The Fourth Turning Is Here: What the Seasons of History Tell Us about How and When This Crisis Will End

by Neil Howe

“participation mystique” in the divine re-creation of nature’s eternal round. The power of this concept is conveyed by the colossal monuments to recurring time (the obelisks, pyramids, ziggurats, sunstones, and megaliths) left behind by so many archaic societies. It is also conveyed in the linguistic roots of our very words for time. Etymologically, the word “time” derives from the Indo-European root for shining heavenly beings (cognates include deity, divine, day, and diurnal), almost certainly linking it to regular celestial cycles. Period originally meant “orbit,” as in “planetary period.” Annual comes from annus, whose root meant “circle.” Hour comes ultimately from the common ancient Greek root horos, meaning “solar period.” Year is cognate with horos. Month derives from moon.