Exploring 2012 Themes

By Dorene A. Carrel

It is currently only five years until December 21, 2012, the year the Mayan Calendar is said to come to an end. I have been quite intrigued with what various prophets and researchers have said about the year 2012. The Mayan Calendar can be understood as a type of western astrology. Both astrology and the Mayan Calendar view time as cyclical in nature, in contrast to the more linear view of time that our modern civilization has adopted.

What do scholars have to say about this 2012 end time? A proliferation of authors have emerged to write books about their own theories. British author Geoff Stray has compiled and examined several of these theories in his book, Beyond 2012: Catastrophe or Ecstasy. Stray also reviews 2012 books and posts related events, articles and websites on his continually updated website: www.diagnosis2012.co.uk. Stray cites the research work of John Major Jenkins as making a major early contribution to the growing body of literature on 2012. In Galactic Alignment, Jenkins writes about the rare galactic alignment of the winter solstice sun with the galactic equator and how that coincides with the end of a 26,000 year precession of the equinoxes cycle.

Will Hart has written an intriguing article, “2012: End of the 5^th Sun,” which can be found on Stray’s website. Hart expounds on the relationships between the many cycles occurring during this 2012 period. According to Hart, the year 2012 signals the completion of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, begun in 3114 BC, along with the end of the 5^th Sun. Hart said that 2012 also coincides with the next solar sunspot maximum. This means we are going to enter the flip side of a new 13,000-year cycle with an overheated earth resulting in increased earth changes and erratic weather patterns.

Author Steve Alten also concurs that the Mayan Calendar has five great cycles, with the current one being the fifth cycle. His interpretation of the Dresden Codex claims that the previous four cycles have all ended in cataclysms and that our fifth cycle is expected to end in a great flood. One of the most intriguing possibilities for 2012 is put forth by author, Carl Calleman, who foresees the end of time as we know it. Both he and another scholar, Jose Arguelles, have suggested that it may be the end of our concept of history, as we will always be living in our present awareness.

Some scholars, such as Bruce Scofield, take a more discerning approach and view the significance of the year 2012 as arbitrary. In a recent article in the Mountain Astrologer, Scofield said he believes that the winter solstice sun is actually closest to the galactic center in 2219 (in his footnotes). Scofield argues that the Maya had longer periods of time than the Long Count and concludes that therefore they must have expected time to continue. He also declared that no matter what cycle we follow, our consciousness will have to change if we are to survive.

According to Scofield and others, it is the specific alignment with the dark band of the Milky Way galaxy that will occur in 2012. He said the Maya called this place the origin point of creation and the pathway to the gods who dwelled in the underworld called Xibalba. William Henry, investigative mythologist and author, describes his vision of a serpent rope that will descend from this galactic center opening and the partaking of a substance called cosmic sap. He proposes that humanity may then be able to ascend and become star walkers.

Mayan scholars are in disagreement as to what really happened to the ancient Mayans and offer quite a variety of scenarios. Current researchers have said that the Mayan civilization disappeared because of a series of severe draughts. In a recent interview, Arguelles said he believes the Mayans purposely shut down their civilization at a certain time and disappeared through time travel. Author and filmmaker Jay Weidner thinks the Mayans never disappeared and are still living in Central America. In a recent interview he said that some of the current Mayans are leading a movement aimed at following the traditional calendar and rituals. Weidner and his wife, Sharron Rose, recently produced “2012 The Odyssey: Armageddon is not what it used to be,” a documentary featuring interviews with 2012 researchers and prophets that include Gregg Braden, Moira Timms, Jenkins and Arguelles.

What would a Western astrologer have to say about this 2012 period? Here’s a beginning interpretation. If we are due for a transformation of our orientation towards time, it could begin with the alignment of Pluto with the Galactic Center, which will be in effect throughout 2007-2008. Pluto entering Capricorn in 2008 could also trigger the cataclysms that some Mayan authors say are coming our way. The astrological chart for December 21, 2012 is quite powerful. On that date, Pluto will be in an exact Finger of God (or yod) aspect with Saturn and Jupiter. Jupiter in Gemini as the handle of the yod could signify an activation of our higher mind awareness through the deepening process of Saturn and Pluto. Meanwhile Neptune, which rules other realities, becomes stronger as it enters its own sign of Pisces. This suggests the further development of our right brain and the possibility of contact with other dimensions. Its alignment with Chiron can bring forth the total awakening of our own innate healing potentials. Uranus in Aries in a hard alignment with Pluto can bring great disruption and change on several levels, similar to the Tower card in the tarot deck. Since Saturn will be in Scorpio in mutual reception to Pluto in Capricorn, this transformation will be very deep and lasting. Based on this chart, I would say that a life-changing series of events could very well culminate on this day or around this time. The result would likely manifest in a total transformation of our whole concept of time, reality and what it means to be a spiritual being in a physical form.

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I would be open to starting a 2012 study/support group if there is enough interest. It could be through email, monthly meetings, or both. If interested, please email me at dorenea5@yahoo.com or call me at (206) 242-5956.

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Dorene Carrel offers consultations in astrology and numerology. She is certified in Astrocartography and does relocation charts. Dorene can be reached at dorenea5@yahoo.com.