A number of apocalypse prophecies have cropped up over the course of human history – nearly every civilization and culture, not to mention religion, has their own version of the end times. Christianity has Armageddon, Hindus have the ending of the last age of man, or Yuga, and so on. Nostradamus had predicted the coming of a comet that would wipe out all mankind, and people were also convinced that the coming of the year 2000 would bring around the end of the world. The Mayans have also made their own prophecy about the end of the world occurring in the latter part of 2012. In this presentation, we will examine several points that substantiate the Mayan’s claims that a major catastrophic event will happen to the planet on December 21, 2012.
The main part of this theory stems from the ordering and arrangement of the Mayan calendar. The Long Count, unlike the other two calendars in the Mayan canon (religious and solar), is meant to be able to calculate any day in history. (Newman 2010) The Long Count calendar ends at 12.19.19.17.20, which translates to December 21, 2012. Since the Long Count was meant to record all days in history, the Mayans must have taken this to believe that the world would end on this day, as there would be more days. This has created cause for concern, as there must be a good reason why the Mayans, very experienced and thorough mathemeticians, would have created an infinite calendar that has an end date. (Defesche 2008) The Mayans call this day the Sacred Tree, and it is when the Sun will be aligned with the Milky Way’s center, changing the galactic alignment of the solar system. We will be closer to the black hole that holds the Milky Way in place, and those gravity effects will worsen the solar flares we experience. (Lowe, 2011)
Another cause for concern is the events that surround the date of December 21, 2012. The solar cycle of the sun is 11 years, where the magnetic poles of the sun switch, creating the highest potential for solar flares. On 2012, the solar cycle will coincide with the alignment of the two largest planets in the solar system (Saturn and Jupiter), which will change the gravitational effects of these flares. They will intensify greatly, creating a polar shift where the magnetic poles stay in the same place but the planet shifts so Antarctica would be closer to the equator, essentially. This can have a disastrous effect on the atmosphere of Earth, creating tidal shifts, electrical interference, and earthquakes. The rotation of the Earth could even reverse, creating even more geological and environmental issues that can result in an incredible death toll. (Lowe, 2011)
With these points in mind, there is a clear correlation between the date where all of these astronomical events will occur and the Mayan Long Count calendar ending. It would be an incredible coincidence if the infinite calendar of this ancient civilization just happened to end on the same day that the solar system would undergo these massive changes. If the Mayans have anticipated this event, and provided the Long Count as a warning, it is safe to say that there is sufficient reason to take precautions for the gravitational shifts that will occur as a result of the solar flares. As a result, it would be prudent to keep this concern in mind as the date draws near, and make sure to be ready in case the Mayans predicted correctly that December 21, 2012 would be the last day of mankind.
References
Defesche, S. (2008) ‘The 2012 Phenomenon’: A historical and typological approach to a modern apocalyptic mythology (MA Thesis). Retrieved from http://skepsis.no/?p=599
Lowe, R. (2011) 2012 : What's All The Fuss About?? . December 21 2012, The official Website for 122112 Information. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.december212012.com/articles/general_information/2012_%20What%27s_All_The_Fuss_About.htm
Newman, S. (2010). The real history of the end of the world (Berkley trade pbk. ed.). New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books.
