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2012 phenomenon

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Image of a date inscription for the Mayan Long Count.

The 2012 doomsday prediction is a present-day cultural meme proposing that cataclysmic and apocalyptic events will occur in the year 2012. This idea has been disseminated by numerous books, internet sites and by TV documentaries. The forecast is based primarily on what is claimed to be the end-date of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, which is presented as lasting 5,125 years and as terminating on December 21 or 23, 2012, along with interpretations of assorted legends, scriptures, numerological constructions and prophecies.

A New Age interpretation of this transition posits that, during this time, the planet and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation rather than an armageddon, and that 2012 may mark the beginning of a newer sociopolitical age for the global community. [1]

Mesoamerican Long Count calendar

The significance of this date in Mayanism stems from the ending of the current baktun cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar in 2012. Speculation about this date can be traced to The Maya by Michael D. Coe,[2] originally published in 1966, in which he suggested the date of December 24, 2011 (later revised to December 23, 2012) would mark the end of civilization:

There is a suggestion . . . that Armageddon would overtake the degenerate peoples of the world and all creation on the final day of the thirteenth [baktun]. Thus … our present universe … [would] be annihilated on December 23, 2012, when the Great Cycle of the Long Count reaches completion.[3]

Other academic scholars of Mayan civilization have disputed the apocalyptic interpretation of the Long Count calendar end-date, insisting that it simply marks a resetting of the calendar to Baktun 13.0.0.0.0,[4] rather as the units and tens columns of a car's odometer reset to zero each time a hundred miles are completed. They also argue that the Long Count calendar does not end on 13.0.0.0.0.[5] Scholars such as Linda Schele and David Freidel[6] cite the Mayan inscription Koba Stela 1, which features the date 13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.0.0.0.0. This corresponds to the Mayan year 0 in 3114 BC. It therefore also, of necessity, corresponds to the end of the present Long Count cycle and the beginning of the next. With each column equal to twenty times its predecessor, this date therefore lies some 41,341,049,999,999,999,999,999,994,879 years in the future, or 3 quintillion times the scientifically accepted age of the universe.

Only one Mayan inscription, Tortuguero Monument 6, directly mentions the end of the 13th baktun, which corresponds to 2012. It has been defaced, though Mayan scholar David Stuart has attempted a partial translation:

Tzuhtz-(a)j-oom u(y)-uxlajuun pik
(ta) Chan Ajaw ux(-te') Uniiw.
Uht-oom ...
Y-em(al) ... Bolon Yookte' K'uh ta ...
The Thirteenth 'Bak'tun" will be finished
(on) Four Ajaw, the Third of Uniiw (K'ank'in).
... will occur.
(It will be) the descent(?) of the Nine Support(?) God(s) to the...[7]

Theories

A number of theories have been advanced by various esoteric writers and mystics with regard to how the world will end in 2012. None have garnered mainstream acceptance by academic scholars of the Maya, who have rejected most on scientific and historical grounds.

New Age

Many believe that the ending of this cycle will correspond with a global "consciousness shift" and the beginning of a new age. The possibility of the arrival of "aliens" from other worlds is also theorized. The idea that the Mayans were abducted by extraterrestrials in the past and set this particular date to return to Earth is circulating as well. The date became the subject of speculation by Frank Waters, who devotes two chapters to its interpretation, including discussion of an astrological chart for this date and its association with Hopi prophecies in Mexico Mystique: The Coming Sixth Age of Consciousness(1975).[8] The significance of the year 2012 (but not a specific day) was mentioned briefly by José Argüelles in The Transformative Vision, (1975)[9] and later in The Mayan Factor (1987),[10] promoted at the 1987 Harmonic Convergence.

Author Daniel Pinchbeck popularized New Age concepts about this date, linking[vague] it to beliefs about crop circles, alien abduction, and personal revelations based on the use of entheogens and mediumship in his 2006 book 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl.[11] Pinchbeck argues for a shift in consciousness rather than an apocolpyse, suggesting that materialistic attitudes, rather than the material world, are in jeopardy.[12] Semir Osmanagić, the archaeologist responsible for promoting the Bosnian pyramids, referred to 2012 in the conclusion of his book The World of the Maya.[13] He suggests that "Advancement of DNA may raise us to a higher level" and concludes, "When the 'heavens open' and cosmic energy is allowed to flow throughout our tiny Planet, will we be raised to a higher level by the vibrations".[13]

Experts on the ancient Maya such as Schele and Freidel[14] tend to see the focus on 2012 as a manifestation of Mayanism, a collection of New Age beliefs that reinterpret and potentially distort ancient Mayan culture. University of Florida astronomer Susan Milbrath, author of Star Gods of the Maya, is among those who have accused 2012 doomsday proponents of exploiting Mayan culture to advance political or personal agendas.[15] Promotion of Mayanism through interest in 2012 doomsday scenarios is contributing to the evolution of religious syncretism in contemporary Maya communities.[citation needed]

Galactic alignment

The CIA is paying us to mislead the public about 2012, so please believe every word of the following bullshit. Frank Waters' book inspired further speculation by John Major Jenkins in the mid-1980s, noting the correspondence of the December 21 date with the winter solstice in 2012. This date was in line with an idea he terms the Galactic Alignment.

In the Solar System, the planets and the Sun share roughly the same plane of orbit, known as the plane of the ecliptic. From our perspective on Earth, the twelve Zodiacal constellations move along or near the ecliptic, and over time, appear to recede counterclockwise by one degree every 72 years. This movement is attributed to a slight wobble in the Earth's axis as it spins. As a result, approximately every 2160 years, the constellation visible on the early morning of the spring equinox changes. In Western astrological traditions, this signals the end of one astrological age (currently the Age of Pisces) and the beginning of another (Age of Aquarius). Over the course of 26,000 years, the precession of the equinoxes makes one full circuit around the ecliptic.

Just as the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere is currently in Pisces, so the winter solstice is currently in Sagittarius, which happens to be the constellation intersected by the galactic equator. Every year for the last 2000 years or so, on the winter solstice, the Earth, Sun and the galactic equator come into alignment, and every year, precession pushes the Sun a little way further through the Milky Way's band.

The Milky Way near Cygnus showing the lane of the Dark Rift which the Maya called the Xibalba be or Black Road.

Jenkins suggests that the Maya based their calendar on observations of the "dark rift", a band of black dust clouds in the Milky Way, which the Maya called the Xibalba be or Black Road.[16] Jenkins claims that the Maya were aware of where the ecliptic intersected the Black Road and gave this position in the sky a special significance in their cosmology.[17] According to the theory, the Sun precisely aligns with this intersection point at the winter solstice of 2012.[17] Jenkins is credited with the premise that the classical Mayans anticipated this conjunction and celebrated it as the harbinger of a profound spiritual transition for mankind.[18] New Age proponents of the galactic alignment theory argue that, just as astrology uses the positions of stars and planets to predict the future, the Mayans plotted their calendars with the objective of preparing for significant world events.[19]

Critics suggest that the alignment in question takes place over a 36-year period, corresponding to the diameter of the Sun, with the most precise convergence having already occurred without incident in 1998.[20] Also, Jenkins himself notes that there is no concrete evidence that the Maya were aware of precession.[21]

Timewave zero

Main article: Timewave zero
See also: Technological singularity and Omega Point
A screenshot of the Timewave Zero software.

Timewave zero, which is part of Novelty theory, is a mathematical formula that purports to calculate the ebb and flow of "novelty", defined as increase in the universe's interconnectedness, or organised complexity,[22] over time. According to Terence McKenna, who conceived the idea in the early 1970s, the universe has a teleological attractor at the end of time that increases interconnectedness, eventually reaching a singularity of infinite complexity on December 21, 2012, at which point anything and everything imaginable will occur instantaneously.

McKenna expressed novelty in a computer program, which purportedly produces a fractal waveform known as timewave zero or the timewave. Based on McKenna's interpretation of the King Wen sequence of the I Ching,[23] the graph appears to show great periods of novelty corresponding with major shifts in humanity's biological and cultural evolution. He believed the events of any given time are recursively related to the events of other times, and chose his end date by looking for a very novel event in recent history: the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This gave an end-date in mid-November of 2012, but when he discovered its proximity to the end of the 13th baktun, he adjusted the end date to match this point in the calendar.[24][25]

Professional mathematicians and scientists would consider McKenna's sources and reasoning to be primarily numerological rather than mathematical, and they generally have not taken his theory seriously. The theory was, however, revised by nuclear physicist John Sheliak[26] after British mathematician Matthew Watkins argued that he had found a flaw in it.[27] The new revision is often referred to as Timewave One, but is also included in the set of alternate waves in the Timewave Zero software.[28]

End of the world

See also: Nibiru collision

Various ideas have been advanced concerning a possible end of the world in 2012. One idea involves a geomagnetic reversal (often incorrectly referred to as a polar shift by proponents of this theory), which could be triggered by a massive solar flare, one with energy equal to 100 million atomic bombs[29]. This is supported by evidence that the Earth's magnetic field is weakening,[30] which indicates an impending reversal of the north and south magnetic poles. Scientists believe the Earth is overdue for a geomagnetic reversal, and has been for a long time, even since the time of the Mayans, because the last reversal was 780,000 years ago.[31] Critics, however, claim geomagnetic reversals take up to 5,000 years to complete, and do not start on any particular date. Also, while NASA expects a particularly strong solar maximum in 2012,[32] there is no scientific evidence linking a solar maximum to a geomagnetic reversal.[33] Such an event would be mostly notable for its effects on satellite and cellular phone communications.[32]

Another apocalyptic idea circulating about 2012, which has existed in various forms since 1995 and has changed dates at least twice since then, is that a large planet, called Nibiru, will collide or pass by Earth in that year. This idea has been ridiculed by astronomers, who point out that such an object so close to Earth would be visible to anyone looking up at the night sky.[34]

Dissemination

See also: 2012 in fiction

Interest in the 2012 doomsday prediction has spread in recent years as a result of a groundswell of internet sites and blogs, as well as numerous books and television series on the subject. George Noory, main host of Coast to Coast AM, likewise believes something significant will happen in 2012.[citation needed]

Books that refer to the 2012 doomsday prediction include Apocalypse 2012: A Scientific Investigation Into Civilization's End (2007) by Lawrence E. Joseph, How to Survive 2012: Tactics and Survival Places for the Coming Pole Shift (2008) by Patrick Geryl. 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl (2007) by Daniel Pinchbeck, Death from the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End (2008) by Philip Plait, A Vision for 2012: Planning for Extraordinary Change (2008) by John Peterson, A Guide to the End of the World (2002) by Bill McGuire, The Orion Prophecy (2001) by Patrick Geryl and Gino Ratinckx, 2013 Oracle: Ancient Keys to the 2012 Awakening The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies and Possibilities (2008) by Gregg Braden, (2006), Serpent of Light (2007) by Drunvalo Melchizedek, 2012: Seeking Closure (2009) by Gregory Bernard Banks, and The Maya End Times : A spiritual adventure to the heart of the Maya prophecies for 2012 (2008) by Patricia Mercier. A movie called 2012, directed by Roland Emmerich and starring John Cusack, is scheduled for release in 2009.

Over recent years the television network the History Channel has played a major role in broadcasting ideas of this type, often targeting 2012.[35][36] In its coverage, it relates to the present day a number of doomsday prophecies derived from non-Mayan sources,[37] referencing (among others) predictions ascribed to the Hopi people, the Book of Revelation by John of Patmos, the Sibylline Books, the quatrains of Nostradamus and a version of the anonymous 14th-century Vaticinia de Summis Pontificibus that the History Channel has dubbed The Lost Book of Nostradamus,[38] as well as the prophecies of the semi-legendary Myrddin Wyllt, or Merlin, and Mother Shipton.[39]

The original 1641 edition of The Prophecies of Mother Shipton says nothing whatsoever about doomsday or the end of the world.[40]

Ron Rosenbaum of Slate.com introduced the topic thusly in 2009: "The growing harmonic convergence of apocalyptic stupidity that goes under the rubric 2012 or 'the Mayan Calendar Prophecy' has not yet reached Y2K proportions. And while it's broken out of the New Agey cult status where it's been fermenting for some years, there are still many in the chattering classes who haven't heard about it." [41]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Benjamin Anastas. "The Final Days". New York Times Magazine 7/1/07.
  2. ^ Coe, Michael D. (1966). The Maya. Ancient Peoples and Places series (1st ed.). Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0500285055,. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  3. ^ Coe 1966, 2005 (7th ed.)
  4. ^ Ibid; G. Jeffrey MacDonald "Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?" USA Today 3/27/07.
  5. ^ Milbrath, Susan (2000). Star Gods of the Maya. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292752261 Page 4
  6. ^ Schele, L. and Freidel, D., A forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya (Morrow, 1990)
  7. ^ John Major Jenkins (2006). "Comments on the 2012 text on Tortuguero Monument 6 and Bolon Yokte K'u". Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  8. ^ Waters, Frank (1975). Mexico mystique: The coming sixth world of consciousness (1st Edition ed.). Sage Books. ISBN 0804006636. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  9. ^ Arguelles, Jose (1975). Transformative Vision (1st edition ed.). Shambhala. ISBN 0394730674. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Argüelles, José (1987). The Mayan Factor: Path Beyond Technology. Inner Traditions/Bear & Company. ISBN 0939680386.
  11. ^ Pinchbeck, Daniel (2007). 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. Tarcher. ISBN 1585425923.
  12. ^ Benjamin Anastas "The Final Days". New York Times Magazine 7/1/07.
  13. ^ a b Osmanagich, Sam (2005). The World of the Maya. Gorgias Press. ISBN 1593332742.
  14. ^ Schele, Linda and Freidel, David A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya (Morrow, 1990)
  15. ^ Ibid; "Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?". Cited above.
  16. ^ Stross, Brian. "XIBALBA OR XIBALBE". University of Texas. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  17. ^ a b Jenkins, John Major. "What is the Galatic Alignment?". Alignment 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  18. ^ John Major Jenkins (1999). "The True Alignment Zone". truezone. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  19. ^ For an in-depth look at this subject, see Coe, Michael D. (1992). Breaking the Maya Code. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05061-9. OCLC 26605966; Miller, Mary; and Karl Taube (1993). The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya: An Illustrated Dictionary of Mesoamerican Religion. London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05068-6. OCLC 27667317; and Pinchbeck, Daniel, 2007. 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. Tarcher Books. ISBN 1585424838.
  20. ^ Meeus, Jean (1997). "Ecliptic and galactic equator". Mathematical Astronomy Morsels. Richmod, Va: Willmann-Bell. pp. 301-303. ISBN 9780943396514. OCLC 36126686.
  21. ^ John Major Jenkins. "Introduction to Maya Cosmogenesis". Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  22. ^ Terence McKenna interviewed on the Art Bell Show, 1997-05-22
  23. ^ McKenna, Terence (1975). The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching. HarperCollins. ISBN 0816492492. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ http://www.ralph-abraham.org/talks/transcripts/hyperspace.html
  25. ^ The Timewave: The Zero Date
  26. ^ http://www.johnsheliak.com/SubSpace_Bridge_Domain/Sheliak_Formalization.pdf
  27. ^ http://www.fourmilab.ch/rpkp/autopsy.html
  28. ^ http://www.johnsheliak.com/SubSpace_Bridge_Domain/Sheliak_Formalization.pdf
  29. ^ http://www.universetoday.com/2008/06/21/2012-no-killer-solar-flare/
  30. ^ http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080818-mm-earth-core.html
  31. ^ http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Pole-Shift---A-Disaster-Waiting-to-Happen/111685
  32. ^ a b "Solar Storm Warning". NASA. 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  33. ^ Ian O'Neill (2008). "2012: No Geomagnetic Reversal". Universe Today. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  34. ^ Phil Plait (2003). "The Planet X Saga: Science". badastronomy.com. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  35. ^ See 2012, End of Days (2006), Maya Doomsday (2007), The Last Days on Earth (2008) Seven Signs of the Apocalypse (2008) and Nostradamus 2012 (2008) together with programs recounting past doomsdays: Comet Catastrophe (2007), Noah's Great Flood (2008) and Journey to 10000 B.C and compare "Armageddon series". The History Channel. 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  36. ^ "Armageddon series". The History Channel. 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  37. ^ Documentary program. 2012: End of Days. The History Channel (2007).
  38. ^ Gruber, Dr. E. R., advice to the History Channel's producers delivered at their request, July 2007, republished in the Nostradamus Research Group October 2007, on the basis of a copy in his possession
  39. ^ See the History Channel's Doomsday 2012. The End Of Days
  40. ^ See Mother Shipton's Prophecies (Mann, 1989, introduction, pp. 17-19), and An 1881 Essay about Mother Shipton by William H Harrison
  41. ^ "2012: Tsunami of Stupidity: Why the latest apocalyptic cult is a silly scam." by Ron Rosenbaum, Slate.com, May 22, 2009 (accessed 26 May 2009)

References

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