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The Institute of Maya Studies recognizes the significance of the up-and-coming December 21, 2012 Maya Long Count Calendar end date and the increasing public interest surrounding the possible effects of the impending alignment involving the earth, the sun and the area looking towards the Galactic Center of our galaxy. The end date culminates one of the Maya’s 5,200 tun (5,125 year) 13-Baktun Great Cycle calendar “ages” and is the “seating” of the next Great Cycle. It is not the end of the world.
Scholars disagree over some of the specific aspects of this alignment as it relates to the ancient Maya stargazers and calendar formulators. Were the ancient Maya really aware of the exact location the center of our galaxy? Were the ancient Maya astronomer priests aware of the +/-26,000 year cycle of the precession of the equinoxes? Why did the Maya choose this time, the time that we live in, as the “end” of their Long Count calendar, when their Classic culture played out more than a thousand years ago (around 950 AD), and they “started” this calendar cycle in 3,114 BC, more than five thousand years ago, two thousand years or so before their culture ever really began to flourish?
But scholars are now beginning to agree that it is apparent that the ancient Maya did consciously choose the 12/21/2012 date, significant because it is a winter solstice, first as the ending of this Great Cycle and then back-calculated to determine the start date. And even if they weren’t aware of the cycle of the precession of the equinoxes nor even aware of where the “center” of our galaxy is located, amazingly they did “anchor” this cycle’s end date to a day when viewed from earth, our sun will rise on a winter solstice directly in front of the area of the bright band (bulge) of the Milky Way galaxy where the Galactic Center is located.
What cycle are we in, which cycle number is ending?
Jim Reed, current editor of the Institute of Maya Studies’ monthly newsletter, [IMS Membership] investigated the question as to what cycle ending is this? All Mesoamerican cultures and some North American indigenous cultures believe that the evolutional history of mankind here on earth is tied into cycles of creation and transformation. Is it the end of the fourth Great Cycle and the beginning of the fifth or is it the end of the fifth Great Cycle and the beginning of the sixth? And if the latter, would it be referred to as the end of the sixth or the beginning of a new first cycle in the Grand Cycle of five ages divisible within the +/-26,000 year cycle of the precession?
In his research, Jim uncovered that there is a difference among the beliefs of various surviving indigenous cultures, but only recently are researchers uncovering and collecting these beliefs from numerous and various sources to get a glimpse of the whole situation. Through a reading of the Popul Vuh, the Quiché Maya Creation Myth, we find that they record four previous ages of creation and destruction (transformation) and we, like the ancient Maya, are living in the fifth cycle. The five separate creation attempts were the mountains and rivers, the animals and birds, the mud persons, the wooden persons, and now humankind (made of maize). They record that mankind first faced starvation and were eaten by jaguars and other animals. Then we faced cycles with transformations by wind, by a rain of fire, and by floods. The end of this fifth cycle involves movement, vibration and earthquake.
The Tz'utujil Maya myth confirms that we are in the fifth of a series of five eras, and also suggests an evolution through the eras, culminating in the "fruiting". In addition, it also suggests the need for a conscious evolution during this fifth era lifetime to become the ripe fruits we are designed to be, and that there is a Creation beyond the fifth if only we continue to honor the gods. Aztec, Zuni and Navajo peoples also say we are living in the fifth era, and approaching the sixth.
Do modern Maya use the Long Count calendar?
The Maya discontinued their use of the Long Count calendar long before the Spanish arrived. The Maya living today do not use it. They now only utilize the sacred Tzolk’in calendar. The use of the long Count calendar was glyphically carved in stone on ancient Maya stelae to indicate precise days when important rituals or activities occurred, especially period endings. This practice died out around 980 AD. There are no modern Maya predictions or prophecies for this Great Cycle ending.
And be aware, if any living Maya comes out with some prophesies nowadays, it seems they are just repeating some of the same “new-agey”-type comments that they think we want to hear. They are apparently not voyaging into the cosmic center to retrieve wisdom and learning from the gods as their ancient royal Maya counterparts were capable of. As carved in stone with images and hieroglyphic writings, 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”. It served the Maya well, for more than two thousand years, as the cohesive force that governed their cultural evolution. 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 sacred space for the king. Their great central temples represented “symbolic sacred mountains” and were built directly on perceived earthly energy centers. The upper rooms were “symbolic sacred caves”, portals for accessing the Maya Underworld. The king’s throne represented the inner nucleus of power, the hot seat and hotline of communion with the cosmic center and source. In so many ways, the Maya manifested the saying: As above, so below.
How might 2012 affect us?
There is an “alignment zone” for our sun’s alignment over the Galactic Center that is 20 or so years (1 Katun) on either side of 2012, due to the perceived “width” of our sun passing over the area of the creation place. The scheduled “movement” transition isn’t going to happen all at once exactly on December 21, 2012. It is more like a “marker” for another age of transition. It is really already happening now and will continue to accelerate. Not only is there an increase of powerful earthquakes and changes in climate around the world, but mankind is also being shaken down to the core of our most treasured beliefs. It isn’t just the physical world, but also our mental, emotional and spiritual worlds will get a big “shaking up”. Current worldwide religious and political system divisiveness needs to transform into a global plan of mutual cohesiveness and sustenance. Plus, scientists now know that 2012 will be the peak of a great solar cycle and we can expect to experience some major repercussions from increased solar activity. (See related article, “Earth-sized Sunspot Signals Start of New Solar Cycle” in IMS newsletter Volume 37, Issue 2, February 2008, page 6.) In its most drastic form, solar radiation in the short term could knock out the sensitive communication satellites that monitor and control our ever-increasing technology-dependent existence and also seriously affect our genetics in the long term.
We think you all will agree that we are currently living in an age of a quickening transformation. Almost all cultures around the world record and warn in myths or legends and written texts of impending change during these times. With their multiple calendars, the Maya have only provided us with a marker in “time”. We are the ones living now who will experience this transition. It is a wonderful time to have reincarnated! We’re ready to witness the birth of the Maya’s sixth sun on December 21,2012. And if one can gleam anything prophetic from the Popul Vuh, one finds that mankind is intrinsically intertwined with the cosmic and astronomical cycles that surround the planet we call home. We need to keep consciously evolving to have all of planet Earth support all of humankind equally. Either by cause and effect or by conscious transmutation, mankind will eventually transform into something completely different in order to survive. And through it all, remember to honor the gods!
Surfing our IMS 2012 research resources
With less than five years to go until the end date, the Institute of Maya Studies has initiated this area of our website to enhance public appreciation and understanding of the meaning behind the 2012 alignment. Just about any other site that has information about 2012 should be accessible to you by exploring the links we have posted below. We also have some resources that include recent articles published in the IMS newsletter concerning 2012 by John Major Jenkins and Susan Milbrath and others. We will post more as we continue our coverage of the 2012 event.
Jim Reed offered two presentations in 2007 about 2012, first for the Third Annual Southeast Conference on Mesoamerican Archaeology and Ethnohistory (October 26-27, 2007) and then for the Institute of Maya Studies (November 28, 2007). Included here are links to some of the colorful visual graphics he prepared for the visual portion of his presentations. This is the first time we are aware of anyone creating original color images to help explain the 2012 alignment. The numerous currently available books on the subject of 2012 seem to only have black and white line drawings or no illustrations at all. The accompanying photo captions are very informative. Please credit Jim Reed and credit this IMS website if you plan on reproducing any of these color images or texts in any manner.
We also provide a list of links to other websites that feature insight into the 2012 phenomena. You will notice many informative links by John Major Jenkins. John is the independent researcher who first successfully identified the alignment that the ancient Maya were anticipating. Jenkins gave a presentation presenting his interpretations about 2012 for the Institute of Maya Studies on August 20, 1997. He mentions this in his book Maya Cosmogenesis 2012, which is the single resource that anyone interested in 2012 is recommended to seek out first. His information is very straightforward and he explains his point of view very well. Just about ever other major player in the 2012 arena expressing their own points of view about 2012 will end up commenting on and making references to Jenkin’s research.
We also would like this site to be interactive. We want to hear from you! Feel free to send your own comments and/or articles and images to Jim Reed at mayaman@bellsouth.net for possible inclusion on this site in the near future. Perhaps you want to suggest other links to sites with information about 2012 that we could post here for others. We hope we have provided you with a great starting point for your own investigation into the meaning and significance of 2012.
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