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Neil Killion is the author of Life Cycles . In this interview, he talks about his fascinating new book, which examines a brand new system of esoteric knowledge. Listen to an audio interview with Killion on the Tony Kay Show .

Thanks for this interview. Why don’t you start by telling readers a little about yourself?

I’m a 58 year old retired management consultant and psychologist. The majority of my career was spent in a commercial environment, where I ran my own outplacement company. We assisted redundant and displaced managers and staff to find new jobs and careers. I’m an active tennis player and fitness devotee. I play chess, poker and trivia competitively. I live in a beachside suburb of Sydney, Australia.

 Give us a quick summary of the Life Cycles theory.

Life Cycles is based on the idea that we live our lives in symbolically repeatable 12 year cycles. By that I mean we don’t literally repeat the same actions, rather that our actions symbolise the same things. There are 2 important years in the 12 where we are relatively more ‘out of control’ and we see fate take a hand in unusual ways.

These are the first year of the cycle, known as the Year of Revolution (equates to ages 12,24,36,48 etc.). This is the major direction-setting year and includes upheavals of all kinds, from career to family and personal life, and it ushers in a new era. It is viewed as a form of re-birth.

The second happens 7 years later and is known as the Year of Broken Pathways (equates to ages 19,31,43,55 etc.) and this time it means change again, although not quite as fundamental as the Year of Revolution. We are given a challenge, which will require effort on our part to address and it will take the rest of the cycle to work through. It often involves learning new skills to accommodate.

If all the evidence from these 2 recurring years is analysed and represented graphically it forms what’s known as a Life Chart and the ultimate reduction of the themes is known as the Life Script. Readers are encouraged to make an attempt at their own Life Chart. The central motif of the book is a train, which runs around a circular track and passes certain stations. It makes the theory very easy to visualise.

Please tell us about your book, Life Cycles.

My book is very much a personal journey about where these observations and follow-up insights took me. Life Cycles is a brand new integrated system of esoteric knowledge, meant to stand alongside well known ancient systems such as astrology and numerology. It has its own terminology, its own charts and icons, its own research methods and its own style of prediction. However it is different in that it is evidence-based using biographical material, making it statistically superior. It does not focus on personality, only timing ie. which year of the cycle you are in. The book is unashamedly written as a manifesto to launch this new system of knowledge.

Tell us about the journey with the book so far.

It was released in August 2008. It went on to win 2 Finalist Awards in the USA Book News 2008 contest. These were for Best New Age Non-Fiction and Best Website Design. As I did this design in my study with just my ideas and a 24 year old IT student I was very pleased. The book has received 5 official reviews at an average 4 ½ stars. Comments by reviewers have included:- “fascinating, mystifying”, “highly original, gripping and informative”, “entertaining” and “an interesting concept. In my life it seems to be true”.

I have participated in two 50 minute radio interviews and I provide the details for anyone interested. I am currently exploring other radio interviews and a community TV interview. It is tlisted mostly on-line in around 25 countries.

I continue to gather data all the time, particularly Obituaries which provide the strongest support, as I rely totally on the words of another author, who knows nothing of what I would be interested in. Obviously I can’t do this in all cases, but I can for a significant proportion. This is highly statistically significant.

Did you do an outline before writing the book?

I had a definite outline in mind, but the miracle of the book is that I only undertook my research on biographical summaries of famous historical figures, celebrities, criminals and ordinary citizens as I was writing. If I couldn’t find the evidence and continue to find it I had nowhere to go and would have had to give up. I use the phrase:- “It was like standing at the edge of a cliff”.

What was your goal in writing this book?

I want to change the way we all look at out lives. I want to inspire the open-minded and challenge the orthodoxy of others. I want to make an important contribution to the collective wisdom of mankind. I know this sounds grandiloquent for an otherwise unknown person , but you have to aim high. After all, as I say in my book:-”You can’t be quiet revolutionary.”

Who is your target audience?

Anyone who is interested in self analysis. I guarantee to readers that they have never seen this information before. Marketers would tell me that “early acceptors” (ie. new trend spotters) should like this. I say somewhat polemically in the introduction:-” Let’s face it:- we all either openly or secretly love topics to do with self analysis.”

What do you usually struggle the most when writing?

I feel blessed with a power to construct arguments and viewpoints. However it is most important I go over details to make sure I’m as accurate as I can be. So running away with the big picture and failing to fill in the details and check them over is my technical struggle. I tackle it by deliberately slowing down my analysis and having my detail-conscious wife edit everything I put down.

Do you have a website where readers may learn more about your work?

Yes, it is www.lifecyclescollege.com . This is a highly innovative, award-winning website. My intent is not only to introduce the book and myself, but to encourage readers to take the next step and join the Life Cycles College. This is where evidence will be collected, stored and possibly used in future publications. I also intend to award members with either a Certificate or Diploma if they submit the required amount of examples and learn to complete Life Charts.

Thanks and good luck with your book!