Embracing the Age of Aquarius

The past few years, we have heard a lot of bits and pieces of information about shifting from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. Although most of us are familiar with the zodiac signs and their basic characteristics, the majority of us are not erudite enough in astrological matters to really understand what it means.

Not too long ago I decided to consult with a very reputable local astrologer about this, and we went over different aspects of celestial patterns. He explained that the age we are living into right now is the Age of Pisces, a window of about 2000 years which started about a century before the birth of Christ.

The Age of Pisces was the age of religions and patriarchal structures, which took over to balance the feminine energy which had been dominating the scene during pre-Christian times. Within those 2000 years, the world’s three leading prophets, Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha, were born, and in that same time period the energy shifted from fluid Goddess energy to linear masculine energy. Rational thinking took over instinct, and judgment shifted from the heart to the conscious mind. Gradually, patriarchal structures were created and infused with power, both socially and spiritually. Corporations were created, global thinking shifted toward material solidity, and control became the name of the game.

The two-thousand-year time span of the Age of Pisces is now drawing to an end, and even though many have associated the start of the new age with the year 2012, it is in reality hard to predict accurately when it will occur. With the end of the Age of Pisces and all that it represents, we can expect a breakdown of patriarchal structures on all levels, and if we pay attention, we’ll see that this is already happening: the fall of our economy is one of the symptoms of the crumbling, while the growing interest in soul-searching and philanthropic efforts indicate a shift back toward the heart center.

It is quite interesting that the sign of Aquarius is represented by Ganymede, a Trojan prince who in Greek myth was kidnapped and granted immortal life to be the bearer of the cups for the gods. However, Ganymede poured the nectar of the gods upon earth, and the divine drink was evenly sprinkled on the mortals below. This image embodies the concept of divine knowledge no longer being kept secret, but flowing gradually to empower everyone. Another very interesting symbol for Aquarius is the set of two parallel wavy lines which appear to be water but are in fact two snakes. Snake energy was revered in pre-Christian times as healing energy, and the image of two snakes coiled around a cross is still used today to represent medicine.

So, what does this all mean? We are moving through the motions of a shift which will bring profound changes, and although most periods of transition are unsettling, balance is always reached in the end. It’s a time to say good-bye to fear tactics and rigid thinking, especially now that the remnants of the old energy are desperately trying to cling tight as the foundations are falling in. We can either ride the wave toward the heart center or remain stuck to a mindset that’s destined to fail. The choice is up to us.