Viva La 2012! Apocalypse or What?

As the shouts rang out for 2012, many danced across the finish line to the new year, while others crawled over and collapsed, barely sighing. Me, I would be in that latter group. Cheers for a better year!

Thankfully 2011 has drawn to a close. It was an intense year with revelation and disclosure a resonate theme on multiple levels. Many of the people I have spoken with found the past year more challenging than other times.

2011 was about perseverance. It pushed the envelope on individuals, families and systems. It seemed to try the very fabric of our individual beliefs and challenge us to look within to find answers. Our relationships were tested and many did not survive at least on the short term.

The global theater saw momentous shifts with economic meltdowns and regime changes in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. brought young and old alike into the street to protest a perceived attack on the poor and middle class. Politically and personally the truth came out in bold fashion with the likes of the Herman Cain scandals and various others that rocked the media.

We lost some memorable souls in R. Sargent Shriver, Joe Frazier, Betty Ford, Peter Falk, Steve Jobs, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Jack LaLanne, Jane Russell and many more.

Our planet was confronted with the , devastating famine in Africa, and multiple tornadoes in Missouri and Alabama. On another note last year the earth’s human population climbed to 7 billion, organic molecules were possibly detected on Venus as well as a planet, Kepler 22-b, which could possibly support life was found located in it’s star’s habitable zone.

Now as 2012 emerges we will note that we resemble the proverbial butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Transformation into a new being is not the easiest of tasks and there is of all likelihood some discomfort or a lot of discomfort which many have experienced in some form in the past year. 2012 is the year for those weary caterpillars to come forward and spread their new wings. Adjustments are required because flying is a wholly new feat.

Much has been said about 2012. Some herald it as a new era while others see it as the end of the world noting the Mayan Long count calendar cycle that ends on December 21, 2012. There are many prophecies that predict that this is indeed the ‘end time’ yet these same statements have been made throughout history.

Some 2012 Prophecies

Hopi Indians

The Hopi Indians, a Native American tribe, have many prophecies about the end times. One of their views is that the world will end when a “Kachina” appears in the sky. The kachina is believed to be some type of blue star or it could even be a man made satellite that crashes to the earth. Afterwards they believe there will be a new cycle for the Hopi. There are many variations of this and they also believe that World War III will come and shift the earth.

They speak of the Fourth World ending and the Fifth World beginning. With that there are Nine signs that have been translated into various meanings and when the Blue star or Kachina crashes to earth the world will end requiring a new beginning and for many 2012 marks the time for this.

The Age of Aquarius

Some say that 2012 heralds the magical 'Age of Aquarius'. No not the 5th Dimension song but a period of time marked by a rise in intellectual thinking, brotherhood, and community. There is disagreement of course on whether we are actually entering the age of Aquarius, as to if it has already begun or won’t begin until 2600 AD.

The Age of Aquarius is related to the slow astrological precession of the zodiac signs celestial march around the earth‘s sky. It averages 2150 years for each zodiac sign as the Vernal Equinox moves from one constellation to the next. Therefore there is some bit of disagreement on the time frame. Though there are those who say this year is the time for a change from the Age of Pisces to a more enlightened period of Aquarius.

Mayan Calendar

used a similar calendar as many Mesoamerican civilizations. Their beliefs and calendar were based on cosmic cycles on the earth just as many past cultures have believed. They used the long count calendar which has an end date around Dec. 21, 2012. Added to that is their observation of epochs and changes that happen in cycles throughout history. The Mayans were just really great with their math and calendars. Their information has added to the rise of speculation that 2012 possibly marks the end of the world.

Biblical Prophecy

The Revelation's chapter of the Christian Bible speaks of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and end time. Some biblical scholars see 2012 as that point in history. They interpret the rapid changes on earth and mankind’s treatment of each other as well as wars, earthquakes and famines that have been and are occurring as signs that the end is near. Add that with all the other prophecies and 2012 is the “it” year for a few.

New Age Spirituality

The New Age philosophy which by the way is not actually ‘new age’ has a quite different view of 2012. Much of what is seen as ‘new thought’ has been around for centuries with roots in Sanskrit texts, Hinduism, Gnosticism and other spiritual systems.

The spiritual teachings, which I believe, herald 2012 as a type of galaxy reset button. It is a point in time where humanity can come together and rebuild and recreate itself. Yes this year has been preceded by rapid change and great shifts both in society and on the earth. Yet man’s greatest gift is his consciousness and thought. With group effort we can work together with intention and this period can be powerful with great shifts on all levels from society, economic, to sustainability.

The basic tenets are that we are all connected and have a spiritual lineage. Our thoughts create and what we focus on we bring about. Working together for the greater good of all brings about healing and prosperity for the whole.

In this belief 2012 is not a world ending year but a time for reflection and rebuilding.

In Summary

There is so much new territory being covered in our knowledge base. Noted Physicist Steven Hawking said that there was nothing before the Big Bang. But though I am not a physicist I do believe there was something else. Things come in cycles and always have.

Black Elk, Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux 1863-1950 believed that the world moves in a hoop circling like the sun in the sky. He said:

“You have noticed that everything an Indian does in a circle,
and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles,
and everything and everything tries to be round.

Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle.
The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball
and so are all the stars.

The wind, in its greatest power, whirls.
Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.
The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon
does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a great
circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were.

The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is
in everything where power moves.”

When we move into this year we can think of it as the undiscovered country and that which is being discovered is our consciousness and soul. This is the true meaning of the Age of Aquarius. Most new discoveries are built on ruins and change. That change is upon us and people around the world are taking up the cry. Something has to shift and most importantly that is US!

2012 is not an ending but a beginning or a continuation of the same, whichever is our choice. Let us work to choose that which is in our highest integrity as humanity.

Happy New Year!