Harmonic Convergence
The Harmonic Convergence is the term applied to a worldwide esoteric-religious event which occurred on August 16 and 17, 1987. The event was centered around numerous sacred places throughout the world from Stonehenge to the Golden Gate Bridge where individuals, many referring to themselves as "light beings", gathered to usher in a new age.
The timing of the Harmonic Convergence particularly correlated with the Mayan Calendar, with some consideration also given to European and Asian astrological traditions. The chosen dates have the distinction of allegedly marking a planetary alignment within our Solar System.
The Harmonic Convergence was purported to be a global awakening to love and unity through divine transformation and divine channeling of sacred information.[citation needed] One of the principal organizers of the Harmonic Convergence event was the academic and author José Argüelles. However, the event was not predicted by Argüelles. Rather, the event was predicted by author Tony Shearer in his book Lord of the Dawn (1971), and later used by Argüelles. According to Argüelles' interpretation of Mayan cosmology, the selected date marked the end of twenty-two cycles of 52 years each, or 1,144 years in all. The twenty-two cycles were divided into thirteen "heaven" cycles, which began in AD 843 and ended in 1519, when the nine "hell" cycles began, ending 468 years later in 1987.
According to Argüelles, the event came at the end of these "hell" cycles and the beginning of a new age of universal peace. Adherents believed that signs indicated a "major energy shift" was about to occur, a turning point in Earth's collective karma and dharma, and that this energy was powerful enough to change the global perspective of man from one of conflict to one of co-operation. Actress and author Shirley MacLaine called it a "window of light", allowing access to higher realms of awareness.
According to Argüelles and others, the Harmonic Convergence also began the final 26-year countdown to the end of the Mayan Long Count in 2012, which would be the so-called end of history and the beginning of a new 5,125-year cycle. Evils of the modern world, e.g. war, materialism, violence, abuses, injustice, oppression, etc. would end with the birth of the 6th Sun and the 5th Earth on December 21, 2012.
Philosophical implications
Believers of this esoteric prophecy maintain that the Harmonic Convergence ushered in a five-year period of Earth's "cleansing", where many of the planet's "false structures of separation" would collapse. The subsequent events of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the breakup of the Soviet Union, the reunification of West and East Germany, and the ending of apartheid in South Africa could be deemed by adherents as evidence of the named cleansing.
Activities
People began arriving on August 16th, 1987 at sites such as Mount Shasta, Stonehenge, Sedona, Arizona, the Golden Gate Bridge, Bolinas, California, Haleakala, Crestone, Colorado, 2709 South Hawthorne in Kennewick, WA, as well as Dunn Meadow in Bloomington, Indiana, which were believed to be "focus locations". Events began on August 15, culminating with the convergence itself on the August 16. Participants engaged in collective prayer, song, meditation, dance, and ritual.
For example, 2000 members of San Francisco's Radiant Light Ministry, led by Rev. Will Green, occupied the center span of the Golden Gate Bridge for two hours.
Many individuals taking part in the Harmonic Convergence claimed to have received divine guidance from the astral realms about the current state of Earth and the necessity of transformation. Many others made claims of personal transfiguration and revelation. Others used the event as an excuse to hold a kegger and party til dawn while calling each other "Shirley" all night.
The highly publicized event brought the New Age Movement into the public eye and contributed to making many esoteric practices and ideas like quartz crystals, channelling, and theories about reincarnation and extraterrestrial life a permanent, if still limited, part of mainstream American culture.
According to some in New Age communities, the Harmonic Convergence also sparked the birth of sacred travel as well as opening the gate to the reception of sacred information.[1]
Cultural references
The fantasy novel Three Days to Never (2006) takes place around this event, with the event itself being of some importance in the story.
The album Big Generator by YES includes a song titled "Holy Lamb", which is dedicated to the Harmonic Convergence.
In the cartoon Pinky and the Brain, episode 22, "The Maze", the Brain centered his plan to take over the world around the Harmonic Convergence. Brain states that the Harmonic Convergence will cause an inner ear imbalance in all of mankind for approximately 15 seconds, rendering them susceptible to the power of suggestion. During that time, Brain plans to use a dilithium matrix chip to send a subliminal message to the weakened masses. Pinky's response to Brain's plan: "But where are we going to get all those harmonicas?"
See also
References
- Adapted in part from the Wikinfo article Harmonic Convergence, licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
External links
- Solar System Live simulations of planetary positions on August 16, 1987 and December 21, 2012 (does not include dwarf planets other than Pluto)