Age of Aquarius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Age of Aquarius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the astrological time period. For other uses with the term Aquarius, see
Aquarius (disambiguation).
"The Age of Aquarius" redirects here. For the song, see Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.
The Age of Aquarius is an astrological term denoting 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 (26,000 year period of precession
/ 12 zodiac signs = 2,160 years). In popular culture, the Age of Aquarius refers to the advent of the New
Age movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
There are various methods of calculating the length 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, however, proceed in the opposite direction ("retrograde" in astronomy). Therefore, the
Age of Aquarius follows the Age of Pisces.[1]

Contents
1 Overview
2 Astrological meaning
2.1 David Williams
2.2 Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas
2.3 Vera Reid
2.4 Robert Zoller
2.5 Neil Spencer
2.6 Louis MacNeice
2.7 Ray Grasse
2.8 Rudolf Steiner
2.9 Terry MacKinnell
2.10 Yogi Bhajan
2.11 August Vandekerkhove
3 Common cultural associations
4 See also
5 References

Overview
The approximate 2,150 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 can be computed by dividing the earth's

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25,800 year gyroscopic precession period by twelve, the number of Zodiac constellations used by
astrologers. According to different astrologers' calculations, approximated dates for entering the Age of
Aquarius range from 1447 AD (Terry MacKinnell) to 3597 (John Addey).[2]
Astrologers do not agree on when the Aquarian age will start or even if it has already started.[3] Nicholas
Campion in The Book of World Horoscopes lists various references from mainly astrological sources for
the start of the Age of Aquarius. Based on the research by Nicholas Campion, most published material
on the subject state that the Age of Aquarius arrived in the 20th century (29 claims), with the 24th
century in second place with twelve claimants.[4]
Astrological ages exist as a result of precession of the equinoxes. The slow wobble of the earth's spin
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 location of the sun in one of the twelve zodiac
constellations at the vernal equinox, which corresponds to the moment the sun rises above 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.
However zodiacal constellations are not uniform in size, leading some astrologers to believe that the
corresponding ages should also vary in duration. This however is a contentious issue amongst
astrologers.
In 1929 the International Astronomical Union defined the edges of the 88 official constellations. The
edge established between Pisces and Aquarius technically locates the beginning of the Aquarian Age
around 2600 AD. Many astrologers dispute this approach because of the varying sizes and overlap
between the zodiacal constellations.[5]

Astrological meaning
Astrologers believe that an astrological age affects mankind, 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, astrology, nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity,
philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, humanity, and irresolution.[6][7]
Many astrologers consider the appearance of many of these Aquarian developments over the last few
centuries indicative of the proximity of the Aquarian age. However, there is no agreement on the
relationship of these recent Aquarian developments and the Age of Aquarius.

David Williams
David Williams claims that the Age of Aquarius arrived around 1844, with the harbinger of the Siyyid
`Al Muammad (18191850), who founded Bbism. Williams adopts a sub-period approach to the ages
whereby each age is divided into three decans. The three age-decans of the Aquarian Age in
chronological order are Libra, Gemini and Aquarius. Williams states that the world is currently in the

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Libran decan of the Age of Aquarius which is why the world has been so affected by wars (due to Libra)
and revolutions (due to Aquarius). He attributes the rise of socialism, communism, and fascism to the
Age of Aquarius.
Though he acknowledges great progress since the Aquarian Age arrived about 1844, the world will have
to wait for the Aquarian decan of the Aquarian Age before the true fellowship of mankind is experienced
in the world.[8] (According to Williams's calculations, the Aquarian decan of the Age of Aquarius will
arrive in about 3284, lasting until about 4004).

Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas

Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas 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 the Aquarian Age.[9] Moore and Douglas make a number of predictions about the trends
that they believe will develop in the Aquarian Age. These include people becoming more impersonal,
yet more altruistic 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.[10]

Vera Reid
Vera Reid takes a common position expressed by many astrologers and New Agers about the Age of
Aquarius. Reid sees the Age of Aquarius as that time when mankind takes control of the Earth and its
own destiny as its rightful heritage. As such, mankind will become the "Son of God" (Aquarius13). Reid
believed that the keyword for Aquarius is "enlightenment". The destiny of mankind in the Age of
Aquarius is the revelation of truth and the expansion of consciousness.[11]
Reid also believed that many of the world's crises are attributable to the waning days of the Age of
Pisces meeting the incoming tide of Aquarius, with the transition between ages lasting approximately
280 years. Reid also promoted the idea that some people will experience mental enlightenment in
advance of others and therefore be recognized as the new leaders in the world.[12]

Robert Zoller
Robert Zoller is a proponent of medieval astrology. Zollers predictions for the Age of Aquarius 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. Families will
dissolve completely, or family ties will be hidden. Zoller also believes that knowledge in the Aquarian
Age will only be valued for its ability to win wars; scientists may even be able to precipitate earthquakes
for military means, and the danger in the Aquarian Age is that knowledge and science will be abused,
not industry and trade. Zoller sees the Aquarian Age as a Dark Age in which religion will be seen as
offensive.[13]

Neil Spencer

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Neil Spencer states that the rise of scientific rationalism, combined with the fall of religious influence, is
possibly an indication of the Age of Aquarius. He maintains that the increasing focus on human rights
since the 1780s is another indicator. Spencer points to the exponential growth of technology, especially
of computers and the Internet, plus the advent of flight and space travel, as examples of the dawning of
the Age of Aquarius.
Spencer questions the New Age utopian view of the Age of Aquarius with the modern astrological
perspective that each sign is different but equal. Possible negative examples of Aquarius include
dumbed-down media and consumerism and multinational corporations. Finally, Spencer states that
nuclear power must be a manifestation of the Aquarian Age and comments on the parallel between the
25,000 years it takes for uranium to decay with the 26,000-year cycle of the astrological ages.[14] No
isotopes of uranium have a half-life of 25,000 years, however; naturally occurring forms have half-lives
of 4.5 billion years (U-238), 704 million years (U-235), and 245,500 years (U-234). Spencer might have
been thinking of plutonium, as Pu-239 has a half-life of 24,100 years.

Louis MacNeice
Louis MacNeice reports that Rupert Gleadow saw the Age of Aquarius ruled by Uranus and thus in the
Age of Aquarius the attributes of Uranus such as inventions, machines, worldwide organizations,
international collaboration, and the fellowship of mankind would spread. MacNeice also states that
Ingrid Lind believes the Age of Aquarius has already arrived and the recent appearance of modern ideas
and inventions supports this assertion.[15]
MacNeice also reports that Gleadow believed that the recent conflicts in the world (presumably the
20th century) correlate to the conflict between Saturn, ancient ruler of Aquarius and Uranus, modern
ruler of Aquarius. Gleadow states that Saturn represents control, restrictions, and slavery, while Uranus
represents culture, civilization, and intelligence. Though Gleadow viewed Uranus as a "good planet", the
famous astrologer Raphael[16] believed Uranus to be evil.[17]

Ray Grasse
Ray Grasse proposes a "wave" theory of the shifting Great Ages, suggesting 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 surges forward incrementally rather than all at once. He identifies certain historical periods as
especially significant points in that unfoldment, such as the French Revolution or the 1960s, but notes
that the full-blown expression of the Aquarian era may still be centuries away. Grasse regards the
Aquarian Age as neither inherently positive or negative, but as having a wide range of possible
expressions in different areas. Just as the Age of Pisces gave us both Jesus and the Spanish Inquisition,
so it's possible the Aquarian Age could bring us extraordinary technological or humanitarian
breakthroughs side-by-side with a world beset by corporate greed and environmental challenges.
Whichever way it turns out is not set in concrete, though, since we have free will in how we choose to
manifest its potentials, or at least in the way we choose to respond as individuals. That said, the
determinist view is that there is no actual free will, just the appearance in a cosmically predetermined
extistential order. To help navigate through the emerging challenges, Grasse offers a set of suggestions

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one can follow, including: leave room for silence in your life; resist the deadening of your world by
making room for living organic things into your environment rather than entirely manufactured or
artificial goods; maintain a compassionate heart; avoid being hypnotized by the "group trance"; and
become more self-reliant and take control of your everyday attitudes (i.e., do not depend upon external
events for your inner fulfillment). This last point is relevant because, as Grasse states, "How do we know
if the Age of Aquarius will be 'a utopia or an Orwellian nightmare?'"[18]

Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner believes that the Age of Aquarius will arrive in 3573 AD. In Steiners approach to the
astrological ages, each age is exactly 2,160 years. Based on this structure, the world has been in the Age
of Pisces since 1413 AD. This approach is based on a different astronomical basis compared to most
approaches to the astrological ages. Steiner utilizes the stars at 15 degrees in advance of the vernal point
as indicative of humanitys stage of evolution which explains why his ages appear about one half an age
later compared to most rectifications that place the Age of Pisces commencing in a range from 1 AD to
350 AD. In the Age of Pisces, people have to develop their own individuality. In the next Age of
Aquarius, people can have a spiritual brotherhood but if the brotherhood came now, peoples
individuality would not be strong enough. Rudolf Steiner has 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, Zoroasters
destructive spirit" that will try to block the evolution of humanity.[19] Rudolf Steiner was born on the
25/27 February, consequently making him a Pisces.

Terry MacKinnell
Steiners approach is very similar to that of Terry MacKinnell, who hypothesizes that the basis of the
astrological ages is the heliacal rising constellation instead of the Hipparchan vernal point which also
places his rectification almost half a sign in advance (15 degrees) of the common rectifications similar to
Steiner. However whereas Steiner has the Age of Pisces arriving in 1413, MacKinnell has the age of
Aquarius arriving in 1433 AD (or up to two years earlier). It appears that Steiner and MacKinnell are
one age apart in their rectification however MacKinnell clearly states that the strongest sign that
manifests in the Age of Aquarius is Pisces. So while MacKinnell has the Age of Aquarius arriving
around 1433 AD, the influence of Pisces exceeds Aquarius at this time.[20]

Yogi Bhajan
Siri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, known as Yogi Bhajan, taught that The Age of
Aquarius began on November 11, 1991[21] and fully transitioned from Pisces on November 20, 2011.

August Vandekerkhove
In an article about feminism in the French newspaper La Fronde from February 26, 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.

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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 New Age movement is more accurately a phenomenon and
yet seen by many as the harbinger of this future changeover of values associated with the arrival or
imminent arrival of the Aquarian age.
Although more rock than new-age in genre, the 1967 musical Hair, with its opening song "Aquarius"
and the memorable 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". Astrologist 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.[22] These lines are considered by many to be merely poetic license,
though some people take them literally. An example is the identification of Valentine's Day 2009 as the
"perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of love and peace and dawning of the Age of
Aquarius".[23] In popular culture, the new NBC television show Aquarius (http://www.inquisitr.com
/2125287/aquarius-charles-manson-charlie-manson-true-story-real-emma-nbc-tv-show-premiere-davidduchovny/), which premiered on May 28, 2015, is based on the Charles Manson case. The name relates
to the "dawn of Aquarius," also commonly referred to as the New Age way of thinking.

See also
Anthropocene
Astrological age
Woodstock

References
1. Neil Spencer, True as the Stars Above, 2000, pp. 11527 - chapter 7 - "Love Shall Steer the Stars - The Long
Dawning of the Age of Aquarius"
2. Nicholas Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes, 1999, pp. 48995
3. Neil Spencer, True as the Stars Above, 2000, p. 115
4. 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)
Nicholas Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, 1999, Pgs 489-495
5. Ray Grasse, Signs of the Times, 2002, p. 263
6. Rex E Bills, The Ruler-ship Book, 1974, pp. 362365
7. Geoffrey Dean, Recent Advances in Natal Astrology - A Critical Review 19001976, 1977, p. 54
8. David Williams, Simplified Astronomy for Astrologers, 1969, American Federation of Astrologers, pp. 4556
9. Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science, 1971, p. 677
10. Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas, Astrology, The Divine Science, 1971, p. 687
11. Vera W Reid, Towards Aquarius, 1971, pp. 9799
12. Vera W Reid, Towards Aquarius , 1971, pp. 108116
13. Robert Zoller, "The Use of Archetypes in Prediction", The FAA Journal September 2002 Volume 32 No 3
(Federation of Australian Astrologers), pp. 3753

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14. Neil Spencer, True as the Stars Above, 2000, pp. 1267
15. Louis MacNeice, Astrology, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989, pp. 1001
16. 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, pp. 2034
17. Louis MacNeice, Astrology, Bloomsbury Books, London, 1989, p. 183
18. Ray Grasse, Signs of the Times, 2002, pp. 228231
19. Christian Lazarids, "Vivons-nous les commencements de l'Ere des Poissons" - Editions anthroposophiques
romandes. 1989 pp. 143155
20. Terry MacKinnell, The Dawning Shedding New Light on the Astrological Ages, Xlibris, 2011, pp. 2967
ISBN 978-1-4568-8253-2
21. Shannahoff-Khalsa, David S. (2011). Kundalini Yoga Meditation for Complex Psychiatric Disorders. KRI.
pp. 1478. ISBN 9780393705683.
22. Neil Spencer, True as the Stars Above, 2000, p. 124.
23. Judecurrivan.com (http://www.judecurrivan.com/media-articles/articles/the-aquarian-alignment14th-february-2009/)

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