Saturday 1 May 2010

What's all the fuss about 2012?

More often than not I am met with blank stares when I make comments such as, “let’s just wait until 2012!”  Hollywood disaster movies, the London Olympics and Obama's re-election aside, I’m amazed that so many people have not heard about 2012.  Perhaps you are one?  Read on.



The Mayans, clever clogs that they were, devised a very accurate and complex calendar that simultaneously keeps track of several time cycles, including the moon (28 days), sun (365 days) and the ‘sacred’ cycle of 260 days (human gestation period).  A full trip around the Mayan calendar (otherwise known as The Long Count) is equal to 13 periods of 144,000 days each.  And since most scholars agree that the beginning of this Long Count was August 11, 3114 B.C.E., the thirteenth and final cycle will come to a close on precisely December 21, 2012.  THAT is what all the fuss is about.

What will happen on that day is open to speculation.  And, as with most things, we can view the cup as half full or half empty.  In other words, it’s either the end, or the beginning.

The end?

Although there isn’t much evidence left from the Mayan civilization to suggest that they themselves thought the world would end in 2012, there are many doomsday types who have jumped on the Armageddon bandwagon.  This cheery theory says that when the cycle ends, time will cease and the world will end in any number of ways, none of them very pleasant.  (Makes me think of the “would you rather be boiled or fried” conversations we had as kids.)  Will the earth be wiped out by a giant meteor or asteroid?  Will the sun flare up and cause the planet to explode like a huge kernel of microwave popcorn?  Will the there be a “pole shift” where disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field cause the planet to literally tilt, thus triggering catastrophic earth quakes, volcanoes, storms and floods?  Pick your poison, unless you happen to believe in The Rapture – the resurrection of all Christians that will be triggered by the return of Jesus Christ.  (They'll be floating safely back to heaven.)

The Beginning?

The other viewpoint is that whatever shift occurs, it will be of the inner variety (i.e. human consciousness) rather than the physical kind.  Many religious and esoteric traditions point to a time of peace and prosperity where humanity overcomes its own worst enemy – itself.  Whether viewed as a general rise in human awareness (from duality to oneness perhaps), an evolutionary leap, or a burgeoning awareness of higher dimensions, this camp seems to be betting on change for the better.  The general consensus is that this ‘new age’ will be ushered in with some help from either extra-terrestrials (as portend by crop circles and increased UFO activity), heavenly intervention (angels, ascended masters, the Virgin Mary, etc.,) or by the bombardment of earth by new and powerful energies/vibrations emanating from the centre of the universe itself. 

All is not sunshine and roses however, as increased vibration rates could prove fatal to those who are either unprepared or who cling to old ways - every rose has its thorns.  (Although some might secretly delight in the idea that those who are lower on the totem pole, so to speak, won't be around to ruin the party!)  Personally, I wonder if the rise in extreme-isms of all sorts, as we are witnessing now, is an unconscious reaction to change? Whatever the source or the outcome, resistance is futile. Come what may, I think we’re in for a wild ride into 2012 and, hopefully (gulp), beyond.

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Want to learn more?  For an in-depth look at the Mayan Calendar click here.
For some weird and wonderful "spiritual" 2012 theories (Cell regeneration and the reversal of ageing?  Bring it on!) click here.
For some fascinating and more science-based views click here.
For a bit of entertainment watch this.

7 comments:

  1. I'm curious. After all of your research, and the thought that you've put into the coming date, what do you think?

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  2. Remeber Y2K on 2000 and all the havoc about it? I understood it as a symbolic end of the world. I think 2012 is much more symbolic in every aspect. A very interesting occasion for us to reflect about lots of things.
    Saludos.

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  3. Ailey, I think we are coming up to a point of evolution with regards to human consciousness. Do you know the 100th monkey theory that says when a critical mass reaches an understanding about something then the rest of the masses catch on almost instantaneously? I HOPE what they catch on to is a profound sense of interconnectedness with all of life and I HOPE they learn that good and bad are human concepts. I also believe in the "as within, so without" philosophy so if a serious inner shift occurs I would expect an outer physical shift as well, although probably not nearly as dramatic as some are predicting. Who can say. All I know is I am grateful to be alive in such interesting times!

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  4. Yes Tricia. I hope so too. And I am familiar with the 100th monkey theory. Maybe what Malcolm Gladwell is referring to in his book, "The tipping point" is a similar idea. Lord knows we are definitely in need of some major evolving.

    Thanks for your post.

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  5. I just found some interesting stuff by Carl Johan Calleman about the Mayan calendar being a device to track the evolution of consciousness. He says 2012 and beyond is when we will complete the 9th cycle of evolution and move into the 10th - unity consciousness. Check this out: http://www.calleman.com/ I ordered his book (The Purposeful Universe) and will let you know how it is. Exciting!

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  6. Yes...really exciting!! Thanks for your research!!

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  7. Ailey, sorry to bother you but are you getting e-mail updates for new posts? I can't figure out if that e-mail subscription thingy is working or not. (I need to upgrade my computer geek skills!) Thanks for letting me know! Tricia

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