Forecast for Thursday 28 July 2011: Dark Epoch!

Thursday 28 July 2011

Our Dark Hermetic Epoch

Since we are in another Dark Hermetic Epoch, and we have a great many new readers, it is time to explain it to them. As for you veteran readers (some have been with us for years, even perhaps since the beginning in 1999), it doesn't hurt to review all this; and for myself it is helpful because every time I explain it I get new insights.

The Bright and Dark Hermetic Epochs are based upon the cycles of Mercury as related to the orbit of the earth, that is, as we view that planet's motions from here. "Bright" and "Dark" are metaphors; there is no actual brightness or darkness involved. The Bright
Epoch is when Mercury is moving fast forward from our geocentric perspective. The Dark Epoch is when it is moving slower than the sun appears to move (which of course is really the motion of the earth around it). [Actually that is not exactly right because I have refined the mathematical formula for determining the beginning and end of each Epoch, but that is advanced astronomy.] Why all this should be important to human beings is a great mystery; but I found it out (I, Cosmic Piper, and no one else) and explained it in an article in Horoscope Magazine as far back as 1979. I know whereof I speak; but to put the knowledge in simple words is almost impossible. Here is another attempt. Please read it with your intuition as well as your logical intelligence. If suddenly you could see all the periods in your past which took place in Dark Epochs, versus all which took place in Bright Epochs, you would see at once what it means.

1. The most recent Bright Hermetic Epoch was from May 11 through July 14. The current Dark Hermetic Epoch is from July 15 through September 9. The Bright Epochs are always a little more than 60 days; the Dark Epochs always a few days less than 60. (This is an analogy to daily periods of light and darkness, since, because of dawn and dusk hours, even at the equator the hours of light are somewhat longer than the hours of darkness, in terms of yearly average. That is one reason I denominated them Bright and Dark Epochs, though they have nothing to do with the daily rotation of the earth.)

2. Another reason for the terminology is this: It is easier to map things out in a clear, definite, predictable way during the Bright Epochs, usually. (Because all this is statistically observed and observable, I have to use words like "usually.") Therefore one "has more light" in a conventional ordinary sense; one can see what is coming, more or less, and plan for it. Left-brain logic works quite well.

3. Likewise, it is harder to do that during Dark Epochs; but it is easier to be in touch with one's deep psyche. (Last night I was having very deep, vivid, meaningful dreams.) So it appears that the right half of the brain, the more intuitive or spontaneous half, has more control during the Dark Epochs. Of course I do not know if this is literally true but by analogy it seems true, over and over again.

4. Therefore it is a mistake to think the Dark is worse than the Light, in these cycles. It is just different, and has different purposes or functions. Our inability to understand that is our only problem. By analogy, think about the hours of darkness in the daily cycle. Do you not have wonderful times then? Parties, social times, television times, reading times, romantic adventures, dream-times? However, the dark hours are usually not the hours when you do business, map out business moves or financial moves, do yard work, negotiate, or complete transactions. Likewise, all those activities go better, usually, during the Bright Hermetic Epochs.

5. Perhaps in some ideal world, we would all take vacations during the Dark Epochs, and have the freedom to explore our own psyches and inclinations, and have remarkable adventures. Since we can't do that, and millions have to go to work every day, and even the retired have to keep up with routines, we need to make place, in other ways, for the intuitive and spontaneous factors within us which are trying to get out during the Dark Epochs.

6. During work hours, there is more mind-wandering during the Dark Epochs. Therefore it is, I believe, statistically provable that there are more accidents at such times. People are drawn into their internal worlds more than during the Bright Epoch and so can make more mistakes, outwardly.

7. The other side of that is that they can be more creative, I believe, during the Dark Epochs, or else a different, more unusual side of their creativity turns up. You might try your hand at poetry, some art form, or a different kind of sport than you usually do. A memoir or diary might be excellent at such times.

8. That brings up the fact that the past is alive during the Dark Epochs. Your dreams and waking thoughts will turn to the past, to old friends, relatives, old connections, thoughts, plans, hopes. Old friends get together more at such times; there are more reunions. This is all healthy, unless of course it could hurt your ability to make necessary daily moves in your ordinary world of necessities. One purpose of this explanation is to help you avoid such problems.

9. Sometimes things come to and end during these periods, more than in the Bright Epochs. There are more resignations. Probably more divorces. Probably, sad to say, more suicides. If something needs to end, fine. If not, you could make a serious mistake by, for example, quitting your job at such a time.

10. Untoward or sad things do tend to happen more often during the Dark Epochs. I think this is because we don't know about them! My mission as an astrologer is, partly, to inform people about such cycles so that fewer tragedies will occur. Since the current Dark Epoch began on July 15 we have had the horrid killings in Norway, for example, and the death of Amy Winehouse. Not because it is an evil time, but because people's inward hidden thoughts and feelings come forth (from the "dark") and if they are unbalanced, they can become victims of them. Thus it could be said that the "demons of the unconscious mind" come forth during the Dark Epochs. But if you are psychologically healthy, those "demons" can, instead, be dark angels of creativity.

11. Chaotic conditions appear. For example, since the Dark Epoch began this time, where I live there have been all kinds of interruptions, noises, people talking loudly, sleep patterns disrupted, and this morning someone's obnoxious cell-phone waking up the whole household over and over. If you are prepared for this, you can handle it; otherwise, you might think that you or everyone else is going crazy. So I say, Be prepared for the unexpected. Note that people are "out of pattern" and do things they don't usually do. There are more absences at work or school; and more dilly-dallying, and purposeless "hanging out," so that our subconscious minds can enjoy a little freedom to explore something more than the iron-clad world of timetables and schedules.

12. Perhaps most important, the Dark Epochs can be times for spiritual regeneration, for studying the Scriptures you believe in, the spiritual writings which take you to a place where you are invulnerable within your soul or where, best of all, you have a relation with the Supreme Lord. "Man's extremity is God's opportunity" to awaken him from vain pursuits and find what is ideal and lasting. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise." --Psalm 51

That is a beginning of explanation. I hope the above points will help you navigate through this period up through September 9. (It might repay you to make a copy of this, or even to share it with those who don't usually care about astrology.)

I spent the time I would ordinarily spend on a daily report on the above. Those reports will resume tomorrow (with the forecast for Friday).

Cosmic Piper