Originally published on Dec. 7, 2012
Namaste.
Many of you have asked me to comment on the upcoming much-noted date, Dec 21, 2012, and it's association with the (supposed) end of the Mayan Calendar, and other various phenomena attributed to that date.
For those who have no time for, nor interest in, the details, I will begin with the conclusion: While it is good to pray and meditate on Dec 21, 2012, on Dec 22, 2012 the Sun will rise in the east and set in the west, just like any other day.
For those inclined to read on, I will explain in some detail. The long-count calendar is one of three calendars used by the Mayans, each differing in length and function. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, with it's three units of time (year, month, day), the Mayan long-count calendar has 5, namely k'in, winal, tun, k'atun, and bak'tun.
There are 20 k'in in a winal, 18 winal per tun, 20 tun per k'atun and 20 k'atun in a bak'tun. The other two calendars are the 260-day tzolk'in round calendar and the 365-day Haab' year calendar.
The tzolk'in calendar cycles through 13 galactic-tones and 20 star-glyphs, each changing every day, and repeating every 260 days. The use of this calendar is related to personal astrology, a description of each of the 260 combinations of galactic-tone and star-glyph gives insight to people born under that combination. People born 260 days apart, or multiples thereof, will have the same galactic-tone/star-glyph combination. This calendar was also instrumental for performing of traditional sacred rituals, and is followed to this day in certain regions of Guatemala.
There seem to be a couple reasons for the choice of 260 days. The 365 Haab' calendar will be out of step by about 1/4 day per year, a problem solved by the Gregorian calendar with the interjection of Feb 29 every fourth year, except for century years not divisible by 400 (thus 2000 was a leap year but 1900 and 2100 are not).
A cycle of 59 ritual (tzolk'in) years is almost exactly identical to 42 tropical years (59 x 260 days = 42 years of 365.242 days), so this was a way to keep the rituals locked into the true solar year. Another explanation may be that Venus is visible for about 260 days between one combustion and the next, which also closely aligns with the human gestation period. Venus figured prominently in Mayan astronomy, due to its association with fertility, and also because of the interlocking of Venus and the Earth's orbital periods (8 Earth years is almost exactly the same as 13 Venus years).
Returning to the main topic, the purpose of the Mayan long-count calendar was to record the number of days since the beginning of the "fourth world", with human beings in it. Legend has it that the first three attempts at creation failed, and the current fourth world began on Aug 11, 3114 BC. Since that date, 12 k'atun have completed, and the 13th, which began Sept 18, 1618 finishes on Dec 21, 2012. On Dec 20, the Mayan long-count calendar date is 12.19.19.17.19, and on Dec 21 it will be 13.0.0.0.0, on Dec 22, 13.0.0.0.1, etc.
The third world was said to have ended after 13 bak'tun, and this has led to the erroneous conclusion that the fourth world similarly would end at this milestone.
However, none of the Mayan texts indicate that all worlds end at the completion of 13 bak'tun; only the third world apparently did. Recent discoveries show the Mayans plotted astronomical tables forward for 17 bak'tun, which implies they expected the world to be around, otherwise why bother calculating astronomical events far into the future?
The long-count calendar also has units higher than the bak'tun. 1 pik'tun equals 20 bak'tun, and in turn 1 kalabtun equals 20 pik'tun, then 1 k'inchiltun = 20 kalabtun and finally 1 alawtun = 20 k'inchiltun. One alawtun corresponds to 63,081,429 years, and there are higher levels beyond the alawtun; clearly the Mayan astronomers held a long-term view of the cosmos!
In the current cycle, 20th (last) bak'tun will be reached on Oct 13, 4772, which will be the start of a new pik'tun.
You may also have heard that the reason for Dec 21, 2012 being "special" has much to do with the Winter Solstice aligning with the center of the Milky Way, an event which occurs once every 26,000 years. This point requires an explanation of the Ayanamsha, the difference between the Tropical (seasonal) Zodiac used by Western astrologers, and the Sidereal (stellar) Zodiac, employed in Jyotish.
On the first day of spring, Aries begins, according to the Tropical Zodiac, even though the Sun does not reach the stars of the constellation Aries until around April 14 (Aries according to the Sidereal Zodiac), making the two zodiacs differ by about 24 degrees. This amount of difference is slowly increasing over time, at a rate of one degree every 72 years. Currently, the Spring Equinox occurs at about 6 degrees Pisces (the Earth is still in the "Age of Pisces", which is defined as the period when the Vernal Equinox falls in that sign.
The so-called "Age of Aquarius" will take another 400+ years to arrive, as there are 6 degrees left to cover in Pisces, at a rate of 72 years per degree). According to the Lahiri calculation, the most widely accepted measure adopted by Jyotishees worldwide, the Ayanamsha on Dec 21, 2012 is 24:02:32, meaning that the Winter Solstice will coincide with 5:57:28 Sagittarius in 2012. The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A, is at RA 17h 23m 40s | Dec -29° 00' 28.00, according to recent observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This converts to 266:25:00 or 26:25:00 Sagittarius, as measured from the Vernal Equinox (Tropical). Subtracting the Ayanamsha of 24:02:32, the location of the Galactic Center, in the Sidereal Zodiac, is 2:22:28 Sagittarius, or 3:35:00 degrees from the 2012 Winter Solstice point. At a rate of 72 years per degree, the true alignment of the Galactic Center with the Winter
Solstice will be 258 years from now, in the year 2270.
Not that future generations should expect a cataclysm in 2270, as the amount of radiation coming from the Galactic Center is independent of where in particular our Solar System happens to be (ie, we are neither falling into, nor spinning out from the galaxy, merely revolving around the center, in the outer reaches of the Milky Way).
Any planet or asteroid passing within 100 million miles of this black hole at the Galactic Center, would be swept into it. As the Earth is 26,000 light years away, or 152 Quadrillion miles (152 followed by 15 zeros), we have a wide safety margin! To put it into perspective, it's 25 times smaller than the width of a human hair of an astronaut on Pluto, as "seen" from the Earth.
People readily believe predictions of disaster, without question. In 1993 to 1995, several popular books were published predicting World War III in 1997, based on interpretations of the writings of Nostradamus (these books sold millions of copies).
On Jan 1, 2000, all the computers were supposed to crash, being unable to handle the year changing.
Now the focus has been on Dec 21, 2012 with the Mayan calendar turning over the equivalent of a new "millennium". 1997 came and went, without major incident. Jan 1, 2000 arrived without any disastrous consequences, and in the same way, life will go on after Dec 21, 2012.
There are no special planetary alignments anywhere near that date. Neither is there going to be a pole shift, nor the appearance of Nibiru (Planet X), or any other such far-fetched claims.
Many groups, teachers, healers, etc. are planning large gatherings to mark the event. If you wish to participate in these happenings, or "ascension" gatherings, by all means do so; the power of group prayer is inestimable, and formidable.
However, be realistic, and cognisant of the fact that the only real "ascension" on Dec 21 will be the bank balances of these group leaders.
You may participate in this event without leaving your home; tune-in, meditate and pray, knowing millions around the world are joined in bringing in a positive shift in consciousness. You may wish to arrange a group meditation in your home with family/friends.
