The end of an era... what happens next?

Well, I think we can all agree that for better or for worse, 2020 was a year to remember.

We might remember periods of isolation, restriction, lack, and despair. We might also remember slowing down, making do with less, and rethinking our values. We are at the end of one era, the beginning of another. And what a time it is to be alive…

I’m not going to dress this up: 2020 was a bitch of a year for many. Some lost their lives, some their jobs. Some of the most important roles in our society - doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, food producers, cleaners and teachers to name a few - were working under intense pressue (and often in lowly paid positions). We were simultaneously isolated from one another, whilst some were thrust together in their homes in an unexpected level of intimacy. This forced togetherness and forced apartness created strains and tensions in relationships and homes that left to an increase in domestic violence and mental health troubles. We have also seen the veil slip from institutional racism, systematic abuse, and violence from those who are deemed to protect us.

Surviving this year is an achievement. I’m serious when I say that - it has not been easy. We have suffered together in a way that is usually not seen outside world wars. But if you are still here, with food on your plate, a roof over your head, managing to pay your bills, loved ones, and with reasonable health, then there is so much to be thankful for.

In this blog I want to look ahead - after the dismantling of old systems, beliefs and values that began in 2020, what comes next?

Age of Aquarius

Some astrologers believe 21st December 2020 is the closest date we have to the age of Aquarius beginning, but the build up to this is often associated with the 1960s, when Jupiter and Saturn were last together in Aquarius. The 1960s was the time of flower power, free love and anti-war and anti-nuclear protests, but also a time of hedonistic and destructive drug abuse, and the dark side of the occult including the horrific Manson Murders.

The 21st December signals not only the age of Aquarius for many, but the start of a new 200 year cycle of Jupiter and Saturn meeting in air signs. The last time this happened was 800 years ago, when we saw innovatons in printing, allowing for the widespread dissemination of information to the masses. From printing to the digital age - we can all be fairly certain that technology will become a bigger part in our everyday lives, from how we work, manage our money, and even, as we saw this year, socialise.

The power of the invisible

When we talk of moving from earth to air, we talk of moving from what seems dense, material and “real” like our bodies and our homes, to what we cannot see, but know is there, like our breath and our thoughts. It’s not that we lose all sense of earth - we continue to have bodies for example - but that the emphasis is on air.

The air element is fluid, spacious, expansive and all-encompassing. Compared to earth it is light, invisible and nondual. Whereas earth creates form and shape, we cannot see air. Whereas earth separates (ie a chair is a chair, a table a table), air yokes. We cannot see covid-19 but that doesn’t make it any less powerful.

Whereas many of us have been taught to place value in the outside world, in materialism particularly, we may now find we become more interested in community values, in our thoughts, and our inner world. We may find that we resist change, as scary as it can feel, but be forced into through changes in our work, income and home life. Or perhaps climate change will bring more disruption to the Western world in years to come, so that we can no longer ignore the effects of our lifestyles. The rise in technology which may also lead to isolation, or the increase in home-working, may make us look more at our mental health issues. We must learn to find new ways to balance our need of technology with our need of physical social contact, and at the same time reframe our concept of being lonely against being alone.

So for now…

What does this mean for us now? I believe a lot of the themes of 2020 will continue - learning to live by new rules and regulations, and expecting more disruption to our earth energy, which includes things like money, food and all we took to be permanant. There will be challenge and frustration as things don’t progress as fast as we want, times when we feel we are being forced to make sacrifices. I expect to see more physical and psychological fatigue as we try to manage the uncertainity of what the future may hold.

There will be opportunity to rebuild a fairer, more humanitarian society, for us to build our sense of faith and hope and community, to recognise that what fuels us is our invisible ties of friendship and relationship, our shared values and ideas, our right to breathe in the same air with ease. There is also the risk of becoming more rigid in what we think and less open to new ideas and opinions. We may become ruled by ideologies and dismissive of those who do not subscribe to them (this can ironically be seen most visibly in many spiritual communities). The rise of technology will bring with it questions of ownership, power, and control. It certainly is not just love and light - but there is hope, if we dare to see it.

One thing is for sure, 2021 is unlikely to be a quiet year. If you have many planets in the early degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius), there is likely to be activity. You can find out if you have planets in these signs by visiting astro.com (you will need to know the date, place and time of birth). You can also book an astrology consultation with me - details here.

This can all seem overwhelming but remember, we only need to move through one day at a time. Take your time. Remember to breathe. Invest in all aspects of your health, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Ask for help. Acknowledge how you feel. Allow others the space to feel how they feel. Do not sacrifice yourself for others, but learn how to serve others.

On 21st December I am hosting an Online Winter Solstice Gathering - you don’t need to understand astrology, or “be spiritual” to attend. It is an opportunity for connection, to body, mind, spirit, and each other. Details here.

I’ll see you on the other side…

Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash