Astrology could well be called the science of cycles. Against the backdrop of greater and lesser cycles of time, a man lives out his life. Similarly, civilizations and races evolve in accordance with the ebb and flow of time. Any age marking the ending of cycles, and simultaneously the commencement of new cycles, is of interest, especially when these cycles have stretched out for thousands of years. Such are the times we live in. In particular, we are coming to the close of a precessional month, the so-called Age of Pisces, and entering the portals of the much-heralded Age of Aquarius. Moreover, we are experiencing the ending of a Platonic or Precessional Year, a complete cycle of precession through the twelve signs of the zodiac entailing approximately 25,800 years (exact figures differ slightly among astrologers).

Precession in this case refers to the precession of the equinoxes: a slow, westward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic caused by the action of sun and moon upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator. (from Webster's) Due to this celestial phenomenon, the Sun, while in the tropical sign of Aries, has risen at the spring equinox in the constellation of Pisces for the last approximately 2,144 years. This time period has been called, therefore, The Age of Pisces. In the previous 2,000-year period, the Sun rose at spring equinox in the constellation of Aries, and prior to that in the constellation of Taurus, etc., backward through the zodiac. These ages can be studied in terms of historical events of the times they represent as well as in sequence, indicative of a greater evolutionary scheme. We stand at the end of the Piscean age. While dates differ, astrologers agree that we are in an overlap time between reaping the dregs of the Age of Pisces, and the dawn of the Age of Aquarius. While the Aquarian Age shines with the brilliance of new hope, it is generally agreed that we must pass through the Dark Night of our karmic summing up in the end sign Pisces before the New Age of Aquarius can be fully upon us.

The Greek mathematician and astronomer Hipparchus, who lived around 100 years B.C., is generally credited with the discovery of the precession of the equinoxes. Most astrologers believe, however, that Hipparchus was bringing to light a previously known, and apparently forgotten fact. Astrologer Franz Cumont, writing at the beginning of this century, postulates that Hipparchus borrowed from the ancient astrologer-astronomers, the Chaldeans. In any case, a revival in modern times of the precessional theory was introduced by the Rosicrucians and the Theosophists in the last century. Esoteric tradition since then has depicted the Age of Aquarius as a potential Golden Age, a return to a time when the consciousness of the majority of the population, and therefore the socio-cultural norms they abide by, will be of a higher spiritual order. Peace will reign and government itself will reflect spiritual principles. This time is said to be preceded by a time of great earth changes, plagues, warfare and general global upheaval.

The Age of Pisces saw the birth of the great avatar Jesus Christ and the advent and growth of Christianity through the present time. Many of the tenets of Christianity such as mercy and compassion, the laying down of one's life for one's brother, turning the other cheek, illumination through faith, etc., are Piscean themes. The Teacher Jesus portrayed during his life a path of initiation, of triumph over sin, disease and death, the karma of mortality. Astrologically, Pisces rules the sea, a symbology that runs throughout the New Testament; the fishermen disciples becoming fishermen of men, Jesus walking upon the waters, the alchemy of the fish and the bread, etc. Even the bishop's miter is fish-shaped!

Astrologer Nicholas Campion in his essay The Great Year questions the astrological interpretation of the Age of Pisces from an historical viewpoint. He argues that if Pisces is a sign preferring peace and harmony, how can we then explain the bloody upheaval and materialism which has dominated the present age. Yet to attain peace, Pisces has to grapple with the contents of the subconscious and unconscious mind. This is a sign that calls for resolution with the records of the past, individually and collectively. Because so many records in the individual and race memory are traumatic, we need to conquer a desire to escape. Alcohol, drugs, media bombardment, addictions of all types are related to Pisces. At the end of the Piscean age, the world is plagued by fears that have left the soul bereft. On a world scale, we meet, in learning to contend with increased terrorism and outbreaks of wars, plagues and natural disasters, the subconscious race records of world destruction in past ages. Fear is unprecedented on a global scale. And yet if we are to embrace the message of the Piscean age, we must believe that we are destined to triumph over death and to resurrect a golden age. Jesus, who can be seen as the greatest Spiritual Teacher of the Piscean Age, is known as the Prince of Peace and yet he said that I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be of his own household. (Matthew 10:34 to 36) It would seem, then, that within each individual as well as among us the judgment is a precedent to peace.

Is the New Age inevitable? Do we only have to sit it out and survive to enter an age of enlightenment? I personally agree with Campion, who writes, Change is not predetermined but depends upon individual free will. The New Age will therefore come about not as a result of a preordained pattern but as a result of the ability of humanity to realize its full potential.

What about the Age of Aquarius? When is it going to begin and what's it all about? While authors will differ by as many as 300 years as to the starting date of the Aquarian Age, most astrologers see us currently at a time of precessional transition. Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, planet of technology and innovation. Aquarius is destined to be an age of scientific advances not seen since the time of the ancient continent of Atlantis. We're likely to get a good kick-off during the next seven years, with Uranus in Aquarius, its own sign. Be ready for a tremendous acceleration of scientific advancement, especially in communication, transportation and meteorological studies. Medicine, education and government will inevitably be affected as well. With such a strong air focus (Aquarius) abetted by Pluto in Sagittarius (exploration) sextiling these Aquarian placements, it's likely that space programs will take on increasing popularity. The Age of Aquarius is likely to be the time that we stretch significantly beyond our terrestrial borders. Neptune follows suit by entering Aquarius in 1998. Some authors interpret Neptune in the sign of brotherhood as the beginning of a time of mass enlightenment and the true beginning of the Aquarian Age. Astrologers Sakoian and Acker write:

...a new civilization will be born, based on enlightened humanitarianism and on a science using new technology and new forms of energy. This will mark the beginning of a thousand years of peace, spoken of in the Book of Revelation. The intuitive, clairvoyant faculties of humanity will be highly developed, and universal brotherhood will be established in practical reality. (The Astrologer's Handbook, p.217)

Aquarius, indeed, is the sign of brotherhood and great humanitarian causes. The misuse of Aquarian energy, however, can manifest as rigid intolerance, freedom which amounts more to license and anarchy, technology devoid of spirituality, terrorism and black brotherhood, that is, the coming together for destructive purposes. Consider, that in May of the year 2000, seven planets, including the Sun and Moon will be in Taurus and square to Uranus and Neptune in Aquarius. Taurus is a sign related to the Buddhas and illumination, while Aquarius relates to world freedom and brotherly love. To meet a square peacefully demands spiritual maturity. Can we as a people grow so quickly? Perhaps. Taurus also relates to materialism. Saturn in Taurus square Neptune and then square Uranus in Aquarius in particular suggests divisions among people as to whether to hold on to the old order representing material security or to leap into the new. Whether material scientific advancement will be met with worldwide spiritual understanding also remains to be seen. Similarly, Aquarius rings the bells of freedom and there will be much demand for freedom throughout the world, in religion, in government, in scientific thought. The Taurus squares suggest resistance to popular movements. Also noteworthy is Uranus conjoining the U.S. Conceptional Moon at 27 degrees Aquarius in 2002 and 2003. Since the Moon represents the masses, we should expect tremendous outcries.

From 2,023 to 2044 Pluto will be in Aquarius (following a time of reconstruction when Pluto is in Capricorn and the U.S. in particular, experiences a Pluto return) which certainly will bring a new phase into our experience of the Aquarian Age.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet, in her book The Astrology of the Four Horsemen, adds an intriguing dimension to our understanding of the Piscean age, that of an accelerated karma which she describes as the ride of the Four Horsemen, a reference to the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation. As the Four Horsemen move through time, they deliver the karma mankind has created in each of the four planes of being; etheric, mental, astral and physical. Beginning in the year A.D. 2, the Four Horsemen began delivering the karma created in the etheric plane. In 1307 they began delivering the karma created in the mental plane. On April 23, 1969, they began delivering the karma created in the astral plane. On April 23, 1990, they began delivering the karma created in the physical plane. The black horseman, the first to deliver karma into the physical octave, delivers the karma created by the power elite through their manipulation of the economies of the nations. The white and red horsemen bring war. The last horseman, the pale horse, represents death, famine and plague. Prophet contends that there is a cycle where the judgments of the Four Horsemen can be turned back and a cycle when it is too late.

This period coincides with each man carrying his own karmic load. That which was held in abeyance through the mission of Jesus Christ is now, in cycles marked each April 23rd, returned to him, he having had a sufficient amount of time to obtain the mastery necessary to sit under his own vine and fig tree.

Many speak of the second coming of Christ as part of the Aquarian Formula. Dane Rudyhar writes in The Galactic Dimensions of Astrology: Today, the whole of humanity, and probably the Earth as a whole, are involved in a process of accelerated change which some esotericists speak of as a planetary Initiation. This change can be related to the transition between two great ages, usually called the Piscean and the Aquarian ages, and perhaps between still larger cycles than the precession of the equinoxes. Astrologically, Pluto's sextile to Neptune, begun in 1942 and lasting until the year 2,042, is interpreted by astrologers as a ninety-six-year-period resulting in mass spiritual conversions. If this is to be, and if Sakoian and Acker's hope of an enlightened humanity is to come to pass, the second coming will not be in one person but in the resurrection of the Christ on a worldwide scale.