The Shape of Time

The Biblical Dispensations and The Great Year

Introduction

John Nelson Darby, the formalizer of the idea of Biblical dispensations, was an original member of the Plymouth Brethren, and a lead theologer within the church. The idea became very popular in the United States, far from Dublin, particularly in the Latter Day Saint Movement. The idea of Dispensations according to Darby has obvious similarities, and descriptive overlap with, the Platonic Months or Aeons. Arguably the most famous Plymouth Brother, Aleister Crowley, extends this idea to Egyptian symbolism in The Book of The Law. Carl Jung gives a wonderful psychological interpretation of this phenomenon in his book, Aion. Plato explains that every 36,000 years the sky returns to exactly the same state. The actual number of years isn’t really important, neither is it true. The use of the zodiac as a calendar for this Great Year, and the archetypal alignment with the symbols of the sky is the important thing. Even Crowley’s idea of the Age of Horus, who seems to differ from the classical progression, fits into a picture of the sky. We will visit Crowley at a different time to avoid confusion. This is meant to be a brief demonstration of this correspondence, and depth should not be mistaken as a goal. We will begin with the current age of Aquarius, and work backwards.

The Age of Aquarius: The Dispensation of The Millennial Kingdom

There is an almost unfailing pattern that we see in the beginning of the Aeons. The opposite sign from the one corresponding to the age seems to appear in bringing it about. In the Book of Revelation the Apocalypse is brought about by the appearance of the Beast and the Anti-Christ. Lion will lay down with lamb. Christ appearing as ruling king. All these things are Leonic, the sign of Leo stands opposite to Aquarius. The Kingdom of God will be established on Earth, and we can imagine how angelic that may be, a symbol of Aquarius.

Age of Pisces: Dispensation of Grace

Jung, as previously mentioned, provides a study of fish symbolism in the last age of Pisces in his book Aion. I want to assert again this idea that the opposing sign has a role in the bringing about of the Aion, and adds to its nature. I will credit Galahad Eridanus with this idea, it is where I first heard it. This manifests in Mary, who represents Virgo, bringing about the birth of Jesus, the Fish.

Age of Aries: Dispensation of Law

Moses, the horned prophet, a representative of Aries, establishes the Law (Libra, the scales). He instructs the Judges of Israel to rule over the people. There is some speculation that the name Moses comes from Ramses, literally “Son of Ra”. Freud even postulates that Moses was an Egyptian himself, and that his teachings have an Egyptian origin. Ra is often depicted as a ram, and was definitely the most important god to the Egyptians during this time. The idea of hierarchy is symbolized by the pyramids of this age, and the ram itself is a kingly symbol. The Age of Aries is often called the “Age of Kings”.

Age of Taurus: Dispensation of Sacrifice

This dispensation is described as beginning with the Abrahamic Covenant. Death is a very prominent theme in this dispensation, representative of the opposing Scorpio. Scorpio’s association with animals and birds of prey is seen in Abram’s first sacrifice in Genesis 15: “10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;”

This age is often associated with the domestication of animals, and the farm, which you would need if you wanted to make routine animal sacrifices. I think the image of Taurus most obviously on display in this dispensation is the worship of Moloch. And at the very end of it, right before the Ten Commandments are delivered to the Israelites, with the worship of the Golden Calf.

Age of Gemini: Dispensation of Men

Beginning with the end of Noah’s Flood, symbolized by the rainbow representing our opposite Sagittarius, this dispensation is characterized by its focus on the affairs of humans in the Bible as Yahweh takes a place more behind the scenes. Gemini is the most human of the signs of the zodiac. Virgo and Aquarius, despite their anthropomorphism, are more divine than human. This dispensation is said to end with the Tower of Babel, which I find fitting because of Gemini’s elocution.

Age of Cancer: Dispensation of Conscience

The Fall, which marks the beginning of Conscience, was brought about by the Devil, representing the opposing Capricorn. Cancer may be evident in Noah’s Ark, which travels through the unconscious, symbolized by the flood, with a protective barrier. I think the story of Cain hiding from God is also cancerian. He seeks out the darkest place, away from God’s light, an allegory for the pain of conscience, where a protective shell becomes essential. Honestly, this period of time is barely five chapters of the Bible, so there’s not much to go off of in the first place.

Age of Leo: Dispensation of Innocence

Following our correspondence, we find that the beginning of the account of man’s existence in the Bible takes place during the Age of Leo. It’s made clear that this dispensation begins with the Creation of Man, so the first five days are excluded. The Sixth day is where beasts are created, and the king beast, man, is made to rule over them. I think you also find that the first five days seem to correspond with the signs of the zodiac preceding Leo with day one being Capricorn. Aquarius is present in the figure of God himself.

Conclusion

Time seems to be more than just a progression of moments, but possess’s a shape in itself. The fact that we find similarities in the accounts of the Bible and the the Zodiac, should be unsurprising, as there are many myths that follow the same archetypal progression, Herakles, Mithras, and even the life of Jesus himself have been demonstrated in much the same way as the above. If the reader finds more similarities I encourage them to leave their own findings in the comments.