Astronomy, Astrology and the Age of Aquarius

Whilst the Western World and many astrologers too, since decades talk about the Aquarius Age as the coming Golden Time again in history, rather rarely you hear the astrologers from the Asian and Eastern spheres tuting in this horn. However, the Indian philophers, historians and astrologers, alongside with many others of ancient civilisations, Eastern and Western, have the common belief in world ages with a stronger or weaker spiritual way of life. Most of cultures, ancient and modern ones, speak about the “Golden Age” which has been once and is again to come.
In ancient India this is called the Satya Yuga and its opponent, the Dark Age, is the Kali Yuga which ends now. There are many theories discussed about when an “Age” exactly ends, how long an “Age” lasts at average, and, when the “New Age” starts. Even more disputed is the length of transition periods in-between the different yugas or ages. The Kali Yuga (Iron Age) was preceded by three other Yugas: Satya or Krita Yuga (Golden Age), Treta Yuga (Silver Age) and the Dwapara Yuga (Bronze Age).
Astrology or rather astrnomy is much helpful in defining the duration of the various periods: all 2152 years the zodiac signs roll back one sign like now from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius. This move is called “precession”. The calculated 2152 years or, as some say, 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 is based on dividing the Earth’s Year by 12, the number of zodiacal signs. A full cycle through all twelf zodiac signs is, with 2152 multiplied by 12 signs, 25,827 years, which is also called Platonic Year relating to the Greek philosopher Plato, or, the Earth’s Year. Interestingly, a complete Yuga Cycle is composed of 24,000 years duration which is not based on precise astronomical calculations, it alludes more to the idea of the twelf-count system of time like one day having 24 hours.
Neither astronomy nor any other system, unfortunately, gives a clear answer of when exactly which age or yuga began. The time elapsing in-between, considered as the transitional period, is also not defined unerringly. Which does not diminish the importance that there is a common understanding of cycles with separate qualities of time, life and development of mankind. The Indian national epos ahabharata describes the Kali Yuga as the period when the “World Soul” is black. People turn to wickedness. Disease, lethargy, anger, natural calamities, anguish and fear dominate.
The ancient Maya likewise had a fairly distinct calender system by which a dark age also had come to end this time. Many people, including Mayan researcher John Major Jenkins believe that this has happened and that the Mayan calendar date corresponding to 21 December 2012 marked the beginning of the new age as then the solar system aligned in a special way with our Milky Way galaxy. In his books “Maya Cosmogenesis” and “Galactic Alignment,” John Major Jenkins provides ample architectural, cultural, symbolic, and mythological evidence to support his theory that the Mayan long count calendar was tuned to precession (five long counts are equal to 25,5625 years) and that 21 December 2012 was selected as the so-called end date to celebrate the Solstice Sun on the other galactic intersection (alignment2012.com/whatisga.htm). He also highlighted the galactic alignment of the Solstice points with the heavenly cross perfected in 1998 ( Jenkins, John Major, Galactic Alignment: The Transformation of consciousness According to Mayan, Egyptian, and Vedic Traditions, (Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company, 2002).
The entrance into the age of Aquarius, by some experts is seen in 1998, others highlight the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in December 2020, like the famous contemporary Indian astrologer Bejan Daruwalla. He points out that it was the first time since the Mediaval Times that this conjunction has happened in an Air sign, the Aquarius, with the two planets being within the distance of less than one degree to each other. This by some is considered as the starting point of the Age of Aquarius. The New Age he describes as: “ New age astrology is essentially about astrology of the Uranian age. It is all about a better you. … In a word, the new age astrology makes you directly and almost solely responsible for your present state of affairs. It infiltrates the design of psychology, even psychiatry, meditation, yoga, in fact all the techniques of self-improvement and making you feel good about yourself” (The New Age Astrology By Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-age-astrology-astrologer-bejan-daruwalla-contact-daruwalla-1d).
Learning about astrology is absolutely essential for anyone who is interested in the New Age. The Age of Aquarius is characterised by the understanding that everything and everyone in the universe is spiritually interconnected, that concept lends itself to a wide range of beliefs which promote it, such as the connection of everything in the cosmos, mystical power known as “energy” or “energy fields,” and, of course, astrology.

The forms of astrology which most people are familiar with Western astrology, Chinese astrology, Indian or Vedic astrology emphasizes the events in a person’s life and how to affect positive direction. In the New Age there is also an astrology favoured, some call it “karmic astrology”, which views the individual’s life as that which has been reincarnated for the purpose of completing that which had not been completed in his previous life aspects of himself and his life which he should improve, change, and grow.

In tune with this concept are New Age practices such as “alternative” medicine, which take numerous non-medical angles such as herbs and massage in the treatment of medical conditions, and, even more strongly stressed, and even in the absence of any such diseases or conditions, focusing on the individual person’s need to “heal.” As such, those who claim to be professionals in the scope of karmic astrology are far different from the more standard astrologers.

Where to Find Books on Astrology
Many books containing horoscopes and the like are readily found. You see them in supermarket checkout lanes and on the shelves of bookstores. But the best books on astrology, those that actually explain all aspects of the art and how to apply them to your life, are harder to find.

One way to find books on astrology is to visit a New Age or occult shop. When you visit these types of stores you will have two advantages to finding the books on astrology that you need. The first advantage is that these stores will only carry books on real astrology. You will not find mere horoscopes or books of sun signs on the shelves.
Considering the advantages of the communication technology, typical for the Age of Aquarius, the internet is the best way to find books on astrology. Doing a search for New Age books on astrology can bring up many online books with detailed descrptions to see which books matches your interest best, as well as book stores where you can do online orders. If you are unsure what you are looking for, you can email the store owner or help desk for information. The internet, furthermore, displays course offers and webinars to learn astrology from experts covering an wide range of various disciplines of astrology.
The Age of Aquarius has begun already with the commencement of the transition years and the qualities of the Aquarius Age, the spiritual growth and shift of values, societies and systems are experienced by more and more people every day. Certainly the best point of time to acquaint yourself with astrology to understand better the cosmic dynamics.

Anliveda