While the “Aquarius Season” lasts 30 days, the Aquarius Age is claimed to last 2,160 years. So, what is Aquarius Season, and how does it differ from the age? Let’s go back and look at the background of everyone’s favorite water-bearer in both modern astrology and its roots in ancient astronomy before we come to any conclusions.
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Aquarian Roots
The name “Aquarius” comes from the Latin word “aquarius,” which means “water-carrier, water-pourer.” Its astrological sign is water, yet it has the appearance of an electrical jolt. Aquarius connects us to forces of originality, eccentricity, independence, bold expression, and epiphanies of all kinds, and properly so. It yearns for innovation and points us in the direction of what is possible in the future. It catalyzes creativity, new discoveries, or exhilarating novelty when sparked. Technology advances are sparked by activated Aquarius energy in our culture, which is arguably what brought us the Internet. However, Aquarius energy pushes us to think about social justice as a component of the collective and communal experience.
Aquarius, like all planets and zodiac signs, isn’t all excitement and forward-thinking movement; it also has a dark side. It can be distant, non-committal, impetuous, alienated, or restless in Aquarius. Aquarius energy enjoys getting things started but not necessarily finishing them. Keep an eye out for the famed Aquarian “Last Unicorn Syndrome,” in which it believes it is the first and only person to think of an idea.
Aquarius is the archetypal misfit, lone wolf, or mad scientist. It’s a rebel who sometimes has a cause and sometimes doesn’t. Aquarius was ruled or regulated by Saturn in traditional astrology, while many modern astrologers now identify it with Uranus because Uranus had not yet been found. Saturn is known as the “night ruler,” whereas Uranus is known as the “day ruler.”
While we all have Aquarius or Uranus in our natal astrology charts, its influence on our lives or self-expression is determined by our unique natal astrology chart. Those born under the sign of Aquarius (Sun, Moon, or Rising) may feel particularly drawn to the Aquarius Season or Age. However, having your Sun or Moon in the 11th house or touching the planet Uranus can make you identify with Aquarian characteristicsbut that’s an astrology story for another day. How does Aquarius Season or the Age of Aquarius affect us if some of us are more “Aquarian” than others? Is it only a “New Age” word, or does it refer to a body of knowledge?
Historical Context: The “Age of Aquarius
While everyone of us has a unique astrological blueprint, the current position of the stars and planets in the sky adds another depth to our specific experience. We all feel the energy when the Sun is in the sign of Aquarius, just as we do when there is a new moon (like on February 4 in Aquarius). The Age of Aquarius, on the other hand, is a much larger cycle with less clarity.
Astrological ages refer to the evolution and development of civilization as a whole, rather than just an individual.
Humankind has gone through six primary periods, which correspond to the 12 tropical zodiac signs, according to astrologers all across the world. Each one lasts approximately 2,100 years. Because the time frame is so wide, it’s difficult to say when each of these time frames begins or ends. Of course, large-scale cycles aren’t exclusive to Western astrology; the Mayan calendar and Sanskrit scriptures’ Kali Yuga both reference them.
When modern astrologers speak of the Age of Aquarius, they are referring to a phenomenon involving the Earth’s backward motion and its connection to the sign of Aquarius. An ancient astronomer came up with the concept of the “precession of the zodiac” around 190 B.C.E. Because of the wobble in the Earth’s rotation, the constellation behind the Sun during the Vernal Equinox, or eclipticpath of the Sun across the skychanges. (Earth, it turns out, isn’t as steady as we thought, and it has a retrograde cycle.)
The qualities of each zodiac Sun sign are carried over into the Astrological Age of that time. We can observe important communal themes that have been influenced by the “age” we are living in in this way. According to Nicholas Campion’s research, the Age of Aquarius began around 1447 A.D.E. in the twentieth century and will last until 3597 A.D.E. According to some astrologers, it started in 2012. Around 1999, we began to hear more about the Age of Aquarius and its connections to the Mayan Calendar.
I prefer astrologer Susan Miller’s chronology theories, which place the Age of Aries between 2000 B.C.E. and 1 A.C.E., with a lot of Greek and Roman conflict. The Age of Pisces, with its emphasis on spirituality, coincides with the birth of many of the world’s great faiths. Now we’re in the Age of Aquarius, a period marked by rapid technological advances (ahem, the Internet or robotics) or (hopefully) a shift toward communal consciousness and community.
The energies of Aquarius assist us in shifting and evolving structures that allow us to go forward into what is fresh and next in our progress. Activate and enjoy your own Aquarian nature through community, action, a new creative endeavour, or even recognizing your weirdness, whether the Age of Aquarius has begun or is about to begin. Perhaps try something new or finally figure out how to use some of your phone’s more advanced functions. It’s a time to gather together in community while embracing our particular uniqueness, no matter how you catalyze and connect to Aquarius.
Rebecca Farrar earned her M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness (PCC) from the California Institute of Integral Studies. “Stargazing: Re-enchantment Through Language” was the title of her thesis, which combined philology, consciousness studies, and enchantment with the stars. Rick Tarnas, archetypal astrologer, cosmologist Brian Swimme, activist Joanna Macy, and psychotherapist Stan Grof have all taught her. C.G. Jung, Owen Barfield, Bill Plotkin, Marianne Woodman, Thomas Berry, and Clarissa Pinkola Estes are among her other influences. Cosmicopia, Burning Man’s first astrological camp, was also founded by me. Most recently, I was featured in the She Wolfe Tarot deck and an upcoming documentary called Conscious: Fulfilling Our Higher Evolutionary Potential. She belongs to the International Society for Astrological Research (ISAR), the San Francisco Astrological Society (SFAS), the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology (ASWM), and the Depth Psychology Alliance, among others (DPA). On Instagram, you can find her.
When did the Age of Aquarius begin, and when will it come to an end?
Astronomy has nothing to do with the Age of Aquarius. It’s an astrological age that happens due to precession, a natural motion of the Earth. The identify of the Pole Star changes throughout time due to precession. The precession cycle lasts 25,800 years. There are also 12 zodiac constellations. As a result, around the time of the vernal equinox, the sun’s position in front of the background stars moves in front of a new zodiacal constellation every 2,150 years. At that point, a new epoch might be considered to have begun.
The vernal equinox point, also known as the March or spring equinox point, is the position of the sun in the sky at the vernal equinox. When the vernal equinox point moves from in front of the constellation Pisces to in front of the constellation Aquarius, the Age of Aquarius is said to begin.
When that happens, there should be a definitive answer. At the time of the equinox, when will the sun be in front of Aquarius? When will the Aquarius Age begin?
However, there are no easy answers. The answer to this frequently asked question can be found in a variety of ways.
Age of Aquarius in astronomy
Let’s have a look at the answer from the standpoint of astronomy. The International Astronomical Union (or IAU) took on the task of officially naming and defining all things astronomical in the twentieth century. In 1930, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established “official” constellation borders. As a result, astronomers tend to use IAU constellation borders to date the start of the Age of Aquarius. Astrologers and New Age practitioners, on the other hand, may or may not employ the same limits.
Jean Meeus, a well-known Belgian astronomer and mathematician, is one of the IAU’s adherents. In 68 B.C., the sun went from being in front of the constellation Aries to being in front of the constellation Pisces, according to his calculations. Looking ahead, the March equinox will pass into the constellation Aquarius in 2597, according to Meeus.
These are the astronomical dates, which are based on the IAU constellation limits, which were established in 1930.
The size of the constellations as defined by the IAU varies. Astrologers, on the other hand, frequently divide the zodiac into 12 equal sectors. So that’s one major distinction between astronomers and astrologers when it comes to constellations.
You must also examine when the Age of Pisces began in order to determine when the Age of Aquarius begins. There appears to be no solid agreement among astrologers as to when the Age of Pisces began. As a result, no one knows when the Age of Aquarius begins. Nicholas Campion suggests that the estimated dates for entering the Age of Aquarius span from 1447 A.D. to 3597 A.D. in his book The Book of World Horoscopes. Campion also looked at astrological sources for published material on the issue. He asserts that most authors believe the Age of Aquarius began in the twentieth century (29 claims). The twenty-fourth century comes in second (12 claims). Campion, by the way, is the director of the Sophia Centre at the University of Wales, Lampeter, as well as the Course Director for the M.A. in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. Here are Campion’s credentials.
Did it begin in 2012?
According to some astrologers, the Age of Aquarius began in 2012. This is because they believe the star Regulus in the constellation Leo the Lion marks the ancient boundary between Leo and Cancer constellations. In 2012, this star passed within 30 degrees of the September equinox, indicating that Regulus transitioned from the sign of Leo to the sign of Virgo. The border of the constellations Pisces and Aquarius is 150 degrees west of Regulus, or near the March equinox point, assuming equal-sized constellations in antiquity. According to this calendar, the Age of Aquarius began in 2012.
As you can see, many people have a clear grasp on how to compute the start of an age. However, there is no agreement among the numerous people who are performing the calculations. See what various authors have claimed in these Wikipedia lists.
To be clear, we at EarthSky approach the topic from an astronomical standpoint. Please show us more methods of calculating the Age of Aquarius if any qualified astrologers are willing to do so! We look forward to hearing from you.
By the way, Terry MacKinnell reacted to our request for comments by asserting that in ancient Babylon, a new zodiacal constellation appearing over the eastern horizon before sunrise on the morning of the Northern Hemisphere spring equinox signaled the beginning of a new era. More information can be found at An Age-Old Mistake That Still Haunts Astrologers.
>Definition of terms: Vernal equinox point
The vernal equinox, often known as the March or spring equinox, is a point on the imaginary celestial sphere that surrounds Earth. The celestial equator, or line around the sky just above Earth’s equator, intersects the ecliptic, or path of the sun across our sky. Because the sun used to be in front of the constellation Aries at the time of the vernal equinox, it’s also known as the First Point in Aries. The sun has been in front of the constellation Pisces at the time of the equinox for the past 2,000 years. The significance of the so-called Piscean Age is as follows. The sun will pass through Aquarius at some time during the equinox. The Age of Aquarius begins on that date.
How did the Age of Aquarius enter popular culture?
In the United States, the Age of Aquarius is connected with the hippies of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the New Age movement. The arrival of the Aquarian age has been connected with… well, harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust aplenty in both situations. That brings us to the smash-hit musical from 1967 “The 5th Dimension’s Aquarius serves as the opening song for the film Hair. The first lines of the song were:
It’s difficult to put into words how I felt “Hair, which still appears daring now, had an impact on audiences when it premiered on Broadway in 1968. It went on to have 1,750 Broadway performances and 1,997 London performances, with parallel productions in locations around the United States and Europe, as well as supporting records (the original Broadway cast recording sold three million copies). This Broadway musical almost single-handedly launched the Aquarian Age notion into mainstream culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although the video below isn’t the original, it gives you a good sense.
Bottom line: The Age of Aquarius begins when the March equinox point shifts from Pisces to Aquarius.
But there’s no way of knowing when it will happen.
Is the year 2021 the beginning of the Age of Aquarius?
The Age of Aquarius is now in full swing. For many, there was a noticeable shift in energy from 2020 to 2021, albeit both years were a roller coaster. Apart with navigating the Covid era, we’ve also been told that we’ve entered a new astrological phase.
What makes it unique? That’s where things get a bit tricky, but we’ve sought the expertise of psychic and astrologer Inbaal Honigman to help us figure it out. However, keep in mind that the Age of Aquarius is frequently linked to social action, equality, and advancement. Finally. Everything you need to know is right here…
How long will the Aquarius Age last in 2021?
The Age of Aquarius, which was popularized by the 1967 rock musical Hair, is a 2,160-year period marked by the passing of the vernal equinox through the air sign Aquarius. Although opinions differ on the exact timing of this change, it is undeniable that we are now in a phase of transition from Pisces to Aquarius. The features of the sign crossing the vernal equinox dominate earth’s collective energy, symbolizing the beginning of a new era. This shift towards the Age of Aquarius will have an impact on everything from how we create and connect with art to how we buy and sell it.
Is the year 2022 the beginning of the Age of Aquarius?
The precise commencement date of this new epoch is debatable. Some astrologers believe it will begin on the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere on March 20, 2021, while others, like as Kelly, believe it will begin in December 2020. “She explains, “It’s more intellectual than you might assume.” “There is no clear agreement on when it will begin. What we do know is that this is a period associated with hope and creativity in general. When it happened last, in the 19th century, it was a time of technological, industrial, and government revolutions. All of these characteristics are Aquarian.”
What happens after the Aquarian Age?
Many astrologers regard the shift into a new astrological era as a “cusp,” or slow change. According to Ray Grasse, an astrological age does not begin on a specific day or year. According to Paul Wright, there is a transition impact at the end of the astrological ages. As a result, the beginning of each age cannot be characterized by a single year or decade, but rather by a period of time in which the new age blends its impacts with the previous age until the new age can stand on its own.
Many astrologers believe that the world is transitioning from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius, which is said to explain why current events in the world can be attributed to Pisces (i.e. continuing strong religious influences, particularly from Christianity) and Aquarius (i.e. continuing strong religious influences, especially from Christianity) (traditional archetypes associated with Aquarius include electricity, computers, and democracy). A few astrologers believe that the last c. 10 degrees of a given age (c. 720 years) is when the new age begins to manifest its influences, commonly known as the “orb of influence.” There are six pages in Nicholas Campion’s The Book of World Horoscopes detailing scholars and their proposed dates for the beginning of the Age of Aquarius, suggesting that many researchers believe each age begins on a specific date.
