colour.  So though war and violence in general are on the decline, reportable incidences have been on a significant increase due to the enhanced ability of the media to present these issues to you in a manifold number of ways.  This is only one way Scorpio has commenced to bite, there are many more waiting.

It is unlikely that the Baby Boomer generation will want to mend its ways much at all.  A lion cannot change its spots.  The generations following the Baby Boomers have the stronger Scorpio credentials to face the serious Scorpio issues facing the world.  The Baby Boomers witnessed the arrival of a significant new (Scorpio) period in the history of the world by getting stoned, dropping out, avoiding conscription and then rolling up their sleeves and getting seriously stuck into it – pushing the world further out on the over-production plank as Sagittarius has been doing for the past few centuries.

Baby Boomers are the last generation of the old paradigm – development, expansion and consumption at all cost.  One the other hand some Baby Boomers have entered the new world of Scorpio (environmentalism, recycling and renewables).  Baby Boomers have one foot in each camp.  If Baby Boomers took their enthusiasm and optimism to face the worlds’ (Scorpio) problems and apply real solutions they may leave a more positive heritage to their descendants.  Or will Baby Boomers be remembered as the generation that consumed far more than their fair share of the worlds finite resources with no consideration for future generations.  Sagittarians can behave like pigs at the trough or they can provide positive counsel!

Further resources from Terry MacKinnell

Online Institute of Macro-Astrology – details on how to learn macro-astrology

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

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