In recent times we have come to think in very small periods of time, using only the recently devised gregorian calender as our measure of time passing. We have also come to think of the evolution of consciousness as being linear through time. This makes it difficult for us to conceive of the consciousness of past civilisations as being anything other than inferior to our own.
Many ancient civilisations describe a very different understanding of both time and it's inter-connectivity with consciousness. They used their highly developed knowledge of cosmology to record the movements of the planets to determine far greater cycles of time. They spoke of a natural cycle linked to the precession of the earth, of many thousands of years, within which the energetic influence of the planets would create within human consciousness a state of either ascent or descent, expansion or contraction.
At it's peak were the Golden Ages where unity (oneness) consciousness prevailed and awareness of our true nature as infinite consciousness accepted.
The cycle naturally moved on from the Golden Age, descending through the states described as the Silver and Bronze ages, each moving consciousness further and further away from unity consciousness. Now in the Iron age, the farthest state from unity consciousness, removed from any understanding of our true nature, the dislocated state of consciousness naturally manifests as inner and outer conflict, alienation and dissatisfaction. In the Hindu belief system the Iron Age was named Kali ('the black one'...the first creation before light itself!).
Plato described this cycle as The Great Year.
Is it possible that we now stand at the end of the Iron Age on the brink of ascent into a new Golden Age? That the conflict and collapse we now see in the systems we have created in this limited state of 'Iron Age' consciousness actually heralds the emergence of a new state of enlightenment? Does the end of the Mayan long count calender on 21st December 2012 mark this evolutionary threshold?
