Inula Austin Soul Growth

Whether you believe that it was Helena Blavatsky who coined the term ‘New Age’ in the 1800s, writer Carlos Castaneda in the 1960s or Theosophist David Spangler in 1970s, we have all heard the term and have an idea of what it means.

In pop culture, anything that comes out of the Free Love Movement in the 1960s seems to be linked inexorably with the notion of the coming of a Golden Age, the Age of Aquarius, an ending of a dark cycle in human history and a dawning of peace and unconditional love across the earth.

On December 21st 2012 , the much awaited Cosmic Moment happened. This was a turning point in history, heralded by those in the New Age Movement as the beginning of the Sixth Age of Consciousness; a crucial point of transition from an old warlike, material industrialist mentality into a peaceful, awakened, consciously aware collective, spreading a higher vibrational frequency across the earth.

This had been foretold in the long count Mayan Calendar, which you may remember, ended in the year 2012. Many saw this as an apocalyptic moment, preferring a cataclysmic definition, they foresaw seismic events, massive upheaval, catastrophic earth changes, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.

We collectively breathed a sigh of relief when others reminded us that the literal definition of ‘apocalypse’ is actually ‘unveiling’ or ‘revealing’, referring  to the revelation of ancient wisdom codes and secrets that had been protected by indigenous Wisdom Keepers for many millenia.

(Interestingly, Hopi prophecies had dated this coming new era to the 24th of December 2011, a year and three days earlier than the Mayan count.)

Writer Jose Argulles, himself central to the New Age Movement wrote that the ancient Mayans, (who were incredible astronomers and mathematicians) recorded that on August 13th  3113 BC, the earth had begun to pass through a ‘galactic synchronization beam’ emanating from the very center of our galaxy (the Galactic Core). It was said that it would take 5200 tuns (a Mayan measurement of 360 days) to complete this passage. This, Argulles said, would lead to total ‘galactic entrainment’ and synchronization of individuals becoming  ‘plugged in to the earth’s battery’, a very powerful image indeed.

Argulles believed that the Mayan calendar had been created to measure this phenomena.

In his work ‘2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl’ (2006), author Daniel Pinchbeck also cited the Mayan B’ak’tun 13 calendar as connected to crop circles, alien abduction experiences, personal revelations through clairvoyance and an expansion of collective consciousness linked to an increase of interest in spiritual and metaphysical experiences through use of psychadelic substances. Pinchbeck stated:

‘..growing realization that materialism and the rational, empirical worldview that comes with it has reached its expiration date…[w]e’re on the verge of transitioning to a dispensation of consciousness that’s more intuitive, mystical and shamanic.’

The New York Times Magazine, ‘The Final Days’ Benjamin Anastas (2007).

Considering that this was written 18 years ago, it does seem rather prophetic. I have personally witnessed a rise in those seeking their own spiritual identity increasing exponentially as they become less and less enamoured by the external, material and impermanent and feel a longing to be reunited with their inner, infinite being. I am sure that you can also recognise much truth in Pinchbeck’s statement in this now moment of 2024.

Jose Argulles went on to organize the first Harmonic Convergence global peace meditation on August 16th-17th 1987. The timing of this seminal gathering coincided with the significant celestial alignment of  ‘The Grand Trine’, where the Sun, Moon and six out of eight planets formed an equilateral triangle in the heavens.

Our ancient ancestors built innumerable megalithic structures, temples and stone circles all aligned with the movements of the planets in their heavenly abode. Moreover, there is a sense that our connection to the starry night sky, the constellations and their graceful and predictable dance across the velvety blackness is integral to humanity, as if somehow embedded in the DNA itself. It certainly seems as if the ancients’ measuring of heavenly movements was not simply a fireside pursuit, something primitive, the interest of a few hunter gatherers as may have once been postulated. Understanding and measuring such movements, precessions, eclipses was a fundamental part of the culture of many well developed civilisations across the world.

Much like their ancient predecessors, believers stated that the dramatic 1987 astronomical alignment would herald a new and important beginning- the passage from an old warlike consciousness into a peaceful one. The Harmonic Convergence was to usher in a five year period of cleansing upon the Earth, where many old and outmoded false power structures and separations would crumble and collapse and many secrets would be revealed.

We were told that a New Age would be ushered in, beginning a global shift in energy from conflict to cooperation and powerful enough to clear the earth’s dharma and karma. The Harmonic Convergence began the 25 year long countdown to the Mayan Long Count and to the end of time (when that calendar ran out) with 2012 beginning a new 5,125 year cycle. This would be the much awaited for birth of the 6th Sun and the 5th Earth (meaning that there had been 4 previous iterations of civilization and humanity before this one).

December 12th 2012 was the beginning of this New Age.

The ancient Hindu Vedic texts also have their own measurement of ‘Yugas’ or ages of time.

The words Yuga or Kalpa are used interchangeably in the Rigvedas to mean a generation or cycle of creation and destruction. Commonly ‘yuga’ in post-Vedic texts is used to mean a cycle of four world ages, unless expressly defined as one of its minor ages as: Krita (satya) Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga or Kali Yuga.

Literally translated from Sanskrit ‘yuga’ means ‘yoke’ and is a period of time which connects or bridges two ages. The idea of Yugas is based upon the understanding of the cyclical rise and decline of civilisations. Each iteration of humanity unfolds gradually to heights of incredible wisdom, artistry, spirituality and divinity over millennia and then begins its transition through decadence, materialism, greed and debauchery into its inevitable destruction, before the next cycle begins again. This cyclical outpicturing and decomposition is likened to the breathing of Brahma. The out breath of Brahma creates the universe, it produces and expands, humanity is created, all reaches its peak, then with the in breath of God, all begins to crumble, collapse and retreat back to the Source. This cycle is repeated over and over. This certainly adds illumination to theories of rebirth and reincarnation. If energy may only be changed but never destroyed, then one may live through many cycles of birth and dissolution according to the teachings on Yugas.

We are currently believed to be in Kali Yuga, which is distinguished by destruction, war, disease and suffering. Kali Yuga is said to last for 432,000 years. I have read online recently that some people believe the current Kali Yuga to be at an end and that we are entering into a new Golden Age of the cycles. However, the traditional Vedic calculation states that this yuga of death and destruction will not be over until 428,899 CE…..!

It is up to each individual to sense for themselves where humanity is positioned along the continuum of spiritual & cultural evolution at this moment, though I do feel that many theories and ideas that have been adopted by the New Age Movement become mixed up and open to misinterpretation, as people try to incorporate many ancient spiritual teachings and cultural information into a neatly organized, homogenous package. As we all know, life is far more subtle and complex than that.

Depending on which you prefer, we are either at the dawning of the Age of Aquarius or in the midst of it. As with much of new age ideology, it is open to interpretation whether the Aquarian era began in 1447CE (according to Terry Mackinnell) or is set to start in the year 3597CE (according to John Addey.)

There are believed to be 2,147.5 years in an astrological age and it takes 25,772 years to complete a whole cycle (through all 12 houses of the zodiac). When Moses was leading his people out of Egypt, it was in the Age of Aries, the ram. We know this because of his association with the rams horns (he is himself often pictured as having them on his head) and the ceremonial use of the Shofar (the rams horn as a religious instrument). In the Old Testament when Moses forbids the idolatry worship of the golden calf statue, it is because the age of Taurus, the bull, had passed. The era of Moses was that of the ram. Likewise, the Age of the Nazarene, Yeshua the Christed One, was the Age of Pisces. Jesus is still associated with the Icthys fish. Christian bumpers testify of that to this day. The significance of the two fishes being multiplied to feed the five thousand, lies in its representation of the constellation of Pisces, the age of the  Nazarene’s ministry.

So, what of the Aquarian Age? The coming era was hinted at in the New Testament when in Luke 22:10 Jesus tells his disciples ‘As you enter the city, a man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters.’

Aquarius is also known as ‘The Water Bearer’ (from its Latin translation) and has always been portrayed as a man pouring water from an overflowing vessel. As each astrological age is said to be permeated with the traits of each ruling sign, what can we expect from the Aquarian Age?

Those born under the sun sign of Aquarius are said to be independent, artistic, innovative, humanitarian, emotionally intelligent and very clever. They are often naturally very intuitive and psychically gifted.

Aquarius’ ruling planet is Uranus. This planet rules creativity and scientific genius. It’s job is to break patterns and rules, demolish old ways and structures often using radical and sudden change as a shock tactic to induce necessary restructuring.  The Aquarian nature is one of chaos over certainty, non-conformity at all costs, whilst always prioritizing the greater good of humanity.

These traits seem a far cry from the long summer days of peace and love envisaged by the counter culture of the 1960s. While naked actors sang of the ‘dawning of the age of aquarius’ in the West End musical Hair, I wonder if they knew that aquarius signified a time of great upheaval and even shocking, violent change?

Wider use of psychic gifts and intuition are often highlighted as central to the new age and this certainly correlates with personality traits common to aquarians. However, it would be naive to minimize the destructive qualities of the sign. Whilst it’s true that any rule-breaking tendencies are only ever used for the good of all of humanity, the Age of Aquarius may not be the full on love-in that many have pictured.

I sense that although we are collectively going through much upheaval (everyday seems to bring a new war, disease or existential threat of some kind) these are all a necessary part of cleansing and healing humanity of our worst excesses and attitudes.

Much like energy healing, which may produce a healing crisis in a client, the outer manifestation of this healing of humanity may at times seem violent and terrible. This is part of the process and as alarming as it may be in the moment, when we read headlines or hear of another piece of bad news, we should perhaps remember that balance is the key to evolving not only ourselves and our souls, but also our planet.

When advising a client who is going through the very real and visceral symptoms of a healing crisis, I often suggest that first and foremost they should try to be gentle with themselves. Taking time to rest and nuture themselves is often all it takes for a swift and full recovery. Inner work is also a large part of deep healing. Discovering one’s own edges, where boundaries are lacking and need to be applied, learning to value one’s own sovereignty and Divine parentage, seeking connection to nature and recovery from addictive behaviors, toxic relationships, codependancies and trauma are all constituent parts of soul growth. It is not an easy job to heal the self, but with time and patience it can be done. We know that the healing of one person may have positive ripple effects to immediate family members, community and the ancestral line alike.

Using the metaphor of the healing crisis, we are able to picture the results of collective healing that may occur in the macrocosm.

As above, so below, as within, so without. We are not drops in the ocean, but the ocean in a single drop. All connected to all of creation. Therefore, what one individual can achieve may be applied to the whole of humanity and even to the earth itself.

As we all move further into the New Age we must hold the image of a new golden era in our hearts, but not forget that there will be much work in creating it. Much like the pains of a mother birthing her child, we are all parents of the next era and whilst the labour may seem never ending at times, the outcome will be beyond our wildest imaginings and well worth all of the struggle.

Until then we must feel our way. Using our heart center as the compass to guide us, this gateway is an energetic transition point between our lower and upper chakras. Connecting with our emotional intelligence, mastering heart-brain coherence and living from the heart are all essential aspects to making the transition between the vibrationally lower age of the past and our arrival in the higher frequencies of the future.

In order for the Earth to fulfill her potential and for humanity to overcome the old ways of being, throw off the shackles of crumbling institutions and outmoded patterns, we must each heal individually as best we can. In doing so we may send a wave of light, positivity and hope out to all corners of the universe and finally proclaim that humanity has come of age.

xoxo