How the AEONS help me

Some of my connections and followers on LinkedIn know my longstanding interest in different human modes of thinking, specifically the non-rational ones. Most do not.

I am the author and creator (along with a creative partner Graham Wood ) of the Nockwood behavioral archetypes and the AEON deck of Aeonology cards. The former is used in my marketing work to help brands identify behavioral (as opposed to image or perceptual) foundations. The latter is used in my work with individuals to tap into fresh perspectives and new ways of seeing the world.

As I was trying to make sense of the events of the past week in the US election I went back to my 2024 annual reading of the cards to see what that perspective offered. As always the reading (in hindsight) was helpful in a number of ways.

1. Our saviors will not deliver for us. I think both sides of the political spectrum have been looking for a savior. For the left, it certainly felt that Kamala Harris was that. For the right, there is also the belief that Donald Trump is that savior. While the disappointment is fresh on one side, the annual reading helped me realize that there's a really good chance the President Elect will fail to deliver on his promises to the non-college educated, older, white electorate who expect jobs that pay and affordable, cost of living for everyone on an average wage. Maybe if all our saviors fail us, we will realize that it is each other that we need to turn to.
2. "What seems quite simple or straightforward is in fact a complex assortment of interlocking variables that must align". Despite what the gazillion pundits and commentators say, the result of this election is not caused by a single, simple issue: a bad campaign, bad messaging, misogyny, racism, zero prep time, Gen Xers, self-interest, lack of morality, house prices, inflation, lobbyists, corporate interests, campaign finance, wage stagnation, young people's political ambivalence, college education, elitism, wealth inequality, gender bias, etc. etc. The reality is that it was caused by all of these and it's going to take some time to get our heads around this complexity. While we love simplicity, complexity is our reality.
3. It's going to get worse, before it gets better. "[2024 will be] A year where the unpleasantness intensifies, the troubles get more troubling, where divisions get more divided and the status quo calcifies. We will overestimate the progress we think we'll make in 2024 but underestimate the importance of the small steps that will be achieved this year." Alongside the bitter disappointment that was predicted, and the bursting of our self-delusional bubbles, the AEON cards foretold a clarity of view that would help us move forward: "It will be a year of deep reflection and learning. Bythos doesn't necessarily promise that we will find what we seek (nor like what we find) when we immerse ourselves in our own depths... but we will discover something valuable. We will emerge from 2024 with a clearer and more truthful understanding of our current situation and the direction we need to move in."

I found this helpful but wondered what the cards would say to me right now...in this aftermath. So I did a quick 4 card reading.

November 8th reading

The first card determines the subject of the reading.

Synesis is the card of togetherness and understanding, but in the reversed position it means the opposite. "Crudeness, brutality and vulgarity" is how it is articulated on the guide. This is perhaps my greatest fear to come out of this election. That the new leadership and the new political era we are entering is one of brutality, course insensitivity and self-interest.

The second card tells us what we should look within ourselves for:

The card Autophyes means self-made. My understanding of this is that it is not internal factors that we need to start looking at, but instead look inside ourselves. Do not cast blame, disparage others, demonize or vilify others, because that just makes the problems we have bigger. Ask yourself "What about you?"... your perspectives, your judgements and your behavior that might have contributed to this. What can you do that will not increase our challenges but help make things better? For me, this had a couple of interpretations. I think there's a fair chance that the immediate future will demand more self sufficiency, less focus on macro-political, economic and political agendas and start from myself and my immediate close family, friends and community. It's hard to see how I can make a difference on a national stage but focusing my effort on my immediate community where I can more easily understand what's really going on and my actions are more able to make an immediate and tangible difference.

The third card tells us how we should proceed:

Grigori is the card of the Watcher. The interpretation is pretty obvious. Stay alert, aware. Keep an eye out and stay vigilant. Watch intently but more than that, listen and be aware of the thoughts and feelings of those around you. We are all on edge. We are all sensitive. Both those who feel like they lost and those who feel like they've won are likely to have a rollercoaster of emotions in the future. So, be on high alert. Keep an eye out for the things that matter and the things that don't. Watch out for the people around you and be there for them when they need help and support. Don't judge or rush into direct conflict. Step back, observe, learn, listen with all your senses...including that one that we all have in common.

The final card tells us what the ultimate outcome of this will be.

Hedone is the card of shared pleasures and enjoyments - often physical pleasures like food, drink, luxury etc. In this reading the card is reversed which means we are likely to go through a period of collective pain and sadness...which feels about right. Aristotle paired the aeon of 'Hedone' with 'Lype' which was a very specific type of pain, found most often in fear. It is the emotional opposite of receiving all the things that make you happy—the "mental distress" and "unjustified passion" experienced when you (mistakingly) believe that you have been deprived of the things that will make you happy. Be aware of this as we look to the future. Everyone (both sides of the political spectrum) is going to feel the pain of feeling like their being denied something that makes them happy. The reality is, that this is just an emotion and the things we desire, are envious of, or think we're being denied are rarely the source of happiness we imagine them to be.