FIREBIRD

CIRCA 1969 (Part VI) : NUMERICAL PHENOMENON

Some doomsday prophets and soothsayers look back at 1969 as an eerie year. They assert that spiritual elements were at work. Dub as the “Summer of Evil” because it was the summer of the Manson murders where members of a cult led by Charles Manson murdered actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and her friends in Los Angeles. Also, it was the year of The Zodiac murders and the publication of the first Satanic Bible in San Francisco. The advancements in science had crossed the line of bio-ethical limits and morality. Such were in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering and abortion.

As already cited, this was a year characterized by the sexual revolution; social upheaval and war. The exposure to the culture of drugs, rebellion, and violence were prevalent. Many shamelessly defy the sexual mores of that time. Suddenly, there was an environment of moral laxity and decadence. The new form of artistic and ideological expressions invaded almost every institution including the academe in the guise of academic freedom. Such were the rise of feminism and the gay liberation movements that indicated the blurring of genders. And, the powers of Communism which adheres to the Godless ideals of atheism had been increasing worldwide. Philosophies that are perceived to go against Christian doctrines permeated the spiritual consciousness of the population. Such are the eastern beliefs and worship as opposed to Christian traditions.

Moreover, psychic phenomena were brought to the fore. Cults and neo-pagan organizations proliferated which soon turned into the New Age movement. This movement is viewed as a phenomenon associated with the arrival or imminent arrival of the Age of Aquarius. The memorable line of the song “Aquarius” from the rock musical Hair, "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius," brought the Aquarian Age concept to the attention of audiences worldwide when it hit the pop charts in 1969. However, as the song relates, it is only considered by astrologers to be the dawning of the age, but the song does announce the actual start of the age and within the first lines. "When the Moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars. Then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars." This alignment occurred on February 14, 2009 – Valentine's Day. However, according to Neil Spencer, this is `astrological gibberish' as Jupiter aligns with Mars several times a year and the Moon is in the 7th House for about two hours every day. Though the lines of this song are merely poetic license, many people take them as a literal truth. Furthermore, Neil Spencer provides an overview of the Age of Aquarius stating that the rise of scientific rationalism combined with the fall of religious influence is possibly an indication of this age. He points to the exponential growth of technology, especially of computers and the Internet, plus the growth in flight and space travel as examples of the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

For the superstitious, 1969 was linked with 1966 the year when the first Church of Satan was established. Apparently, it was being associated with the proverbial ‘666’ which is the ‘mark of the beast’ as written in the Book of Revelations or simply known as the “devil’s number”. Well, there are those who like to play around with turning numbers backwards or upside-down.

Also, it is noteworthy that the numerical symbol 69 identically resembles the ancient Chinese symbol of Yin and Yang which represents the understanding of how things work. This symbolizes life’s contradictions at the same time harmony. While "yin" would be dark, passive, downward, cold, contracting, and weak, "yang" would be bright, active, upward, hot, expanding, and strong. The shape of the yin and yang sections of the symbol suggests a sense of the continual movement of these two energies causing everything to happen. The concentration of Yang, the force of light, earth was created by the concentration of Yin, the forces of darkness. Yang stands for peace and serenity; Yin stands for confusion and turmoil. Yang stands for destruction; Yin stands for conservation. Yang brings about disintegration; Yin gives shape to things.

Mysticism, superstition, magic and miracles; omen. These are but the unexplained phenomena of our existence. Sometimes, our quest for meanings in events that happens in our life may go beyond the realms of science and reason. Yet we know that everything happens for a reason. Oftentimes, our perceptions why things happen is dictated by pure intuition.Indeed, there are uncanny coincidences that occurred in 1969. But, uncanny coincidences do happen to us everyday. Evil, as well as good, is as old as time itself. Since the dawn of humanity, the conflict between the forces of good and evil characterizes our life. And the mysteries behind these forces are certainly lurking in every human soul.