By Jen Jones Donatelli
From weather catastrophes to war, many believe our world is approaching a critical turning point—and for some, all signs point to December 21, 2012. Armageddon countdowns, doomsday predictions—and yes, a lot of jokes—have already begun for this much-discussed date, but what’s behind the hype?
Tracking Back the Buzz
Recalling shades of Y2K paranoia, some factions are convinced that ancient Mayan predictions foretell Armageddon on December 21, 2012. So why all the buzz around this particular December date? It started with scholar Michael Coe’s 1966 book The Maya, which interpreted Mayan inscriptions to suggest that the universe would be “annihilated” at the conclusion of the Mayan “long count” cycle. Though opinions differ on the exact time of correlation (Coe initially thought it would be in January 2013), more recent predictions pinpoint that date on or around December 21, 2012.
“I think he was the first to use the word ‘apocalypse’ or ‘Armageddon,’” says Mark Van Stone, author of 2012: Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya. “The fact that he was a respectable scholar gave people courage to explore apocalyptic prophecies in general.”
Van Stone said the date actually correlates with 13.0.0.0.0, a Mayan calculation signifying that 13 baktuns (periods of 144,000 days) have passed since the original date of creation. “The date is significant because they were very interested in dates that end in lots of zeroes, like Y2K,” shares Van Stone, a professor at Southwestern Community College in California.
Yet his studies showed that the significance might end there. Upon further study, Van Stone uncovered inscriptions counting up to 20 baktuns, which would indicate life on earth until at least 4772. “Though the date has a lot of numerological juice, I couldn’t find much evidence that the Mayans actually believed the calendar would restart on this date,” he adds.
Van Stone believes the attention around December 21 has been amplified by the fact that it falls on a winter solstice, as well as the possibility of a “grand alignment” of Earth with the sun, the star cluster Pleiades, and/or the galactic equator on that day. “These three coinciding were enough to cause astrologers to get really excited,” said Van Stone. “People took that coincidence and let their imaginations run wild—everything you read about the prophecies of the Maya after that is pure fantasy.”
A Perfect Storm
Van Stone’s dismissal of the apocalypse prophecies certainly mirrors many other established Mayan scholars—yet there is still widespread belief that 2012 signifies some sort of world rebirth or transformation. “Whether it’s economic collapse or indigenous prophecies or even astrology, it all points to a giant shift,” says Nina Simons, cofounder of Santa Fe, NM-based Bioneers. “Humanity is receiving a giant wakeup call right now.”
Evolutionary activist Anodea Judith also thinks that the year 2012 will usher in a powerful time of change. “Whether it’s an arbitrary date someone made up in the Mayan calendar years ago or it’s just hype, it’s still a focus of consciousness for many and that itself is a powerful change agent,” says Judith. “From global warming to the oil shortage, a perfect storm on many levels is brewing, but at the same time, there is an equal if not greater amount of new discoveries and people waking up.”
The terms “awakening” and “shift” are commonly used by those studying the 2012 phenomenon serve as the main focus of the documentary Awaken 2012 being released in February. Featuring experts such as Barbara Marx Hubbard and John Major Jenkins, the film explores the idea that the world is undergoing a massive shift calling for oneness and renewed spirituality.
“The overriding message is that there is an incredible opportunity in the face of the chaos and disturbance happening in the outer world,” says Rita Rivera Fox, a Toltec master teacher featured in the movie. “There is a renaissance of human creativity and human spirit and human evolution happening, and it just so happens that in 2012 all of the conditions are favorable for this kind of flowering.”
The Shift in Action
All big, fascinating predictions, but what do they mean to us on a micro level? Simons says she sees signs of the shift happening all over the world—from the Arab spring uprisings to people embracing new, sustainable ways of living. “People are finding amazing, wonderful innovations to transform all of our systems, from growing urban gardens to installing solar panels to shifting their water use,” says Simons.
Judith’s book Waking the Global Heart pinpoints another sign of the shift as the formation of “self-organizing networks,” like the Occupy movement. She credits the Internet and sites like Facebook for providing the ability to mobilize more efficiently and powerfully. She also makes the case that the key to making the shift lies in cooperation, not competition. “Our power structure is changing and our society is being organized in a more collaborative, egalitarian way,” says Judith. “It’s really returning from the top down to the people taking back their power and organizing among themselves. ”
Simons’ research suggests that astrology could indeed play a valid role in this impetus toward social change. “When you look at what happened in this country from the early to late 60s, it was a giant time of social transformation. Astrologers say that the pictures gathering for 2012 are going to make the ’60s look like the ’50s,” says Simons, pointing to the book Cosmos and Psyche as a strong resource for this idea.
Judith also applies metaphysical principles in way of explanation, saying that the earth is moving from the third chakra (power) into the fourth chakra (love.) “I call the shift moving from the love of power to the power of love,” explains Judith. “We’re moving beyond the ego-centered [mindset] of ‘How do I get mine?’ to ‘What can I contribute?’”
According to Rivera Fox, those asking that question can start simply—by putting more positive energy into the world. “To me, the Mayan calendar is not speaking about an end of the world, but the end of a mindset or belief structure that is fear-based,” says Fox. “There’s a mass mentality of ‘The sky is falling.’ With all of this undeniable change, can you increase your own ability to respond with less fear and more awareness, gentleness and kindness? We can’t have balance externally until we create that condition internally.”
And there’s no better time than the present, because to quote filmmaker Tom Shadyac, “the shift is about to hit the fan.”
2012 Resources
• Diana Cooper 2012 and Beyond: An Invitation to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities Ahead (Findhorn Press)
• Ervin Laszlo WorldShift 2012: Making Green Business, New Politics, and Higher Consciousness Work Together (Inner Traditions)
• Geoff Stray Beyond 2012—Catastrophe or Awakening? A Complete Guide to End-of-Time Predictions (Bear & Company)
• Gregg Braden, Peter Russell, Daniel Pinchbeck, Joanna R. Macy, and John Jenkins The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies, and Possibilities (Sounds True)
• Mark Van Stone 2012: Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya (Tlacaelel Press)
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