A Thousand Ages....

At this time of year, as the lesser wheel of time moves, just a little more noticeably, I often think about another, far slower movement of time's greater wheel, known to astrologers as 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 the author's main interest, which can give varying perspectives. Diagram below (click on it to enlarge the image) comes from Library of Halexandria website.



The Age of Gemini brought forth more travel and movement, leading to wider communication; 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.

Ancient Egyptians looked upon the Age of Leo as the beginning of their own history; that was around 10,950 BC. They already had evolved rather well from the stereotypical primitive human being. We need to travel further back to seek the likely Age when humanity, as we know it, emerged. Age of Virgo, Age of Libra, Age of Scorpio? Age of Saggitarius, Age of Capricorn, Age of Aquarius ? And would we find our own, in reverse, counterparts at the gateway to Age of Pisces ? That's a creepy thought!

26,000 years for one go around of the greater wheel of time = one Great Age. There are probably even greater ages, measurable on a greater wheel, beyond that which we call The Great Age, and well outside of our meager comprehension. Recalling lines from a hymn we used to sing in school, the words always fascinated me then, and it's only now that 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.