CHAPTER 1
The Alternations of Seasons
From the alternations of the good and bad seasons in the lives of the famous people we will see in this book, very important observations are extracted. We start with Beethoven's alternations of good and bad seasons. As we will see in Chapter 3, his good and bad seasons alternated in 1776, 1792, 1809 and 1825. Between one of these dates there are 16-17 years. Between 1776 and 1792 there are 16 years while between 1792 and 1809 there are 17 years. The same also happens in the following two dates: between 1809 and 1825 there are again 16 years.
However, this alternation of seasons every 16-17 years happens in the lives of all people we will see in this book. Great Italian composer Verdi's for example, good and bad seasons in his life, alternated in 1842, 1859, 1875 and 1892 (as we will see in Chapter 4). Again, between one of these dates there are constantly 16-17 years. Between 1842 and 1859 there are 17 years while between 1859 and 1875 there are 16 years. The same also happens in the following two dates: between 1875 and 1892 there are again 17 years.
Also famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso's good and bad seasons alternated in 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, as we will see, and also between each one of these dates there are constantly 16-17 years. The same happens, as also we will see, with the Dalai Lama of Tibet, ex-US President Jimmy Carter, and America's national hero John Glenn's dates of seasonal alternations (1941, 1957, 1974, 1990): between each one of their dates there are also 16-17 years. Also Napoleon's dates of seasonal alternations (1776, 1792, 1809), or Winston Churchill's (1875, 1892, 1908, 1924, 1941) or King Henry's VIII of England (1496, 1512, 1529, 1545), or Christopher Columbus's (1479, 1496) have a constant distance between each one of them of 16-17 years, as also we will see.
This alternation of seasons every 16-17 years happens in the lives of all other people we will see in this book - have a look at the Contents and you will see all these people. Between their dates of seasonal alternations in their lives there is a constant distance of 16-17 years. This observation consists the first base of our discovery. We proceed with our second observation.
Alternations According to a Certain Pattern
From the alternations of good and bad seasons in the lives of the famous people that we'll see in this book also derives that the alternations of their seasons did not happen irregularly and at random, but according to a certain pattern. As we will see in Chapters 3 and 4, Beethoven's seasons alternated in 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, while Verdi's seasons alternated in 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892. Connecting the dates of these two men we see that their seasons alternated at a continuous row of dates, this: 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892 - every 16-17 years.
An alternation of seasons according to a certain pattern is also observed in the seasons of Verdi (1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, as we've seen above) and of Pablo Picasso. As we'll see later, Picasso's seasons alternated in 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957. Connecting the dates of these two men, we see that their lives' seasons alternated at a continuous row of dates, this: 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957 - every 16-17 years. We continue combining the dates of seasons of Picasso (1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957) and of the Dalai Lama (which are 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990, as we'll see later). We'll see so that their lives' seasons also alternated in a continuous row of dates - every 16-17 years: 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990.
If we put now in a row the dates of the seasonal alternations in the lives of all the above four men (Beethoven, Verdi, Picasso, Dalai Lama) we find that their seasons' alternations happened in a continuous row of dates - covering a period of more than 220 years specifically this: 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990 - every 16-17 years.
The same phenomenon is also observed in the lives of other six men we'll see later: Napoleon the great, great French poet and playwright Victor Hugo, famous French sculptor August Rodin, famous British politician Winston Churchill, Greek tycoon ship owner Aristotle Onassis, and South Africa's national hero Nelson Mandela. If we put in a row the dates of the seasonal alternations in the lives of the above six men we find that their seasons' alternations also happened in a continuous row of dates, covering again a period of more than 220 years: 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990 - every 16-17 years.
Also the same phenomenon is observed in the lives of all other people we'll see their seasons later. We'll see the dates of the seasonal alternations in the lives of Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Napoleon's I wife Josephine, famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt, Jimmy Carter, astronaut John Glenn, famous Greek opera singer Maria Callas.
The conclusion is therefore, that the alternations of seasons in the lives of all people we'll see below did not happen irregularly or at random but according to a certain pattern in a continuous row of certain dates - covering a period of more than 220 years - specifically this: 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990 - every 16-17 years. The above observation consists the second base of our discovery. We continue with our next observation.
A Period of More than 500 Years
Our next observation is this: the alternations of seasons we'll see in this book start more than 500 years ago. As you will see in the life of Christopher Columbus, who lived more than 500 years ago, the seasons of his life alternated in 1479, 1496. If we extend these dates every 16-17 years, we arrive at the year 1990 - this way: 1496, 1512, 1529, 1545, 1562, 1578, 1595, 1611, 1628, 1644, 1661, 1677, 1694, 1710, 1727, 1744, 1760, 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990. This is a period of more than 500 years.
The same observation also comes from the life of King Henry VIII of England, who also lived more than 500 years ago. His life shows that his seasons alternated in 1496, 1512, 1529, and 1545. If we again extend these dates every 16-17 years, we also arrive at the year 1990 - exactly as above again. Also from Queen Elizabeth's I of England life - who lived more than 450 years ago - the same phenomenon is observed. Her life's good and bad seasons alternated in 1545, 1562, 1578, 1595, as we'll see in her biography. If we again extend these dates every 16-17 years, we also arrive at the year 1990 - exactly as above again.
The conclusion is therefore, that the alternations of seasons we'll see in this book start more than 500 years ago, and they continue until 1990 and beyond.
Two Courses of Seasons
We continue with our next observation. As you will see later, Napoleon's alternations of seasons in his life happened at the same dates as those of Beethoven (1776, 1792 and 1809). But there is a significant difference in their seasonal alternations: while in 1776 a good season started for Beethoven, on the contrary a bad season started for Napoleon the same year. Similarly, while in the next date 1792 a bad season started for Beethoven, on the contrary a good season started for Napoleon the same year. Also, in the next date 1809 a good season started for Beethoven while a bad season started for Napoleon the same year.
The same phenomenon is also observed in the lives of other men, too, as you will see later. Victor Hugo's dates of his seasonal alternations (1825, 1842, 1859, 1875) are the same to Verdi's, but their seasons are opposite: in dates when for Hugo a good season begins, for Verdi starts a bad one - and vice versa: when for Hugo a bad season starts, a good one begins for Verdi. The same also happens with the dates of the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Nelson Mandela (1941, 1957, 1974, 1990), as you will also see later.
Same phenomena are also observed in the lives of all people figured in this book, as you will see later. The conclusion that derives therefore is that there are two opposite courses of seasons in the lives of people we'll see. The seasons of people belonging to the one course are opposite to those of the people belonging to the other course. The one course starts with Beethoven and continues with Verdi, Picasso, Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, Thatcher, Taylor, Kennedy Onassis, Columbus and Queen Elizabeth I. The other course starts with Napoleon and continues with Hugo, Rodin, Churchill, Onassis, Mandela, Josephine, Bernhardt, Carter, Glenn, Callas and King Henry VIII.
The above reversal of seasons is analogous to the climatic seasons on our earth. When there is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. And vice versa: when there is winter in Australia, South America, and South Africa, there is summer in Europe, North America, and Asia. For convenience, we'll call the pattern that starts with Beethoven, the first course; we'll call the opposite pattern, which starts with Napoleon, the second course.
Men and Women, Equally
Our next observation is this: the conclusions we have arrived at up to now are valid not only for men but also for women. The seasons in the lives of women alternated every 1617 years at the same dates as these of the men, and also in two opposite courses. The seasons of the women Thatcher, Taylor, and Jackie Kennedy for example, alternated at the dates 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990, exactly as the seasons of the men the Dalai Lama and Gorbachev. These three women and two men belong to the first course of seasons as we have seen above.
The same similarity is also observed in the lives of women and men who belong to the second course of seasons. Josephine's seasons alternated in the same dates as these of Napoleon (1776, 1792, 1809). Sarah Bernhardt's seasons alternated in the same dates as these of August Rodin (1859, 1875, 1892, 1909). Maria Callas' dates of her seasonal alternations (1941, 1957, 1974) are the same as these of Onassis, Mandela, Carter and Glenn.
All the findings we have seen therefore in this Chapter are valid for both men and women.
The Seasons of Ordinary People
But the above findings are not valid only for famous people - they are also valid for ordinary persons. Indeed, there is not any indication or any reason to assume that the alternations of the seasons in the lives of the ordinary people must be different than those of the famous people.
A first confirmation of this comes from the life of Josephine, Napoleon's wife. Though some people maybe wouldn't consider her an ordinary person, this is not so. As you will see in her biography, Josephine was an insignificant woman in the early periods of her life, soon reduced to the role of courtesan, until the age 38. Also, though later her husband Napoleon named her an empress for five years, she didn't become a ruling empress, but she remained at his shadow and at his mercy. And when later Napoleon divorced her, at age 46, she continued being an insignificant person until her death. However, her life's good and bad seasons alternated exactly the same way as this of famous people, though she was an ordinary person.
Also from my own life derives that the alternations of seasons in the lives of the ordinary people are not different than those of the famous people. I will report in detail how I arrived at the above conclusion. Like most of us, I had, too, observed in my life that a certain obvious alternation of my seasons from good to bad ones and vice versa had occurred. Later, I asked myself whether these alternations happened according to a certain pattern and thus we could foresee how long each season would last - or irregularly, without any pattern. But since it appeared to me too difficult to find the answer to this question, I abandoned then every such idea.
Suddenly, however, a book arrived at my hands (The Universe, published by Time-Life Books), which gave me the first impulse to continue trying to find whether our seasons alternate according to a certain pattern or irregularly. That book mentioned that the magnetic poles of the sun reverse themselves every 11 years: the North Pole becomes the South Pole and vice-versa every 11 years. And that reversal always occurs on certain dates: somewhere in 1957, in 1968, in 1979, and so on every 11 years. These solar alternations led me to a spontaneous thought: Do the alternations of the sun's poles influence human behavior? Are the alternations of the good and bad seasons of life synchronized with the patterns of solar activity?
To test this hypothesis, I reflected on my own life. But my hypothesis proved to be wrong: my life's good and bad seasons hadn't alternated the way the sun's poles reverse -every 11 years. All I could come up with, however, was a turning point in 1957: a bad season had ended for me then and a good one had started. But 11 years later -in 1968- there was no reversal. On the contrary, my good season continued even better. I therefore realized that my idea was groundless and I abandoned it.
Later, a new book caught my attention. It was its title that aroused my interest: The Seasons of a Man's Life. Its author, Daniel J. Levinson, a professor of psychology at Yale University, carried out a study showing that everyone's life has four seasons, each lasting 20-22 years. But he did not distinguish which of those seasons are good and which are bad. That book however, brought me back to the question of the alternations of the good and bad seasons in our lives. Do those alternations, I wondered, happen not on certain dates -say, with the movement of the sun- but at certain points in our lives, such as the intervals of 20-22 years suggested by Levinson?
With that possibility in mind, I decided to look back over my life again. But the outcome was again negative: my life's good and bad seasons hadn't alternated every 20-22 years. The only finding was that my life had taken a second turn around 1974: my previous good season gave then way to a bad season. However, between those two "turns" (1957 and around 1974) there wasn't a period of 20-22 years, as I expected to find, influenced by Levinson's study. On the contrary, it was only a period of 16-17 years. I abandoned so the effort once more.
Some years later, though, a new element appeared. A new turn had occurred in my life around 1990: the bad season I'd been previously experiencing had ended and a new good one had started. I observed thus that my life's seasons have alternated around the years 1957, 1974 and 1990 - every 16-17 years. The above observation was, of course, a starting point. So, I decided to explore the subject further. I ought, I said, to examine what happens in the lives of other people. Have their lives alternated the same way as in my own life?
To find out what was happening in the lives of others, I decided to examine some biographies. But since biographies on ordinary persons usually don't exist, or they are very few, I realized that only biographies of famous people I could examine. That work took me many years of research. Finally, the outcome was unbelievable. The results derived from the biographies all confirmed that the alternations of good and bad seasons in my own life - the life of an ordinary person - always occurred exactly as in the lives of the famous people I have studied: at the certain dates 1957, 1974 and 1990 - every 16-17 years.
The final conclusion that derives up to now is therefore, that the alternations of the good and bad seasons in our lives at certain dates is valid not only for the famous people but also for the ordinary persons. These alternations happen every 16-17 years in two opposite courses and at the certain dates we have seen: 1776, 1792, 1809, 1825, 1842, 1859, 1875, 1892, 1908, 1925, 1941, 1957, 1974, 1990.
A Universal Phenomenon
Furthermore, from the biographies we'll see in this book we will also observe that the phenomenon of the alternations of seasons is universal, happening all over the world. Napoleon for example, was born and brought up in Europe, as well as Beethoven, Columbus, Verdi, and others. On the other hand, John Glenn and Jackie Kennedy were born and brought up in the United States of America, while Gorbachev was born and brought up in Russia, and Mandela in South Africa - that is, in the southern hemisphere of the earth. Also, the Dalai Lama was born and raised in Asia. However, the Dalai Lama belongs to the Asian human race, while Mandela to the black one and all the others belong to the white human race. This reveals, therefore, that the phenomenon of the alternations of seasons happens all over the world and in all kinds of human races.
