 The ONA states that cosmic evolution is guided by a " sinister dialectics " of alternating Aeonic energies . It divides history into a series of Aeons , believing that each was dominated by a human civilization that emerged , evolved , and then died . It states that each Aeon lasts for approximately 2000 years , with its respective dominating human civilization developing within the latter 1500 years of that period . It holds that after 800 years of growth , each civilization faces problems , resulting in a " Time of Troubles " that lasts from between 398 and 400 years . In each civilization 's final stage is a period that lasts for approximately 390 years , in which it is controlled by a strong military and imperial regime , after which the civilization falls . The ONA claims that humanity has lived through five such Aeons , each with an associated civilization : the Primal , <unk> , Sumerian , Hellenic , and Western . Both Goodrick @-@ Clarke and Senholt have stated that this system of Aeons is inspired by the work of Arnold J. Toynbee , with Senholt suggesting that it might also have been influenced by Crowley 's ideas regarding Thelemic Aeons . However , the ONA has stated that their concept " has nothing to do with Crowley " , but is based on the work of both Toynbee and Spengler . 
