There are many questions concerning when the age of Aquarius will actually be here, and what the world it will be like when it does get here. Some technical explanation is needed before we can say when the next astrological age will start, and a look at what developed over the past ages can give us some indications as to what we might see in the Aquarian age, particularly in regards with religion.
The concept of an 'astrological age' is the result of the Moon causing the earth to "wobble" on its axis (the affects you can observe in real life by watching a toy top that has a constant wobble while it is spinning). This motion causes the positions of the stars to rotate as seen from the earth, and in today's diagram you can see how this wobble affects what we use the north star.
Today the earth's north celestial pole points towards Polaris (the present day north star), however in 500 BC it was pointing towards Kochab (which the ancient Greeks used as their north star). In 12,000 years Vega will be our north star and eventually the circle will come to Polaris again. It takes the earth 25,800 years to go through one of these cycles, which is called the precessional year, or the great year.
This movement also causes a BACKWARD rotation of the zodiac signs we use in sidereal astrology, so that approximately every 2,100 years, each starsign takes turn being the constellation the Sun is in front of on the first day of spring. Technically, whatever zodiac sign is behind the Sun on the first day of spring is what 'age' we are in. Over the last 2,000 years we were in the age of Pisces since the Sun is in front of the constellation Pisces on the first day of spring. It is now slowly changing, and soon (and for the NEXT 2,000 or so years) the constellation behind the Sun on the first day of spring will be Aquarius.
Why do all the newspapers, most astrologers, and books have the first day of spring, March 21, as being "Aries"? This is because they use what is called a "Tropical zodiac", a system that sets up the signs based on the seasons, and plots the planet positions in relation to the earth. The type of astrology that uses the actual position of the planets in relation to the stars is called "Sidereal astrology". The Sidereal system, then, is used to determine what "age" we are in, since the Tropical zodiac doesn't measure, or work with, any of the heavenly bodies outside our own solar system.
When there is a clear night sky you can go out and see the reason why it is difficult to determine when the Aquarian age, or when ANY "age" really begins. This is because there is no clear boundaries as to where one constellation ends and another begins (plus in some cases they even overlap!). Officially the age of Aquarius will begin when the sign of Aquarius is the zodiac sign behind the Sun on the first day of spring.
Usually when measuring any great time cycles such as ages, or even the rise and fall of civilizations (such as ancient Egypt or Rome) it is usually difficult to give one specific date as to when they begin and end. There are many valid opinions based on astrological and other occurrences as to when the Aquarian age starts, from as early as 1984, now, to 2001, 2012, 2157, and even as late as 2374.
Beginnings of the Aquarian Age
As with any cycle, a transition phase usually lies in-between one period and another, which has elements from both segments. In my opinion we are in this transition phase, since there are definite elements of both the Piscean and Aquarian age operating now throughout the world.
The seeds of the Aquarian Age can be said to have first sprouted in 1781 with the discovery of Uranus. Uranus is the planet of sudden, unconventional, and forceful action, as well as invention and revolution. Invention, because it's sudden flashes of light give birth to creative innovations, and revolution since it tends to overthrown conventional notions with directness, originality, and intuitive perspectives. Astrologically Uranus is an important planet to focus on for the Aquarian age, since this planet is assigned ruler ship of the sign of Aquarius.
The discovery of Uranus came at a time in history when humanity began to explore these very principles of Uranus. People in the late 1780's felt they were in the "Age of Invention", since technology was being developed at a rate never before experienced in so many social areas of life. They also felt they were living in the age of discovery, for this was the first time in recorded history - even in the astrology described in Atlantis - that a planet was discovered to exist beyond Saturn! One can imagine that this discovery gave those of this time the same feeling of accomplishment our generation had when the Apollo mission put a human on the Moon.
The resulting changes on the people during this period by the massive development of technology and innovation of thought led to drastically different social ideas, such as political independence from the monarchies and individual human rights (both Aquarian principles). It was also in the 18th century that many rebellions (social and political) created completely new societies, such as the American, Polish, and French revolutions in the late 1700's, followed by the unification of Italy (1861 - 70), Japan (1868), and Germany (1871).
The first ruler to emerge during this period who showed Aquarian attributes in his style of governing was an Aquarian himself: the American president Abraham Lincoln (whose biography is a must for those interested in Aquarians and the Aquarian Age). While his vision of a truly free society for all was finally put into print in 1864, it took exactly 100 years for the rest of American society to become conscious and accept this belief enough to live by it, with the passing of the Civil Rights law in 1964 under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Introduction: The Aquarian Age
(the age humanity is currently entering, and will last for the next 2,000 years)
In previous weeks we have looked through the entire recorded and pre-recorded history of humanity, and have seen how the traditions, practices, and even many symbols of the previous religious were closely associated with the astrological ages in which they existed. To describe what the upcoming 'new age' will be like, we simply need to look at the characteristics of Aquarius (and it's ruling planet, Uranus), as well as investigate growing current trends which relate to the Aquarian nature.
"When the Moon enters the 7th house, And Jupiter aligns with Mars, When peace is over all the planet... ...this is the dawning of the age of Aquarius...!"
............................................................from the late 60's musical - "Hair"
The song suggests when the planets are in a special place, the age of Aquarius will then begin. As mentioned earlier, whatever zodiac sign the Sun is in front of on the first day of spring is what age we are "in". This is difficult to determined during transitional periods, since the boundaries between any of the star constellations are not clearly defined. Because there already exist many Aquarian elements and trends in our society, we can basically say the Aquarian age has already begun!
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