Humanity doesn’t move in straight lines. It moves in cycles. Long arcs of order, unraveling, crisis, and rebirth. It appears in ancient cosmologies, indigenous teachings, and modern generational theory.
But the most widely recognized contemporary framework is The Fourth Turning, introduced by historians William Strauss and Neil Howe.
Today, global institutions shake, and hidden truths surface. Collective trust fractures. The Four Turnings feel less like theory and more like a diagnosis of the moment.
1. ORIGIN: WHERE THE FOUR TURNINGS COME FROM
Strauss & Howe studied over 500 years of Anglo‑American history. They noticed a repeating pattern every 80–100 years. This duration is roughly the span of a long human life. Each cycle (called a saeculum) contains four distinct eras:
- High – Institutions strong, individualism low
- Awakening – Spiritual rebellion, cultural upheaval
- Unraveling – Institutions weaken, individualism surges
- Crisis – Systems collapse and are rebuilt
Every saeculum ends with a Fourth Turning. It is a period of upheaval where old structures fail. During this time, new ones are forged.
Past Fourth Turnings have included the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Great Depression followed by World War II. Each event profoundly reshaped society at its core.
2. WHY THE FOUR TURNINGS MATTER TODAY
Strauss & Howe’s timeline suggests the current Fourth Turning began around 2008.
This period was kicked off by the financial crisis that revealed deep structural weaknesses. Since then, we’ve witnessed historic levels of institutional distrust. There is intense political polarization and economic instability.
We see rapid technological change and growing social divides. Shifting global alignments are evident, and there have been major exposes of corruption, abuse, and systemic failure.
Fourth Turnings always bring revelation. This is not in a mystical way. Hidden truths become impossible to ignore. That’s why this framework feels so relevant now: it captures the sense that the old world is breaking apart.
3. THE CURRENT MOMENT: A WORLD OF REVELATIONS
One defining feature of every Fourth Turning is the exposure of institutional rot. Not because people suddenly become worse — but because systems built in the previous cycle reach their breaking point.
In recent years, we’ve seen:
- Major leaks
- Whistleblower disclosures
- Investigations into long‑standing abuses
- Public demands for transparency
- Renewed scrutiny of elite networks and power structures
The recent release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein is part of this broader pattern. It reflects a cultural moment where society is no longer willing to accept secrecy around powerful individuals or institutions.
People are demanding accountability, clarity, and truth, and these demands are characteristic of a Fourth Turning’s pressure. Again, the focus here isn’t on individuals, but on the systemic pattern: Fourth Turnings drag the hidden into the light.
4. WHAT A FOURTH TURNING ASKS OF US
Every Crisis era forces a choice:
Do we cling to collapsing structures? or Do we participate in building what comes next?
Fourth Turnings aren’t about fear, they’re about stepping up with responsibility, courage, and a spirit of creative rebuilding. They call on us to strengthen our communities.
We need to rebuild trust and reimagine education. Let’s reclaim our sense of agency and innovate with ethics. We should create systems that respect human dignity. We must speak the truth, even when it’s hard to hear.
5. WHY THE AWAKENED EXISTS IN THIS ERA
To be awakened was never meant to be just a brand. It’s a response to the moment we’re living in.
A Fourth Turning requires fresh frameworks. It demands innovative tools and compelling stories. We need new ways of learning. It also requires fresh perspectives on ourselves and each other.
Our mission is to inspire and empower. We seek to expand consciousness. This aligns with the collective effort to rebuild as the old world fades away.
We’re living in a rare moment in history. The past is being revealed. The present feels unstable. The future is still unwritten.
It’s a time for creators, educators, visionaries, and truth‑seekers to step forward.
A moment when a paradigm shift feels inevitable.
6. THE INVITATION
If the Four Turnings teach us anything, it’s this:
A crisis isn’t the end, it’s the forge.
We’re not here to stand by as the world burns, but to take part in shaping what comes next. We’re proof that cycles don’t just fall apart; they start again.
Right now, in the middle of renewal, is the time to finally make things right.
PS
PARADIGM SHYFT 