The ending of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012 has sparked a worldwide discussion — best selling books, New York Times and USA Today articles, Hollywood films and more. Will life as we know it end — metaphorically, literally or at all? Could 2012 actually represent an evolutionary leap in consciousness?
Looking in bookstores, magazines and the cinema ‘2012' has become the hot new thing - at least in metaphysical and spiritual circles. Prominent authors and speakers seem to be required to tie whatever their topic is to 2012 and interviewers always want their opinion on what will happen or what it means. And we’re still three and a half years away from the 2012 Winter Solstice!
I decided I had better get a working knowledge of the subject so for the past few months have been reading books, listening to interviews, attending local events and questioning channels. Sooner or later you’ll have to form your own opinion too as it is beginning to become a national topic and the television talking heads will latch on to it soon. Nothing better for ratings than a subject that can be manipulated to generate fear and the first big Disney movie on the subject will be out in November showing a post apocalyptic world.
My first conclusion is that although everyone has opinions nobody really knows and even a consensus is hard to come by. You can divide opinions into scientific and spiritual or further subdivide them into disaster and breakthrough.
As you probably know the date of December 26, 2012 refers to the end date of the Mayan Long Count Calendar. This is a cycle that is based on the 26,000 year astronomical Progression of the Equinox. Interpretations of the calendar are primarily by investigators who interviewed low country Mayans. The ancient knowledge is kept by the high country Mayans and as a group the Mayans have spoken about it very little and hint that writers are often in error. The 440 Mayan tribes are organized and will have their own book out soon.
The date has become a convenient focal point for other predictions, including end of times conservative Christian predictions.
We do know that we have made a mess of our environment and continuing on this path will lead to disaster sooner or later. If we don’t make significant changes very soon in our lifestyles and the way we interact with the earth changes will be made for us. Each new study that comes out seems to bring the date closer rather than pushing it out in time. Meanwhile people and governments are in denial and hope nothing major happens in their lifetime - let future generations deal with it. With cultural attention on 2012 it has become a good date for science to jump on to spur action. If it gets the public’s attention who can blame them.
We may not have super volcanoes, Category 5 hurricanes, asteroid collisions or another ice age suddenly descending on us, but we are already seeing climate change, water shortages, polar ice melting and much more. So yes, there will be bad things happening, and it won’t be long. It may not be in 2012, but it won’t be long.
Most spiritual sources and teachers focus on an evolutionary shift in consciousness. That the Mayan, Vedic and many other ancient cultures view time as cyclical and that all point to this as a special period where there is an opportunity for the human race to progress rapidly. They note that historically evolution of a species has progressed rapidly in times of crisis and that the environmental changes point to another jump point if we are to survive. Many note evidence that this is already underway. I certainly hope they are right.
I have to agree with spiritual teachers that going into fear won’t do any good and is to be avoided. The best advice seems to be to prepare for anything and learn to flow with events. There will be changes, but there is also opportunity both to restructure society and for personal development. You are going for a ride, may as well make the most of it.
If you would like to learn more or do your own research I’ve put up a 2012 web page on Conscious CT with a variety of sources I found helpful and thought provoking. And perhaps this is what 2012 is all about - making us think.
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