Forecasting Future Trends: Science or Wishful Thinking, Part I
From the May 2006 Issue of Success Matters
By Pauline Edward

Lately, I have noticed a growing trend in New Age circles heralding the coming of a new era, an age of enlightenment waiting to burst over the horizon of humanity. They site as proof of this new era an increase in the numbers of children born with special gifts, channelled material, people claiming to have achieved states of enlightenment, and the rise of psychic experiences. Some have attached a date to this change, around 2012, they say, we will experience an important shift in levels as human consciousness changes dimensions. This will be a time of great spiritual awareness, healing and peace in the world.

Wishful thinking? Projection? Is there a way of verifying the validity of these claims? Are we truly headed for better times, or is this the expression of magical thinking born out of a disillusioned and disheartened collective psyche? Watching just five minutes of the evening news is enough to turn the most level-headed individual towards a moment of hopeful, even wishful thinking these days.

Is there a way of verifying even the remotest possibility of these claims? Yes, there is. Although more and more people are becoming consumers of astrology services making use of its body of knowledge to further their understanding of themselves and their life journey, few people are aware of the fact that astrology also provides remarkable tools for gauging the pulse of upcoming trends and tendencies not only on an individual level, but also global, mundane and collective levels. A number of techniques are employed by astrologers for this purpose, such as the study of the transits of the slower moving planets through the signs, aspects between these planets and eclipse cycles, to name a few. In these articles, we will explore not only upcoming trends from an astrological perspective, focusing in particular on the transits of the planets Uranus and Neptune and their impact on global and collective trends and events, but we will also consider if and how we might secure a most desirable outcome for our future.

I think we can all agree that no matter how passionately we may desire a future outcome, if concomitant actions to achieve it are not taken, then it most likely will not occur, and in fact will remain in the realm of wishful thinking. If the present is the result of past actions, in studying possible future trends we must consider past and present trends for indications of most likely future outcomes. If we continue to do the same things we've always done, we'll continue to get the same results.

It also follows that the forces, actions and ideologies that best reflect the nature of the transits in effect at any given time are the ones that will most likely be sustained during that period. In other words, you will have more success in building a snowman than a water garden in mid-January, at least in this part of the world. Knowing the climate gives you an advantage, a better chance at success. The more in tune you are with the climate, the better chance your trend or idea had for success.

Applying this approach, let us consider for a moment the recent transits of Uranus. Uranus takes 84 years to complete one revolution in the solar system, spending approximately 7 years in each of the 12 signs. Interesting parallels can be made between its passage through the signs and certain types of events and trends. Uranus has traditionally been associated with technological, social, scientific and medical breakthroughs, radical thought and action, intuition, leaps of consciousness and awareness, breaking of boundaries, cutting edge approaches in all fields as well as revolutions, uprisings, and rebellions. It is associated with the aerospace, electronics, IT and electrical sectors. Its action is often sudden, radical, explosive, unusual and unexpected.

From 1988 to 1995, Uranus transited Capricorn, the sign associated with the established order, government, traditions, old schools of thought and the corporate world. For many companies, especially those in the IT and hi-tech industries, this was a major period of restructuring and instability. We saw the beginning of the breakdown of global economic structures as the budding Internet changed the face of world-wide commerce and pc's were installed in all work places and more and more homes. But these were not peaceful times for the people of Rwanda, Somalia, the women of Africa, the middle East and too many others. Similar trends will be found in all walks of life and all level of human experience.

From 1995 to 2003, Uranus transited Aquarius, the sign with which it has the greatest natural affinity, the sign of technological advancement, futuristic thought, progress and breakthroughs, science fiction as well as revolutions and radical thought. During this period we experienced continued accelerated technological advancement, the explosion of the world wide web, globalization of commerce, as well as the rapid, and for many, unexpected change in the structure of the world order with the establishment of random acts of violence and the threat of acts of terrorism on a global scale. Airplanes used as weapons in an act of terror reflect quite clearly an extremely negative manifestation of Uranus (radical thought and action) in Aquarius (Air element, use of technology) energy.

Uranus in Aquarius also embodies the energies of freedom, liberation, equal rights, independence, individuality and humanitarianism. Interestingly, while Uranus transited Aquarius from 1828-1835, the New England Anti-Slavery Society was founded in Boston, slavery was abolished in Mexico, the Democratic Party was launched in the US, the concept of "socialism" was born and the Working Men's Party was founded in New York. While Uruguay, Ecuador, Poland, Belgium, and Greece attained independent status, revolutions and uprisings stirred in Paris, Mexico, Warsaw, Russia, Syria and Germany. This was a time of much social change, but also of much unrest. The last time Uranus transited Aquarius was 1912 to 1919.

From 2003 to 2010, Uranus is transiting Pisces, the sign of the masses, the collective unconscious, hidden and elusive forces, subtle action, medical research, film and cinema, chemistry, the oceans, the natural sciences, the supernatural, spirituality, psychic phenomena, espionage, subversive activity. Uranus was last in Pisces from 1919 to 1927, and before that, from 1835 to 1843. We would expect that this transit would bring, among other things, advancement (Uranus) in the bio-medical and pharmaceutical (Pisces) fields. Not a day goes by without some news item referring to cancer research, or the need for an active fight against obesity, diabetes, or the illusive quest for eternal youth. During this period, war was waged under the guise of capturing ever elusive (Pisces) weapons of mass destruction (Uranus).

Current transits are often reflected in the movies that rise to popularity, a sort of vehicle of expression for the collective unconscious. Note the rise of high-tech, computer-generated special effects and futuristic themes during the late 90's. Since Uranus has moved into Pisces, we have seen a growing number of shows and movies that centre on psychic, paranormal and spiritual phenomena, global pandemics and threats, and convoluted conspiracies (Pisces).

The alternative (Uranus) health (Pisces) fields as well as the self help/Spiritual sectors are experiencing tremendous growth with channelled material, inspirational texts and spiritual books, movies, the Internet, CD's and DVD's reaching broader and broader audiences each year. Note the popularity of the movie What The Bleep Do We Know? an interesting exploration of the meeting of quantum physics (Uranus) and God (Pisces). It is no surprise that we are encountering a rise in interest and new trends (Uranus) in spiritual thought and practice (Pisces) at this time.

In Part II, we will look at the current and upcoming transits of the slower moving Neptune, typically associated with oil, gas, diffuse and subtle forces, illusions, the dissolution of boundaries, drugs and the pharmaceutical industries, and its potential influence on our future, especially as it enters Pisces, the sign with which it has the strongest affinity, in 2012.