http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelineshttp://www.geocities.com/astrologyages/index.htmhttp://www.ianridpath.com/atlases/urania.htmhttp://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htmhttp://www.astraltraveler.com/calendars/egyptian.htmlThe Age of Leo (The Leonian Age)
Symbol for Leo:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Leo;
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Common interpretation: ca. 10,500 BC to 8000 BC.
Sacred Sites' interpretation: ca. 10,970 BC to 8810 BC:[24]
Constellation boundary year: (not calculated).
Overview "The Golden Age"
Historical similarities
The major event at this time was an ancient global warming to such a massive extent that it led to the deglaciation of what now constitutes much of the modern inhabitable world. The deglaciation ultimately caused a 300 foot (90 m) rise in the sea level. The sign Leo is a Fire sign and is traditionally ruled by the Sun in astrology, and it is entirely appropriate that in an Age ruled by the Sun, that the warmth of the Sun melted the glaciers that covered much of North America and Europe. Leo is also related to any kind of light source, and the carved stone oil lamp was invented during this time (Oil lamps existed previously, but this type was the first proper continuously-burning lamp.).
Religious Similarities Some researchers believe that the Great Sphinx was constructed in the Age of Leo. (See #New, alternative, and fringe theories.)
The Age of Cancer (The Cancerian Age)
Symbol for Cancer:
Also named as the 2 breasts...
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Cancer;
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation:[25] began in ca. 8126 BC and ended in ca. 5970 BC (the orb of influence started in ca. 8846 BC)
Neil Mann interpretation:[26] began in ca. 8600 BC and ended in ca. 6450 BC.
Constellation boundary year:
Shephard Simpson interpretation:[27]
Overview "The Age of the Great Mother." Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and is associated with the process of bearing, birthing, nurturing, and protecting.
Historical similarities The Neolithic Revolution, including the beginning of civilisation, with domestication of farm animals including pigs, goats & even bees. Some nomadic people settled down to living in permanent dwellings. For example, the city of Jericho, believed constructed during this age, was protected by a wall 12-17 ft (4 to 5 m) high & 5 ft (1.5 m) thick. (Cancer is always associated with 'protection' by utilizing an external barrier). There is also evidence of massive loss of coastal regions by the rising sea level following deglaciation of many areas on Earth. This loss of land caused the forced relocation of people to higher ground. Cancer's list of archetypes always include anything to do with the home (including houses, place of residence, migration).
Evidence of widespread use of boats including Noah's fabled Ark (maritime vessels of all types are ruled by Cancer).
Rise of pottery (a protective vessel conforming to one of Cancer's archetypes).
Religious similarities Widespread evidence of the mother goddess in the Near East (the `mother' archetype in all shapes and forms is always related to the sign Cancer).
The Age of Gemini (The Geminian Age)
Symbol for Gemini:
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Gemini;
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation: began in ca. 5970 BC and ended in ca. 3814 BC (the orb of influence started in ca. 6690 BC)
Neil Mann interpretation: began in ca. 6450 BC and ended in ca. 4300 BC.
Constellation boundary year: (not calculated).
Shephard Simpson interpretation: (none).
Overview "The Age of Communication, Trade and the Twins"
Historical similarities During this age writing developed, and trade started to accelerate. This corresponds to the symbols the Gemini constellation represents. The constellation can be seen as two people holding hands (thought to be twins), believed by some to be symbolic for trade and communication of peoples. Regardless of the lore associated with the constellation of Gemini, both writing (including literature, newspapers, journals, magazines and works of fiction) and trade (including merchants) are traditional archetypes belonging to the sign of Gemini.
The wheel, although having been used earlier as potter's wheels, was used for the first time for transportation purposes around the 5th millennium BC. Most forms of local transportation (horse and cart, bicycles, suburban trains, trams, cars, motorcycles, walking, roads, freeways etc) are archetypes associated with the sign of Gemini.
Religious similarities Multiple gods, such as the pantheon of gods in Ancient Greek literature, are believed to have appeared in this Gemini age probably in Sumer (Mesopotamia). (Gemini not only is associated with the archetype of `twins' and `duality' but also 'multiplicity')
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The Age of Taurus (The Taurean Age)
Symbol for Taurus:
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Taurus;
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation: began in ca. 3814 BC and ended in ca. 1658 BC (the orb of influence started in ca. 4534 BC)
Neil Mann interpretation: began in ca. 4300 BC and ended in ca. 2150 BC.
Constellation boundary year:
Shephard Simpson interpretation: began ca. 4525 BC to ca. 1875 BC
Overview "The Age of Earth, Agriculture and the Bull"
Historical similarities Bull worshiping cults began to form in Assyria, Egypt, and Crete which relates to Taurus symbolizing the bull. Main article: Bull (mythology)
This age is notable for the building of the pyramids, during the Old Kingdom of Egypt and the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. They personify structure, solidity, stability and attempts at eternity, keywords of Taurus. The completed Great Pyramid of Khufu, clad in smooth pure white limestone, must have been a sight of dazzling beauty in the sunlight. Beauty is another keyword of Taurus.
Taurus is associated with the metal copper, and bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) was for the first time smelted and worked into bronze swords during the early phase of this era.
Papyrus was invented during this time, enabling improved writing techniques. It could be manufactured into very long strips that could be rolled (but not yet folded) into scrolls or rolls for efficient storage and handling. (The Taurus glyph invokes the image of the partially-unrolled scroll).
Traits of Taurus such as 'stubbornness' and 'strength' but at the same time 'sensuality' may be attributed to civilizations such as Ancient Egypt's.
Religious similarities
Ankh: thoracic vertebra of a bull - Egyptian symbol of life
Worship of Apis, the bull-deity (see also Bull (mythology)), the most important of all the sacred animals in Egypt, said to be instituted during the Second Dynasty of the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt and worshipped in the Memphis region until the New Kingdom (16th century BC).
When Moses was said to have descended from the mountain with the ten commandments in this time, his followers were worshipping a golden bull calf.
Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (June 2008)
The Age of Aries (The Arian Age)
Symbol for Aries:
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Aries;
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation: began in ca. 1658 BC and ended in ca. AD 498
Neil Mann interpretation: began in ca. 2150 BCE and ended in ca. AD 1.
Constellation boundary year:
Shephard Simpson interpretation: began ca. 1875 BC to ca. 100 BC
Overview "The Age of War, Fire and the Ram"
Historical similarities Aries represents a Fire symbol as well as bold actions, a lot of these behaviors can be seen during any age. However, the themes emphasised during this age relate to courage, initiative, war & adventure. Nations during this age such as the expanding empires of China, Persia, Greece and Rome, are often cited as examples of the archetypes of Aries in action. Also the Aries constellation shows a ram running. This could correspond with the sacrifice of Abraham's Ram. While the number of names containing the sound of the ram during this period is noted: Ra (Sun God), Ram, Rama, Brahman, Brahma, Abram, Abraham, Amon Ra, and Ramesses I.[dubious – discuss] The battering ram was employed by the Assyrians, Greeks and Romans with great success during this time.[dubious – discuss] (The symbol of Mars, the planetary ruler of Aries, evokes this interpretation.)
Aries is associated with the metal iron, and iron ore was for the first time smelted and worked into iron swords in Anatolia during the early phase of this era, replacing the heavier, softer-metalled, duller-edged bronze swords of the previous Taurus Age.
Traits of Aries such as 'initiative' may suggest the explosion of originality in the development of social aspects, sciences and arts in regions such as Ancient Greece but at the same time traits such as 'Impulsivity' may be attributed to the various Wars of the time.
Religious similarities The Age of Aries ushered in efforts to replace polytheism with monotheism. The earliest known attempt was by the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, who, in about 1350 BC, decreed the Sun God Aten to be the supreme deity, apparently in reaction to his earlier lack of inclusion in religious rites by his family. After his death, however, power reverted to the original polytheistic priests, who re-established the old religion. Speculation (including that of Freud) has it that later, during the reign of Ramesses II, Moses was influenced by rumour of Akhenaten's revolutionary idea, and grasped the idea of a single supreme God, Who especially favoured His people, as an inspirational mechanism that best suited his people held in bondage. The symbol of Aries can be seen as representing the power of multiple gods streaming down into a single god-head.
Moses (born circa 16th–13th Century BC; 7 Adar 2368 - 7 Adar 2488 in the Hebrew calendar), an early Biblical Hebrew religious leader, lawgiver, prophet, and military leader, condemns his own people upon finding them worshiping a 'golden calf' (a symbol of the previous Age of Taurus and of the worship of the bull deity) after coming down Mount Sinai. These events may have occurred during the Age of Aries (see also Dating the Exodus overview).
See also:
Mithraism
The Mithraic Question and Precession
The Age of Pisces (The Piscean Age)
Symbol of Pisces:
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Pisces;
The Age of Pisces is technically the current age and astronomers and some astrologers believe it will remain so for approximately another 600 years. At that time, the vernal equinox point will no longer be facing Pisces, but moved into the constellation of Aquarius, thus beginning the Age of Aquarius. However there are many astrologers who believe that the Age of Aquarius has already arrived or will arrive soon.
Timeframes
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation: began in AD 498 (year understood as marking the "first point of Aries" alignment, Aries 0º, and the subsequent entrance in Pisces) and ends in ca. AD 2654 (the orb of influence started in ca. 222/220s BC).
Note: in this case, Aries 0° coincides with the Fall of Rome and subsequent "chaos" which gave origin to the Middle Ages (late 5th century); the orb of influence (10th degree of Aries) coincides with the pre-Second Punic War times (218-202 BC) and the earliest period that some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written (200s; within the 72 years of the 10th degree).
Neil Mann interpretation: began in ca. AD 1 and ends in ca. AD 2150.
Constellation boundary year:
Shephard Simpson interpretation: began ca. 100/90 BC and ends ca. AD 2680.
Overview
"The Age of Monotheism, Spirituality, and the Fish"
Popular culture references
"Age of Pisces" is also a song by 26 from his album "The Messiah," but is more a critique of the New Age Movement and the song "Aquarius" than a discussion of the Age of Pisces in general.
Historical similarities
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The Age of Pisces is characterized by the rise of many religions such as Christianity, Islam and Buddhism due to "spiritual" nature of Pisces and its ability to go beyond the boundaries of the physical world. The Age of Pisces is mainly marked by the continuous research of mankind about the truth hidden behind what's perceived by five senses. The New Age movement "celebrating" The Age of Aquarius is claimed by some to be a characteristic of The Age of Pisces.
Traits of Pisces such as being "gentle" and artistically able but at the same time "impractical" may hint to the dominance of European empires on the world.
Religious similarities
The Sermon on the Mount, which contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship.Pisces has, as its symbol, two fishes swimming in opposite directions, connected by a line joining each of their mouths. (The symbol shown above is the stylized short-hand version of that image). With a bit of imagination, this might be interpreted to mean each member of the Christian community are both fisher and fish - a complete reversal of the previous self-centred "me-first" approach of the previous Arian Age.
According to Matthew 4:19, Jesus says to two fishermen brothers (Simon called Peter, and Andrew) on the shore of Lake Galilee, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". These two fishermen could be thought to parallel the two fish in the symbol of Pisces. In the Book of Luke when Jesus is asked by Peter and John "where wilt thou that we prepare?" concerning the place of dining for the last supper, Jesus says to follow a man "bearing a pitcher of water" into the house he enters. A man bearing a pitcher of water also symbolizes the coming of the Age of Aquarius and is known as "the water bearer". In Astrology, the Age of Aquarius comes directly after the Age of Pisces.
(KJV - Luke 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. Luke 22:9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? Luke 22:10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.)
There are several biblical connections between Jesus and fish. The acronym for "Jesus Christ, God, One, Saviour" in Latin (Iesus Xristos Teos Unus Salvator) is the Greek word for fish = Ichthys.
Orthodox Christianity does not recognize the ages defined by astrology, nor the significance attributed to them by believers in astrology. The Jewish Kabbalah does, however, contain ancient references to astrological tradition.
The Age of Aquarius (The Aquarian age)
Main article: Age of Aquarius
Symbol for Aquarius:
The zodiacal signs:
the vernal equinox (northern hemisphere) is occurring in Aquarius;
Timeframes In 1928, at the Conference of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Leiden, the Netherlands, the edges of the 88 official constellations became defined in astronomical terms. The edge established between Pisces and Aquarius locates the beginning of the Aquarian Age around the year 2600.
The Austrian astronomer, Professor Hermann Haupt, examined the question of when the Age of Aquarius begins in an article published in 1992 by the Austrian Academy of Science: with the German title Der Beginn des Wassermannzeitalters, eine astronomische Frage? (The Start of the Aquarian Age, an Astronomical Question?). Based on the boundaries accepted by IAU in 1928, Haupt's article investigates the start of the Age of Aquarius by calculating the entry of the spring equinox point over the parallel cycle (d = - 4°) between the constellations Pisces and Aquarius and reaches, using the usual formula of precession (Gliese, 1982), the year 2595. However Haupt concludes:
"Though it cannot be expected that astrologers will follow the official boundaries of the constellations, there will be an attempt to calculate the entry of the spring equinox point into the constellation of Aquarius." ...
"As briefly has been shown, the results and methods of astrology in many areas, such as concerning the Aquarian age, are controversial on their own and cannot be called scientific because of the many esoteric elements."[28]
Zodiacal 30 degrees:
Heindel-Rosicrucian based interpretation: begins in ca. AD 2654[29] (the orb of influence started in ca. 1934/1930s).
Elsa M. Glover interpretation:[30] ca. AD 2638.
Neil Mann interpretation: begins AD 2150.
Dane Rudhyar was one of the most important astrologers of the 20th century. His many influential books helped reconcile astrology with modern psychology and free it from the deterministic trappings of the past. According to his interpretation, the Age of Aquarius will begin in AD 2062.
Nicholas Campion in "The Book of World Horoscopes" indicates that he has collected over 90 dates provided by researchers for the start of the Age of Aquarius and these dates have a range of over 2,000 years commencing in the 15th century AD.[31] The range of dates for the possible start of the Aquarian age range from 1447 to 3621.
Constellation boundary year:
Shephard Simpson interpretation: begins in ca. AD 2680.
Hermann Haupt interpretation begins in ca. AD 2595.
Overview "The Age of Freedom, Technology (especially electricity), and the Water Bearer"
There is an expectation that the Aquarian age will usher in a period of group consciousness.[32] Marcia Moore and Mark Douglas claim that the lighting up of the earth artificially by electricity is a sign of the Age of Aquarius.[33] Furthermore they see the appearance of dictators, self expression and the rising influence of the entertainment industry are linked to the Aquarian age by its opposite sign Leo.
Popular culture In popular culture, the expression "Age of Aquarius" usually refers to the heyday of the hippie and New Age movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
This New Age phenomenon is seen by some astrologers to be marked by the conjunction of the planet Uranus, ruler of the sign Aquarius, and the coming age, with Pluto, ruler of the masses, bringing radical change, in the 1960s. However, as the song relates, it is only considered by astrologers as the "dawning" or "cusp" of the Age, with the full strength of the Age not occurring until some time in the future.
The 1967 successful 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 a huge worldwide audience.
Historical Similarity: Current/Projected
Traits of Aquarius such as being 'humanitarian' but at the same time 'unemotional' may indicate to the emergence of active intergovernmental organisations and global solidarity movements.
