Aquarius the water bearer
The equatorial bulge of the earth causes a shifting in the earth's axis and the point at which the Sun at the vernal equinox points to the zodiacal constellations. This phenomenon is known as the "Precession" and creates the period of 25,920 years that we call the "Great Year." The "Great Year" is divided into twelve "Great Ages" each of approximately 2160 years. Because of the "orb of influence," or "orb," which describes the fact that a change in sign makes itself known several degrees before the actual change (also known as the "cusp"), there is some flexibility to the 2160 figure.
The last Leo age coincides with the end of the last ice age. It began around 10,000 BC and lasted through 8,000 BC. This time period is possibly when the Sphinx was actually constructed, due to its facing East and would have aligned with Leo and the rising sun on the vernal equinox during that time.
The Age of Cancer was 8,140-6,000 BC. Cancer is the sign of the Moon and the Mother, and this Age corresponded to the worship of the Great Goddess and the Moon. Cancer is a water sign, and many scientists believe that this period corresponded to the end of the ice age and the Great Deluge of myth that resulted from catastrophic melting of glaciers. As humans began to form tribes they became more concerned with family groupings and geneaology, another hallmark of Cancer. Women were considered the source of creation since they bore the children.
Following Cancer was Gemini, from 6,000-3,800 BC. Multiple Gods appeared and were worshiped. The wheel and plough are invented (Gemini rules thoughts and ideas), aiding in the spread of agriculture. Written language as we know it started in this period, as Gemini rules communication.
Following Gemini was the Age of Taurus between 4,000 and 2,000 BC. Bull cults in Egypt, Crete, and Greece were present. The minotaur myth appeared. Moses came down from the mount and saw the his people worshiping a golden calf. Egypt was stable and reached its height during this time.
Next came the Age of Aries, approx. 2,000-0 BC. Monotheism (the belief in one God) first appeared, most notably from the Pharaoh Akhenetan. Wars were constant. Alexander the Great, Hannibal, and Julius Ceasar burst onto the scene. Toward the end, Rome conquered much of the known world overtaking Carthage, Greece and Egypt.
Jesus marked the beginning of the Age of Pisces, however it takes several hundred years to move entirely from one age to another. The influence of Aries was not totally replaced by Pisces until around 500AD. As Aries waned, so did power-hungry Rome - eventually falling before 500AD. The full brunt of Pisces thrust the world into the Dark Ages. The sign of Pisces is a sign of sacrifice, charity, mercy, compassion and pardon.
Pisces is now waning, giving way to Aquarius (the end of Pisces completes a full cycle, therefore Aquarius starts the cycle over again). Some believe Aquarius began to influence society during the Renaissance. If that is so, then we should be moving completely into Aquarius rather soon, if we haven't already. It's not likely, since the Christian church and religion is still quite strong. Before any transition, there is usually conflict - as each new sign brings new influences that conflict with the previous one. Upheaval is a characteristic of "changing times". The transition is taking place, and the Industrial period is a more accurate marker for the beginning of the coming Aquarian Age. Jesus, in Luke 22:10, tells his disciples ""When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters." The symbol for Aquarius is the "water bearer" in astrology. Astrological symbols/meaning pre-date Jesus and the Bible. Aquarius is the sign of innovation and humanitarian efforts, but it can also be detached and unemotional. Ages are believed by some astrologers to affect mankind while other astrologers believe the ages correlate to the rise and fall of mighty civilizations and cultural tendencies. Aquarius traditionally "rules" electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealists, modernization, rebels and rebellion, mental diseases, nervous disorders, and astrology. As the human race is caring more about the planet, technology is causing us to be less emotional and more scientific in our thinking. We are beginning to reject superstition that usually accompanies religion. These are all aspects of Aquarius influence.
The last Aquarian age (around 28,000 BC) marked the end of the Neanderthal and the birth of Cro Magnon man.
