By
Albert Amao Soria. Ph.D.
[The following is an extract of
the book The Birth of a New Consciousness
Cycles of Time]
There are several reasons for introducing the concept of
“cosmosociology” in the study of the evolution of human consciousness through
the zodiacal ages. The concept of cosmosociology is a
theoretical framework to discuss human evolution based on cosmic cycles, which
in turn are based on the Precession of the Equinoxes. The anchor point for
cosmosociology and the zodiacal ages is the ecliptic, not the
constellations. This fact is
extremely important to bear in mind to avoid future confusion.
The mathematical and geometrical models on which cosmosociology rests are based on the principle that the length of
the ecliptic is 360° (degrees), which is then divided into 12 equal sectors of
30° of arc (called zodiacal signs); on
the other hand, the sizes of the constellations vary and do not cover exactly 30
degrees of the zodiacal band. Some constellations are smaller while others are
larger than 30 degrees.
Nevertheless, some astrologers measure the cosmic ages
based on the actual constellations. This can be complicated because the constellations are not of equal size. As indicated above, some constellations are larger than others. For
instance, the constellations Pisces and Virgo are much larger
than Aries and Cancer. In this case, since Pisces is greater than 30° (degrees)
in length, the Age of Pisces would be much longer than a constellation of 30° of
arc and would stretch out for 600 years longer than the Age of Aries. Likewise,
the constellation Virgo spans a much larger space (47°) in the ecliptic circle
than does the constellation Cancer ((17°).[i] To
complicate matters further, astronomers do not universally agree about where
the constellations start or end.
Furthermore, there is another
constellation named Ophiuchus (the
serpent bearer) located between Scorpio and Sagittarius, making thirteen constellations
in total. In the year 1930, the International
Astronomical Union (IAU) revised the boundaries of the constellations and
adjusted them to the actual constellations. The path of the ecliptic now
officially passes through thirteen constellations: the twelve traditional
constellations plus Ophiuchus, which was an ancient recognized constellation
included in Ptolemy’s Almagest.[ii]
It is standard among astrologers to use the vernal point (spring
equinox), 0° of the Ram (Aries) as the celestial prime meridian for measuring
the zodiacal ages. This
celestial prime meridian marks the beginning of the division of the ecliptic
into 12 segments, or 12 signs of 30°, that together cover the 360° of the
zodiacal circle. Thus, the 12 sectors called zodiacal signs are symbolic
representations of segments of the sky; they have no direct correlation with
the actual constellations at all. However, the confusion arises when the name
the zodiacal ages took the same of the name of the constellations. For
example, the constellation Pisces is usually associated with the Piscean Age,
the constellation Aquarius with the Aquarian Age, and so forth. This confusion
has fueled the arguments of critics who say the constellations no longer
parallel the cosmic ages due to the backward movement of the equinoxes. They
are absolutely correct about this. Precisely for this reason, it is more
appropriate to adopt the Latin names for the constellations and the English
terms for the zodiacal ages.
It
should be noted that cosmosociology also
considers that there is a meaningful
coincidence between the zodiacal glyphs and mass consciousness. Similarly,
there seems to be a resonance between the cosmic rhythms of an age and the
behaviors of social groups at large. The word cosmosociology can also be understood as world astrology applied to
the study of the evolution of collective consciousness through the zodiacal
ages.
I posit that the
development of human consciousness parallels the changes of zodiacal ages.
Concurrently, one can explain the transformations of the God-image of the major
world religions according to the changing of the zodiacal ages. The principle
of causality states that everything organic or inorganic extant in this
universe is subject to a cyclical law of birth, growth, and decay. Thus, the
notion of the cycles of time is based on
this cyclical law, with its parameter being the Precession of the Equinoxes.
Many sociologists, philosophers, psychologists, and mystics
agree that the history of humankind is the account of the evolution of
consciousness. Ever since the great Greek philosopher Plato articulated the
concept of the cosmic age commonly known as the Platonic year (consisted of
26,000 years), there has been much speculation about this subject. Religious
historians, astronomers, astrologers, philosophers, and other scholars have
written about it, but there has never been a clear conception about the cosmic
ages, their lengths in time (i.e., their starting and ending points), or their
individual characteristics, etc. In recent years, scholars in quantum in
physics, depth psychology, ancient history, sociology, metaphysics, archeology,
archetypical astrology, comparative mythology, and comparative religion, such
as C. G. Jung; H. P. Blavatsky, Isaac Newton; Dr. Giorgio de Santillana,
professor of the history of science at MIT; Dr. Hertha von Dechend, professor
of the history of science at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt;
and Dr. Paul Foster Case, founder of the Qabalistic organization Builders of
the Adytum, and many others have addressed this issue.
These scholars have devoted special attention to the
Precession of the Equinoxes and the cosmic ages and accompanying sociological,
religious, and historical changes. The radical changes occurring as we enter
into a new dispensation (a distinct period in history marked by one of the
twelve zodiacal signs) have been taken by some Protestant religious leaders, as
well as by some New Age writers, as signs of the end of the world. Something
similar happened with the end of the Long Count of the Mayan calendar on December
21, 2012, which received a great deal of attention before it occurred. Although
this date represented the closing of an epoch and the beginning of a new
chapter in history, some sensationalistic New Age writers insisted that it too
portended the annihilation of the world. It has been proven that the mind has
the power to create whatever it believes and conceives. As a result, these
unfounded predictions have wider consequences than sometimes imagined.
Susceptible and uninformed people believe they are true. They are then inspired
to subconsciously create unfavorable situations in their lives that have ripple
effects on their families and on society in general. And a group mind is an
even more powerful device for materializing ideas.
Another innovative concept of this theory
is the concept of a “transitional period”;
that is, before entering into a new cosmic age, humankind steps into a
transitional period from one age to another. The transitional period proposed
assigns two degrees’ leeway for each adjoining zodiacal sign from the point of
intersection of the two zodiacal signs. The current transition thus comprises
two degrees of the first part of the Fishes (Pisces) and two degrees of the end
the Water-Carrier (Aquarius). Hence, the transitional period covers the last
two degrees of the Fishes (28 and 29 degrees) and the first two degrees of the
Water-Carrier (0 and 1 degree). This is because the precession pointer (vernal
equinox) runs backward on the cosmic clock.
Two degrees leeway for the ending of one zodiacal sign along
with two degrees of the upcoming sign result in a total of 144 years for each
for each zodiacal sign; thus, the total years of a transitional period would be 288 years. Bear
in mind that 144 years is relatively insignificant for a zodiacal age that
lasts 2160 years. Consequently, if we agree on the timetable proposed in this
book for the zodiacal ages, the Water-Carrier Age will “officially” start in
the year 2154, with a transitional period encompassing
the years from 2010 (2154
– 144) to 2298 (2154 + 144). Surprisingly,
this date exactly matches the one proposed by Jung and is very close to the one
advocated by Blavatsky. The astonishing thing that the research expressed in
the book, The Birth of a New
Consciousness and the Cycles of Time, finds is that most of the proposed
dates for the beginning of the upcoming age fall right in the transitional
period proposed in the book.
I advance the theory, that humankind is stepping into a transitional
period from the Age of the Fishes (Pisces) to the Age of the Water-Carrier
(Aquarius) since the spring
equinox of 2010. This shift
is taking place from a sign of negative polarity (Fishes) to a sign of
positive polarity (Water-Carrier). During this orb of influence, a combination
of events belonging to both zodiacal signs is expressed in the world. This is
the period of great transmutations and adjustments in all levels of human
activity. The transition period will last until the vernal point hits the 28th
degree of the zodiacal band of the Water-Carrier, which will take place in the
year 2298 (2154 + 144). After
that year, we will see the full bloom of the New Age.
We are fortunate to be witnessing one of the greatest sociopolitical and
religious transformations that planet Earth has ever undergone. It is vital for modern man to
understand this fact so he can be mentally and
spiritually prepared
to confront the upheavals entailed by these changes of cosmic dimensions.
This is the time for the realization and application of the ancient axiom, “Man, know thyself.”
Indeed, the
fundamental purpose of this new dispensation is to change the paradigm from one of the relationship between
a far-distant God somewhere in the heavens to one of an indwelling God
principle.
The era of organized religion as an intermediary between God and man — and as a
means of social control — is coming to an end. Instead, we will witness the direct spiritual
connection of each individual with his or her Divine Self.
Thus, the book The Birth of a New
Consciousness and the Cycles of Time attempts to provide a clear
perspective on the universal changes that have been taking place since the
world entered the new millennium. The social and psychological crisis that
modern man is confronting is caused by the lack of a central myth that can
provide meaning and purpose at both the individual and the collective levels.
The myth of the Age of the Fishes — in the Western world, the Judeo-Christian
religion — has lost power and influence as a source of spiritual inspiration.
Thus, it
is extremely important to redefine the concepts of God, man, and the universe
on the basis of the breakthroughs made in many scientific disciplines.
Currently, humankind is witnessing one of the greatest
sociopolitical and religious transformations that planet Earth has ever
undergone. The predictions of disaster create, at the very least, a pessimistic
and depressing environment in mass consciousness, and at worst may lead to
negative consequences in the world. By contrast, this book attempts to
demonstrate that the present challenging situation of the world is part of a
natural cycle in human history. Political, socioeconomic, and religious
upheavals are necessary adjustments for the entrance into a new worldwide order
of social and economic justice, which will be based on a higher level of
international understanding and knowledge.
Consequently, as I will argue, the present world crisis
amounts to a series of signs that we are entering into a transitional period:
the ending of the Age of the Fishes and the slow dawning of the Water-Carrier
Age. Although there is wide agreement that humankind is approaching this New
Age, there is no agreement about the date of its commencement. Some authors say
that the Age of Aquarius started in the year 2000; others, including the occult
lodges known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Builders of the
Adytum, believe this era began in 1781, when the planet Uranus was discovered.
Jung suggested that the Aquarian Age would begin either in 1997 or 2154. Other
writers have posited different starting dates. Esoteric writer Edward Carpenter
proposed 1936. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière, founder of the Great Universal
Brotherhood, advanced March 21, 1948. French astrologer Paul Le Cour asserted
that the Age of the Water-Carrier would start in 2160. The American sleeping
prophet, Edgar Cayce, predicted the beginning of the New Age would take place
in 1998, and Mme. Blavatsky cited 2156. In short, the dates suggested range
from 1871 to 2156. Which one is correct?
Determining that is one of the goals of this book. The fundamental concept in
establishing the dawning of the Water Carrier Age is the Precession of the Equinoxes.
The language of the zodiacal signs and the planetary system provides the dates
of past cosmic events with accuracy, as they are not subject to human manipulation.
Past astronomical configurations can be traced with great
exactitude through modern computational calculations.
In order to determine the beginning of the Water Carrier
Age, one has to consult complementary sources such as the Gregorian, Hebrew,
and Mayan calendars, as well as the Incan cosmology. I find that all of these
have their own significance. Some readers will embrace the notion of the
Water-Carrier dispensation with sympathy and enthusiasm; others will regard it
with skepticism and scorn. This is understandable because so much nonsense has
been written on these matters by charlatans and deceivers who have discredited
these disciplines and relegated them to the level of fallacy or New Age
hocus-pocus. Therefore a healthy skepticism about these issues is always
appropriate. At the same time, skeptical readers are asked to suspend their
judgment about the ideas presented here until they have read and properly
understood them.
The purposes of the book can be summarized as follows:
1. To clarify and differentiate between
the concepts of cosmic cycles based on the constellations and those based on
the zodiacal ages. Ex. Aries constellation with the zodiacal age of the Ram,
Taurus constellation with the zodiacal age of the Bull and so on.
2. The fundamental premise is that
there is a meaningful coincidence between the zodiacal glyphs and mass
consciousness. Similarly, there seems to be a resonance between the cosmic
rhythms of an age and social groups at large. The word cosmosociology can also
be understood as world astrology applied to the evolution of collective
consciousness through the zodiacal ages.
3. To describe the parallels between
the Precession of the Equinoxes and sociological, religious, and cultural
changes in human history.
4. To set an approximate date for the ending of
the Age of the Fishes and the beginning of the Water-Carrier Age.
5. To define the transitional period
from the Age of the Fishes to the Water-Carrier Age.
6. To delineate the sociological and
religious characteristics of the Age of Fishes and Water-Bearer Era.
7. To outline the unfolding of a new
God-image – the Water Carrier archetype – in the coming age.
Hence, I posit the theory that the
development of consciousness parallels the change of zodiacal ages. Viewing the
matter from a slightly different angle, one can explain the transformations of
consciousness and of the God-image of the predominant religions of the world
according to the changing of the zodiacal ages. We should keep in mind that we
live in a purposely universe.
A civilization rises from the ashes of an older civilization
to be superseded in time by another, higher civilization. This is my primary
hypothesis: the evolution of consciousness is expressed in the psychological
development of religious ideas according to the predominant symbol of the
zodiacal age of each era. Moreover, the symbolism of the prevalent zodiacal age
is manifested in religious and sociocultural ideas in the leading civilizations
of the world. In other words, one can explain the transformations of the
God-images of the major religions by the changing of the zodiacal ages. The
theory of synchronicity developed by the psychiatrist Jung provides a solid
metaphysical basis for delving into the sequence of development of consciousness
through these ages.
This work is a
stride toward the acceleration of a new reality — a consciousness of the
oneness and solidarity of humankind. As these ideas start sinking into the
collective psyche, individuals will create this reality accordingly.
Consequently, humans as a whole will experience a leap in consciousness as they
become aware of the true nature of the world and of our role in this world.
This is in accord with the metaphysical principle of belief: whatever is
mentally conceived and believed in will come to pass. The notion is that humans
ought to be conscious participatory agents in the development of their history.
Albert Amao Soria
www.amazon.com/author/amao
[i] Jocelyn Godwin, Atlantis and the Cycles of Time (Rochester,
Vermont: Inner Traditions, 2011), 338.
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