The Age of Aquarius first came to public attention with the release of the rock musical  Hair.  The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical was first performed on Broadway over 40 years ago, in April 1968.  Although today is often critically considered to be an example of 60s hippie kitsch, at the time of its release it was controversial, topical and groundbreaking.  It redefined the rock musical genre with its use of nudity, profanity and explorations of race issues, drugs, sexual freedom, pacifism, environmentalism, spirituality and astrology.  Various versions of the musical were performed thousands of times in 20 different countries.  Performers as diverse as Diane Keaton, Keith Carradine, Barry McGuire, Meatloaf, Jennifer Warnes and Tim Curry all began their early careers in Hair.  It’s use of psychodrama, improvisation and Esalen Institute techniques to develop confidence and bonding between the performers helped to change many of their lives.  Several of its songs became Top 40 hits, including the song ‘Aquarius‘, with lyrics by the show’s creators, James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot.  The 5th Dimension released it as a single in 1969 (view the video on YouTube), and it topped the charts for six weeks.  It went on to sell over 3million copies and was the biggest selling single of 1970.  It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Group at the Grammy Awards of 1970.  The opening lines are:

When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius

Apparently the astrological combination of the first two lines  – with Jupiter aligning with Mars in Aquarius – has actually occured twice since the musical’s release, in 1973 and 1998.  It occurs again this year along with other alignments – Neptune, Chiron, the Sun and the North Node are also in Aquarius – at 7.25am (GMT) on Valentine’s Day, February 14 2009.  All the other planets are also in astrologically significant positions emphasising change, co-operation and creativity.  This rare alignment inspires the possibility for transcendental breakthrough in seemingly intransigent situations.  Sounds like it might be just what humanity needs at the moment!

There are many differing opinions by astrologers on the Astrological Ages. Most of them agree however that astrological ages occur based on the rotational cycle of the Earth’s axis, known as the precession of the equinoxes. One complete period of this precession is called a Great Year of about 25,860 years, and each sign of the zodiac has a corresponding age lasting on average 2160 years.  It is widely believed that we are now in the cusp period, leaving the Age of Pisces and entering the Age of Aquarius.  The Age of Pisces is represented by two fish, and one of its main characteristics has been the dominance of Christianity.  The Age of Aquarius is symbolic of spiritual transformation, computers, flight, democracy, freedom and humanitarianism. This transitional period between two ages is considered to be a process that occurs over many years, not on an exact day or year.  And whether the writers of the ‘Aquarius’ song had any astrological knowledge is not clear.  Certainly most of the themes explored in Hair are just as relevant today, if not more so…

However the alignment 0f 14 February 2009 is very powerful for anyone who believes in the influence of the planets on Earth events and consciousness. And even if you don’t hold much faith in astrology,  many people around the world will enough attach significance to this date to collectively energize a wave of intention around the globe.  This will surely nudge along human consciousness a little closer to a new age and many believe towards the 5th dimension (coincidentally perhaps?) where we will move beyond war, greed and oppression.

So let love steer the stars, on Valentine’s Day!

For more information see Cure Zone, Astrological Investing and Book of Thoth