"The Human Spark"....lit by....?

There's a three-part series starting tomorrow evening on PBS: The Human Spark hosted by the always engaging Alan Alda (Aquarius Sun/Aries Moon/Capricorn rising, Saturn semi-sextile Sun)....who has been involved in TV presentations involving science in the past: Scientific American Frontiers. Saturn connects to science and rules his ascendant sign, co-rules his natal Sun.

The programmes, to be aired on three consecutive Wednesday evenings, are to investigate "How are we different from the other animals, how did we get that way, and where is it in the brain that these things have taken root?” (Here).

We'll be watching, and I'll no doubt be thinking....yes, but how does astrology fit into this? I'm convinced it must fit in - somewhere. I'm sure the subject will not be mentioned in these programmes! I can only assume that astrology's part in this would have to do with the precession of the equinoxes. There's an article by Deborah Houlding at Skyscript: Heavenly Imprints
from whence comes this extract about precession:

"....the Sun does not cross the equator at exactly the same place on the ecliptic each year. It crosses at a point 50 seconds of arc to the east of the previous year. During a lifetime this shifting point of intersection between the ecliptic and equator is so small as to be negligible, but over several centuries it will be noticed that the backdrop of stars that once lay behind the crossing point is moving westwards. This is the phenomenon of precession, caused by the Earth's axis slowly rotating around the celestial poles. Whilst the background of the fixed stars remain more or less constant to each other, the ecliptic's intersection with the equator slides backwards through the zodiac, completing one circuit in approximately 26,000 years - the 'Great Astrological Age'. The movement of the Vernal Equinox from one zodiacal sign to the next - by which we are presently moving from the Age of Pisces to Aquarius - is a subdivision of this cycle that takes approximately 2,160 years. "

There's information scattered around the internet relating to the Astrological Ages and how they relate to the zodiac signs, but much of it needs to be read bearing in mind its author's main interest, which can give varying perspectives. Diagram below comes from Library of Halexandria website.



Most agree that The Age of Gemini brought forth more travel and movement, leading to wider communication; and that the Age of Taurus saw farming flourish using tools and the wheel which had come out of the previous age. The Age of Aries - the expansion of ancient empires through force. The Age of Pisces spanning a few centuries BC until the present brought the dominance of three main religions Buddhism, Christianity and Islam - for good or ill.

Another common theme is that ancient Egyptians looked upon the Age of Leo as the beginning of their own history; that was around 10,950 BC. However, they already had "the human spark", so we need to travel further back to seek the likely time of its illumination. Age of Virgo, Age of Libra, Age of Scorpio? Age of Saggitarius, Age of Capricorn, Age of Aquarius ? And would we find our own, reversed, counterparts at the gateway to Age of Pisces ?

26,000 years for one go around - one Great Age. Was our human spark lit somewhere during this go around, or was it lying dormant from the previous one, or the one before that? Or is there a point in each Great Age when that special spark is lit? I wouldn't dare to guess at which point that might occur.

There are probably even Greater Ages beyond that which we call The Great Age, outside of our meagre comprehension. Lines from a hymn we used to sing at school come to mind. They always fascinated me then - it's only now I completely comprehend their significance. In the Great Scheme of Things 26,000 years is the blink of an eye to the universe as a whole.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.