Come Fly With Me-The Life Chart of Sir Freddie Laker

You should have known Freddie, he was one of the good guys. He was an archetypal capitalist hero; innovative, adventurous and resilient. More than anyone else he redefined cheap holiday airfares for ordinary people and struck the first blow at over-priced scheduled airfares, with the launch of Skytrain. Now Freddie unfortunately is no longer with us and the likes of Richard Branson have taken over his mantle of independent budget airlines, but we are going to look at his Life Chart, to see the almost perfect sequence of related Revolution and Broken Pathways Years that occurred. Remember it is the linked themes of all these years that makes Life Cycles evidence so powerful. I mean it's no good if I have this template and I can find no reasonable supporting data. I've actually seen some appalling data for some other theories; where either everything is so general nothing gets proven, or worse still it is self-contradictory. No, you've got one determined and disciplined researcher here and good luck if you think I'll disappear off the radar.

When Freddie was in his first adult age 24 'Year of Revolution' (August, 1946 to August, 1947) he began working for a new aviation group-London Aero and Motor Services in Dec, 1946 at Sansted. They had six Halifax bombers converted for civilian use and a young Freddie, working as a Flight Engineer, saw the potential in all this. Soon after, in Oct. 1947, he set up his first company, Aviation Traders, with a loan of some 38,000 pounds from a rich friend. It wasn't long before the Soviet Blockade of West Berlin provided almost a year's worth of work for all his aircraft and he made his first fortune. This was his first new age/direction. Next we come to his important mid-life age 36 'Year of Revolution'. What was his new age then and was it related to the same theme of entrepreneurship and aviation? He was getting frustrated by his inability to gain entry to mainstream aviation, however in this year (August, 1958 to August, 1959) he sold his three companies to the Airwick Group for 800,000 pounds (around 20 million today). This group then merged with Hunting-Clan in the next year and he became Managing Director of the new entity-British United Airways. This consolidated his finances and gave him a more important reputation. He had 'burst upon the scene' as a major industry player, as so many people do in one way or another in this important mid-life 'Year of Revolution'. It was clearly his second adult new age/direction. His company became half the size of British European Airways.

Now let's progress another twelve years and set up a further hypothesis. What happened in Freddie's 48th 'Year of Revolution' (Aug. 1970 to Aug.1971) to show evidence of new beginnings? On 15th June, 1971 Laker Airlines submitted an application to launch the first daily low-budget transatlantic service between London and New York. This was to prove a difficult task and with various delays took a full seven years before it got up and running. It was definitely the ushering in of his next new age/direction, even though it did not happen overnight. His eventual main reputation with Skytrain was linked to this and became the template for others like Richard Branson.

Let's try his age 60 'Year of Revolution' (Aug. 1982 to Aug. 1983) shall we. What happens if we set up the same hypothesis? Remember each time it is increasingly more difficult to find supporting evidence. What would be the odds of these events happening by chance alone? Just before his 60th birthday Laker Airlines went spectacularly bust with debts of 264 million pounds. The last flight was on 5th Feb, 1982. Undaunted, Freddie immediately hit back with public support and a relief fund, which managed to raise over 1 million pounds and was backed by the band- The Police. It became obvious however, during his 'Year of Revolution', that ten major airlines (including B.A. Pan Am and Lufthansa) had plotted his downfall. They then threatened McDonnell Douglas that they would buy elsewhere it if re-scheduled Laker's debt. This led on to Freddie suing them and years of legal wrangling and negotiations, with an eventual out of court settlement ensuing. In this year Laker retreated to live most of the rest of his life in the Bahamas. It was definitely the beginning of his new age/direction at this time. He had now effectively 'left the stage he had been upon'.

Oh, and by the way, just for good measure I can show an obvious challenge at each and every 'Year of Broken Pathways'. That is at ages 31, 43, 55, and most probably 19 and 67 as well. At 31, he began his second airline venture Channel Air Bridge, flying cars and their owners from Southend to Calais. At 43, he resigned from British United to form his own airline -Laker Airways- initially flying charter flights with a pair of turbo-prop planes. At 55, his long running application to get Skytrain working was settled and the first London-New York flight happened 26th Sept. 1977. Can't you see the obvious similarity in all these 'Years of Broken Pathways'? He begins the challenge of initial flights or new and spin-off business ventures. In each and every 'Year of Revolution' he begins a new business direction, that is not always of his own making. If that friend hadn't lent him money in 1947 or if he hadn't been offered a position following the merger in 1959, or submitted a transatlantic application in 1971, or been driven out of the UK by the 'big boys' in 1983, he wouldn't have had a new age/direction.

Think about the power of 'Life Cycles' analysis. Then think about this. No-one has done anything remotely like this before. I'm one voice. Should you listen to me? There's plenty of 'great pretenders' out there. Just remember that. Until next month:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

News For The World-The Life Chart Of Rebekah Brooks

Now we are going to explore a new aspect of the Life Chart. We are going to ask a seemingly simple and innocuous question :- "If we just have a twelve year cycle to describe all lives, then what is it that makes it a true cycle?" I mean if we were to take the Cadel Evans 'Life Chart', featuring the mountain biking/BMX era ushered at 12 and then the road racing era ushered in at 24, why do I contend he's simply repeating the same cycle and not simply entering a brand new 12 year cycle? Surely it's enough that I can supply highly statistically significant data for the two Life Cycles 'Years of Revolution'. However I go further. I radically contend that if you analyse on the symbolic level, then you would see the same themes being repeated. Not the same actions-but the same themes. If you think about it closely enough you will see it gives you a brand new perspective on life.

Anyway, now to this month's, I'm sure, somewhat reluctant participant- Rebekah Brooks. The former News Of The World editor, whose dubious ethics have resulted in the paper being shut down and her being charged with illegal phone tapping. Although she resigned and is now still on bail, she has just received a hefty multi-million pound payout from Rupert Murdoch. Is she in a Life Cycles 'significant year'when this is happening? Yes she is 43, when all this and potentially much more is unfolding. Like a modern-day Napoleon, she can feel the Russian Campaign ever tightening it's grip. (the Emperor was 43 in 1812, if you remember). This is a textbook 'Year of Broken Pathways', including the monumental challenge and the slow sinking in of the reality of the new world she will inhabit. She even refused to resign at first (much like when Napoleon expected a Russian surrender), until News Corporation's second largest shareholder called for it in a BBC interview. Now let's turn the clock back 12 years. She's now 31, not 43. Where is she now?

It is well recorded that she became one of the youngest-ever Fleet Street editors when, at 31, she took the top job at News Of The World in May, 2000. It was not long before controversy surrounded her. She was vilified for publishing the names and photographs of known sex offenders following the murder of schoolgirl Sarah Payne. Police accused her of "grossly irresponsible journalism", that was wrecking investigations, driving paedophiles underground and causing mobs to riot in Portsmouth. In one instance a paediatrician had her house vandalised, because of confusion with this word and the word paedophile. Yet the paper sold an extra 95,000 copies a week. Critics accused her of trying to cash in on Sarah's death, but she defended the paper's actions in a David Frost interview. Then in early 2002, she became embroiled in the Milly Dowler murder, which has led directly to where she is today. Millie was a 13 year old schoolgirl and News reporters had hacked into her voicemail when she was reported missing.

Of course, since then many celebrities have come forward with complaints of a similar nature. This material is not pretty, but it does tell a consistent story. In the overly-ambitious quest for power, she has broken all ethical standards and these tactics have been brought into the open, beginning at both her age 31 'Year of Broken Pathways' and again in a more dramatic fashion in her age 43 'Year of Broken Pathways'. This is a linked theme of her life. Could I demonstrate it in her only other 'Broken Pathways' year at 19? Perhaps, but it would be difficult to access, as this part of her life in Paris seems a closed book. However one thing we do know is that she has doctored her academic data to imply she had a degree from the Sorbonne, which of course she did not and that she was an exceptionally ambitious young person even then. Prepared, no doubt, to do 'whatever it took'. Next month I'll return with a more uplifting case and until then:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

Cadel Evans' Life Chart-At The Top Of The Mountain

Hello for October. My next guest is very big news in the sport of cycling and both a proud Australian and a true world figure- Cadel Evans. Without a doubt this gruelling cycling marathon around France must be one of the greatest endurance sporting events on the calendar. My son is very fit and an avid cyclist. A little while ago he completed just one leg of the contest, involving the hilliest part of the Tour. Keen amateurs and former racers did this 'for fun' and less than half the field completed the one day torture course. In a totally different way my 'Life Charts' are a theoretical marathon, as I slowly research my subject's lives and try to piece together just the co-incidences, with such a small number of years. Against all seeming odds, good evidence often appears.

Let's begin at the beginning. The very first year in someone's 'Life Chart' is their age 7 'Year of Broken Pathways'. Does anything happen? Does it feature a challenge or direction change? The record shows that at age 7 a young Cadel was kicked in the head by a horse, rushed to hospital and goes into a coma. Doctors advised he may be permanently crippled and have other issues. His mother stays constantly by his bedside trying to be positive. Eventually Cadel comes conscious and is miraculously physically intact. For months later he suffers from headaches and palsy on one side of his face, but through determination comes through all this.

Now let's skip forward to when he was aged 12 and in his first remembered 'Year of Revolution'. Was there any new age/direction that was ushered in by fateful events? Well the story, as told by his excellent biography "Almost Flying", is that just before turning 12 in late 1988, he goes on his first ever mountain bike race and completes only one lap before retiring exhausted. He had ridden out too hard. After this he swore he'd never race on mountains again. Six months later he relented and then in his first up race comes second, and wins every other race he went in that year. Unfortunately the book doesn't say why this happened, or if he was encouraged by someone else....I'd have to interview him personally for this (which would be a rare treat). This was the ushering in of his new age/direction and to be the genesis, a couple of years later, of his highly successful BMX era.

Now we jump to his first adult 'Year of Broken Pathways' at age 19. What may have been his challenge and direction change then? He was at the Australian Institute of Sport when his coach, Damian Grundy, was appointed to coach the brand new Olympic discipline of mountain biking. He was encouraged to go for the Atlanta squad. Grundy says there was no guarantee he'd make the squad or race at Atlanta, but he did and he came 9th, and was now in the World top 10. It was said by the Head AIS cycling coach, that making mountain biking an Olympic sport changed everything. It was now taken seriously for the first time. His challenge was to build a reputation as an Olympian as well as BMX specialist and he went on to compete at the Sydney, 2000 Games.

Now to his first adult age 24 'Year of Revolution'. For those whose career begins early this is often an important age, rather than just a career beginning. Cadel states that in the year before he was 24, he realised that he had reached all the goals he could in BMX/mountain biking. and that he felt he needed a fresh challenge. His biography uses this exact phrase:- " In 2001 (at 24) he began a new cycle in his life" when he took up road racing and by the end of the year had totally given up mountain biking. He had been advised in 2000 by Michele Ferrari to give this a go and in 2001 joined the prestigious Italian team-Saeco. There is no question that it was his new age/direction.

OK, we're now down to the last of his current 'significant years', when he was 31 (in 2008) and in another 'Year of Broken Pathways' What was the challenge and direction change and why did it lead on to his recent Tour De France victory? There's a good 2000 word essay in this. So it's 2008 and Evans is favourite to win the Tour for the first time, as Contador can't compete. He holds the yellow jersey for stages 10-14, but goes on to come second by 58 seconds. On the night the Tour ended, he slipped on a wet dance floor in Paris and ruptured his cruciate ligament, which ended his hopes for Olympic glory in Beijing, even though he bravely competed. So, the challenge is now obvious- win the Tour. You're not going to be happy with just second and particularly when you were expected to win.

Now he went on to win this year, but it's not in one of my 'significant years'. Why do I say he's 'at the top of the mountain'? Well to find out for yourselves, you're just going to have to read the full incredible, and I promise you mind-blowing, 'Life Cycles' theory, in my soon to be released book 'The Life Cycles Revolution'. This isn't yet ready however, but I'll tell you when it is. Think about the Cadel Evans eras. At 12, begins the mountain bike era. At 24, begins the road racing era. This is as straightforward as Novak Djokovic and parallel to Steve Jobs. Just lucky again? What about if it's not luck? Till we meet again:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

iEvidence-The Life Chart of Steve Jobs

Steve has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons. His on-going battle with cancer has meant he has had to step down as CEO of the company he founded-Apple Inc. Although still Chairman of the Board, he has knighted his successor for the day-to-day role. Now I'm not much of an IT type (strictly home grown), so I decided to do some research on why Apple were putting an 'i' in front of products like an iPod? The answer for the iPod, was back in 2000 a consultant likened the new product to a scene from the movie '2001-A Space Odessey'....so it really stands for nothing in particular. However the whole world knows about it and uses it in everyday speech. That's kind of the exact opposite of 'Life Cycles'. It's known only to a small community, but it does represent something very important indeed: the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle known as 'The Meaning of Life'. That's a big claim I know, but each time I find straightforward evidence, it becomes harder and harder to just dismiss it out of hand. So, in honour of Steve Jobs, let's have a look at his Life Chart together and call it iEvidence.

Let's start with Steve's age 19 'Year of Broken Pathways' (Feb.1974 to Feb.1975). Were there any turning points and challenges? He had dropped out of college and had returned to California, attending weekly meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club and taking a summer job at Atari to get money to go to India. When he got to India he backpacked around, attended an ashram, became a Buddhist (which he still is) and returned with his head shaved. His best friend Steve Wozniak said:- "he was into everything hippy". There is no question, that according to him, this changed his direction and shaped his life. He also began his working career with computers. His challenge became how to integrate these values, a couple of years later, into his computing start-up company called Apple.

Now let's skip forward to his first age 24 'Year of Revolution' (Feb.1979 to Feb.1980). What sort of upheaval and new age happened then? This was not the founding of Apple, as this had already happened, but it was the birth of the Macintosh project (in Sept.1979) and the accidental discovery by Jobs of the thing that changed personal computing forever. He made a visit to Rank Xerox's research facility in Palo Alto (in Dec.1979), where he saw the 'mouse-driven graphical user interface' and had the now widely-reported and legendary epiphany about how to incorporate it into the Mac. I know, I know. I'm beginning to sound like a geek, but that's because I need to inhabit my subject's world, whoever they are. These fateful breakthrough moment's are exactly what characterises a 'Year of Revolution'.

OK, so far so good, now where to next? The answer is always straight to his age 31 'Year of Broken Pathways' (Feb.1986 to Feb.1987). What was the turning point and challenge in his life then? Well he had just left the company he founded due to management issues (he returned to Apple in 1996) and an opportunity to purchase Pixar (the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm) came up. This went on to lose Jobs quite a large amount of money in development for the first few years, but it also went on to make him his first billion. It was also in this year that the Pixar short animation 'Luxo Jr.' had it's world premiere. Is this enough of a new direction and challenge? Does it meet every definition of 'Year of Broken Pathways' including the several years of an uphill struggle? You betcha.

Now let's try his age 36 mid-life 'Year of Revolution' (Feb.1991 to Feb. 1992). What was the upheaval and new age then? This period was dominated by two events. The first was his Buddhist marriage to Laurene Powell, by whom he has three children, the first one being born about six months later. The second was the signing of an agreement with Disney Studios in May,1991 to produce six animated feature films. Each of these films has gone on to sweep across the US and the rest of the world, producing great wealth as well as awards and honours. Jobs went on to become Disney's largest shareholder, with a seat on the Board. Can you see his commercial success spelled out in capital letters in each 'Year of Revolution'? Age 24:- Birth of 'The Apple Mac. Era.' Age 36:-Birth of 'the Disney/Pixar Era.' It's plain as the nose on your face.

I can do more of course, but I'm running out of puff. Now here is your question. What is more important at the end of the day:- the Apple letter 'i' in iPod, which means effectively nothing, or the highly statistically significant 'Life Cycles' theory, which is largely unknown but contains an enormous wealth of meaning? You be the judge. Till we meet again:- "May the cycles always bring you good fortune".

Just Who's Revolution Is It Anyway? - US Open Men's Final-Djokovic v. Nadal

Hi to everyone! I've been immersed in the epilogue for 'The Life Cycles Revolution', so I haven't been very active with the blog. However I want to change all that and give you this post as a bonus extra for September-the main story will follow. This is really by way of showing you 'Life Cycles' theory in action. My attention was originally drawn to a comment by Most Profound (who has one of my favourite blogs and is also one of my favourite people on Blogoshere), when he left a comment on my post on Djokovic saying :- "It will be interesting to see how the future goes for him". Because I often take the long view, I was thinking of his next 'significant year', which was seven years away. Of course the comment was made post-Wimbledon, but pre-US Open, so I along with many others took a close look at this prestigious tournament.

In order to understand anything from a 'Life Cycles' perspective you have to ask what happened to the person in their last 'significant year'. This is very straightforward. When I saw Nadal cruise his way through to the final by brushing aside World No. 4 Andy Murray, I asked myself 'How old is he?'. The answer was 'he was 25' (born 3rd June, 1986). So what were things like for him when he was aged 24 (3rd June, 2010 to 3rd June, 2011)? The first fact I noticed, is that in this year he regained the World No.1 ranking by winning his 5th French Open title. This occurred when Federer lost to Soderling in the quarters, so things were working for him. He held it for the rest of this 12 month period, in spite of his losses to Djokovic. He next won Wimbledon and the US Open, clinching the year end No.1 title. He ended the year winning 3 Slams, 3 Masters and edging out Roger Federer for the first time for the Sportamanship Award (which he had held for the last 6 years). It was described by commentators as 'an incredible season'. Will history see it as a high-water mark? Too soon to tell, but it was a career peak and he was on top. This was all in his 'Year of Revolution'. Where was 23 year-old Novak Djokovic then? It was all Nadal and Federer.

Now you all know that Novak turned 24 in May, 2011 and I already covered what happened to him in the Wimbledon Final. He was now indisputably World No.1 and he simply outplayed Rafa that day. It was now his 'Year of Revolution'. His turn in the sun. So now to Flushing Meadow. Things did not look good in the semi-final against Roger, who had been playing superb tennis and had the crowd behind him. He won the first two sets and was leading 5-3 in the fifth with 40-15 and 2 match points. What chance Novak? You'd have no takers on Sportsbet I'd reckon. Then in Novak's own words :- "I decided to gamble it all on a service return. These shots go out as much as they go in." He returned a Federer 180km first serve with a crashing forehand to win this critical point. Roger went on to lose the game and the set and the match from here. This is the power of the 'Year of Revolution'. This is the fateful turning point, when the tide is at its fullest. He had such a moment at Wimbledon as well if you remember.

So now to the Men's Final. Just who's 'Year of Revolution' was it anyway? Rafa tried supremely hard throughout this scintillating final, full of tennis at the very highest level. He rallied and won the 4th set tie-break, but it did him no good at the end of the day. Novak had his measure. He is now talked of as the better all-round athlete (something Rafa held unopposed last year). He is agile and tough and his attitude is solid. Stay in the moment and don't get temperamental. There is no doubt it's Novak's year. He's on top. Yes it's his Revolution.

If you think I'm just lucky or I only point out the good stuff, just wait till you read my devastating evidence in 'The Life Cycles Revolution'. I actually lay an open challenge to the sceptics to prove me wrong! No other theory can or would be able to do this, I'll be back soon so don't go away.

2,000 Years In The Making- The Life Chart of Cleopatra

It's time to tune up the sistrum and don your ceremonial headdress, because today we are invited to the court of Cleopatra. She has achieved a form of immortality through her extraordinary life. She and Marc Antony were the original power couple long before the term was ever heard. Just about everyone knows her story and that's what makes it so interesting for me. If I can show a credible correlation of her life's major turning points and 'Life Cycles' theory, it becomes some of the most stunning objective evidence you will ever see. Can other systems of knowledge replicate this kind of result? I think not.

She was featured in many books and movies and played by a variety of actresses- Elizabeth Taylor being the most famous. In terms of her 'Life Chart', it is reasonable to go to her first adult 'Year of Broken Pathways' at age 19 (Oct. 50BC to Oct. 49BC), to see what fateful events happened to her, to change her destiny. It is recorded that at 18 she became Queen Cleopatra VII, but shared power with her younger brother. When she was in her age 19 'Year of Broken Pathways', she became the bitter enemy of the Gabiniani. These were the Roman troops, who protected the throne, and had adopted the ways of Egypt and become alienated from Rome. They refused a request of the sons of the Syrian Governor to fight the Parthians, because they liked their comfortable life and had murdered them instead. Cleopatra, who wanted to be pro-Roman, had the assailants arrested and handed over. This break with the Gabiniani was to be the main cause of her loss of power, which soon ensued.

Next we go to her first adult age 24 'Year of Revolution' (Oct. 45BC to Oct. 44BC). There is no doubt that this was the period in which Julius Caesar was murdered in the Senate. She had born him a son called Caesarion and was living with him in Rome. The fact that Caesar planned to marry her outraged the conservative Republicans, as it broke the laws against bigamy and marrying foreigners. She was seen as a dangerous seductress. The 1963 movie shows a scene the day before his death, when Caesar wanted absolute control as Emperor, which would have given Cleopatra everything she desired. However, in one fateful day it was all brought undone and she had to flee Rome instead. This was her personal 'new age' and the very definition of what a 'Year of Revolution' stands for.

Then we visit her next 'significant year', which is her age 31 'Year of Broken Pathways' (Oct. 38BC to Oct. 37BC). There is a famous scene from the movie, which shows Cleopatra being summonsed to Antioch by her lover Marc Antony and arriving in splendour on her Royal Barge. They get married in this year, which involves Antony later having to divorce his wife, who is the sister of Octavian (co-ruler of Rome). This is a very fateful turning point, because it legitimises the children born to Cleopatra and gives her continued political power as Pharaoh. It also earns her the bitter rivalry of Octavian and is not dissimilar in nature, to what she did at 19 with the Gabiniani, It is also to lead on to the 'Donations of Alexandria' (34 BC), in which Antony cedes much of Rome's territory in the east to Cleopatra. It is again the very embodiment of what a 'Year of Broken Pathways' stands for.

Finally to her last 'significant year', which is her age 36 'Year of Revolution' (Oct. 33BC to Oct. 32BC). Cleopatra issued a coin with Antony's portrait on one side and hers on the other. The inscription read 'Queen of Kings and her sons who are Kings'. This combined with Antony's intention to establish a second Senate in Alexandra was the perfect moment to get an inquiry started to strip Antony of his power. Octavian illegally seized Antony's will. The Senate apparently were not moved by making Caesarion as Caesar's legal heir, or leaving his estate to Cleopatra's children; but it was his desire to be buried alongside her in Alexandria that outraged them. The Senate declared war on Cleopatra, which of course meant Antony as well. This was her fateful turning point. It was to directly lead to the Battle of Actium and the demise of both her and Marc Antony. It was of the exact same character as what happened to her at 24. The split with Rome after being tantalisingly close to achieving her lifetime ambition, with the restoration of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and inheritance by her successors of the Roman Empire.

This is how a 'Life chart' is constructed. It says quite simply:- can analysis of what happened in the 'significant years' tell a cohesive story of some of the main events in a person's life? Moreover are the themes of the 'Years of Revolution' and 'Years of Broken Pathways' linked, so that they reveal your life's true purpose? Don't for one minute think, that something as seemingly remote as the 2,000 year old story of Cleopatra, cannot be duplicated by someone making the news right now. Next month we are going to analyse another woman in the news, whose attraction to power brought her undone.......who is she? Till then:- may the cycles always bring you good fortune.

The Best Day of My Life-The Life Chart of Novak Djokovic

I admit I had a famous historic personality all lined up for this month, but I just witnessed such an inspiring Wimbledon Final between Djokovic and Nadal, that I had to do a quick check of Novak's young life. I am a life-long tennis player and a keen fan, so this was not entirely by accident. There is wonderful drama in sport and you don't even need to be a follower to get caught up in it. Just about everyone knows Wimbledon -it's the pinnacle of world tennis. When Novak lifted the trophy he declared:- "This is the best day of my life!" Let's examine why this is so typical of what can happen in a 'Year of Revolution'. Let's then do a quick 'Life Chart' analysis and examine, as much as we can, his 'significant years'. 'Life Cycles' is unerringly accurate and remember I did this 'at the drop of a hat'.

Novak turned 24 on 22nd. May this year. It ushered in his 'Year of Revolution'. Often the most significant time in the life of a young adult. What happened to him? Just recently he learned, that on making the Wimbledon final, he had become World No. 1. This capped off a remarkable year so far. He, however, didn't see it that way. He said that it meant so much more to win at Wimbledon, than to get the top ranking. This was his dream, that he had since he was a small child. Even though he had victories over Nadal recently, he had to do it again on the grandest stage of all. There was a moment in the second set (which Djokovic won 6-1); when after a long rally he got an almost impossible drop shot return, for a cross-court winner. His box rose as one, their fists in the air and Novak thumped his heart and let out a 'primal shout'. This is the fateful moment, you don't know what you can do until you do it.

Could this match have gone either way? Few would doubt there could have been a five set upset to Nadal with the scores 3-3 in the fourth set. But it was Novak's day and his destiny. This is how many of us can feel in such a variety of ways in our lives and often it can correlate with being in a 'Year of Revolution'. Now in order to do his 'Life Chart' we simply try to get material on his only other remembered 'Year of Revolution' at age 12 and then see what, if anything, happened in his two 'Years of Broken Pathway' at 7 and 19.

Let's take his age 12 'Year of Revolution' first. His official website confirms that it was at age 12, he first went on an unaccompanied 3 month trip to Nikola Pilic's famous Tennis Academy in Munich, Germany. Up till then his parents went with him everywhere and as they were not a rich family, this was a personal sacrifice they made. It was a character forming time for him and taught him independence at a young age. His association with the Academy went on for quite a few years and was the basis of his entry into top-level junior tennis. There is no doubt that his first 'Year of Revolution' ushered in a new age in his life and a high point.

Let's fast forward now to Novak's age 19, 'Year of Broken Pathways' (May, 2006 to May, 2007). We are looking for direction-altering moments. The first thing I see is that there was a strong rumour in May, 2006, that the entire Djokovic family might emigrate to the UK. The drama surrounding this did not affect his play however and his path to the top commenced, when he reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and then his first-ever tournament victory in the Dutch Open (without losing a set). After a second tournament win he reached the world Top 20. His own biography section says of 2007:- "and then the dream year arrived". It said his career 'took off' after his Master's performances at Indian Wells (losing to Nadal in the final) and his first Master's victory at Miami (known as the fifth Grand Slam). He was now a confirmed Top 10 player and capable of beating the best. Yes, this was all within his 'Year of Broken Pathways'. His direction was to the very top of world tennis and his challenge was to get there.

Finally let's go back in time to his age 7, 'Year of Broken Pathways'. could anything have happened then? He took up tennis at age 4, running after the older kids at tennis camp and trying to hit the ball over the net. However at age 7, he was discovered by the famous coach Jelena Gencic. She said:-"this is the greatest talent I have seen since Monica Seles". As his coach, she has been attributed as 'creating his career and instilling in him the right attitude to sport and to life'. There is no doubt he owes her a great deal. This was his direction-altering moment and his challenge was to learn all he could.

So can you see for yourselves how a 'Life Chart' builds for such a talented young adult. Each of the 'Life Cycles' significant years represents a tangible milestone in his life, that can be measured objectively. Am I continually just lucky? Actually the odds on me being correct are astronomical, but of course it doesn't seem that way. Unless, of course, I'm correct and 'Life Cycles' is the newest and the best form of Life Analysis there is. So straightforward it's almost science.

My guest next month has waited some two thousand years to be unveiled so I hope she won't mind waiting a little while longer. Tell me who it is? Until then:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

Hello Indonesia-The Life Chart of Mr. Arifinto

One of the great joys of blogging is checking your stats (as I'm sure most of you do) and seeing, on some occasions, the wide variety of countries that are represented. A recent example for me was the 10 page views on the Royal Wedding post from Iran. It is a rare privilege to think that someone from that country may have read about 'Life Cycles'. I believe my topic is a universal one and new knowledge is always appreciated by some people. Also, when I see smaller countries like Guadalupe and Nepal in the list, as well as the well-known larger ones, it is very rewarding.

However I have a special greeting for the people of Indonesia. Ever since the popularity of my 'Tree Man' post last year (which I regard as a personal favourite); I am aware that I have a larger than expected following in the country, which lies just to the north of mine. So in honour of your country I will present another story of one of your citizens. This time the nature of the saga is a high-profile meltdown, but the intent is to show that by playing detective you can piece together a portion of a 'Life Chart' from very little information.

Mr. Arifinto (no article I read mentioned his first name) was until recently a senior politician in the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which was a Conservative Muslim party in Indonesia. He had responsibility as a lawmaker and was a founding member of the Party. He was photographed by a journalist in Parliament watching a pornographic movie, on what was called a 'tablet computer'. He at first tried to brazen it out, by saying that he didn't do this intentionally and that he had opened an email attachment by accident. However his screen was shown to be full of thumbnails of different sex videos. This caused huge embarrassment because the PKS were the most aggressive advocates of the 2008 Anti-Pornography Law. So what has this got to do with 'Life Cycles'. The thing that first drew my attention was that he was said to be 55 years of age at the time and thus in his 'Year of Broken Pathways'. This totally unexpected scandal was his challenge, that was set to last for the rest of the years of his current cycle. More dramatic than most, but it meets every criteria. It could never have been foreseen and try as he might to squirm out of it, his life altered for good and all at that moment.

In fact he virtually tells us what lies ahead as he tries to climb the mountain to seek redemption. The Shariah Board will dismiss him from it's advisory council and he will apologise to the Party and seek religious forgiveness:- reciting the Koran and engaging in acts of piety. He doesn't want to leave the Party or political life, so I'm sure it'll be several years in the wilderness for him. Now how do you construct part of a 'Life Chart' from this? I could find no biography and no career summary and as I said no-one even mentioned his first name.

All I had to go on was that he was a founding member of his Party, so I went to a profile of the PKS Party. The Party was established as the Justice Party on July,20 1998, when I would estimate that he was aged 42. What event happened in the next year (being his 43rd 'Year of Broken Pathways') that would have provided a much younger Mr. Arifinto with a challenge? The answer, in fact, does exist. In the June, 1999 general elections (when he was aged 43) the Party failed to get the required 2% vote to contest the next 2004 elections. In other words they couldn't survive on their own. He would obviously have been challenged and was trying to come up with strategies for the future. Then, in 2002, they merged to become the Prosperous Justice Party.

So, following this, is there evidence of an upheaval and new direction for Mr. Arifinto when he was in his next 'significant year', which was his 48th 'Year of Revolution'? Remember 'Life Cycles' can set up some exacting tests and I use only the public record. Once again though the answer is 'Yes', for in the April, 2004 elections (when he was clearly aged 48) the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) won 7.3% of the vote (giving it 45 out of 550 seats). They were now the seventh largest party and his political career reached a new high and it was his new age/direction. Can you see how 'Life Cycles' operates in the life of Mr. Arifinto? As always, if I can't ever find any supporting evidence for what I say, I would simply fade away and just play tennis, chess and poker. But that is not how it goes. I have the evidence in abundance. I know I have a mission and it is the most important contribution I will ever make.

So please let me know if you enjoy this post and if you would like me to feature someone from your country in the future. One thing I know for sure is that 'Life Cycles' only has meaning if it can relate to you personally. As always I wish you well and until next time:- may the cycles always bring you good fortune.

The 'Life Charts' of Prince William and Catherine

Hello again. There's certainly been a massive amount of publicity to do with the Royal Wedding. It was a marvelous occasion and I personally loved the use of greenery in Westminster Abbey, along with the inspiring music. It seemed to me to be a perfect blend of old and new and there was something about their traditional service and dress, that evoked a 'bygone age'. You would not otherwise know that I featured Lady Diana Spencer in my 'Famous Lives' chapter of the book. So if you want to know what really makes Di tick, then just grab yourself a copy and check it out.

It is therefore only fitting in some regards, that I should also feature her son William and his bride Catherine. Now things are more straightforward in 'Life Chart' terms if you're under 30. You have not yet lived that long and you have only experienced one adult 'Year of Broken Pathways' at age 19 and one adult 'Year of Revolution' at age 24. So, apart from the two childhood 'significant years' of 7 and 12, these may be the only real glimpse of the themes of your life. Don't worry about that phrase :- "the themes of your life" just yet, as I am going to teach it to you a bit later on this year.

Now let's check our facts out togerher, shall we? It transpires that William and Catherine were actually both born in 1982 (Catherine first on 9th. Jan. and William on 21st. June). This means that they are both in their age 19, 'Year of Broken Pathways' for at least a portion of the year (21st. June 2001 to 9th, January 2002). This shared time in a personal year, that repesents a turning point and a challenge, has a special name....but once again this is in advance of where we are up to in your education, so I'll have to leave it alone for now.

So, what happened in this time? Now who is in fact miles ahead of me here? Where did William and Catherine meet and when? That's right it was at St. Andrew's University in Term One, 2001. This is smack in the middle of both their age 19 'Years of Broken Pathway'. There is an amusing anecdote that I read of their first meeting, where Catherine is introduced William Wales (as he was known at University) at a nearby pub. Catherine got quite embarrassed and did a curtsy and then William got surprised and spilled his beer over himself.

There was a fateful quality to this meeting as history now attests. Also while William was still within his age 19 'Year of Broken Pathways' he bought a ticket (for around $300) to be in the first row of a fashion show that Catherine modelled in; wearing that now famous dress. They were friends at that stage, sharing student digs along with others, but he was heard to exclaim:- "Wow! Kate's hot." when she came down the catwalk. This well recorded moment also had a 'fateful turning point' nature to it. No relationship just yet, but certainly some interest.

There was to follow several years of uphill struggle for both, as they sought to keep their relationship under wraps. Nearby Balmoral Castle was a haven in this time. An ordinary couple a generation ago, may simply have married pretty soon after... but this is the 2000's and they are no ordinary couple. Can you see for yourselves how this time of challenge in their lives matches 'Life Cycles' theory.

Alright, we have only one other year to investigate and that is their age 24, 'Year of Revolution'. This corresponds to June, 2006 to June, 2007 for William and Jan, 2006 to Jan, 2007 for Catherine. Remember, this is a time of upheaval and the ushering in of a 'new age/new direction'. It is doubly so when you are both in this storm together. Now, who can tell me the only other time in their shared history before the wedding, when there was an upheaval in their relationship? You've only to look it up on the computer, to see it was the time in which they broke up and after a relatively short period reconciled. Yes it's smack dab in the middle of William's 'Year of Revoltuion' and provides a surprise ending to Kate's 'Year of Revolution'.

Now I've researched this era in full, but I won't go into too much detail just now. It seems that William was being torn by a need to be 'one of the boys', particularly within his regiment and on the other hand, to settle down with just Kate. He was getting out and about to local drinking spots in Dorset (where he was stationed) and meeting some local girls. Kate meanwhile was in London and was being patient through all this, but it must have been trying. Also these girls courted publicity, unlike some aristocratic girls that caught William's eye, but knew how to 'fly under the radar'.

Kate however was still expecting big things after she was invited to attend William's passing out parade at Sandhurst in December, 2006, which was her first high-profile event, with the Queen also in attendance. This was not how it turned out and instead William announced that it was too soon for him to settle down and they split up in April, 2007. I know they must have felt the full force of the 'Year of Revolution' and William also had a life altering experience (by his own admission), when a female intelligence officer he trained with was killed in Iraq. He said it made him think about his life and the things that matter.

The next public record we have of a reconcilliation with Catherine was her attendance at Lulworth Army Barracks as a guest of Prince William in June, 2007. This then concludes William's tumultuous 'Year of Revolution'. Think about my analysis. I have only the most meagre time period in their lives to examine. The possibility that I can find credible evidence is very slight and I just deal in biographic data. I deal in well-known cases because I simply want to get you to look at your own lives a bit more.

I'm sure you will join with me in wishing William and Catherine (now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) all the very best for a long and happy life together. Next month I will feature something totally different and scandalous from Indonesia, where I have so many blogging associates. I know you Indonesians will love this one. Until then:- may the cycles always bring you good fortune.

Donald Trump Considering Running for President 2012 on Fox News 6th Octo...

Introducing the 'Life Chart'. Let's Start With Donald Trump.

As some may be aware this blog is unique. It is totally planned and no post is here by accident. Everything has a purpose. We are now entering a new cycle of twelve posts. So far I have told you about the 'Year of Revolution' that happens every twelfth year in your life (birth, 12, 24, 36. 48 etc.). Then I told you that seven years after every 'Year of Revolution', there is another challenging year when fateful events tend to happen, that require effort on our part to address. This is called the 'Year of Broken Pathways' (7,19,31,43 etc.). Now what happens if we start to collect all the data we can about a person's life in these two 'significant years'? Well, if we display the biographical summary in diagrammatic form, we get what's known as a 'Life Chart'.

I've put a sample of a 'Life Chart' at the top of the article, so you can see what I mean...or rather I would have but I'm having issues getting it accpeted for the blog design...still you can always read the original if you get the book! Once again there's no magic, no hocus-pocus. It's just a systematic gathering of evidence. Remember :- no evidence, no theory. Just imagine if other such theories did this. The critics would have a field day. Check out for yourselves what science and the sceptics make of these theories. No evidence they shout! For example to take one such popular idea:- the 'law' of attraction. Can your thoughts produce literally anything you want? Is there any proof? Not according to scientific enquiry. None whatsoever and they even mention an ugly flip-side ie. if you have an accident or fall ill it's your fault. This may not make me popular in some quarters, but I want to be known as different and credible, not self-serving and mesmerizing.

So forgive this rant, but I will take you through the 'Life Chart' bit by bit over the next twelve posts, so today rather than talk more theory I thought:- "let's take a current affairs topic to illustrate". I woke up a while back to news that Donald Trump has desires to run for US President and that one of his claims is that his background is accessible, unlike Barak Obama, whose early years seem a bit obscure. Anyway Donald Trump, love him or hate him, gets a lot of publicity so what can a 'Life Cycles' analysis say?

'The Donald' was born June 14th, 1946, so you know how I often do my research:- I go straight to the person's 36th mid-life 'Year of Revolution' (in his case June, 1982 to Jume, 1983) and see what was happeneing in his life and how pivotal it might be to the 'main game'. Donald began in his father's footsteps as a property developer, but he made his own name with casinos. It was a known fact that he had added properties outside Manhattan for the first time in 1980; in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He decided he wanted a new challenge and that a casino makes far more money than a hotel. His advisers told him not to do it and he had a lot of trouble getting investors, so he decided to look for partnerships.

In June, 1982 Trump made an unlikely partnership with Mike Rose, who ran the Harrah's Casino and Holiday Inn Hotels. He already ran a casino in Atlantic City and Trump had the land, so they decided to build the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino together. It opened in 1984, but because these two individuals were quite different things couldn't last, so in 1986 Trump bought him out. There is no doubt that without Mike Rose, Donald Trump would not have succeeded. After all Hilton and Hugh Hefner and Ceasar's World founders had troubles. So what made him a winner? He agreed to supply the land, if Harrah's paid him to build the casino, gave him an equal share in the profits and did not hold him liable for losses in the first five years. This is how he made his name as a negotiator. Work started on the casino in November, 1982. It met every criteria for what this central 'Year of Revolution' stands for.

Now let's just skip ahead to when he was aged 43 (June, 1989 to June, 1990). What happened then and how could it be considered to be a 'fork in his road', that presented him with a challenge set to last for several years and thus qualify as a 'Year of Broken Pathways'? Well there is no doubt that Trump had a period of unbroken forward momentum, when he built a second and then a third Casino in Atlantic City. The third opened in April, 1990 called the Trump Taj Mahal. It cost $1.1 billion to build and was called:- "The Eighth Wonder of the World". Immediately it started to lose money and it took business away from his other two casions. In addition to the huge loans he had on the casinos, his other businesses were not doing well either. The real estate market had fallen across the country and in January, 1990 he owed the banks $9 billion. He was scheduled to make a payment of $73 million in June and he was fighting to survive. Does all this sound like a challenge and a struggle set to last for several years? Does it sound like the veritable embodiment of the 'Year of Broken Pathways'? You can bet the house on it!

Can I do more of this? Dissect his life with unerring accuracy? Of course I can, but I've run over of my usual post length, so I'll leave it till later this year. Did someone mention a Royal Wedding at the end of the month? Want to know all about Prince William and Catherine Middleton? Then tune in next time. Remember you get this nowhere else. Till then:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

The Second Lesson/The King's Speech

I hope everyone who reads this blog also reads my second (as yet unregistered) blog-The Story Behind Life Cycles. Not only are the cases just as interesting, but you will learn what the posts signify, including this one. Just click on lifecyclesstory-neil-killion.blogspot.com.

Now to the first item of business. I have been presenting articles since April, 2010 to do with the second concept of 'Life Cycles' theory. That is the 'Year of Broken Pathways', which occurs seven years after the 'Year of Revolution'. The twelve year cycle is ushered in by the 'Year of Revolution' and the theme is set. Then seven years later, along comes another fateful year, where events transpire to change your direction and give you a challenge and uphill struggle for the remaining years of the cycle. The essence of this year is that it has long-term ramifications and can be either uncomfortable or exhilarating, but challenging. You often have to learn new skills in order to accommodate. We are all creatures of habit and left to our devices may sidestep life's awkward moments. I have shown you how in many cases, there was a reluctance to accept what was going on, until it had crept up and looked us in the face.

So think about this:- "What happened in your life when you were aged 7 and 19 and 31 and 43 and 55 (and more for some of you)? Were there are fateful turning points? This can include positive and negative events. That break into the 'big league' of whatever your arena is, may have happened in one of those years. A new relationship or the end of another one may have been forged. The actions of others may have strongly impacted on your life. You might have perceived 'a day of reckoning' like Napoleon or you might have decided to take on City Hall like John Lennon, but were unaware just what it would involve. I want to make you think about your life. Really think. The reason you are where you are today is because you took a certain path, that was partly to do with your own choices and partly to do with what fate has handed you.

This leads me into the second item on the agenda. There has been been much critical praise for the movie "The King's Speech" and deservedly so, for it is a well-acted, stirring drama of real historical figures, set on a grand stage. It has been a world-wide success and will be seen by many. It tells (in not strictly accurate terms) the story of how King George VI had to battle to overcome his lifelong stutter, with the aid of the unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The movie shows him watching footage of Hitler's rabble-rousing style and acknowledges he is good at it.Then he is thrust into the start of WWII and has to face his biggest moment when he addresses, not just the British people, but the greater British Empire (encompassing around a quarter of the world's population). There is obvious need for a wartime figurehead to stir people to rise against the tyranny of the Nazis. This is shown magnificently in the last scene of the movie.

What has this got to do with 'Life Cycles' and the 'Year of Broken Pathways' in particular? George VI was born 14th Dec. 1895 and he delivered his wartime speech on Sept. 3rd 1939, which makes him right within his 43rd 'Year of Broken Pathways' when this challenge was handed to him. The sometimes painful-to-watch interactions between the King and his speech therapist are taken from Logue's own diary notes, so we can presume, that what happened just before the actual speech was probably how it was. How I'm sure he would have preferred not to have to do this. How uncomfortable he must have felt. How he now knew that he had to inspire people and forget about himself. Who'd have guessed this speech now inspires a whole new generation, who never knew him.

Was this one moment in time the end of the challenge? It may have ended the movie, but we know life goes on after the credits stop rolling. No, he had to deliver quite a few important wartime speeches after this. With Logue at his side, this went on for some years. It undoubtedly built his personal legacy and together with the Queen, helped endear the monarchy to its citizens throughout WWII. Once again we have an excellent example of what the 'Year of Broken Pathways' is all about. I will have much more to say about his life and the lives of others on both sides of the camera. When I am finished you will be astounded at what 'Life Cycles' analysis will produce. Don't forget to come back next month when the third concept will be unveiled. Until then:- "May the cycles always bring you good fortune".

The Greatest 'Year of Broken Pathways'

Now I want to speak to you directly. Get up out of your comfy chair and put down that cup of coffee. Go to the wardrobe and put on an overcoat. Stand in front of the mirror and put your hand inside and press it to your heart. Look solemn......as though something very bad is about to happen, but you're not sure what it is. Now you are once again Napoleon! It's been seven long years since you have conquered Europe, following the Battle of Austerlitz. Yet you're still Emperor of the mightiest nation in the world at the time. What happens after seven years from the greatest 'Year of Revolution'? Naturally it's going to be the mother of all 'Years of Broken Pathway'.

Start up the 1812 Overture if you haven't already and read along as we go. It's sort of comforting to read of other's misfortunes and those on the grand scale will seem paricularly remote from your day to day life. This, however, is the paradox of 'Life Cycles'. Your own challenges and crises will be in proportion to your own life. Read 'Life Cycles' (now available on Kindle and many other sites....just google up "neil killion"/life cycles and you'll soon see) and read in Chapter Nine exactly how it worked in my own life.

Back to Napoleon. He had just turned 43 on August 15th. 1812. He was in his own 'Year of Broken Pathways'. He was determined to invade Russia. The Tsar, once his ally, was now on the global 'hit list'. On September 7th, the bloodiest battle so far in the campaign, took place near the village of Borodino. Although Napoleon had lost around a third of his Grand Armee (70,000 troops) Russian losses were heavier and he was the victor. The Russian Army was out of position and ripe for destruction. The road to Moscow was wide open and General Kutuzov had ordered the evacuation of the city.

On September 14th, Napoleon moved into the empty city that had been stripped of all its supplies. He expected Tsar Alexander I, or his representative, to surrender but instead the Tsar did no such thing. Then the troops began to loot what little remained and that evening fires broke out, then subsided and broke out again a few days later. Moscow comprised two-thirds wooden buildings and burnt down completely. due neither to deliberate actions of the Russians or the French. Sitting in the ashes of a ruined city began a long retreat, first out of Moscow and then out of Russia itself, starting in mid-October.

Food supplies by the roadside had all but gone and with winter setting in, Kutuzov's reinforced army attacked them at every opportunity. Starvation and disease took an enormous toll and large scale desertion followed. Finally they were driven from Russia on Dec. 14th and only a small fraction of the original Grand Armee survived.

It was to mark the most significant turning point in Napoleon's career. It caused a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened the once dominant French position. This time it was not just individual troops deserting, but whole countries like Prussia and Austria switched sides and triggered the War of the Sixth Coalition. The challenge facing Napoleon was enormous and in only a few short years the Empire would be lost. Yet would it have seemed this way to him on September 8th, the day after the Battle of Borodino, when he had the Russian army on its knees? Almost certainly not. What about when he expected to be received as a conqueror in Moscow? Definitely not then. Even when Moscow burnt to the ground, he probably thought things would work out, as they always had before. Even with the retreat he was still claiming victory in each battle with the Russians (who were themselves claiming victory). No, it probably crept up on him in an insidious way. There was no doubt about it, by the end of the year he had lost both the Russian campaign and most of his army.

There may be other tragic tales from history, but the sheer scale of lives lost and dreams shattered and Empires crumbling, would make it hard to top. Now get comfortable again. I have told his story and that is not yours. Why did I tell it now. You must read my unregistered second blog lifecyclesstory-neil-killion.blogspot.com to understand the symbolic purpose of every post. There is no other blog like this anywhere. No other brand new theory of life, in spite of the many adaptations of pre-existing ideas. Till we meet again:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

The Incredible Case of Rosa Parks and James Blake

In 'Life Cycles' terms you may have noticed that occasionally I make reference to more than one 'significant year' in the life of the person I am analysing. That is; more than one 'Year of Revolution' (eg. what happened at 24 and then maybe 36 or 48) and more than one 'Year of Broken Pathway' (eg. what happened at 19 and 31 or maybe 43). Why would I do this? Well the answer is simple:- If your life is lived in 12 year cycles that are the same, then maybe there is some similarity between the events in your life 12 years apart. I am always careful to add the qualification, that it will be broadly speaking a similar theme that is being repeated and not, of course, the same actions or people involved.

Now we are dealing with a series of articles on the 'Year of Broken Pathways', which means I have been looking at the ages of usually 31 and 43, as they are prominent in so many people's lives. It is at these ages that fateful turning points occur to provide a challenge and new direction, that will take the rest of the 12 year cycle to deal with. I have been giving you many well-known illustrations. However once and once only in my extensive research did I come across the 'one in a billion' case, where the events happening at age 31 between two very different people were repeated exactly the same twelve years later at the age of 43. Not just a similar broad theme, but the same exact scenario! I found it by accident from an Obituary, but I submit it to you in the 'Weird or What?' category.

Rosa Parks has been called by the US Congress the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement". She is famous for challenging segregated bus seating just before Christmas in 1955 in Alabama. She refused to give up her seat for a white passenger, in what was known as a kind of "buffer zone", designed to keep the races apart. She knew the bus driver, James Blake. Exactly twelve years before this, in 1943, she had her first run-in on a public bus on a rainy day. The same driver, James Blake, demanded she get off the bus and re-enter through the back door. As she began to exit, she dropped her purse and sat momentarily in a seat for white passnegers, while she picked it up. This enraged the driver, who sped off as soon as she got out, leaving her to walk more than five miles home in the rain. Just before Christmas in that year she joins the local chapter of the NAACP and became active in the Civil rights movement.

Fast forward to 1955 now and this time Blake did not confront Rosa Parks immediately, but asked some of the male blacks in the back if they would give up a seat for her. When that failed however he had her arrested, finger-printed and jailed; as the drivers were empowered by law not only to tell blacks to move, but also to arrest them. This led to the decision to rally behind her, as her dignified style appealed to middle and working class alike. The then little-known Martin Luther King led a boycott of buses by blacks. This became the inspiration for a similar boycott in South Africa and one of the key events in the radicalisation of the ANC.

Why do I feature this without telling you Rosa Parks age? Well you see that is only half the story in her life each time. She was aged 30 and 42 and was one year short of her 'Year of Broken Pathways' when ordinary moments in her life become significant. She didn't like her treatment but you might have thought she'd end up a huge winner particularly in 1956 when the US Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation on buses, deeming it unconstitutional. Rosa Parks however suffered hardships. She lost her job at the department store and her husband quit his job, after his boss forbade him from talking about his wife or the legal case. They left Montgomery and moved to Detroit. Her own personal life was completely altered. Did something similar happen in 1944 when she was 31? Yes once again she left Montgomery and worked briefly at Maxwell Air Force base, a federally owned area where there was no racial segregation and she told her biographer that:-"You might say this opened my eyes up". These moments, you see, were her own personal 'Broken Pathway'.

What of James Blake? Why did I bother to mention him at all? Well, after checking Rosa's altered circumstances in her next year each time, I also checked James Blake's age. He was born April, 14th. 1912 making him 31 and then 43 when both incidents accured. Yes he was in his own personal 'Year of Broken Pathways'. On both occasions he would say he simply followed city regulations to the letter. But in 1943 I don't think speeding off in the rain, when the passeneger had gone to re-board the bus, was morally correct regardless of how society was at the time. I'm sure it led on to Rosa Parks joining the Civil rights movement in Dec. 1943. Then in Dec. 1955 he said:- "I wasn't trying to do anything to that Park's woman except my job. That damn bus was full and she wouldn't move back. I had my orders". He comtinued to work another 19 years for the bus company. However he was swept up in one of the most influential turning points in US history. I can only begin to imagine the effect this had on him in 1956.

This shows the power and undoubted evidence of 'Life Cycles' in their lives. What about in yours? Remember you don't have to make history. All lives are interesting. But who had the greatest 'Year of Broken Pathways' of all? Stick around because I'll tell you next month and until then:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".