In comments from a recent piece by Erik Davis, "Galactic Games 1: The Dreamspell Calendar," Reality Sandwich contributors weigh in on the topic of 2012. All are very well-informed people on the subject – the lore, theories, and misunderstandings surrounding the New-Age version of "the Rapture."
It may be that much of the interest in 2012 is an attempt for our current subculture to find meaning and direction in this apocalyptic time, but it also seems that the Maya were really on to something. The research of people like John Major Jenkins and others appears to be grounded in critical study of the work, philosophy, and practices of the Guatemalan Maya, both ancient and modern.
Jenkins mentions an ancient Mayan site called Izapa which he calls "Stonehenge on steroids" in reference to its extremely sophisticated astronomical and mathematical attributes. He states:
"My own focus is on reconstructing the original 2012 cosmology, utilizing data from the site that invented the 2012 calendar. That seems self-evidently worthwhile and reasonable enough, right? But how often do you hear Izapa mentioned in the same breath as 2012? Can the galactic alignment, which empirically occurs in the alignment zone 1980 to 2016 AD, trigger change and shifts in consciousness? I don't know, maybe. Why don't scientists take a look? Because they are so turned off by how the 2012 topic is constantly framed through distorted filters – scientists can't even get a handle on what the galactic alignment is. Kudos to Ben Anastas at the New York Times for framing the topic in, finally, a more or less accurate way, and giving some acknowledgment to the pioneering work I've done. Now, having said all that, in regard to the changes happening on the planet, isn't it interesting that the galactic alignment – a once in a 26,000-year alignment – happens during an exceedingly bizarre period of human history (1980 – 2016 AD)?"
Such attempts to sift through all the noise and get to a clear sense of what the Maya saw, and what it means for us today (if anything), are appreciated. Naturally, it appears that humans are undergoing some form of evolutionary and transformative journey during this period of history. This evolution is a matter of survival as we are becoming more and more aware of the negative impact we have on the life-support system of the planet. The awareness is growing that in order to stop the damage we need to collectively shift into an entirely different mode of being. Doesn't it appear that we are in some form of "evolve or die" scenario?
What does this evolutionary shift consist of? Many spiritual teachers would say that the problems in our world are a projection of the problems inside our hearts and minds. If we deal with the inner world, the reality of the outer world will shift.
Even conversations with wise friends and the man on the street have concluded more or less the same, that the hallmark of this time is that we are individually and collectively to do our "shadow work," to serve and co-create this evolutionary experiment with our Mother Earth. One of Jenkins' conclusions is consistent with this:
"The ancient Maya encoded into their traditions a belief that such a time would be attended by transformation and renewal, but, following the teaching in their creation myth, the outcome is ultimately a function of to what degree we, and all beings suffering from ego limitation, can sacrifice our illusions – the illusions that keep consciousness fixated to states of self delusion. That topic is best reserved for another day."
This work has always been here – in these years approaching 2012, and at all times. For most humans, regardless of where we live in this space-time map called Earth, the experience we create for ourselves is determined by the degree to which we can transcend our limitations and live in a more integrated, holistic, spiritual, and evolved state of being. Conversations and concerns about 2012, the Maya, prophecy, etc., that do not include the basics of inner work are simply skipping across the surface.
John Major Jenkins subsequently wrote another article on 2012 and influence of Izapa in forming the Mayan thought of 2012. He postulates that psychedelics played a significant role in shaping the cosmology of the Mayan, which interestingly echoes views similar to those of modern theoretical physics.
He writes, "This philosophical model developed by Mesoamericans thinkers is actually extremely progressive, for modern physicists also describe a network of threadlike links between distant places, quantum 'wormholes' in space-time that tunnel through a higher dimension. Physicists even joke about making faster-than-lightspeed journeys to distant stars by accessing these holes in space.
"What I’ve termed a 'galactic cosmology' is named so, not simply because it utilizes the galaxy as an armature of the sky’s shifting, but because it perceives human evolution from a heightened, enlarged, galactic level. After being lost for centuries, this galactic cosmo-vision is now reemerging. With its attendant spiritual teachings, it promises to help us restore our deep connection to nature, the universe, and our true selves."
To get back to the here and now, is anyone talking about what we need to do today for 2013 and beyond? A question comes to mind that, if the Mayans were on to something, how are we to align with this phenomenon in ourselves and our world?
Or as Tyler Durden of Fight Club said, "Evolve and let the chips fall where they may."
Photoby C:Digital under Creative Commons licensing.
