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An Affiliate of the Miami Science Museum

Color Images and Explanations

Between Sagittarius and Scorpio, the area of the Galactic Center

The sun’s movement across the sky follows the arc of the ecliptic (describing the 15-degree pathway of the orbits of the sun, moon and planets) This arc surrounds the earth 360 degrees, and along this pathway is where we identify the twelve astrological signs/ages of western astrology. The sun slowly moves along this arc, against the background of these constellations throughout the +/-26,000-year cycle of the precession of the equinoxes.

The Milky Way galaxy describes another arc and pathway of the stars 360 degrees around the earth. There are two intersections or pathway crossroads where the arc of the ecliptic and the arc of the Milky Way come together. These are the two most important Maya creation places. One that looks out of our galaxy (towards Gemini and Orion) and one that looks towards the center of our galaxy (towards Sagittarius and Scorpio). The creation place of the latter two arcs is depicted in this image. This is the area over where our sun will align on the winter solstice on December 21, 2012 … halfway between the constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpio on the arc of the ecliptic where it intersects the arc of the Milky Way galaxy, exactly where the Galactic Center just happens to be located. (Composite image by Jim Reed.)
 

Maya King and the Double-Headed Serpent Bar of Authority

The double-headed Serpent Bar is the iconographic equivalent of the arc of the ecliptic. Most any Maya king featured on carved stone stela will be shown wearing a double-headed serpent pendant or holding up a double-headed serpent bar. Here we see an image of Stela D from the Maya site of Copán, depicting ruler Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil (18 Rabbit). The king is shown wearing an elaborate headdress and holding a double-headed serpent bar that represents his divine connection to the sun. The serpents’ heads represent the arc of the ecliptic. The pathway involves the sun and its movement from sunrise to sunset, descending into the underworld each night and emerging from the underworld each morning. It is consequently associated with kingship ritual, bloodletting and the summoning of the ancestors. (Serpent bar artwork by Richard Soles, composite image by Jim Reed.)
 

Maya King enthroned in the Galactic Center

Ancient Maya kings were required to undertake powerful shamanic rituals culminating in journeys to “the center of the sky” to commune, invoke and channel the power resident in the cosmic center. It was the basis behind the ancient Maya belief system that celebrated the power of the king’s blood, evolving into kingship by divine-rule. The ancient Maya were not coerced into working on building their king’s massive construction projects … they willingly participated. The architecture built into all central precincts of Maya sites reflects their desire to create a sacred space for their rulers, with great central temples built directly on earthly sacred energy centers, and within them, the king’s throne represented the inner nucleus of power, the hot seat and hotline of communion with the cosmic center and source. (Composite image by Jim Reed, inspiration: original drawing by John Major Jenkins, Maya Cosmogenisis 2012, chapter 17: Conjuring Creation, page 209.)
 

December 21, 2012 Alignment

The crossroads of the arc of the ecliptic (yellow path) with the arc of the Milky Way galaxy (purple path) is directly over the galactic “bulge” of the galaxy. This is the area of the Galactic Center and it is where our sun will be aligned on December 21, 2012. The new sun (cosmic father) will be “birthed” from the area of the sky where inter-stellular dust clouds are viewed by the ancient Maya as womb of the cosmic mother (the green path). This same area is known as the “dark-rift”, the mouth of the cosmic serpent (open mouth of the crocodilian monster or toad-jaguar), and Xibalba Be (the road to the Maya underworld). The most important of Maya Creation Places … the 2012 alignment all comes together in this image. (Composite image by Jim Reed, inspiration: Maya Cosmogenisis 2012 by John Major Jenkins.)
 

Stela 11, Izapan Culture: December Solstice Sun in the Dark Rift

A glimpse of the Galactic bulge in the background superimposed by Stela 11 from the site of Izapa. Izapa is the site where researchers think that ancient skywatchers and calendar day-keeper priests first devised the sacred 260-day Tzolk’in calendar, the Haab (earthly, yearly 365-day calendar) and the Long Count calendar that combines the two. On Stela 11, the December solstice sun is depicted in the mouth of the dark-rift, a visual portrayal of the astronomical alignment of December 21, 2012. It is the best Izapan monument representative of the World Age astronomy of the 13-Baktun Long Count calendar cycle end date. Representing a crossroads and creation place, a toad-jaguar/serpent, or crocodilian monster (Milky Way galaxy) sits atop a pair of double-headed serpents (ecliptic). We see the birthing of the solar First Father deity (of Popul Vuh fame) from the mouth of the toad-serpent (cosmic womb, First Mother) in a pose with outstretched hands, a symbol of completion or measurement. In the Popul Vuh, First Father measured the cosmos at the beginning of time by stretching a measuring cord to the four cosmic corners. Here a new age is being birthed and measured. (Composite image by Jim Reed, inspiration: original drawing by John Major Jenkins, Maya Cosmogenisis 2012, Chapter 22: The Monumental Message, page 283.)
 

Bright Sunny Forecast for Morning of December 21, 2012

Wherever you end up viewing the morning sunrise of the Winter Solstice sun on December 21, 2012, we’re forecasting a bright sunny day. But funny thing is, you’ll only be watching the sun rise up like on any other bright sunny day. Its brightness will be totally blocking out any naked eye view of our Milky Way galaxy. You’ll have to understand the meaning of the alignment going on around you to truly appreciate it. We trust the resources listed here on our IMS website will help you along your path towards your own personal understanding of the 2012 alignment and its implications in your life and in the lives of those around you.
 

You may contact Jim Reed for more information at: mayaman@bellsouth.net