2012 Mayan Calender

Will the world end in 2012? No, it won't. Will there be a major cataclysm in DEC 21 2012? Quite possibly. why 2012? The Solstice on December 21, 2012 ~ precisely at 11:11 AM Universal Time ~ marks the completion of the 5,125 year Great Cycle of the Ancient Maya Long Count Calendar. Rather than being a linear end-point, this cycle that is closing is naturally followed by the start of a new cycle.

What this new cycle has in store for humanity is a mystery that has yet to unfold... 2012 is also considered the completion of the 26,000 year Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, and some say it also signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle. The recent "2012" movie serves to alert a targeted 140 million people, in case they too haven't already heard the news. Unfortunately, however, the movie does a dis-service because it distorts the message of this ancient prophecy by associating it with fear and destruction, as depicted by the movie's global disaster scenario, rather than the themes of transformation and renewal the prophecy is actually based in.

The 2012 date indeed marks the completion of this World Age Cycle. Rather than something to fear, we can understand the 2012 prophecy as signalling us that we need to awaken and realize that these times on Earth are auspicious; we are living in land-mark times in the history of our planet. We are collectively in a cross-roads moment that is calling out to us to participate in our fullest capacity.

We are each being summoned to bring our inspiration and empowerment to the fore, as we must all take our places in transforming our human culture to be one of Harmony - with ourselves, with each other and with all of Nature. Together we are in a great initiation process, living in times of unprecedented challenge, transformation and opportunity. This planetary moment has never existed before as it does right now. Our human population is climbing off the charts, accelerating by the day, as is our environmental crises and the vast whole-system struggles of peoples worldwide, both physically and spiritually.

The old world mentality, founded in separation, greed, ignorance, and unconscious consumer materialism, has reached dangerous peaks. Simultaneously, there has never been so much possibility at our fingertips as there is right now. A new paradigm is trying to emerge in our world, through our hearts and minds, like a flower trying to grow through the cracks in the cement sidewalk. New comprehensions and new solutions are emerging in our collective journey - from new sciences, to new economic models, new healing modalities, new energy technologies, new educational models, new forms of conflict resolution, etc.

These times of crisis are unifying us and catalyzing us to awaken to our personal and collective responsibilities in this one planetary equation. As we perceive the 2012 completion date as a reminder to us from the Ancients that right here and now we are living in precious times, we can realize how critical it is that we align together in respect for life, becoming more and more conscious of how our intentions and actions affect the Whole. This is an important theme of this prophecy: Becoming Conscious of All that has been Unconscious. It is time to see and know and become aware of how we can participate directly in this great transformation process, inside of ourselves and in our shared world, from the energies we transmit through our feelings and intentions, to the details of our lifestyle choices.

The New Cycle that is to emerge is founded on us awakening to the beauty and responsibility of our interconnectedness. Every one of us has a piece in this cosmic puzzle, and we must help each other find our heart's guidance in these mysterious times. As we recognize we are in a Global Healing Crisis, we can shake off the wounded victim mentality, and arise as Medicine Warriors, here to do the necessary work to help lay the ground for a New Era to root, conscious of our obligations to future generations. Carlos Barrios, who was trained as an Ajq'ij in the Maya tradition, has this to share in regards to 2012: "Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action...The prophesized changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are. "This is a crucially important moment for humanity and for earth. Each person is important. If you have incarnated into this era, you have spiritual work to do balancing the planet...The greatest wisdom is in simplicity.

Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find you heart, and you will find your way." The Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans ends on Dec 21 2012. There isn't much information regarding what the Mayans thought would occur in 2012, but the consensus of opinion is that there will be great change.

To some people this means a positive, spiritual change. Others, like myself, consider that a catastrophic event may have been predicted. nobody knows what will happen in 2012! There is zero scientific evidence that anything will happen, but there are numerous things that could easily threaten the human species in the year 2012, such as a geomagnetic reversal, asteroid strike or supernova. Or something more intimate, like a flu pandemic, or a nuclear war.

Will the world end in 2012? No, it won't. Will there be a major cataclysm in 2012? Quite possibly. Although this book concentrates on a potential global catastrophe at a random date within our immediate future, the ancient Mayan Long Count calendar is a powerful argument for that date being Dec 21, 2012.

The Mayan The Maya civilisation inhabited a region encompassing southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize & western Honduras, and flourished between the third and tenth centuries AD, but by 1200 AD their society had collapsed for reasons we can only guess at. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, descendants still occupied the area, and still spoke the Mayan language, but were unaware of the cities their forefathers had created.

It wasn't until the late 18th century that explorers first investigated the dense Guatemalan rainforest and came across plazas, monoliths, temples and pyramids, each decorated with pictures and hieroglyphs. The ancient Maya had been keeping historical records - using a script which mixed ideographic and phonetic elements. Some of their writing still exists on stelae (stone monuments) that recount civil events and record their calendric and astronomical knowledge.

Spanish Conquest Diego de Landa was a Spanish priest who visited Mexico on a charitable mission, became the Franciscan provincial of Yucatán in 1561 and is infamous for his destruction of priceless Maya documents and artefacts. Although Landa was very interested in the Mayan culture, he abhorred certain aspects of their practices, particularly human sacrifice. In July 1562, when evidence of human sacrifice was found in a cave containing sacred Maya statues, a bout of religious self-righteousness saw Landa order the destruction of five thousand idols.

He decided that their books were also the devil's work and saw to it that they were burned, with only three books surviving. Consequently the majority of Mayan knowledge and history was lost. Yet despite his actions, we are also indebted to Landa for his acute and intelligent opus on Mayan life and religion, Relación de las cosas de Yucatán (1566), which remains the classical text on Mayan civilisation. This book, which was not printed until 1864, provided a phonetic alphabet that made it possible to decipher roughly one-third of the remaining Mayan hieroglyphs. The most important of the surviving books was what is now called the Dresden Codex, named after the city where it was lodged. It is a strange book, inscribed with hieroglyphs, which no one understood until 1880. At that time Ernst FØrstemann, a German scholar who worked at the same Dresden library, managed to crack the code of the Mayan calendar making it possible for other academics to translate the many dated inscriptions found on buildings, stelae and other ancient Mayan artefacts.

He discovered that the Codex contained detailed astrological tables, which calculated the year to be 365.2420 days long, more accurate than the Julian calendar that we use today. The tables were used exclusively by the Mayan astronomers to predict the solstices and equinoxes, the path of the planets in our solar system, the cycles of Venus and Mars, and other celestial phenomena. Other information we have today has been gleaned from the Popol Vuh and Chilam Balam - books written just after the Spanish arrived. The knowledge found in these books and codices, combined with the uncovering of mysterious pyramids, demonstrate that the Maya had knowledge to rival the Greeks and Egyptians.

Mayan Calendar The life of the Maya revolved around the concept of time. Priests were consulted on civil, agricultural and religious matters, and their advice would be derived from readings of the sacred calendars. Time was of such importance that children were even named after the date on which they were born. Maya math uses only three symbols - a shell-shaped glyph for zero, a dot for one and a bar for five to represent units from zero to 19. For instance, the number 13 was represented as three dots and two bars. Zero was an advanced concept in those days, something that the Romans were not aware of. Yet the Maya were comfortable enough with it to use a shell as its symbol, a tangible object representing an abstract concept.

The Maya also used metrical calculation and place numeration, which were very clever for a culture that didn't use the wheel! Although they had many calendars, they marked the passage of time with three cycles that ran in parallel. The first is the scared calendar known as the Tzolkin. It combines the numbers from 1 through 13 with a sequence of 20 day-names. It works in a similar manner to our named days of the week, and their date within each month. So you might have 5-Chikchan (like our Sunday the 5th) followed by 6-Kimi (as we would have Monday the 6th). After 260 days the same number/name combination will re-occur, and the calendar starts anew. Their use of the vigesimal (base 20) numbering system probably relates to fingers and toes, whereas the 13 nicely fits the growth phase of the moon which isn't visible when new and appears full for two days on end, thus appearing to have a 13 day growth cycle.

Alternatively, the length of the Tzolkin may be related to the human gestation period of nine months (273 days). It has been suggested that 260 days is the time between a woman suspecting her pregnancy (she doesn't menstruate) and when she gives birth. The second is the agricultural calendar known as the Haab, or vague year. It consists of 18 months, each of 20 days. An addition of a five-day month (a period of apprehension and bad luck named Uayeb) gives us 365 days, an approximation of a year. This calendar's primary purpose was to keep track of the seasons, for seasonal and solar events would occur on roughly the same day of each year. The Maya were aware of the annual quarter day discrepancy, but it is not known if they ever did anything about it. These two independently running calendars each begin again every 260 and 360+5 days. However, every 52 years they coincide: "The Tzolkin and the Haab ran concurrently, like intermeshed cog-wheels, and to return to any given date, 52 years, or 18,980 days, would have to elapse (because both 365 x 52 and 260 x 73 = 18,980). In other words, the Tzolkin would make 73 revolutions and the Haab 52, so that every 52 calendar years of 365 days one would return to the same date.

A complete date in this 52-year cycle might be, for example, 2 1k 0 Pop (2 1k being the position of the day in the Tzolkin, 0 Pop the position in the Haab). Fifty-two years would pass before another 2 1k 0 Pop date returned.It was expected that the world would end at the completion of a 52-year cycle. At this time, among the Mexica in the Valley of Mexico, all fires were extinguished, pregnant women were locked up lest they be turned into wild animals, children were pinched to keep them awake so that they would not turn into mice, and all pottery was broken in preparation for the end of the world. In the event the gods decided to grant man another 52 years of life on earth, however, a night time ceremony was held in which the populace followed the priests through the darkness over a causeway to the top of an old extinct volcano that rises abruptly from the floor of the basin of Mexico, known today as the Hill of the Star, the hill above Ixtapalapa. There, with all eyes on the stars, they awaited the passage of the Pleiades across the center of the heavens, which would announce the continuation of the world for another 52 years. When the precise moment came, a victim was quickly sacrificed by making a single gash in his chest and extracting the still palpitating heart. In the gory cavity the priests, with a fire drill, kindled a new flame that was quickly carried by torches across the lake to the temple in Tenochititlan, and from there to all temples and villages around the lake.

This was known as the New Fire Ceremony among the Mexica, and in some way this same completion and renewal of each 52-year cycle was recognized by all Mesoamericans." This is not unlike how the end of the last millennium may have felt for many Christians or doomsday cult followers. Our modern Western calendar was first introduced in Europe in 1582. It was based upon the Gregorian calendar, which calculated the Earth's orbit to take 365.25 days. This was 0.0003 of a day per year too much, but still exceptionally accurate for scientists living over 400 years ago. The Mayan calendars were derived from those of their predecessors, the Olmec, whose culture dates back at least 3,000 years.

Without the instruments of 16th century Europe, these Central American locals managed to calculate a solar year of 365.2420 days, just 0.0002 of a day short. More accurate than the Europeans, and much earlier. It is not known if the Olmecs created the Long Count calendar, or if they received it from an even earlier civilisation... The Long Count A Mayan date utilises three calendars. The third calendar, known as the "long count", is a continuous record of days that starts over every 5000 years or so. The current Long Count began in 3114 BC. And it will end very soon. A typical Mayan date looks like this: 12.18.16.2.6, 3 Cimi 4 Zotz 4 Zotz is the Haab date. 3 Cimi is the Tzolkin date. 12.18.16.2.6 is the Long Count date. The basic unit is the kin (day), which is the last component of the Long Count. Going from right to left the remaining components are: * unial........1 unial = 20 kin = 20 days * tun..........1 tun = 18 unial = 360 days = approx. 1 year * katun.......1 katun = 20 tun = 7,200 days = approx. 20 years * baktun.....1 baktun = 20 katun = 144,000 days = approx. 394 years The kin, tun, and katun are numbered from 0 to 19. The unial are numbered from 0 to 17. The baktun are numbered from 1 to 13. The Long Count is a great cycle of 13 baktuns (roughly 5,126 years), where the use of 13 may again represent the growth of the moon from new to full. The current cycle began on 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumku which correlates to Aug. 13, 3114 BC. In Mayan mythology each Long Count cycle is a world age in which the gods attempt to create pious and subservient creatures. The First Age began with the creation of the Earth, and it had upon it vegetation and living beings. Unfortunately, because they lacked speech, the birds and animals were unable to pay homage to the gods and were destroyed. In the Second and Third Ages the gods created humans of mud and then wood, but these also failed to please and were wiped out.

We are currently in the Fourth and Final Age, the age of the modern, fully functional human. Is it possible that these Ages referred to evolutionary change? If they did, then what might occur when the current age finishes on December 21, 2012? [i] Weaver, Muriel Porter. The Aztecs, Maya, and their Predecessors. (1972) Seminar Press, p.103-4 Note on massive spans of time Although they are not part of the Long Count, the Mayas had calculated larger time spans, some so long that only modern day scientists would ever use them, and suggesting that perhaps the ancient Maya were aware of something we have yet to discover for ourselves. 1 pictun = 20 baktun = 2,880,000 days = approx. 7885 years 1 calabtun = 20 pictun = 57,600,000 days = approx. 158,000 years 1 kinchiltun = 20 calabtun = 1,152,000,000 days = approx. 3 million years 1 alautun = 20 kinchiltun = 23,040,000,000 days = approx. 63 million years Note on Correlation This book uses a correlation between the Gregorian and Maya calendars known as the Goodman-Martinez-Thompson (GMT) correlation, which places the long count katun ending 11.16.0.0.0 13 Ahau 8 Xul on 14 November 1539 (Gregorian). Another less popular correlation has the Long Count ending two days later on Dec 23, 2012, and for our purposes makes a negligible difference. A further 50 or more different correlations have been calculated; some by non-academics, usually based on disputing which similar astronomical events occurred in which year. The GMT is generally accepted by academics because it has been proven with carbon dating, and because it is still in use by modern day Quich¾ Maya Eden Sky - 2012 We Are the Living Prophecy

Is 2012 going to be the "End of The World?" No, not in terms of the complete destruction of the Earth and some kind of annihilation scenario. 2012 is not bringing the end of the planet. When we contemplate the expression "end of the world" let us realize the term "world" can refer to a cycle; a period of time; a world age era. Therefore 2012 is signalling the completion of one World Age Cycle, transitting into an emerging New World Age to come. It is said that the world we are ending is the one that is dominated by materialism and ego consciousness, therefore it may be that the world to follow will be founded on different values that honor the spirit of the interdependence of all of life.

There are ideas in the collective mind that assert that 2012 is bringing the "end of the world as we know it," which may be linked with its other association of heralding "the end of linear time," and no one can say how valid these claims may be. However, based on the complex situation we are in as a planet, no one can predict the longevity of our modern world with all of its technological dependencies and unsustainable customs. Likewise, the more conscious we become of the non-linear, synchronistic nature of existence, the more rapidly we may indeed evolve beyond the linear time paradigm. In regards to the ever-increasing attention on the December 21, 2012 date, the living Maya of Guatemala urgently want it to be known that their ancient prophecies have been distorted and misportrayed as doomsday predictions.

They do not advocate all the fear and hysteria that is being generated by the sensationalized 2012 rumors, and they want people to be aware that most of the 2012 (mis)information being put out is not sourced from the Maya or their calendars whatsoever, even though it may appear to be associated with them. In regards to the popular fascination with the possible "end of the world" cataclysm scenario in 2012, it is important to understand that these modern fantasies projected from our collective psyche are reflecting our internal process of fearing how out of harmony with nature we are collectively living. There is a sense of an impending retaliation from nature that will come, as a great punishment upon our misguided human world.

While it is clear we are living in times of great uncertainty and great imbalance, we need to realize that terrorizing ourselves by energizing fear-based rumors does not assist us in rising to the great challenges we face. Fear is a primal universal human reality, based on understanding how vulnerable we actually are, yet we need to understand that if we believe in all the fear thoughts, we can easily become shut down, delusional or reactionary in ways that feed the fear and lead us further into darkness. In this time of prophecy, we need to move from motivating ourselves not from fear, but from awareness.

To navigate these critical times on earth, in addition to our discernment and our intuition, we must find our hearts and follow their inspiration, for they are our purest guides and can help us tune into our unique path of service. When we contemplate what the world might be like beyond 2012, let us be clear that no one can predict the specifics of how things may appear as we enter this new cycle, or whether the transformations still to come may emerge gradually or swiftly. Everything depends on how conscious we can become as a species, and how we all contribute to this process of awakening our human potential.

The details of how this new era may actually manifest is up to the merits of our collective creativity and the possible breakthroughs which can unfold through our resourcefulness and ingenuity. Carlos Barrios, from the Eagle Clan of the Mam Maya of Guatemala shares in regards to 2012: "The world will not end. It will be transformed... Everything will change...Change is accelerating now, and it will continue to accelerate...If the people of the earth can get to this 2012 date in good shape, without having destroyed too much of the Earth, we will rise to a new, higher level. But to get there we must transform enormously powerful forces that seek to block the way...Humanity will continue, but in a different way. Material structures will change. From this we will have the opportunity to be more human...

What is supposed to happen in 2012? One can find countless theories about what's supposed to happen in 2012 - ranging from all out doom and gloom, to total enlightenment and ascension, to absolutely nothing. It is important to look beyond the hype, as many of the 2012 predictions now in circulation have no roots in the actual prophecies of the Maya, and are simply projections from the human psyche of our basic hopes and fears. The 2012 Galactic Alignment theory of John Major Jenkins has become quite popular, and should be mentioned as Jenkins has invested decades of research and decoding into the ancient Maya and their time science.

From his studies of the mythology and astronomy of Izapa, the ancient Maya birthplace of the Long Count Calendar, he asserts that the end of their 13 Baktun Cycle in 2012 is highlighting the rare 26,000 year alignment between the December solstice sun with the Galactic equator. He affirms this is a process that is already underway, not something happening all on one day, and that it also reflects the spiritual teachings of the ancient Maya prophecies regarding the shifting of World Age cycles. Their Creation Myths depict the change in eras, as the power plays of the ego and false, corrupt rulership are defeated, giving way for a new era that is ruled and guided by higher wisdom, based in unity-consciousness.

However, as far as the actual day of 12-21-2012 goes - ultimately, with all the variables, and all the unknowns and unknowables, no one can say with any certainty what will, or will not, happen precisely on Solstice 2012, nor how gradually or rapidly all the changes yet to come will unfold. We are already living through a time of unspeakable intensity, on the edge of extinction and breakthrough. There is nothing to wait for, we are right in the thick of it! Our shared journey is all connected to this moment and manifests according to how we navigate from this here and now. Is 2012 associated with any rare astronomical events or alignments? Back to John Major Jenkins' Galactic Alignment theory of the rare 26,000 year alignment between the December solstice sun with the Galactic equator (shown above). This alignment occurs as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Precession is caused by the earth wobbling very slowly on its axis and shifts the position of the equinoxes and solstices one degree every 71.5 years. Jenkins states that because the sun is one-half of a degree wide, it will take the December solstice sun 36 years to precess through the Galactic equator.

The precise alignment of the solstice point (the precise center-point of the body of the sun as viewed from earth) with the Galactic equator was calculated to occur in 1998. Thus, the Galactic Alignment "zone" is 1998 +/- 18 years = 1980 - 2016. This is "era-2012." As Jenkins notes: "In terms of Mayan astronomy and mythology, the Dark Rift feature (which the Maya called the Black Road or Xibalba Be) lies along the galactic equator (the Milky Way) in the place where the December solstice sun will be in 2012. (More precisely, the December solstice sun will reach the southern terminus of the Dark Rift, where it touches the ecliptic in Sagittarius.) Thus, in terms of Mayan mythology, we can also describe the Galactic Alignment of era-2012 as the alignment of the December solstice sun and the Dark Rift. This entire region is targeted by the cross formed by the Milky Way and the ecliptic between Sagittarius and Scorpio.

To the Maya, The Milky Way was seen as the Tree of Life where all life came from, depicted here as their symbol of "The World Tree" "This Cross was also recognized by the Maya, and was called the Crossroads or Sacred Tree. This entire region is embraced by what astronomers call the 'nuclear bulge' of the Galactic Center—the center of our Milky Way galaxy. As any amateur astronomer or naked-eye star gazer knows, this nuclear bulge is recognizable without the aid of radio telescopes. It is wider and brighter than other parts of the Milky Way. So, in a general sense we can also say that the alignment in 2012 is an alignment between the December solstice sun and the Galactic Center.

However, since the nuclear bulge is quite large, this definition is not as precise as saying "the alignment of the December solstice sun with the galactic equator," which occurs in the range 1980 - 2016. This is the alignment zone I refer to with the term "era-2012." John Major Jenkins makes a fascinating link between the ancient monuments of Izapa and this World Age Renewal process we are currently amidst. As he describes one of the throne monuments of Izapa: "The birth canal between the legs of the throne figure is analogous to the dark-rift in the Milky Way. This “black cleft” feature is called by the modern Quiché Maya the Xibalba Be ...Generally, as an underworld portal, it is related to the complex of motifs assigned to the jaguar’s mouth, serpent mouths, caves, cenotes, a woman’s birth canal, temple doorways, and so on. A significant equation in this mythic complex is the “dark-rift as birth canal,” for it is through the birth canal of the Milky Way that the solstice sun will be reborn in the years around 2012." What might this imply about our World Age Rebirth process?

Jenkins offers a fascinating look into Izapa Cosmology. sharing that in the stelae you can see the Creation Myth of the Ancient Maya "Popol Vuh" playing out. As he describes one of stones: "Although eroded, it is clear that it shows a victorious ballplayer, probably one of the hero twins, standing over a demised Seven Macaw bird deity. This indicates to the viewer two things: the former god, now defeated, and the new god, newly “victorious” or newly “born.” This scene relates to the Creation myth wherein the hero twins must defeat the vain, false ruler of the previous world age, Seven Macaw, before their father, One Hunahpu, can be reborn. A lengthy examination of early Measoamerican calendrics is omitted here, which demonstrate that One Hunahpu was probably associated with the December solstice sun at Izapa... the solar god’s rebirth is inextricably involved in it’s future alignment with the Milky Way..." Jenkins shares further: On the north side of the ballcourt, at position C, we find a solar lord sitting in the middle of a canoe with his arms outstretched.

The canoe probably represents both the ballcourt and the Milky Way, toward which the ballcourt is oriented. The outstretched arms indicate a period-ending “measuring of time” event. Since the contextual orientation of the ballcourt is to the December solstice, which itself is a period ending, we might presume that the solar lord is the December solstice lord...This stela thus seems to portray the December solstice sun sitting in the middle of the Milky Way “canoe.” It is extremely interesting that the part of the Milky Way that rises over the solstice horizon to the southeast is the nuclear bulge of the Milky Way—the part of the Milky Way that contains the Galactic Center." As Jenkins clarifies an important point: "Human beings living today have a special destiny, as Divine Plan works through the cycles of nature. But the renewal of humanity is not determined by the stars, for free will is an essential component of the spiritual evolution of consciousness. Our willing participation in these great energy shifts is required. To open up to the galactic energy of change is difficult and will transform us. But we have an opportunity to move into closer relationship with the source and center of life.

The astronomical alignment does not "cause" us to grow; rather, it corresponds to a process of awakening happening in the depths of our inner being. It is the outer symbol of an essentially spiritual revolution. Nevertheless, the galactic alignment of era-2012 is an open door, inviting us to grow spiritually. To do so we must sacrifice the illusions that keep us bound to dark and limited realms of existence. Let us open to the light within and stretch our souls to the stars!" THE VENUS TRANSIT OF 2012: On June 6th, 2012 we will experience a rare Venus Transit where Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. The rare alignments of Venus moving across the disk of the Sun are clustered in pairs, and separated by about 120 years. (Four conjunctions within 234 years). The Venus transit to come in 2012 is the 2nd half of the pair that was initiated by the Venus Transit that occurred on June 8th, 2004, which Dr. Jose Arguelles proclaimed was "the sign of the full opening of the Road to 2012." Venus was highly revered by the Ancient Maya, and some say it was one of the most important focal points of their calendars.

According to one of the only surviving Mayan books, the Dresden Codex, the beginning of the Great Cycle on August 11, 3114 BC is referred to as the "Birth of Venus," so it is no suprise that the end of the cycle would be marked by a Venus transit! Venus is associated with the Goddess, Love, Beauty, Art, and the Heart. Therefore, these 2004/2012 transits of Venus as thought to herald the Return of the Divine Feminine. Since the previous transit in 2004, we are now in this time which can be called the "Cauldron of the Venus Returns," or "The Doorway of Venus,” and there is much possibility to open greater gateways to our heart and receive to the Venus energy which can assist us in bringing new opportunities, new paradigms, and birthing new archetypes. As astrologer Richard Giles shares: "The eight years that pass between each occultation are fecund processing moments for new ideas and world change.

Previous cycles show that global communications and a shift in consciousness regarding the scope and nature of the world are all part of these transits. The other focus is Venus's role as female entity and ruler of the feminine, the creative and as an artistic channel for new breakthroughs... Venus is the female love principal in astrology. It's the primordial Yin energy of our system. It's harmony, beauty, sociability, co-operation, women and the goddess energy.

So when Venus aligns with the Sun (from our Earth's perspective), the principle life force is united with love, female energy, harmony and the goddess principle. SOLAR FLARES:The consensus seems to be that it is important we consider solar flares as potentially very important components in this 2012 prophecy. As 2012 messenger, Dr. Jose Arguelles shared in recent interviews, he feels there is definitely a possibility that solar flares could take out satellites and wipe out the electric power grid - greatly affecting our modern civilization which is totally reliant upon these technologies. In terms of timing, it is interesting to note that the U.S. government's Space Environmental Center has determined that the peak of the next solar (sunspot) cycle is likely to be in 2011/2012. According to CNN, during these peaks in the cycle, solar flares and vast explosions, known as coronal mass ejections, shoot highly charged matter toward earth, potentially affecting airline flights, communications satellites, and electric transmissions. Currents induced in electrical transmission lines can cause blackouts. While no one can say with any certainty if this type of occurrence will come to pass, this is definitely a hot topic among scientists who are forecasting that we are nearing the most intense solar maximum in fifty years. This is significant because we are in a whole new technological era than we were fifty years ago. According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research: "The next sunspot cycle will be 30-50% stronger than the last one... 2012: Leaks Found in Earth's Magnetic Field

2012 just the next Y2K? As we realize in only a matter of a few years we will be on the other side of this infamous date, we can see that if we set up December 21, 2012 with a bunch of expectations, it's quite possible we are generating another Y2K scenario in which we may find ourselves disillusioned. Instead of relating to 12-21-2012 as a prediction of specific events, putting all our eggs in the basket of projecting onto the outcome of this one particular day, it is a wiser approach to instead perceive the Solstice 2012 as a synchronization point; a marker in time signalling both the close of a huge era of human history and the dawning of a World Age Renewal, opening for new possibilities to emerge... As we can honor that on this day, the Ancient 5,125 year Long Count Odometer of the Maya resets itself at 13.0.0.0.0, coming back to its sacred Zero point, we can see Solstice 2012 as a gateway that marks entrance into a new world age cycle - one that shall indeed unfold over generations and generations to come. As we align our intentions and hearts on this day, let us realize that rather than instant-enlightenment, serving as instruments of a New World Era is a lifetime position that will keep flowering through our dedication, sincerity and discipline to live in harmony with our greatest potential.

The events of our shared planetary journey will keep revealing themselves, there are so many variables no one can predict our course, it's all up to how conscious we can become as a species... As Carlos Barrios said: "The change won't happen exactly on this day because it's not changed like a flash of light...[Dec 21, 2012] is just the beginning...It will take years..." Rather than looking to decipher what physical events may or may not occur with this cycle shifting, we can also relate to 2012 as a code that is signalling us to look within ourselves and awaken to the higher and deeper dimensions of our being. For we are the vessels through which a new human culture is emerging, and the transformation of the world's soul is crying out to all human hearts! It is our work to keep shining the light of awareness, helping each other become more conscious of how we are navigating as a planetary family, and supporting each other to keep growing into our potential. As we walk this prophetic path together, may we continue our journey of finding right relationship with each other, our Earth and our Cosmos.

Where does the December 21, 2012 date originally come from? As a catalyst in our collective mind, the 2012 code now reflects the convergence of universal wisdom from many cultural and religious prophecies of peoples from around the planet. However, the specific timing originates as a gift from the ancient Maya, the world's supreme timekeepers. At their peak, roughly 1500 years ago, the Ancient Maya utilized 20 calendars simultaneously - weaving a holistic system that tracked small cycles and vast cycles. From sunspots, to eras of consciousness, Venus patterns to eclipses, agriculture to prophecy, their calendars unite biological, physical cycles with invisible cycles, earth cycles with galactic cycles - using the mathematics of Nature which shows us the microscosm mirrors the macrocosm. The December 21, 2012 date is specifically referring to the completion of the Ancient Maya's Long Count Calendar, known as the 13 Baktun Cycle, or Great Cycle. The research of John Major Jenkins reveals the Maya birthplace of this calendar system as Izapa, which is located near the Guatemala border in the Mexican State of Chiapas. According to this calendar, Earth entered a new "creation cycle" on August 11, 3114 BC which is written in long count notation as 13.0.0.0.0. This cycle is 1,872,000 days long, and every day from that beginning point was measured in terms of Mayan cycles called kin, uinal, tun, katuns and baktuns. Many ancient Mayan monuments are carved with long count dates as this is the way they tracked huge cycles of time and kept chronological records of important historical events. On the Long Count Calendar, December 20, 2012 would be written as 12.19.19.17.19. At the completion of the cycle, December 21, 2012 the cosmic odometer resets and we return to 13.0.0.0.0, coming back to a sacred Zero point, re-birthing into a New Cycle. Some MesoAmerican systems say at that point of the New Cycle, we will be starting the 5th World cycle, whereas others say we will be beginning the 6th Sun. According to 13th Generation Maya Priest, Grandfather Don Alejandro Cirilo Perez Oxlaj, the calendars were originally given to the Maya peoples by the 4 Original Prophets from the Stars. They are very confident of the celestial origins of their sacred time science. As evidence of the cosmic intelligence of the Ancient Maya, Maya Elder Hunbatz Men presents the chart shown below. He shares: "This is a picture of the Yucatan, Peninsula in Mexico. You can see how many Maya Ceremonial Centers are perfectly and geometrically aligned and the distances between one another were mathematically calculated so that they were the same. Thus, when we performed a ritual in any of the Mayan temples, it would resonate.