The cyclical nature of history is helpful in understanding the times we live in and those toward which we are transitioning.  An epic explanation of transitional trauma is found in Hermann Hesse's 1927 book Steppenwolf: "Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and ugliness; accepts certain sufferings as matters of course, puts up patiently with certain evils.  Human life is reduced to real suffering, to hell, only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap."  Human beings suffer terrible internal conflict especially during such periods, as if God and the devil are fighting for their souls, which they must suffer through with gallows humor to form a new unity from opposites (Heraclitus, ca 535-475 B.C.).  Such is mankind's condition today, with great acrimony among groups and a sense of decay, but it is not unique, being only the...(Read Full Article)