The advent of the year 2000, together with the commencement of the astrological age of Aquarius and the timing-out of various predictions which have been made in past centuries, have added a new urgency to these claims, and the phrase "New Age" is on everyone's lips, bringing the question to mind: are there aspects of the current age which are new in a new way, and is civilization going to transform itself into something even newer? In short, is the world about to take a definite change of direction in its global progress towards Transition?

To take a sample let us compare the situation now with that which prevailed in the UK about 40 years ago, which was probably comparable with that in other advanced industrial countries at the time:

• Global relationships were at that time largely confrontational - not so long before, we had emerged from a devastating war which was itself the continuation of a centuries-old confrontational approach to international relations. The armed forces were an honoured profession and being an officer in them was generally acknowledged as one of the noblest ways to serve one's country and hence humanity. Military conscription was normal in most industrial countries and few voices were raised in protest at this temporary curtailment of the freedom of choice of most of the adult male population. The Cold War was at its height, and strategists gleefully played with concepts such as "overkill" and "mutual assured destruction" thus accustoming the population to the idea that means existed for the obliteration of all of humankind, and that such a global catastrophe was a distinct possibility within the foreseeable future. Never was this felt more than at the time of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 when the world held its breath - anyone who was living at that time will recall the atmosphere that prevailed in our cities, when the sound of an airplane overhead immediately brought visions of the imminent destruction of our capitals.
• Social relationships were rigid and hierarchical. In the UK the immigrant population had not attained such numbers to make racism a general issue, but the UK always had its own social divisions, and a large human effort was spent in determining and practising the behaviour, rituals and manner of speech appropriate to the group one thought oneself to be entering. Employment both in private industry and in the public service was rigidly authoritarian and hierarchical; progress in the hierarchy depended not only on obeying authority and practising the correct rituals but also on giving evidence of one's complete dedication to the organization. American popular sociological literature of the time gave ample evidence that this was a world phenomenon - Reisman's "The Lonely Crowd", Whyte's "The Organization Man" and Packard's "The Status Seekers" are examples of best selling books which explored these themes, whereas popular UK writers examined the state of the individual who could not identify with this configuration, where an attempt to pursue an alternative path led to isolation, despair or cynicism - Colin Wilson's "The Outsider" and "The Age of Defeat" being significant non-fiction among the large number of novels and theatrical works by the so-called "angry young men" of the day. On both sides of the Atlantic satire became a useful safety valve, and maybe it was the steam escaping via the songs, revues and TV shows that helped thaw the icy colossus.
• Personal relationships were for the most part formal and restrained. Although there were many enlightened couples who were discovering deep satisfaction in their personal lives, the public image of sex was definitely as something furtive, inelegant and generally not quite nice. According to this view, sexual union was a male-dominated activity both literally and figuratively: a service offered as part of the "deal" of marriage, carried out in the dark and as quickly as possible, and of course never talked about. Contraception was a male responsibility and the materials were obtained in places where men congregated, in a manner which added to the furtiveness of the whole business. Because of the general unavailability of efficient contraception, the complete lack of legal abortion facilities and the social isolation which was the lot of a single parent, many marriages were hastily pledged for no better reason than as the consequence of an unwanted pregnancy. Married life was surrounded by guilt, hypocrisy and puritanism, and any step outside the straight and narrow was, if found out, likely to lead to social ostracism with in the front line of detractors those who were equally guilty but more successful at concealing their indiscretions.

Is this all enough to warrant the title "New Age"? Probably not. There are encouraging signs - works of authors such as Wayne Dyer, Deeepak Chopra and James Redfield, all of whom have their particular vision of the Ageless Wisdom, have become world-wide best sellers. Yet there is too much diversity of concern to form a united front pursuing ethical and spiritual interests in a world where the real power is in the hands of international corporations for whom ethics and spirituality are not major priorities. And we cannot blame anyone for giving priority to bread on the table for his/her family over pursuit of abstract ethical ideals in an environment alien to them.

Still, the above examples show there has been progress in the last forty years and who knows what the next forty will bring? Small steps by individuals can move civilizations a long way - by having a clear, honest and ethical idea of what we consider good based on whatever powers we hold dear; by being unashamed to come out in favour of these good things; by trying to make ethical decisions in matters such as employment choice, life style, parenting, exercise of our democratic rights; by listening to the voice of our intuition; by being less concerned about who does what with whom and more with establishing personal relationships which improve the depth of mutual human understanding - by doing all these things, and more, we can help to bring in to being a world which can proudly call itself "New Age" - where ethics and intuition replace rules and authority as means of regulating public life; where exploitation of humans and animals no longer has a place; where the pursuit of wealth and material possessions is seen as a slight psychological disorder; where people are judged on a basis of their qualities as human beings rather than their race, politics, wealth or connections in high places; where each of us has the chance to realize the full potential with which we came into the world.

1 November 1997

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