A popular prophecy that ancient Mayan culture may or may not have predicted is about to be tested tomorrow. The end of the world, on 21 December 2012. Given the state of the global economy and world unrest, the idea of an imminent apocalypse seems plainly believable and is perhaps a sensible solution.
José Argüelles, born in Rochester, Minnesota (January 24, 1939 – March 23, 2011) was an American author and artist. If the finger of blame is to be pointed to a single source, It was his research that is to blame for the cult of the Mayan doomsday. Argüelles was the founder of Planet Art Network and the Foundation for the Law of Time. He held a Ph.D. in Art History and Aesthetics from the University of Chicago. As one of the originators of the Earth Day concept, Argüelles founded the first Whole Earth Festival in 1970, at Davis, California. He was most famous for his leading role in organizing the 1987 Harmonic Convergence event and for inventing the Dreamspell calendar, which sees 1987 as year one. His book The Mayan Factor: Path Beyond Technology, published the same year has popularised the notion of the Mayan Doomsday. In The Mayan Factor Argüelles devises a complicated numerological system by combining elements taken from the pre-Columbian Maya calendar with the I Ching and other esoteric influences, interspersed with concepts drawn from modern sciences such as “genetic codes” and “galactic convergences”. (The “Long Count” cycle of the Mayan calendar began in 3114 BCE and is widely accepted to end on 21/12/12 CE.) The book first popularised the Hunab Ku design as a symbol within New Age discourse.
“Since the 365 day Maya haab makes no provision for leap years, its starting date in the Gregorian Calendar advances by one day every four years. The beginning of Argüelles’ year is fixed to July 26. Thus his count of days departs from the haab as it was known to Maya scribes before the Spanish conquest. Argüelles claims that the Thirteen Moon Calendar is synchronized with the calendar round.
Apparently one in 10 oif us is said to believe that 21 December 2012 marks the end of the world. The Ancient Mayans predicted this doomsday, and the world anxiously waits to see if the end is neigh! Russians are so worried that the Minister of Emergency Situations have issued a denial that the world is about to end. 20% of Americans believe we are at the endgame, and that they will see the return of Jesus Christ in their lifetime. This month also sees Advent in the Christian Calendar,this is a time when Christians are encouraged to read from the Book of Revelation an apocalyptic vision of St John the Divine. The date of 21 December, is also the Winter Solstice, a symbolic end of darkness and the renewal of the light. Will we be hit by an asteroid? Will the earth’s core overheat and put us into meltdown? Will Iran drop the bomb on downtown London? Lets wait and see. Have a happy holiday!!!
Top Photo: Illustrated shows Aztec Calendar not Mayan… This one is so much cooler than the Mayan ones !!!! Sorry!!!! Mayan shown below…
