Seven year growth cycles of the human experience
The number seven has great significance in spiritual numerology (seven planets, seven chakras, seven days of the week, seven heavens in Islam and ancient Judaism, seven deadly sins and seven virtues, etc.) but it also has meaning in human evolution. Astrologers and astrology enthusiasts will recognize a seven year cycle as being part of the Saturn cycle. Saturn takes 28 years to circle the Sun, and the synodic cycle of Saturn (relative to its placement in the birthchart) brings about a peak event every seven years. At age seven we have the opening square of Saturn in the sky to Saturn in the birthchart, at age 14 we have the opposition (180 degree point), at age 21 the closing square, and at age 28-29 we have the Saturn Return.
Philosopher Rudolf Steiner had his own idea about planetary correspondences in these seven year cycles:
The first seven years of life (0-7 years old) were associated with the Moon. During this time, the psychic forces are working to transform the body of the child from one that was inherited from the parents, to one that represents the full personality of the child.
The second seven years (7-14 years old) is associated with Mercury. At this time, the child’s imagination and feeling life takes center stage.
The third seven years (14-21 years old) is associated with Venus, during which time the higher mind of the adolescent takes root, and the psychic development can be disturbed by the strong impulses of puberty.
The next three seven-year segments are associated with the Sun (21-42 years old), and the elements of sentient soul, intellectual soul, and consciousness soul.
The next seven-year segment is associated with Mars (42-49 years old), when the soul works hard to impress the […]