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| {{Short description|Astrology term}} | |||
| ''This article is about the astrological time period. For the song "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," see that song's ].'' | |||
| {{other uses}} | |||
| ]'s '']''. Da Vinci drew the original of this figure {{circa|1487}}. ]s, or energy centers, were added later.<ref>{{cite web | title=When will the Age of Aquarius begin? | date=8 January 2021 |department=Human world |website=EarthSky (earthsky.org) | url=https://earthsky.org/human-world/when-will-the-age-of-aquarius-begin/ }}</ref>]] | |||
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| The '''Age of Aquarius''', in ], is either the current or forthcoming ], depending on the method of calculation. Astrologers maintain that an astrological age is a product of the Earth's slow ] and lasts for 2,160 years, on average (one 25,920 year period of precession, or '']'', divided by 12 zodiac signs equals a 2,160 year astrological age).<ref>{{cite book |first=Robert |last=Powell |year=1979 |title=The Sidereal Zodiac |publisher=] |place=Tempe, AZ |page=45 |isbn= 978-0904693072 }}</ref> | |||
| The '''Age of Aquarius''' is one of the twelve ]s. Each ] is approximately 2,160 years each on average, but there are various methods that can make ages much longer and shorter depending upon the technique used. Unlike sun-sign ] where the first sign is ], followed by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] whereupon following ] the cycle returns back to Aries and through the zodiacal signs again, the ]s proceed in the opposite direction or order. Therefore the age before the Age of Aquarius is the ]. Following the Age of Aquarius will be the Age of ], then the Age of ] and so on. | |||
| There are various methods of calculating the boundaries of an astrological age. In Sun-sign ], the first sign is ], followed by ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], whereupon the cycle returns to Aries and through the zodiacal signs again. Astrological ages proceed in the opposite direction. Therefore, the Age of Aquarius follows the ].{{refn| {{harvp|Spencer|2000|pp=115–127}} chapter 7, "Love shall steer the stars – the long dawning of the age of Aquarius.<ref name=Spencer-2000/> }} | |||
| ==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| The approximate 2,160 years for each age corresponds to the average time it takes for the vernal ] to move from one ] of the ] into the next. This average can be computed by dividing the Earth's 25,800 year ] period by 12, the number of ]. This is only a rough calculation, as the length of time it takes for a complete precession is currently increasing. A more accurate set of figures is 25,772 years for a complete cycle and 2,147.5 years per astrological age, assuming a constant precession rate. According to various astrologers' calculations, approximate dates for entering the age of Aquarius range from {{nobr|1447 ]}} (Terry MacKinnell) to {{nobr|3597 {{sc|CE}}}} (John Addey).<ref name=Campion-1999>{{cite book |first=Nicholas |last=Campion |author-link=Nicholas Campion |year=1999 |title=The Book of World Horoscopes |pages=489–495}}</ref> | |||
| According to different ]' calculations, approximated dates for entering the Age of ] range from 1447 AD (Terry MacKinnell) to 3621 (John Addey)<ref>Nicholas Campion, "The Book of World Horoscopes", 1999, Pgs 489-495</ref>. The start date for the Aquarian age is highly contentious<ref>Neil Spencer, "True as the Stars Above", 2000, Pg 115</ref> and there is no uniform agreement upon the date or process leading from the previous Pisces age to the Aquarian age (or between any two ages). Nicholas Campion in "The Book of World Horoscopes" lists various references from mainly astrological sources for the start of the Age of Aquarius. The following is taken from Campion's book and lists the century and the number of people who claim that the Aquarian age commences in that century: 15th century 1, 16th 0, 17th 3, 18th 4, 19th 5, 20th century 29, 21st 7, 22nd 6, 23rd 2, 24th 12, 25th 8, 26th 7, 27th 7, 28th 6, 29th 1, 31st 1, 33rd 1, 36th 1 and 37th century 1. | |||
| Astrologers do not agree on when the Aquarian age will start or even if it has already started.<ref name=Spencer-2000>{{cite book |first=Neil |last=Spencer |year=2000 |title=True as the Stars Above |pages=115–127}}</ref>{{rp|style=ama|p= 115}} {{harvp|Campion|1999}} lists various references from mainly astrological sources for the start of the Age of Aquarius. Based on Campion's summary, most published materials on the subject state that the Age of Aquarius arrived in the 20th century (29 claims), with the 24th century in second place with 12 claimants.<ref name=Campion-1999/>{{efn| | |||
| ]s exists due to ]. Basically the stars and constellations appear to slowly rotate around the Earth independent of the diurnal and annual movements of the ] on its own axis and around the ]. This slow movement takes slightly less than 26,000 years to complete one cycle. Traditionally this rotation is calibrated for the purposes of the ]s by the location of the zodiacal constellations at the Vernal ] around the 21st March each year. Approximately every 2,160 years a new zodiacal constellation appears at the Vernal ]. However zodiacal constellations are not uniform in size and so some astrologers believe that the corresponding ages should also vary in time - this however is a contentious issue amongst astrologers. | |||
| Eight researchers claim the Aquarian age will arrive in the 25th century while the 21st, 26th, and 27th centuries have seven supporters each. Other centuries that have a number of supporters for the beginning of the Aquarian age include: 22nd and 23rd centuries (6 each); 19th century (5); and the 18th century (4).<ref name=Campion-1999/> | |||
| }} | |||
| Astrological ages are taken to be associated with the ]. The slow wobble of the Earth's rotation axis on the celestial sphere is independent of the ] rotation of the Earth on its own axis and the annual revolution of the Earth around the Sun. Traditionally this 25,800 year-long cycle is calibrated, for the purposes of determining astrological ages, by the perceived location of the Sun in one of the 12 zodiac constellations at the vernal (Spring) equinox, which corresponds to the moment the Sun is perceived as crossing the celestial equator, marking the start of spring in the ] each year. Roughly every 2,150 years the Sun's position at the time of the vernal equinox will have moved into a new zodiacal constellation. | |||
| In ], the ] defined the edges of the 88 official constellations. The edge established between ] and ] technically locates the beginning of the Aquarian Age around the year 2600. Many astrologers dispute this approach due to the varying sizes of the zodiacal constellations and that the zodiacal constellations overlap<ref>Ray Grasse, "Signs of the Times", 2002, Pg263</ref>. | |||
| In 1929 the ] defined the edges of the 88 official constellations. The edge established between ] and ] officially locates the beginning of the Aquarian Age around {{nobr|2600 {{sc|CE}}.}} Many astrologers dispute this approach because of the varying sizes and overlap between the zodiacal constellations.<ref name=Grasse-2002>{{cite book |first=Ray |last=Grasse |year=2002 |title=Signs of the Times |pages=263, 228–231 }}</ref>{{rp|style=ama|p= 263}} They prefer the long-established convention of equally-sized signs, spaced every 30 degrees along the ], which are named after what were the 12 background ]s when ] was codified {{circa| {{nobr|].}} }} | |||
| ==The Astrological Meaning of the Age of Aquarius== | |||
| Ages are believed by some astrologers to affect mankind while other astrologers believe the ages correlate to the rise and fall of mighty civilizations and cultural tendencies. For Aquarius, it is reported we have already been feeling influences in the accelerated individual, social, cultural, scientific and technological development and ] through the ]. Aquarius traditionally 'rules' electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealists, modernization, rebels and rebellions, mental diseases, nervous disorders, and astrology<ref>Rex E Bills, The Rulership Book, 1976, Pgs 362-365</ref>. Other keywords and ideas believed associated with ] are unconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverence, mankind and irresolution<ref>Geoffrey Dean, Recent Advances in Natal Astrology - A Critical Review 1900-1976, 1977, Pg54</ref>. The appearance or elevation in status of many of these Aquarian developments over the last few centuries is considered by many astrologers to indicate the proximity of the Aquarian age. There is no uniform agreement about the relationship of these recent Aquarian developments and the Age of ]. Some astrologers believe that the influence of a new age is expereinced before it arrives due to a cuspal effect or Orb of Influence. Other astrologers believe the appearance of Aquarian developments indicate the actual arrival of the Age of Aquarius. | |||
| ==Astrological meaning== | |||
| '''LCDR David Williams''' claims that the Age of ] arrived in c.], with the harbinger of the new age Mirza ali Muhammad (1819-1850), the founder of ]’ism. Williams adopts a sub-period approach to the ages whereby each age is divided into three ]. The three age-decans of the Aquarian Age in chronological order are ], ] and ]. Williams’s states that the world is currently in the Libran decan of the Age of ] which is why the world has been so affected by wars (due to ]) and revolutions (due to ]). He relates ideologies such as ], ] and ] to the arrival of the Age of ]. While Williams acknowledges the massive influx of technology associated with], he bemoans the creation of a race of morons willing to sit down and be spoon fed from their TV. Finally Williams debunks the notion that some new world leader, teacher, Messiah etc will arrive and instantly fix all the ills of the world. Though he acknowledges great progress since the Aquarian Age arrived in c.], the world will have to wait for the Aquarian decan of the Aquarian Age before the true brotherhood of man is experienced in the world<ref>LCDR David Williams, Simplified Astronomy for Astrologers, 1969, American Federation of Astrologers, Pgs 45-56</ref>. (According to Williams’ calculations, the Aquarian decan of the Age of Aquarius will arrive in c.3284, lasting until c.4004). | |||
| Astrologers believe that an astrological age affects humanity, possibly by influencing the rise and fall of civilizations or cultural tendencies. | |||
| Traditionally, Aquarius is associated with<ref>{{cite book |first=Rex E. |last=Bills |year=1974 |title=The Ruler-ship Book |pages=362–365 }}</ref><ref>{{cite periodical |first=Geoffrey |last=Dean |year=1977 |title=''Recent Advances in Natal Astrology'' – a critical review 1900–1976 |page=54 |periodical={{grey|periodical not cited}} |type=published book review}}</ref>{{full citation|date=November 2024}} | |||
| '''Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas''' promoted the view that though no one knows when the Aquarian age begins, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution and the discovery of electricity are all attributable to the Aquarian age<ref>Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science, 1971, Pg 677</ref>. Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas make a number of predictions about the trends that they believe will develop in the Aquarian age. These include people becoming more impersonal (detached) but also more altrusitic and humane. Developments involving flight and space travel will result in decentralization. Inner cities will shrink and burgeoning outer suburbs and industrial areas will reduce congestion<ref>Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science, 1971, Pg 687</ref>. | |||
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| Among other dates, one view is that the age of Aquarius arrived around 1844, with the harbinger of ] (1819–1850), who founded ].<ref>{{cite book |first=David |last=Williams |year=1969 |title=Simplified Astronomy for Astrologers |publisher=] |pages=45–56 }}</ref> | |||
| {{harvp|Moore|Douglas|1971}} promoted the view that, although no one knows when the Aquarian age begins, the ], the ], and the ] are all attributable to Aquarian influence. They make a number of predictions about the trends that they believe will develop in the Aquarian age.<ref name=Moore-Douglas-1971>{{cite book |first1=Marcia |last1=Moore |author1-link=Marcia Moore |first2=Mark |last2=Douglas |year=1971 |title=Astrology, the Divine Science |pages=677, 687 }}</ref> | |||
| '''Vera Reid''' takes a common position expressed by many astrologers and ]rs about the Age of ]. Vera Reid sees the Age of ] as that time when mankind takes control of the ] and his own destiny as his rightful heritage. As such, mankind will become the 'Son of God'. Reid believed that the keyword for Aquarius is ']'. The destiny for mankind in the Age of ] is the revelation of truth and the expansion of ]<ref>Vera W Reid, Towards Aquarius, 1971, Pgs 97-99</ref>. Reid also believes that the many crises the world is experiencing is attributable to the waning days of the Age of ] meeting the incoming tide of ] - with the transition between ages lasting for approximately 280 years. Reid also promotes the idea that some people will experience mental enlightenement in advance of others and therefore be recognised as the new leaders in the world<ref>Vera W Reid, Towards Aquarius, 1971, Pg 108-116</ref>. | |||
| Proponents of medieval astrology suggest that the Pisces world where religion is the ] will be replaced in the Aquarian age by a world ruled by secretive, power-hungry elites seeking absolute power over others; that knowledge in the Aquarian age will only be valued for its ability to win wars; that knowledge and science will be abused, not industry and trade; and that the Aquarian age will be another ] in which ] is considered offensive.<ref>{{cite periodical |first=Robert |last=Zoller |date=September 2002 |title=The use of archetypes in prediction |periodical=The Federation of Australian Astrologers (FAA) Journal |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=37–53 }}</ref> | |||
| Another view suggests that the rise of ], combined with the fall of religious influence, the increasing focus on ] since the 1780s, the exponential growth of technology, plus the advent of flight and space travel, are evidence of the dawning of the age of Aquarius.<ref name=Spencer-2000/>{{rp|style=ama|pp= 126–127}}<ref>{{cite book |first=Louis |last=MacNeice |year=1989 |title=Astrology |publisher=Bloomsbury Books |place=London, UK |pages=100–101 }}</ref> | |||
| A "wave" theory of the shifting ''great ages'' suggests that the age of Aquarius will not arrive on a given date, but is instead emerging in influence over many years, similar to how ] rises gradually, by small increments, rather than surging forward all at once.<ref name=Grasse-2002/>{{rp|style=ama|pp= 228–231}} | |||
| '''Louis McNeice''' reports that Rupert Gleadow saw the Age of ] ruled by the planet ] and thus in the Age of ] the attributes of ] such as inventions, machines, world wide organizations, international collaboration and the Brotherhood of Man would spread. McNeice also states that Ingrid Lind believes the Age of ] has already arrived and the recent appearance of modern ideas and inventions supports this assertion<ref>Louis McNeice, Astrology, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989 Pgs100-1</ref>. McNeice also reports that Gleadow believed that the recent historical conflicts in the world (presumerably the 20th century) correlates to the conflict between ], the ancient ruler of ] and ], the modern ruler of ]. Gleadow states that Saturn represents control, restrictions and slavery while Uranus represents culture, civilization and intelligence. Though Gleadow viewed ] as a 'good' planet, the famous astrologer Raphael<ref>There have been a succession of Raphaels since the first Raphael (Robert Cross Smith b.1795 d.1832) commenced publishing an annual almanac titled "Raphael's Ephemeris" - the longest running astrological publication in the world - Source - James Holden, "A History of Horoscopic Astrology", 2006, Pgs 203-4</ref> believed ] to be evil and truly malefic<ref>Louis McNeice, Astrology, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989 Pgs183</ref> | |||
| ] believed that the age of Aquarius will arrive in {{nobr|3573 {{sc|CE}}.}} In Steiner's approach, each age is exactly 2,160 years. Based on this structure, the world has been in the age of Pisces since 1413. Rudolf Steiner had spoken about two great spiritual events: The return of ] in the ethereal world (and not in a physical body), because people must develop their faculties until they can reach the ethereal world; and the incarnation of ], ]'s "destructive spirit" that will try to block the development of humanity.<ref>{{cite book |first=Christian |last=Lazaridès |year=1989 |title=Vivons-nous les commencements de l'Ere des Poissons |lang=fr |trans-title=Are we living in the age of Pisces? |publisher=Editions anthroposophiques romandes |pages=143–155 }}</ref> | |||
| '''Ray Grasse''' provides a guide to the Aquarian Age analogous to a travel guide for someone entering a foreign land. Grasse suggests that if you want help navigating through the Aquarian Age you should: leave room for silence in your life; create a center in your life (preferably involving a connection to the Absolute); and resist the deadening of your world so instead or filling up your life with manufactured goods or artificiality, bring living organic things into your life. Furthermore you need to maintain a compassionate heart; be involved in a network or group; become more self-reliant; avoid being hypnotized by the "group trance"; and take control of your everyday attitudes (i.e. don't depend upon external events for your inner fulfilment). This last point is relevant as Grasse states - how do we know if the Age of Aquarius will be "a utopia or an Orwellian nightmare"<ref>Ray Grasse, "Signs of the Times", 2002, Pgs228-231</ref>. | |||
| In a 1890 article about ] in the French newspaper '']'' on 26 February 1890, ] stated: "About March, 21st this year the cycle of Aquarius will start. Aquarius is the house of the woman". He adds that is in this age the woman will be "equal" to the man.<ref>{{cite news |first=A. |last=van de Kerkhove |author-link=August Vandekerkhove |date=26 February 1899 |title={{grey|}} |at={{grey|}} |newspaper=] |others=Durand, Marguerite (directrice) |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6703564g |via=Gallica (gallica.bnf.fr) |access-date=2021-02-11 |lang=fr}} <!-- Feb 26 edition is only 6 pages long; text appears to be modern-idiom French; article with astrological terms appears in the rightmost column of page_5 / leftmost of page_6. --> </ref>{{full citation|date=November 2024}} | |||
| '''Terry MacKinnell''' states that the Age of Aquarius arrived between 1441 and 1433 CE. Mackinnell adopts a number of innovative approaches to the astrological ages. One key point is that in the Aquarian age the most powerful sign is Pisces from the momentum of the previous Pisces age. Nevertheless emergent historical developments since the 15th century are orientated to Aquarius. Aquarius is considered a 'modern' sign and Mackinnell claims that modernity is the Age of Aquarius. Furthermore, many historians claim that the modern world developed from the 15th century onwards, in support of the Aquarian age arriving in the 15th century. MacKinnell also claims that the USA is the current age empire similar to the former age empires of Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in their respective ages<ref>Terry MacKinnell, "The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius", published in "Astrological Monthly Review" (Australia and New Zealand), Vol 67 No. 2 February 2005, Pgs 36 - 41</ref>. | |||
| ] philosopher ] declared 4 February 1962 to be the beginning of the "age of Aquarius", heralded by the alignment of the first six planets, the Sun, the Moon and the constellation ].<ref>{{cite book |first=Andrew |last=Dawson |year=2007 |title=New Era, New Religions: Religious transformation in contemporary Brazil |publisher=] |page=56 }}</ref> | |||
| == Esoteric Christian tradition == | |||
| ] ] mentions the "age of Aquarius" in his book ], believing that the "age of Aquarius" will ''"constellate the problem of the ]"''.<ref>{{cite book |first=C.G. |last=Jung |author-link=Carl Jung |year=2009 |title=Liber Novus |at=ftn 273, page 316 }}</ref> In accordance with prominent astrologers, Jung believed the "age of Aquarius" will be a dark and spiritually deficient time for humanity, writing that | |||
| According to the ] tradition, ] and later ], the proximity and entrance in the Age of Aquarius - occurring after the present Age of Pisces (or age ruled by the "Sword") - will bring to the majority of human beings the discovery, true living and real knowledge of the inner and deeper Christian teachings which the ] spoke of in ] and ]. This age is regarded as an intermediary preparation toward the Christ in the ], the ]: the "''new heavens and a new earth''" to come in a future not identified time. In the Aquarian age at hand it is expected a great spiritual Teacher to come ("''is coming''"), through the school which works as herald of this age, in order "''to give the Christian Religion impetus in a new direction''" <ref>], ''Gleanings of a Mystic (, )'', ISBN 0-911274-87-1</ref>. | |||
| : "it will no longer be possible to write off evil as the mere ]; its real existence will have to be recognized in the ''age of Aquarius''". | |||
| According to ]'s interpretation of astrology, the "age of Pisces" began with the birth and death of Christ, associating the ] (colloquially known as the "Jesus fish") with the symbol of Pisces; following the "age of Pisces" would be the "age of Aquarius", the spiritually deficient age before the arrival of the ].<ref>{{cite book |first=C.G. |last=Jung |author-link=Carl Jung |year=1951 |title=Aion |series=] |volume=9, Part II |section=Chapter IV, The sign of the fishes }}</ref> | |||
| ==Popular culture references== | |||
| In popular culture, the expression "Age of Aquarius" usually refers to the heyday of the ] and ] "movement" of the ] and ]. The ] is more accurately a phenomenon, not a movement, and yet seen by many as the harbinger of this future change-over of values associated with the arrival or imminent arrival of the Age of ]. | |||
| ==Common cultural associations== | |||
| This ] phenomenon is seen by some astrologers to be marked by the conjunction of the planet ], ruler of the sign ], and the coming age, with ], ruler of the masses, bringing radical change, in the 1960's. However, as the ] relates, it is only considered by Astrologers as the "dawning" of the age, and the song does not indicate the actual start of the Age of ] - an issue that remains in dispute. | |||
| The expression "age of Aquarius" in popular culture usually refers to the heyday of the ] and ] movements in the 1960s and 1970s.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} | |||
| The 1967 ] '']'', with its opening song ] and the line ''"This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius"'', brought the Aquarian age concept to the attention of audiences worldwide. However, the song further defines this dawning of the age within the first lines: | |||
| : "When the Moon is in the ] | |||
| : and Jupiter aligns with Mars, | |||
| : then peace will guide the planets | |||
| : and love will steer the stars".{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} | |||
| Astrologer ] denounced the lyrics as ''"astrological gibberish"'', noting that ] aligns with ] several times a year and the ] is in the 7th ] for two hours every day.<ref name=Spencer-2000/>{{rp|style=ama|p= 124}} | |||
| The Japanese ] and ] series '']'' borrows its name from this, but has no other connections to this or the ] movement. | |||
| The ] music festival was billed as ''"an Aquarian exposition"''.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Aquarian exposition at Woodstock 1969 |website=The Real Woodstock Story |url=http://www.woodstockstory.com/aquarianexposition.html |via=woodstockstory.com }}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| {{Portal|1960s}} | |||
| * {{annotated link|Aeon of Horus}} | |||
| * {{annotated link|Axial precession}} | |||
| * {{annotated link|Tetramorph}} | |||
| == |
==Footnotes== | ||
| {{notelist|199em}} | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|25em}} | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] (song) | |||
| *] (album) | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| *{{Wikiquote-inline}} | |||
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| * | |||
| {{New Age Movement|state=uncollapsed}} | |||
| {{New Religious Movements}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Age Of Aquarius}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 14:48, 9 December 2024
Astrology term For other uses, see Age of Aquarius (disambiguation).
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The Age of Aquarius, in astrology, is either the current or forthcoming astrological age, depending on the method of calculation. Astrologers maintain that an astrological age is a product of the Earth's slow precessional rotation and lasts for 2,160 years, on average (one 25,920 year period of precession, or great year, divided by 12 zodiac signs equals a 2,160 year astrological age).
There are various methods of calculating the boundaries of an astrological age. In Sun-sign astrology, the first sign is Aries, followed by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, whereupon the cycle returns to Aries and through the zodiacal signs again. Astrological ages proceed in the opposite direction. Therefore, the Age of Aquarius follows the Age of Pisces.
Overview
The approximate 2,160 years for each age corresponds to the average time it takes for the vernal equinox to move from one constellation of the zodiac into the next. This average can be computed by dividing the Earth's 25,800 year gyroscopic precession period by 12, the number of zodiacal signs. This is only a rough calculation, as the length of time it takes for a complete precession is currently increasing. A more accurate set of figures is 25,772 years for a complete cycle and 2,147.5 years per astrological age, assuming a constant precession rate. According to various astrologers' calculations, approximate dates for entering the age of Aquarius range from 1447 CE (Terry MacKinnell) to 3597 CE (John Addey).
Astrologers do not agree on when the Aquarian age will start or even if it has already started. Campion (1999) lists various references from mainly astrological sources for the start of the Age of Aquarius. Based on Campion's summary, most published materials on the subject state that the Age of Aquarius arrived in the 20th century (29 claims), with the 24th century in second place with 12 claimants.
Astrological ages are taken to be associated with the precession of the equinoxes. The slow wobble of the Earth's rotation axis on the celestial sphere is independent of the diurnal rotation of the Earth on its own axis and the annual revolution of the Earth around the Sun. Traditionally this 25,800 year-long cycle is calibrated, for the purposes of determining astrological ages, by the perceived location of the Sun in one of the 12 zodiac constellations at the vernal (Spring) equinox, which corresponds to the moment the Sun is perceived as crossing the celestial equator, marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere each year. Roughly every 2,150 years the Sun's position at the time of the vernal equinox will have moved into a new zodiacal constellation.
In 1929 the International Astronomical Union defined the edges of the 88 official constellations. The edge established between Pisces and Aquarius officially locates the beginning of the Aquarian Age around 2600 CE. Many astrologers dispute this approach because of the varying sizes and overlap between the zodiacal constellations. They prefer the long-established convention of equally-sized signs, spaced every 30 degrees along the ecliptic, which are named after what were the 12 background zodiacal constellations when tropical astrology was codified c. 100 CE.
Astrological meaning
Astrologers believe that an astrological age affects humanity, possibly by influencing the rise and fall of civilizations or cultural tendencies.
Traditionally, Aquarius is associated with
- electricity
- computers
- flight
- democracy
- freedom
- humanitarianism
- idealism
- modernization
- nervous disorders
- rebellion
- nonconformity
- philanthropy
- veracity
- perseverance
- humanity
- irresolution
Among other dates, one view is that the age of Aquarius arrived around 1844, with the harbinger of Siyyid ʿAlí Muḥammad (1819–1850), who founded Bábism.
Moore & Douglas (1971) promoted the view that, although no one knows when the Aquarian age begins, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the discovery of electricity are all attributable to Aquarian influence. They make a number of predictions about the trends that they believe will develop in the Aquarian age.
Proponents of medieval astrology suggest that the Pisces world where religion is the opiate of the masses will be replaced in the Aquarian age by a world ruled by secretive, power-hungry elites seeking absolute power over others; that knowledge in the Aquarian age will only be valued for its ability to win wars; that knowledge and science will be abused, not industry and trade; and that the Aquarian age will be another dark age in which religion is considered offensive.
Another view suggests that the rise of scientific rationalism, combined with the fall of religious influence, the increasing focus on human rights since the 1780s, the exponential growth of technology, plus the advent of flight and space travel, are evidence of the dawning of the age of Aquarius.
A "wave" theory of the shifting great ages suggests that the age of Aquarius will not arrive on a given date, but is instead emerging in influence over many years, similar to how the tide rises gradually, by small increments, rather than surging forward all at once.
Rudolf Steiner believed that the age of Aquarius will arrive in 3573 CE. In Steiner's approach, each age is exactly 2,160 years. Based on this structure, the world has been in the age of Pisces since 1413. Rudolf Steiner had spoken about two great spiritual events: The return of Christ in the ethereal world (and not in a physical body), because people must develop their faculties until they can reach the ethereal world; and the incarnation of Ahriman, Zoroaster's "destructive spirit" that will try to block the development of humanity.
In a 1890 article about feminism in the French newspaper La Fronde on 26 February 1890, August Vandekerkhove stated: "About March, 21st this year the cycle of Aquarius will start. Aquarius is the house of the woman". He adds that is in this age the woman will be "equal" to the man.
Gnostic philosopher Samael Aun Weor declared 4 February 1962 to be the beginning of the "age of Aquarius", heralded by the alignment of the first six planets, the Sun, the Moon and the constellation Aquarius.
Psychoanalyst Carl Jung mentions the "age of Aquarius" in his book Aion, believing that the "age of Aquarius" will "constellate the problem of the union of the opposites". In accordance with prominent astrologers, Jung believed the "age of Aquarius" will be a dark and spiritually deficient time for humanity, writing that
- "it will no longer be possible to write off evil as the mere privation of good; its real existence will have to be recognized in the age of Aquarius".
According to Jung's interpretation of astrology, the "age of Pisces" began with the birth and death of Christ, associating the ichthys (colloquially known as the "Jesus fish") with the symbol of Pisces; following the "age of Pisces" would be the "age of Aquarius", the spiritually deficient age before the arrival of the Antichrist.
Common cultural associations
The expression "age of Aquarius" in popular culture usually refers to the heyday of the hippie and New Age movements in the 1960s and 1970s.
The 1967 musical Hair, with its opening song "Aquarius" and the line "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius", brought the Aquarian age concept to the attention of audiences worldwide. However, the song further defines this dawning of the age within the first lines:
- "When the Moon is in the seventh house
- and Jupiter aligns with Mars,
- then peace will guide the planets
- and love will steer the stars".
Astrologer Neil Spencer denounced the lyrics as "astrological gibberish", noting that Jupiter aligns with Mars several times a year and the Moon is in the 7th house for two hours every day.
The Woodstock music festival was billed as "an Aquarian exposition".
See also
- Aeon of Horus – Era of time in the religion of Thelema
- Axial precession – Change of rotational axis in an astronomical body
- Tetramorph – Symbolic arrangement of four differing elements
Footnotes
- Eight researchers claim the Aquarian age will arrive in the 25th century while the 21st, 26th, and 27th centuries have seven supporters each. Other centuries that have a number of supporters for the beginning of the Aquarian age include: 22nd and 23rd centuries (6 each); 19th century (5); and the 18th century (4).
References
- "When will the Age of Aquarius begin?". Human world. EarthSky (earthsky.org). 8 January 2021.
- Powell, Robert (1979). The Sidereal Zodiac. Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers. p. 45. ISBN 978-0904693072.
- ^ Spencer, Neil (2000). True as the Stars Above. pp. 115–127.
- Spencer (2000), pp. 115–127 chapter 7, "Love shall steer the stars – the long dawning of the age of Aquarius.
- ^ Campion, Nicholas (1999). The Book of World Horoscopes. pp. 489–495.
- ^ Grasse, Ray (2002). Signs of the Times. pp. 263, 228–231.
- Bills, Rex E. (1974). The Ruler-ship Book. pp. 362–365.
- Dean, Geoffrey (1977). "Recent Advances in Natal Astrology – a critical review 1900–1976". periodical not cited (published book review). p. 54.
- Williams, David (1969). Simplified Astronomy for Astrologers. American Federation of Astrologers. pp. 45–56.
- Moore, Marcia; Douglas, Mark (1971). Astrology, the Divine Science. pp. 677, 687.
- Zoller, Robert (September 2002). "The use of archetypes in prediction". The Federation of Australian Astrologers (FAA) Journal. Vol. 32, no. 3. pp. 37–53.
- MacNeice, Louis (1989). Astrology. London, UK: Bloomsbury Books. pp. 100–101.
- Lazaridès, Christian (1989). Vivons-nous les commencements de l'Ere des Poissons [Are we living in the age of Pisces?] (in French). Editions anthroposophiques romandes. pp. 143–155.
- van de Kerkhove, A. (26 February 1899). "[title not cited]". La Fronde (in French). Durand, Marguerite (directrice). . Retrieved 2021-02-11 – via Gallica (gallica.bnf.fr).
- Dawson, Andrew (2007). New Era, New Religions: Religious transformation in contemporary Brazil. Ashgate Publishing. p. 56.
- Jung, C.G. (2009). Liber Novus. ftn 273, page 316.
- Jung, C.G. (1951). "Chapter IV, The sign of the fishes". Aion. The Collected Works of C.G. Jung. Vol. 9, Part II.
- "An Aquarian exposition at Woodstock 1969". The Real Woodstock Story – via woodstockstory.com.
External links
Quotations related to Age of Aquarius at Wikiquote
