Age Secrets of Gough Whitlam

Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister of Australia 1972-1975 and the Leader of the Labor Party 1967-1977, was born in Melbourne, July 11, 1916, and in July this year he entered his 98^th year - a dangerous Opposition Year.

He died 21 October 2014, three months into his 98^th year.

The 98^th Opposition Year is one of social change vs. ego change, specifically communication vs. personal development or a Gemini vs Sagittarian opposition. It is the 3^rd and final year of ego communication. The first, in a cycle of energy, was experienced at the age of 2; the second, in a cycle of consolidation was experienced at 50; and at 98 the cycle is one of change.

Unlike a spoilt brat 2-year old child who communicates with a 'me me me' Aries ego and if thwarted, may throw a tantrum at the supermarket, prostrate himself, foam at the mouth and pull all the dog food cans off the shelves - and unlike a pompous ass 50-year old adult who communicates with authoritarian Leo pride, expecting everyone to bow and kowtow to what he considers to be his superior eloquence and knowledge - the 98-year old communicates with Sagittarian adventure, exuberance and philosophical bounty.

The opposition at 98 comes because of an inability to synthesise – to express both the social need to communicate and the ego need to develop oneself personally.  It is a year of change and that in itself is a challenge.

On one hand Mr Whitlam may have had a desire to communicate and tell people about his adventures and his philosophy on life and how the world should be governed -- and it may very well have been worthwhile for people to hear it what he had to say -- but few people wanted to listen and it is likely, too, that his ability to express himself clearly was impeded.

Because his ego (personal development) was heavily involved in what he had to say, he was likely to have been incredibly sensitive to criticism. He would have wanted to talk longer and louder and smarter than anyone else and gentle criticism or a misunderstood exchange could have led to major confrontations, or indeed a total communication breakdown.

The lesson for this year - especially so for the 98-year-old in a year of opposition - is to control your communications. Preferably to keep quiet, say nothing, write nothing. The more you say the less control you'll have and the more likely you'll say something foolish. A 98-year-old has a lifetime of incredible knowledge to impart -- but this year you are more likely to be ridiculed than applauded.

However, the most frightening scenario for those in the ego communication year, with an ego heavily invested in what he or she says, is becoming a sitting duck for mischievous others to manipulate into a caricature of a silly old fool for their amusement.

A 2-year old deserves understanding for ego driven communication because his speech and self-control has not yet developed. At 50 there is no such understanding. At 98 the opposition between social change (communication) and ego change (personal development), typically expressed as a clash between what you're saying and your actual circumstances should evoke some sympathetic understanding in others (but not necessarily).

At 98 you will be radiating so much abundance and joviality and experiencing such a renewed intellectual vigour that others may tolerate your exuberance, but with your ego in release mode you are likely to say and do some shocking things!

At your age, you may say, you have a right to say whatever you want to say and hang the consequences.

However, being an opposition year you risk antagonizing those who care for you, so be careful.

Vale Mr Whitlam.