The Great Wheel of Time

Precession of the Equinoxes

We live in periods of light and dark that we call days. We experience seasons of longer and shorter hours of light and dark, and calendars mark our movement through the Earth’s shift on its axis making our years.

Most of us are familiar with the Astrological Zodiac, the twelve signs that last for about a month each. Possibly we are aware of the characteristics that are ascribed to the signs.

But there is a much bigger view also, known as the Great Year. Scientific astronomy describes this as ‘the period of one complete cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic, or about 25,800 years. This scientific basis is what gives the foundation for the Astrological Ages, and the idea that we are now entering the Age of Aquarius. This Great Year is also known as the Precession of the Equinoxes, Cosmic Cycles of Time, or, for me, the Great Wheel of Time. An Age is considered to last 2160 years, but popularly described as 2000. In any event, the path of the constellations is not exact with some transits taking more space than others.

Significant right now is the idea that we are currently moving from the Age of Cancer to the Age of Aquarius, with everything that this means.

The diagram left gives an idea of the Great Wheel of Time.

We are on the Cusp, between Pisces and Aquarius in the uncomfortable position of still experiencing much of the ‘dying’ age and perhaps not yet enough of the characteristics of the new one.

I suggest that everything in the Cosmos is on a very grand scale, so appear to happen slowly from  our perspectives here on Earth.  Astrologers suggest that it will be 2140 AD before we are fully immersed in the Age of Aquarius.

I urge you to read a wonderful book by Robert Fitzgerald, ‘Signs of the Times’, for an opening description of what the New Age will mean, and for an extremely thorough look at the past which demonstrates history through Astrology.