When Will the World Slow Down?

I don’t know the velocity of the Earth as it orbits the sun, nor do I know if this velocity is increasing or decreasing – but this is not the crucial question here. I am not talking about the speed of planet Earth, but about the speed and growth of human civilisation on the crust of our planet. We take our civilisation for granted, but what we take for granted is a mere spec in the history of the earth and of human beings. Until relatively recently humans were unable to make drastic changes to our environment because there were too few of us alive at any one time.

Currently the population of the world is approaching 7 billion people.  It took humans (homo sapiens) over 150,000 years to reach the first billion people around 1804.  It took slightly more than a century to double this.  It took another 33 years to get to the 3 billion mark in 1959.  Each extra billion people took fewer years to achieve compared to the previous benchmark up to 6 billion people (achieved in 1999).  Forecasts indicate however that each extra billion people from 6 billion on will take incrementally more years than the previous billion.  This indicates a slow down in the rate of population growth – but population growth in the world continues like a juggernaut.[1]

This slow down in the rate of population growth does suggest something is happening to the world’s population.  Basically most First World countries are experiencing negative population growths and their populations are only expanding due to immigration.  Population growth is now reducing in the second tier of nations and this process is expected to spread.  The greatest influence that reduces population is increased wealth and affluence.  Middle class families find large families too expensive and they do not need a built in social security system provided by numerous children as the modern state is usually adequate in taking care of this function.

Despite this reduction in the rate of population growth, the world’s population keeps on ballooning.  By 2040 the world’s population is expected to be 9 billion – 50% more than 1999.  Earlier forecasts did not have the world’s population of 9 billion until 2054, so while the population growth rate is declining over the long term, it seems to be picking up speed in the short term.

What astrological input has created this booming world?  It is not the Age of Aquarius – even though it has been around since 1433 AD.  Aquarius is not noted for its expanding qualities.  The sign of expansion is traditionally Sagittarius.  Closer inspection of the Aquarian age reveals that Sagittarius is not only the culprit – it also has a limited time-span and therefore we can use Sagittarius to predict when the world will start slowing down.  The Sagittarius in question here is the Sagittarian sub-age (1612 – 1791 AD) of the Aquarian age (each age has 12 sub-ages).  Due to the Overflow Effect, Sagittarius builds up a powerful momentum in its period (1612 – 1791) then like a projectile is launched out into the world to do its businesses – until something stands in its way or it runs out of puff.  The expansion of Sagittarius is absolutely demonstrated when we look at the population growth in the world from 1804 to 1999 – from 1 billion to 6 billion people in a mere 195 years.

However, since the Sagittarius sub-age the world has experienced the Scorpio sub-age (1791 – 1970), culminating in the revolutionary 1960s and 70s that most people mistake for the beginning of the Age of Aquarius.  Since 1970 the Scorpio projectile has been launched and Scorpio is not expansionary – it favours contraction.  In the old Biblical myth of the seven fat cows and seven emaciated cows, Scorpio is the emaciated cows.  Scorpio wants a shrinking world in the same way in Lord of the Rings, the ring that rules them all wants to return to its master.

We are already seeing the first glimpse of Scorpio in the drop in the growth rate of the world’s population.  Scorpio is a newer projectile than Sagittarius, so it is fresh, energised, fully equipped and ready for the fray.  Even without consideration of other astrological factors, Scorpio will chip away at our expanding world for almost the next 200 years.

However another anti-Sagittarian projectile is soon to appear.  Each sub-age (of around 178 years has three decans (termed sub-age decans of around 60 years) and since 1970 the world has been experiencing a Gemini sub-age decan.  The Gemini sub-age decan is in its momentum-gaining stage and will not become a projectile until 2029, whereupon it will unleash its jihad over the coming 60 years at a minimum.  The relevant point is that Gemini is opposite the sign Sagittarius in the zodiac so Gemini naturally opposes and undermines Sagittarius whenever it can.  From 2029 Gemini will shift up a gear and therefore speed up the contraction of human civilisation. However do not expect to wake up on January 1^st, 2030 to find a totally different landscape devoid of people.  History dictates that major changes usually take lots of time.

Interestingly we have a precedent to refer to.  Ancient Rome also experienced a Sagittarian sub-age (in the previous Pisces age) from 370 BC to 189 BC, at which date it became a projectile and provided strong expansionary influence to the Roman Empire.  From the astrological perspective, the expansion of Ancient Rome and the expansion of the modern world were both due to their respective Sagittarian sub-ages and overflows.  However around 53 AD the Romans experienced a Gemini sub-age decan that we are bout to experience soon.  Did this slow down the Roman Empire?

Rome, at the beginning of its Sagittarian sub-age in 370 BC was already a republic (since 509 BC when they threw out their king) but they did not even rule the whole of Italian peninsula.  This did not occur until the 200s BC.  Once the peninsula was under control the Romans started its massive expansionary phase that continued all the way until 117 AD under Trajan[2] – the largest area Rome ever ruled. From this time onwards Ancient Rome slowly contracted. 117 AD is 64 years after 53 AD when they first experienced the full force of Gemini.

If we add 64 years to the equivalent Gemini period in our time, we arrive at the year 2093.  Around this date is the highest possibility for the upper limit of our expanding world and population.  After this it is downhill all the way – but not necessarily in a negative sense.  The world has to contract as it is currently unsustainable on many levels, and it will grow ever more unsustainable until around 2094.  The easiest way to reduce pollution is to reduce the population, the scope of human activity plus being increasingly environmentally sustainable in the process.

A world that reduces its population and slows down will create enormous strains on a multitude of levels – especially the economic level.  Capitalism depends upon expanding markets for its success.  This suggests that many activities currently undertaken by capitalistic measures will probably be taken over by governments in a form of socialism – but not to the exclusion of free enterprise.  Capitalism is here for the long haul, but perhaps not in such a monopolistic exalted position as it is today.

The impact upon human society from a contracting world around the end of this 21^st century will be very stressful for civilisation because of another extremely important astrological factor.  Each age can also be broken into three decans (termed age-decans), and the world must experience the cusp of the first age-decan of the Aquarian age in 2148.  My research into the cusps of age-decans clearly indicate that these creates massive changes a century either side of the actual cusp, especially 50 years either side.  50 years either side of the age-decan cusp of 2148 is 2098 to 2198. Therefore from 2098 for a century civilisation-shaking developments will be foisted upon the world.

In the past these age-cusps have broken the back of previous age-empires and temporarily upset the current age-empire.  The age-decan cusp of 8 BC saw the final dissolution of Egypt’s independence after its conquest by the Roman Empire and the final collapse of Babylon after thousands of years of existence.  The age-empire at the time, Ancient Rome, experienced its greatest political discontinuity when the semi-democratic Roman Republic collapsed and was replaced by the Roman Empire with a dictatorial Caesar at its head. From hereon in, whoever had the loyalty of  the strongest military force was leader of the Roman Empire.

Despite massive a major changes to civilisation at the cusp of age-decans – life does go on both during it and afterwards.  At one age-decan cusp in Ancient Egypt, the first evidence in the world of a workers revolted is found – and then they reversed roles – the aristocrats had to serve the workers. Most people want a roof over their head, food in the cupboard and a reasonable standard of living.  For most this will remain the case as the world passes through it age-decan cusp next century, but nevertheless major political, economic, military and environmental developments will take place in a world that is contracting.

The only question is – will the world be contracting voluntarily or will it be due to such adverse environmental conditions that there is not enough food and resources for the 10 billion plus people at the second half of the 21^st century?  The answer is probably a combination of both.  The world is moving towards greater affluence for all of its population – and affluent people have fewer children.  However with the expected rise in population of the course of the 21^st century, even with strong mitigating measure to limit the destructive influence of pollution and adverse effects of climate change, this will most likely prove ineffective.  Something relatively drastic is on the horizon – but if the past is any guide, it is not drastic enough to be the end of the world or the end of civilisation – it may even herald in a Golden Age once all the screaming and shouting has ceased. (see How will we be judged?)

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Preview to the new book on the astrological ages AVAILABLE NOW

For the first time in well over 2,000 years a definitive guide and explanation to the astrological ages, including the Aquarian age, is available.  Over 2,000 years ago the astrological ages got lost in the fog of history, and all we were left with were insufficient remnants that do not do the ages justice.  For over the last 2,000 years astrologers have been trying to use these remnants, but unsatisfactorily. This new book unveils the previously hidden structure and timing of the ages and provides an exacting correspondence to any historical event over the last 12,000 years.

This new book should be published by early 2011 (based on the transits and progressions of Jupiter).  An early preview is however available now.

www.macro-astrology.com

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[1] Population. (2010, July 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:31, July 31, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Population&oldid=376038798

[2] Ancient Rome. (2010, July 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:54, July 31, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Rome&oldid=375687387

Postscript April 2011

In an article Humanity’s 200-year sprint slows down[i], the opening sentence states:

“The human race is slowing down”.

The completion of the final flight of the US space shuttle in June 2011 will mark another step backwards – following in the footsteps of the Concorde passenger jet. The author, Daniel Michaels, believes that humanity may be for the first time, slowing down. Commencing in the 1700s, man could travel at around 10km (6 miles) per hour.  Now, passengers in a jet can travel at 1000km (600 miles) per hour. Humanity’s speed commenced accelerating around 1815, just inside the expansionary Sagittarian sub-age overflow (1791 – 1970).  The fastest jet achieved a speed of Mach 3.2 at the close of the Sagittarian sub-age overflow, but these SR-71 Blackbirds were pensioned off in the 1990s. The Concorde (which could exceed Mach 2), experienced a similar fate following a devastating crash in 2000. The average speeds of today’s jets are about the same that some of our parents flew 60 years ago.

The above is another clue to the coming slowdown expected in the world.  A slowing world does not necessarily mean doom and gloom, but a shift in priorities. Another possible example of the future is Japan.  For decades economic pundits have been describing Japan’s economy as a basket case – shrinking and going nowhere with a growing massive government financial deficit and associated debt.  Recently its economy slipped from second place to third place in the world ranking. It also has an aging population with all the pitfalls that that will involve in the coming decades.  Rather than being just a basket case, Japan may also be leading the world into the future where economic expectations must be curtailed, and in its place, a sustainable future with a static or diminishing market is envisioned.  The world may have to learn some relevant lessons from the Japanese – both positive and negative.

The recent massive earthquake and tsunami in early 2011 follows a long line of disasters that have hit Japan – the last being the Second World War.  Japan has always responded better to disasters than to success.  This may be a preview of what the world will have to undergo in the coming 150 years as pollution and climate change devastate the world. The astrology of the world for the next 150 years indicates that we will have to kiss security goodbye, and in its place deal with one crisis after another in a shrinking or slowing world!  From 2029 onwards we cease getting the preview, and dive into the deep end.

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[i] Daniel Michaels, The Weekend Australian,  April 9-10, 2011 Pg 21 World section, taken from The Wall Street Journal

The Future of Capitalism in the Age of Aquarius

The crash of share indexes[1]  leading to a lack of confidence in the world’s financial systems is at a very low point.  Some people say that this is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.  Some forecasters are having a field day enunciating with virtual glee the prospect of economic recession and other predictions of doom and gloom.  However, from the perspective of the Aquarian age, this is all so humdrum.

The development of corporations, growth in free enterprise and international trade and finally globalism are perfectly in line with the arrival of the Aquarian age in the 15th century.  Sure it took a few centuries to get its momentum going but the fact that the economic system of the modern world arrived in time with the Age of Aquarius indicates that capitalism is not going to be extinguished in the near future (i.e. the next century or two).

Capitalism is aligned to the (Aquarian) free spirit desiring to undertake some profitable venture.  Personal gain from your own efforts is an extremely strong motivating factor.  However, capitalism is not the only economic approach aligned to Aquarius – socialism is also incorporated into the stable of Aquarius archetypes.  Aquarius is the sign of friends and groups of people combining their energies to undertake some joint task for the mutual benefits of all.  A classic example of Aquarian socialism is NASA and the various space agencies around the world including the International Space Station.

The neo-cons and extreme capitalists throw their hands up in horror at the thought of socialism.  To these extremists, socialism is akin to communism and therefore socialism needs to be beaten on its head whenever it dares to show itself in public.  The recent bail-out of banks around the world and the virtual nationalizing of many banks at the brink of collapse has opened the Pandora’s box of socialism in the heart of capitalism – much to the anguish of die-hard conservatives.  Socializing space stations is one thing, socializing banks is a massive insult at the heart of capitalism.

The Aquarian age will continue to strongly foster capitalism for thousands of years but it will also foster socialism.  Though socialism has been reviled, discredited and ostracized there are signs that it has been making a surreptitious return to the world stage apart from the recent nationalization of banks.  In a recent Time magazine [October 27 2008] Joshua Kurlantzick makes the case in his article Central Command – The financial crisis spotlights the benefits of government-guided capitalism – like China’s that many countries are looking at the gains that China, Russia and some Persian Gulf states have made in recent years by a hybrid capitalism and state control.  State control means socialism.  For example, these state control economies usually foster key industries such as oil or automobile production but then let them compete on the international market in a free trade platform from the strength of economy of scale.

The collapse of the former communist block left the world basically in the hands of the capitalists.  This is an extreme situation and therefore can only last so long.  The middle path indicates that capitalism and socialism must coexist.  China, Russia and some Persian Gulf states may adopt a hybrid capitalism-socialism model, while other countries will probably revert to a partnership of capitalism and socialism.  Has the privatization of electricity benefited us? Does the privatization of virtual monopolies promote free enterprise?

The reason why socialism will return as an economic reality on the world stage is not limited to its association with the Age of Aquarius but also due to the first decan of the Age of Aquarius.  Each age has three age-decans and the first age-decan of the Age of Aquarius is the Libra age-decan.  Libra is the balance.  As the world trundles along towards the Libra age-decan high point around 2148 the pressing need for balance and the middle path (between extremes) increases at an exponential rate.

The balance that Libra brings is of course not limited to the economy – it also applies to the sexes, the environment and opposing political ideologies amongst numerous other fields.  The neo-cons cannot accept the place that socialism has within an economic system as they believe that capitalism is perfect.  If that is the case then we have just had the perfect capitalist crisis.  Only last week Alan Greenspan said he made a mistake in assuming that capitalism worked best if left alone – a basic extremist capitalist viewpoint.  Furthermore, if Eastern mystics have any credibility they state that perfection does not exist in this world. The problem with holding up capitalism as the perfect economic system is that its basic underlying premise is seriously flawed.   There is no perfect person, nor perfect country or perfect president or political leader.

There is also another critical problem with capitalism overlooked by most commentators.  Capitalism requires an expanding market and we have witnessed this phenomenon over the last three centuries to the point that the world will choke and drown in its own pollution if some serious remedial action is not taken over the coming decades.  Pollution is the direct consequence of consumption powered by capitalism.  An environmentally sustainable world needs a lower population with people who on average are all consuming less – this is in basic conflict with capitalism.  Can capitalism and an environmentally sustainable world coexist?

Apart from the age-decans there are also smaller divisions of the ages into sub-ages.  The sub-ages indicate that we are at the tail end of the strong influence of the Sagittarius sub-age – the sign of expansion.  Astrology always includes a balancing mechanism and the opposite sign to Sagittarius is Gemini – which is now growing in strength.[2]  Gemini will reach its full potential around 2029 but the exponential curve commenced in 1970.  It stepped up a gear in 2000, and another step will be attained around 2015. Additional steps are indicated between 2015 and 2029.  So while the arrival of Gemini in 1970 had little influence (apart from reducing populations in First World countries), it will progressively reign in Sagittarius.

The world economic situation is not solely due to Aquarius, Libra, Sagittarius and Gemini – Scorpio is also taking a key role.  The Scorpio sub-age (1791 – 1970) has gone into its powerful overflow mode since 1970 [see Scorpio – the Sign of the Times].  Scorpio prefers minimalism and contraction.  Scorpio wants the world to shrink.  It wants the population lowered, consumption reduced and therefore it promotes downsizing.  Its ability to get its way increases as the power of Sagittarius wanes.

Downsize now and avoid the rush!  This may be too melodramatic as history shows that most fundamental changes in the world take a long time to flow through to their conclusions.  It will take until the middle of the next century at least for the world to wind down to the level required for a sustainable environment.  What we will experience in the meantime is numerous incremental adjustments that most of the time are not too great, but accumulate to exact a great change over the next one and a half centuries.  In addition, there is the three-steps-forward-and-two-steps back rule which indicates that some short term reversals of the long-time contraction will occur.

Nevertheless in the short term over the next decade we can expect that contraction and instability will be the order of the day, and the instability is not limited to economics.  The world hit a Scorpio hotspot in 2005 which then saw its first exponential increase in 2007 around the first stirrings of the sub-prime crisis.  Another significant Scorpio increase occurs around 2010 (possibly 2009) and between 2010 and 2015 some serious unsettled times are due but definitely nowhere near the proportion of the Great Depression.  In fact, very few people alive will witness anything of the same magnitude as the Great Depression as the astrological circumstances associated with the Great Depression will not return until around the year 2089.

Despite this prediction for unsettled times, it is extremely unlikely that the doom and gloom currently disseminating around the world will be evident one year from now (or even by Christmas 2008).  The current doom and gloom outlook is associated with a very small part of the Aquarian age that lasts for only around 15 months.  A short digression into the bowels of the Age of Aquarius will show where the world is in relation to the roadmap through the Age of Aquarius.

Ages are around 2160 years long while age-decans exist for about 720 years.  Sub-ages are about 179 years and these can be divided into 12 micro-ages of approximately 15 years each.  Currently, we are in a Cancer micro-age (c.2000 – 2015).  Cancer equals real estate.  Cancer dramatically increased its strength at its halfway point in 2007 coinciding with the first widespread reaction to the US sub-prime debacle.

Drilling down into the Cancer micro-age are three micro-age decans – and the Scorpio micro-age decan sits from c.2005 to 2010.  Scorpio equals debt (and derivatives).  Scorpio is also opposite Taurus – the sign that rules banks.  Not only are banks on the wrong foot in a Scorpio period, but they are also bound to be experiencing even more serious opposition in the period from 2010 to 2015.  Scorpio introduces the debt and derivative aspect of the present crisis and the role played by banks.

This is not the end of the story.  Within micro-ages are also 12 nano-ages of some 15 months each.  Due to the overflow effect, the 15 months immediately following any nano-age is the most powerful manifestation of the nano-age.  Currently, the world is experiencing the effects of a Capricorn nano-age overflow.  When the world experienced the Great Depression the world was in the Capricorn micro-age (1925 – 1940).  Capricorn periods nearly always bring difficult times plus doom and gloom.  The current difficult economic situation, however, is only 1/12th the strength of the Great Depression.  So while the world is experiencing a wee little Capricorn nano-age it may feel like the roof is falling in (if you are an investor or employed in the financial world) and people may hark back to comparisons with the Great Depression of the 1930s.  However, this is a relatively short-lived situation.

On the nano-age level, there will shortly be a reversal when the overflow of the Sagittarius nano-age pushes Capricorn aside for slightly more than a year.  This will temporarily push some optimism and exuberance back into the spotlight, but with a broken arm and bandages.  Capitalism will not recover its former glory after this current financial mess.  2009 may see a sucker’s rally as the short term optimism and exuberance will not be sustained past 2009 or 2010.

Capitalism may be down but it is not out.  For as long as the Aquarian age exists or has influence capitalism will exist.   In the same way that the worst extremes of socialism manifested as communism in the 20th century, the worst excesses of capitalism have now also seen its day.  The world is looking for the middle path.  It is no longer the time for extremist capitalism or socialism – but rather somewhere in the middle.  This is what the sub-periods of the Aquarian age indicate.   And finally, the 21st century will be the most dynamic progressive century seen in the world for over 7,000 years – judging by the condition of the world at present it has its work cut out!

References:

[1] Referring to 2008

[2] The Gemini influence comes from the first sub-age decan of the Libra sub-age (c.1970 – 2148).

Further References

Aquarian Age Economics

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

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.