Libra micro-age decan and overflow (August 1582 – July 1592)

This Libra MAD&OF sits within the Aquarius micro-age (Aug 1582 – Jul 1597) and therefore mimics the Libra MAD&OF (December 1910 – October 1920) associated with the First World War (1914/17 – 18) and Spanish flu.  The next major level up to greatly influence this period was the Taurus-Capricorn sub-age decan (1552 – 1612).  Taurus is beneficial to England (see The UK Astrological Signature) which was certainly on display in this Libra period.

Again, major conflicts occur under Libra’s watch commencing with the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) which included the famous Spanish Armada (1588) with 130 ships and 30,000 men when Catholic Spain planned to invade Protestant England and dispose Queen Elizabeth 1 but failed miserably at the hands of what constituted the British navy and adverse weather.  The English countered with two armadas against Spain which both failed, and Spain sent a second armada against England which also failed due to bad weather.  This is where Sir Francis Drake became famous.  At this time Spain was the world’s superpower.  The victory was acclaimed by the English as their greatest since Agincourt, and the memory of the victory over the Armada was evoked during the Napoleonic Wars in a later Libra period when again England found itself threatened by another invasion. From the standpoint of Libra, Queen Elizabeth’s legend persisted and grew long after her death due to the successful repulsion of the Spanish Armadas.[1] Queen Elizabeth is one of the most notable females that stood near the beginning of the Libra age-decan (1433 – 2149).

George Gower’s Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (1588?) at Woburn Abbey. The portrait was made to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada (depicted in the background).

This Libra period sits within the Elizabethan era (1558 – 1603) and is taken as England’s golden age attributed a renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals, international expansion, and naval triumph over Spain[2] with the naval triumph over Spain exclusively associated with this Libra period.  This golden age commenced in the Taurus sub-age decan (1537 – 1612) and Taurus figures strongly in the English astrological signature.[3] 

Again, war was highly prevalent as is the case for the last 5,000 years and only some major ones will be mentioned.  The War of the Three Henrys (1587-89) was one of a series of French civil wars under the umbrella of the French Wars of Religion (1562 – 98) The war was instigated by Spain to keep France from interfering with the Spanish army in the Netherlands and the Spanish invasion of England – there were so many wars that they had wars within wars!

The Eighty Years’ War commencing in 1568 (before this Libra period) was basically a Protestant revolt of what are today the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg against the superpower of Catholic Spain but by 1587 the newly formed Dutch Republic entered a period of more than two centuries of relative political stability and strongly increased its trade and wealth from this time onward, with Amsterdam replacing Antwerp as the main port of north-west Europe.  The republic was more tolerant of different religions and ideas than its contemporary states were, allowing freedom of thought to its residents. Artists flourished under this regime, including painters such as Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer leading to the Dutch Golden Age lasting until 1672.[4]  Libra may have placed its stamp on the Dutch Golden Age but the influence of both the Capricorn sub-age (1433 – 1612) and Taurus sub-age decan overflow (1552 – 1612) suggests that these signs appear in the Dutch astrological signature?

In the Far East the first Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 was really the beginning of a proxy war between Japan and China with Korea the stepping stone from Japan to China. The conflict ended in 1598 after Japan’s second unsuccessful invasion followed by the withdrawal of the Japanese forces from the Korean Peninsula after a military stalemate (appropriate for Libra).  This war resulted in an imbalance of power within Japan with the Toyotomi clan’s power significantly weakened due to the exhaustion of its  armed forces for the failed Korean conflict and the opposing Tokugawa clan, who had abstained from the war, and with their armed forces in tack, were able to eventually triumphed (post this Libra period) against the Toyotomi clan. Libra seems to prefer two major opposing forces. Libra is considered a key sign for the whole of the Far East including China. 

Highly notable females again mark this Libra period and a good example is the classic feud between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots ending with the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 at the hands of her cousin Queen Elizabeth after Mary was implicated in a plot to murder Elizabeth.

With the growing strength of Capricorn the accusations of witchcraft against women grew to a crescendo in this period. From 1581 to 1593 the Witch Trials of Trier in Germany were perhaps the biggest witch trials in European history. They formed one of the four largest witch trials in Germany. The persecutions started around Trier in 1581 and reached the city itself in 1587, where it was to lead to the death of about 368 people, and it may have been the biggest mass execution in Europe in peace time.[5]

Not to be outdone by the Germans, in 1590, Agnes Sampson was questioned by King James VI of Scotland, and confessed to practicing witchcraft.  This was apparently part of the North Berwick witch trials of a number of people from East Lothian, Scotland which ran for two years and implicated over seventy people. The “witches” allegedly held their covens on the Auld Kirk Green, part of the modern-day North Berwick Harbour area. The confessions were extracted by torture.[6] 

Prosecutions for the crime of witchcraft reached a highpoint commencing 1580 (in this Libra period) to 1630 during the Counter-Reformation and the European wars of religion when an estimated 50,000 people were burned at the stake, of which roughly 80% were women, and most often over the age of 40.  This 50 year period correlates to the peak strength of Capricorn associated with the end of the Capricorn sub-age in (1433 -1612) when Capricorn was peaking.  Stern autocratic male Capricorn historically orientated towards the subjugation of women – especially older intelligent women with knowledge and wisdom.

However, the Aquarian tide of rationalism started to gain traction with the publication in 1584 of The Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot, which undermined the common belief that witches existed.  Scot expressed the view that “it is neither a witch, nor devil, but glorious God that maketh the thunder…God maketh the blustering tempests and whirlwinds…”.[7]

North America continued to be a focus under Libra and in 1583, Newfoundland was formally claimed as a colony of England but not successfully settled at this time.  Also very interesting in relation to the future USA, in 1584 Walter Raleigh sent an expedition to explore the Outer Banks of Virginia (now North Carolina), with a view to establishing an English colony, and they located Roanoke Island.[8]  In the following year, the first group of colonists was sent by Sir Walter Raleigh but only lasted until June 1586, but was followed by a second attempt in 1587.[9] The second attempt was futile, and by the time the British returned in 1590, the colonialists had disappeared and it became known as the Lost Colony.

Interestingly, Sir Walter Raleigh (1552/4 – 1618) was born in a Taurus-Taurus generation, and this may explain why Raleigh strongest focus in his life was in searching for El Dorado (City of Gold) and he made two expeditions to the Americas in search of this gold – and ultimately was executed for his over zealousness by attacking a Spanish outpost in his quest.[10]

Notable theatrical developments took place in this Libra period commencing in 1583 when the Queen Elizabeth’s Men troupe of actors was founded in England and became the dominant acting company for the rest of the 1580s. Queen Elizabeth’s Men was the first large company of actors in English Renaissance theatre, twice the size of its predecessors. The size of the new company enabled it to act a new kind of historical play, built on a larger scale than ever before including Shakespeare’s histories. These new plays were equivalent to “Hollywood spectaculars” of their era.[11]  In 1587 the Rose (theatre) was founded in London beginning a trend for theatres to be situated at arm’s length from the authorities in an area outside the jurisdiction of the City of London where bear/bull-baitings, gaming dens and brothels were surreptitiously operating.  It was the first purpose-built playhouse to ever stage a production of any of Shakespeare’s plays.  Christopher Marlowe became the theatre’s main playwright.  While the theatre thrived, at the very end of this Libra period, an outbreak of the Plague thwarted all theatres[12] (with no Libra available to support them).

Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist.  Somewhere in this Libra period (probably the mid-1580s) Shakespeare was able to have his plays performed and by 1592, he was sufficiently known in London to be attacked by other playwrights such as Robert Greene in his Groats-Worth of Wit:

“… there is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in a Player’s hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and being an absolute Johannes factotum, is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.”

Shakespeare was accused of reaching above his ‘lowly’ rank in trying to match such university-educated writers as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe, and Greene himself (the so-called “University Wits”).[13]  The main sign that drove Shakespeare was from Pisces, and the rise of Shakespeare in this Libra period coincided with the Pisces sting-in-the-tail of the Pisces sub-age and overflow (1254 – 1433 – 1612) with the Pisces sting-in-the-tail the Pisces micro-age and overflow (1567 – 1582 – 1597) with this period arguably representing the peak of Pisces in the 26,000 years cycle of the astrological ages. Shakespeare was born in an Aries-Aries generation (second half of the Aries micro-age (1552 – 1567) indicating that he came from a generation with drive!

Christopher Marlowe was of the same Aries-Aries generation and was the leading Elizabethan playwright and strongly influenced Shakespeare who succeeded him following Marlowe’s untimely death at the age of 29 in 1593.

On the artistic front, El Greco (1541 – 1614) was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance and he is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism and his works were considered as “strange”, “queer”, “original”, “eccentric” and “odd. However, much of his works were undertaken within the eccentric Aquarius micro-age and overflow (1582 – 1597 – 1612).  In 1586 he obtained the commission for The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, now his best-known work. Painters from the beginning of the 20th century rediscovered El Greco – his expressiveness and colors influenced Eugène Delacroix, Édouard Manet and Paul Cézanne[14] and one commentator stated that “Cézanne and El Greco are spiritual brothers despite the centuries which separate them”.[15]  It should be noted that Cubism appeared as an avant-garde artistic movement during the 1910s[16] associated with the Libra micro-age decan and overflow (Dec 1910 – Nov 1915 – Oct 1920).

The famous Italian painter Caravaggio (1571 – 1610) had a formative influence on Baroque painting and influenced the later works of Peter Paul Rubens, Jusepe de Ribera, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Rembrandt.  His style fell out of favor until the 20th century but he was labeled “What begins in the work of Caravaggio is, quite simply, modern painting.”[17]  Caravaggio’s apprenticeship occurred in this Libra period and in the last year he left Milan and went to Rome as a destitute hack-work artist.  One of his earliest works in 1589 was Caravaggio’s Young Sick Bacchus, supposedly a self-portrait done during convalescence from a serious illness (with Capricorn overtones).  Caravaggio’s innovation was a radical naturalism that contrasted light and dark with little intermediate value.[18]  This “darkness” can be attributed to the strength of Capricorn with the Capricorn sub-age approaching its peak strength in 1612.

Finally, on the sweet side of Libra, the first known commercial importation of chocolate to Europe in 1585, from Mexico to Spain, but the Spanish adopted the addition of (Libra) sugar to sweeten chocolate, whereas the indigenous American had only mixed chocolate with spices – but it required an acquired taste.  The new Spanish sugar variety took off with a vengeance, and for some time, chocolate drinks were far more popular in Spain than coffee.[19] It was quickly followed by the publication of Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke in 1631.

Again, we see with Libra some major conflicts – the Spanish Armada where England was nearly invaded and pirates like Sir Francis Drake became a national hero.  The conflict between the Dutch and Spain was resolved with creation of the Dutch Republic leading to more than two centuries of relative political stability called the Dutch Golden Age.  China was under threat from Japan with Japan invading Korea for the very first time, but failed to move on to the conquest of China. In North America, Newfoundland was formally claimed as a colony of England and some unsuccessful attempts were made to colonize Roanoke Island (North Carolina).  At a minimum, this is the beginning of the Libra connection to the USA. 

The power play between two highly notable women – Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots led to the execution of Mary while the other major female focus of the times was arguably the biggest mass execution of witches in Europe. By 1630 an estimated about 40,000 women had been burnt at the stake.  But the rationality of Aquarius did show signs of life with the argument against the existence of witchcraft by the publication of The Discoverie of Witchcraft.

Libra obviously promoted the theatre with the creation of Queen Elizabeth’s Men troupe of actors and the construction of the Rose theatre in a destitute part of London and by the end of this Libra period, Shakespeare was in full swing.  The other famous playwright of the times died only one year past the end of this Libra period making the Libra period the full extent of Marlowe’s theatrical output.  The father of modern painting also appeared with El Greco and Caravaggio was mainly in his apprentice period but commence producing artwork before this Libra period ended.  Sugar and chocolate naturally are attracted to Libra with its first commercial importation to Europe.

Libra-associated events will occur at any time in history, and for example, in every 15 years micro-age, there is a 29 to 30 month Libra nano-age and overflow.  However, again with this Libra MAD&OF (1582 – 1592), highly notable and remarkable historical events that can be associated with a Libra archetype indicate a stronger presence of Libra than is normal.  The brightness of Libra was not quenched by the dark side of the Capricorn sub-age and overflow (1433 – 1612 – 1791). 

References

---

[1]Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604), Wikipedia, Retrieved 04:25, January 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anglo-Spanish_War_(1585%E2%80%931604)&oldid=1000121904

[2] Elizabethan era, Wikipedia, Retrieved 00:50, February 23, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizabethan_era&oldid=1005608209

[3] The UK Astrological Signature, https://macroastro.wordpress.com/2019/01/18/the-uk-astrological-signature/

[4] Dutch Republic, Wikipedia, Retrieved 05:01, January 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dutch_Republic&oldid=999742782

[5] Trier witch trials, Wikipedia, Retrieved 05:36, January 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trier_witch_trials&oldid=993312124

[6] North Berwick witch trials, Wikipedia, Retrieved 05:47, January 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Berwick_witch_trials&oldid=994221672

[7] Scot, Reginald (1584). Discoverie of Witchcraft p. 2.

[8] Grun, Bernard (1991). The Timetables of History, (3rd ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 259. ISBN 0-671-74919-6.

[9] Palmer, Alan; Veronica (1992), The Chronology of British History, London: Century Ltd. pp. 160–162. ISBN 0-7126-5616-2.

[10] Walter Raleigh, Wikipedia, Retrieved 00:27, February 23, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Raleigh&oldid=1007402650

[11] McMillin; MacLean (1998), pp. 5, 11–12.

[12] The Rose (theatre), Wikipedia,Retrieved 07:03, January 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Rose_(theatre)&oldid=999109684

[13] William Shakespeare, Wikipedia, Retrieved 23:23, February 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Shakespeare&oldid=1007731515

[14] El Greco, Wikipedia, Retrieved 02:39, February 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=El_Greco&oldid=1007494780

[15] J. Brown, El Greco of Toledo, p28

[16] Cubism, Wikipedia, Retrieved 02:42, February 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cubism&oldid=1007041592

[17] Quoted in Gilles Lambert, “Caravaggio”, p.8.

[18] Caravaggio, Wikipedia, Retrieved 02:56, February 22, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caravaggio&oldid=1007107802

[19] History of chocolate in Spain, Wikipedia, Retrieved 07:15, January 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_chocolate_in_Spain&oldid=998684132

Waiting for Ages

Some years ago I watched a swords and sandal epic movie (produced in Italy with English sub-titles) about an old Grecian legend involving titans, monsters heroes etc.  The titans had just been released from some kind of very long captivity from a previous age.  One titan (in human form) was chatting with a barmaid and said “I have been waiting for ages to meet someone as beautiful as you”.  This innocuous story led me to consider how the astrological ages correspond with developments with the astrological ages.  Allegorically this could be likened to the astrological ages navel gazing.

The ‘modern’ approach to the astrological ages was kicked off by the Greek astronomer-astrologer Hipparchus in the late 2^nd century BC when he irrefutably discovered the slow eastward shift of the stars due to the precession of the equinoxes.  This newly perceived perspective from around 127 BC (for the Greeks at least) allowed Hipparchus to conceptualize the astrological ages.  This occurred in the previous Scorpio sub-age (189 – 8 BC) – specifically extremely close to the first sub-age decan cusp around 129 BC, the Cancer sub-age decan cusp.

Jump forward to modern times, and the equivalent to 127 BC is 1853 AD (equivalent in the sense that both 1853 AD and 127 BC exist two years past their respective Cancer sub-age decan cusp).  There is also another way of relating specific periods between different ages.  Each age is approximately 2150 years.  Add 2150 years (an age) to 127 BCE and we arrive at 2024 AD.  At a minimum, we know that the period 1853 to 2012 (leading to 2024) has experienced a revolution in the acceptance, understanding or recognition of the astrological ages in modern times along with a massive resurgence of interest in astrology. 

In the 19^th century Blavatsky, who co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875, popularized the concept of a new age commencing in 1888 and some of her followers specifically addressed the Age of Aquarius.  This marks a new age for the astrological ages rising to a crescendo in the late 1960s when the musical Hair proudly proclaimed in its first song ‘this is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius’.  References to the Age of Aquarius are now so ubiquitous, that on any day, about half a dozen references can be found in the media (especially in the USA), and particularly promoting the urban myth that the Age of Aquarius arrived in the 1960s and 70s.  In following the press and online articles, many commentators suggest that the Age of Aquarius lasted 10 or 20 years as the world seems to have moved away from the Age of Aquarius in recent decades.

Therefore in the two periods associated with highpoints for the astrological ages, both are associated with a Scorpio sub-age and both periods are about one age apart.  The next area of interest is another age before Hipparchus discovered precession.  Using both methods as applied above, 2150 years before 127 BC takes us back to 2277 BC based on an age with an average of 2150 years.  Two years past the Cancer sub-age decan cusp of the ancient Scorpio sub-age (2188 – 2006 BC) places us around the year 2125 BC.  Therefore the period 2277 to 2125 is the target period for an ancient highpoint related to the astrological ages.  For many people this is ridiculous because in academia, precession of the equinoxes was only discovered by Hipparchus around 127 BC.  How could anyone before this time know about astrological ages or precession of the equinoxes?

Though academia rejects ancient knowledge of precession of the equinoxes and the astrological ages before Hipparchus – mountains of circumstantial evidence suggests the contrary.  Most astrologers know that astrology is too subtle and sophisticated for academics to comprehend (they need an apple to fall on their head), so we will put aside their collective limitation and move back to very ancient times and see if ancient astronomers may have made advances in their understanding or knowledge of the astrological ages.  Surprisingly, the period 2277 to 2125 BC hits the nail right on the head.  A major restructuring of the zodiacal constellations occurred in the late third millennium BCE because over the thousands of years since the Mesopotamians had been observing the heavens, the constellations had shifted position due to precession of the equinoxes.[1]  It is believed this restructure of the constellations occurred in what is known as the Akkadian period (2390–2210 BC).  If the astronomers from this ancient time could perceive that the stars had shifted, did it occur to them that the stars would keep shifting into the future?  Did they relate astrological ages to these shifting stars? 

Though we cannot be certain of the knowledge-base of ancient astronomers, we can historically perceive the developments in ancient astronomy.  For thousands of years a cosmic religion had existed where the heavenly bodies were deified.  Sometime, not long before 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia, the astronomers commenced applying astrological concepts to the heavenly bodies.[2]  This very major development in astrology appears around our target period of 2277 to 2125 BC.  Another key development is that the stars and constellation, as defined in those ancient times, became ‘frozen’ until Hipparchus appeared around one age later.  As early as 1915 researchers noticed that the ancient Greeks inherited the Babylonian constellations, but the constellations they used were defined around 2084 BC (in the final florescence of the old Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia).[3]  Other researchers agree with this approach. 

Basically what we have is three highpoints associated with astrology (and astronomy) in general, including the astrological ages to a certain extent – all associated with a Scorpio sub-age.  Between these highpoints are large periods of time of erratic or reduced activity or understanding but with some highpoints, particularly when any period is associated with Aquarius.  For most of the 1^st and 2^nd millenniums BC, a lot of important astronomical/astrological knowledge or understanding appears to have been lost in the turbulence of those times, and people much information could only be hand down and possibly only partially understood.

There is a delusionary expectation that as the years unfold, everything improves.  This is not the case.  Shakespeare is still called the greatest poet the world has seen.  Michelangelo’s artwork is revered today.  Any original Impressionist painting is worth a fortune.  Picasso is undoubtedly the greatest surrealist or abstract painter the world has known.  Most of the best classical composers lived a number of centuries ago.  People will be listening to the music of the 1960s and 70s in awe for centuries.  The best novelists the world will appear around 2029 (minus 15 years or plus 60 years), and not to be overtaken for around another 700 years.

The reason for these spikes in accomplishment is that they all relate to peaks in ages and sub-ages.  For example, the power of Pisces at the time of Shakespeare will not be replicated for almost another 26,000 years.  The music of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and so on is associated with the Pisces-Aquarius age (1433- 3574) with a highpoint for Scorpio in 1970.  As Richard Tarnas points out in his music and astrology workshops, the music of the 1960s and 70s was the combination of the Uranian (Aquarian) electric medium combined with the sexual rock-and-roll beat of Pluto (Scorpio).

Therefore it can be expected that the current highpoint for astrology in general and specifically the astrological ages will not be constant in the coming millennia. It is therefore appropriate that such a major discovery of the true nature of the astrological ages is made during the current period when the astrology of our time resonates with major advances in astrology.  Even ten years ago, near the beginning of my major research into the astrological ages, I was aware of the need to produce a book at a time that was a suitable highpoint for astrology.  The whole Scorpio subage and overflow (1791-1970-2148) is a highpoint for astrology, but there are specific Scorpio hotspots within this multi-century period.  One such hotspot is the current Scorpio micro-age decan and overflow (2005-10-15) with the bell curve highpoint located 2007-12 (basically aligned to the GFC).  Ten years ago I thought this hotspot was located around 2020 and so I thought I had plenty of time to write my book.  This illusion was shattered in 2006 when I eventually fine-tune my rectification of the start of the Aquarian age to 1433 – about 10 years earlier than my previous estimate.  This advanced the current Scorpio hotspot from around 2020 to 2010.  I immediately felt the pressure to produce the book of the astrological ages and I commenced writing it in 2007, with it being published in 2011.

For those readers interested in the astrological ages we live in a magic period.  In hindsight it is easy to see why Hipparchus in the 2^nd century BC got his calibration technique for measuring the astrological ages wrong.  This is why for over the last 2,000 years the astrological ages have been a mere toy and plaything for some astrologers, as it gave the hint of correlation but was basically useless as a predictive tool.  One of the big questions I have is: did the astronomer-astrologers of around 2100 BC perceive and understand the astrological ages?  Circumstantial evidence cannot provide a definitive answer but there is a good possibility the answer is yes.  Every time you look at a zodiacal constellation in the sky, you are looking at the forensic evidence left by the ancient astronomer-astrologers over 4,000 years ago.  These zodiacal constellations, in their heliacal rising mode of calibration, are exactly aligned to the astrological ages as defined with the Age of Aquarius arriving in 1433 AD.  Is this an accident or were the zodiacal constellations purposely defined to measure the astrological ages? Now this is a real mystery!  Will we have to wait another age to find out?

For details about my book THE DAWNING see www.macro-astrology.com/purchase.html

---

[1] Babylonian Star-Lore, p. 256–9

[2] The Great Year, p. 21

[3] Mythology of the Babylonian People, p. 322

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”?

---

[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.

The Wisdom of the Ages

There is much wisdom to be gained from the astrological ages.  In my research and study of the ages I have taken the novel approach that to understand the ages it is necessary to ‘stand under’ the ages and let the ages teach me how they operate.  The ages do not operate in the way that the urban myths of the ages have spread.  Most astrologers define the ages and what supposedly occurs within ages based on theoretical considerations and wishful thinking, not from evidence.   The ages never indicate that paradise, utopia or a world exclusively based on consciousness, reason and rationality is around the corner – or even a possibility at any time.

In our modern world we have enough information and knowledge to examine ages in detail all the way back to the deglaciation of the world that commenced around 14,000 years ago.  It is true that highly detailed information is thin on the ground for the first few thousand years, but what information that is available from those ancient times not only support the existence of the astrological ages, but also that each age consists of positive and negative archetypes associated with the astrological sign concerned.

This is not new to astrologers.  All experienced astrologers know that the horoscope for each individual person is a combination of positive and negative elements.  Most people have a relative equal number of positive and negative astrological attributes.  There is no perfect human being and there is no perfect age.

The perspective of the ancient Chinese philosophers and sages got it right – everything associated with physical reality is composed of a combination on yin and yang, with a little bit of yang in the yin and vice versa.  What happens as each new age arrives is that the positive and negative archetypes associated with the new sign slowly take over from the positive and negative archetypes of the influence from the previous age.  This is what is happening in the world today.  The Pisces momentum from the Pisces age has promoted the positive and negative archetypes of Pisces while the new Aquarian age has commenced pushing its own positive and negative archetypes to the fore.

What are the positive and negative archetypes of Pisces?  On the plus side we have compassion, charities and social security (less so in the USA compared to most other Western nations); great poetry, drama and artworks from the likes of Shakespeare, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci onwards (including the modernists such as Picasso), an incredible array of movies, fictional novels and abstract concepts; pharmaceutical drugs for a whole range of ailments.

On the negative side of Pisces are alcoholism, poisonous chemicals, prisons, addictive drugs, propaganda (spin) and swindlers, religious delusions; slavery and now sex slaves.  In addition, there are a number of areas that can be either positive or negative depending upon your point of view.  These ambivalent Pisces activities include Buddhism, Christianity and Islam; European culture; petroleum, corporations and recreational intoxicants.

These positive and negative aspects of Pisces remain the dominant archetypes in the world but Aquarius has progressively introduced its positive and negative aspects since it arrived in 1443 (or 1442).   For example, Aquarius has promoted democracy on the positive side counter-balanced by fascism.  Whenever Aquarius is strong the sea-saw will tend to go towards fascism or democracy as both are strong Aquarian archetypes.  This is keenly demonstrated by the USA that so strongly promotes democracy within its borders yet since the Second World War has supported fascist dictators and governments around the world over democracy whenever it suits the commercial or political interests of the USA.  In fact, the USA is an excellent example of democracy and fascism conjoined – but that is another story altogether.

Positive developments associated with Aquarius include flight, electricity, humanitarianism and idealists, inventions, modernization, civic organizations and associations, and free thought.  Negative elements include lack of stability, mental instability and illnesses, emotional detachment (think of the Holocaust).  Other elements that can go either way are rebelliousness and revolutions (some bring democracy and freedom while others bring tyranny); and socialism (which can be extended to communism).

Are all zodiacal signs equal in their positive and negative aspects?   There are two schools of thought on this – the modern school typically indicates that each sign and planet is basically equal in its positive and negative aspects.  Traditionalists believe that some planets and the signs they rule are more orientated towards either positiveness or negativity.

In my observation, I believe that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.  No planet or sign is all bad or good – each contains both good and bad, but some planets and signs do tend slightly more to the negative while others tend towards the positive but some sit in the middle.  I believe that Pisces does err mildly on the negative side but Aquarius is either balanced or very slightly biased towards the positive side.  This does not make the Pisces age negative and the Aquarian age positive.

Therefore, though the world is not passing from the ‘dark’ Age of Pisces to the radiant Age of Aquarius, Aquarius does seem to offer some advantages over Pisces.  This can be easily demonstrated.  Whenever the ubiquitous Jehovah’s Witnesses would arrive at my doorstep they would quickly draw my attention to all the problems and deteriorations in the world.  My standard counter was ‘if the world is so bad today, when in the past was it better?’  This perspective always left them floundering.  Do you think 1978, 1988, 1998 for example were better than 2008?

Even with all the problems of pollution, corruption, inequality, terrorism, war, violence, criminal activity and so on, the world in general today is better for a higher proportion of the world’s population compared to any time in the past.  It reminds me of something I heard not too long ago.  Someone said that if your life is 51% positive and 49% negative then you are experiencing a positive life.  The same situation applies to the world.

The majority of the world does not live the relatively gifted lifestyles of the populations of the First World countries.  The proportion of the world that does get to experience modernity is growing.  Even over the last few decades hundreds of millions of people around the world have been embraced by modernity partially or fully – one way or another, especially in China and India.

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.  The arrival of modernity from its seed that was planted over 500 years ago when the Aquarian age first arrived unannounced is steadily embracing a greater proportion of the world.  The modern world is not a perfect world but from my subjective perspective, it is superior to the medieval (Pisces) world it is replacing.

This is the wisdom of the ages.  There is no perfect age, and the Age of Aquarius is definitely not perfect.  The quest for the mythical perfect Age of Aquarius is just the hangover from Pisces.  Pisces rules delusions and self-deception.  You have a choice – you can continue to listen to delusions about a fantasized Age of Aquarius that will never arrive – or you can open your eyes and perceive the dawning of the Age of Aquarius – warts and all, that is occurring all around you and has been for over 500 years

There are many warts associated with the Age of Aquarius but in the end, it comes down to a simple issue – is the glass half full or half-empty?  On a daily basis, I give thanks to whatever reality that produced the universe and world we live in.  Is there any other time in history that is superior to today?  For the huge majority of us living in the modern world, we should be truly thankful for this unique experience since our evolution from the animal kingdom.

I sincerely hope that the dawning of the Age of Aquarius continues until all the people in the world have the option to live in this modern world.  The wisdom of the ages indicates that this will not occur this century and may not even be completed in the next one thousand years.  This is not based on my personal preferences but on what investigating the ages has taught me.