What are the differences from the Earth Era, and what is the background of this transformation that occurs once every 200 years?
Since the end of 2020, some of you living in Japan or with Japanese friends may have heard that "the Age of Air is coming," or "We're in the Kaze-no-jidai (風の時代) or 'Age of Air.'" Even those not interested in astrology might now be familiar with the term "the Age of Air," which is said to have officially started on December 22, 2020. What exactly is this major paradigm shift known as "the Age of Air"?
What is the Age of Air? What is the Great Conjunction?
Most people still think of 2021 as the year that marked the beginning of the "Age of Air" in Western astrology.
In Western astrology, the Great Conjunction, a significant alignment of Jupiter and Saturn that occurs approximately every 20 years, marks a turning point in eras. This era changes elements about every 200 years, defined by the elements that compose our world.
There are four elements in Western astrology: The elements are Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. These relate to groups of three zodiac signs each.
The elements are represented by the following signs:
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
For the past approximately 200 years, the Great Conjunctions occurred under Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). However, the conjunction on December 22, 2020, took place in Aquarius, marking the beginning of a 200-year period dominated by Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius).
What was the Earth Era like?
The Earth Era began about 220 years ago. At the end of the 18th century, a transition from the Fire Era to the Earth Era coincided with the Industrial Revolution. The era dominated by military power ended, giving way to capitalism, where economic power became the main driver of the world.
The Earth Era was characterized by a focus on material wealth and tangible assets, emphasizing fixed concepts, real estate, lifelong employment, life insurance, and materialism—valuing visible wealth creation.
It was a time when tradition within organizations was revered, and patience and perseverance were valued. This era, which began with the Industrial Revolution, ultimately led to our modern world of mass production and consumption.
What characterizes the Age of Air that began in 2020?
The "Age of Air," much like air itself, places importance on intangibles such as information and knowledge, communication, and education. People will increasingly seek knowledge above all else. The future will emphasize intellect and communication, valuing imagination and thought. Flexibility will become essential, and acting on personal passions and desires will be crucial.
The key point of the Age of Air is that it represents a lifestyle and value system not constrained by possessions. Simply put, a flexible, free, and diverse world is emerging.
"We have moved from an era of ownership to enjoying the freedom of not owning." The term "address-free" has become more common recently, moving from owning possessions to living and working unbound by location.
"The end of striving hard! Let's accelerate our individuality." This mindset is key to living happily in the Age of Air. It's important to cherish oneself, have the courage to be different, and embrace decisiveness.
In relationships, terms like LGBTQ have become commonplace, and the structures of marriage are evolving, including possibilities for separate surnames in marriage and same-sex marriage.
"Connect with like-minded friends." The traditional corporate lifelong commitment is giving way to more flexible work styles like freelancing and multiple jobs, moving from a hierarchical to a more egalitarian society.
This also signifies the end of the money-first era. There's a shift in the value of money, from material wealth to experiential wealth. For example, crowdfunding focuses more on how money is used rather than how much is saved.
In 2020, a significant transitional period occurred, marked by the emergence of COVID-19, an invisible presence that drastically changed our view of the world, giving us time to reconsider how we use time, work, and relate to family.
In the Age of Air, value doesn't come from prestigious brands but from personal significance. The "heart," being invisible, cannot be constrained. The foundation of this is new information and knowledge, making it easier to break old values and create new ones.
In this era, people won't just follow the same trends; they'll customize their lives to their satisfaction, reshaping everything from lifestyle to work, politics, and economics.
Now is the time to be brave enough to wipe away existing values. Let's think about living life more flexibly and fluidly, free from conventional values and rules, truly embodying the essence of being "like the wind."
Are you feeling the shift from the Earth Era to the Age of Air, yet?
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