12/21/12. It looks like some strange mathematical algorithm, doesn’t it?
It’s the end date for the Mayan calendar. It’s the date that made Jose Arguelles famous. It’s what sent true believers to some mountain in France to await pickup by the space brothers. It’s why I asked our daughter to come home for Christmas on 12/20 – not because I believe the world will end, but because wackos might believe that. Wackos with guns, eager to accelerate Armageddon. Wackos with road rage in their hearts and nothing to lose.
Remember Y2K? All those dire predictions about computers everywhere crashing, the electrical grids going down, chaos and Armageddon? What happened? Not much. The new year was celebrated as it always is around the world, with cheers and champagne and resolutions that usually vanish within a week or so.
12/21/12 is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the hours of darkness outnumber the hours of light. That’s what bothers me about this date. And why does the Mayan calendar end on this date, at 11:11:11 UT? Given the power of these numbers, it’s a synchro at the very least.
But let’s say the Mayan elders are correct, that the date simply marks the end of a very long cycle – nearly 26,000 years. None of us can say for sure what life was like 26,000 years ago; even history about time that far back is somewhat speculative. But perhaps history isn’t the point. Perhaps the real importance of this date is where we go from here.
It’s obvious that immense change is happening. Every industry and institution we once took for granted is altering in some way, transmuting, or dissolving altogether. On a planetary level, this means we’re struggling to deal with climate change that is happening in spite of the deniers. It means our oceans are rising, our sun is changing, and what we once believed to be true and inviolate may be based on lies. After what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School, it means America’s love affair with guns must change.
That’s what a paradigm shift is, a mass awakening, a realization that we, the people, have been duped, bought into an artifice that is breaking apart, breaking down, collapsing.
Who doesn’t remember the movie The Matrix? Keenu Reeve in his coolest role, his most genuine role. Well, science is beginning to think there may be something to it.
So is 12/21/12 our chance to bust free of the matrix?
Right now as I’m writing this, detritus from the March 11, 2011 tsunami in Japan is washing up on Hawaiian beaches – tons of stuff, refrigerators and shoes, plastic bottles and kitchen cabinets. A disaster in one part of the world doesn’t occur in isolation. It impacts all of us, everywhere, we are that connected externally and internally. Radiation from the meltdown at Fukushima has entered the food chain upon which we all depend – not just fish, but the very essence of the ocean, down into its most intricate textures, into the complex interplay between water and air, oxygen.
Whatever it is that 12/21/12 portends, it’s already here. We are living it, seeing it, we are witnesses to monumental change. And how we, as a species, adapt to it – or don’t – may determine the quality of our lives from this point forward.What worries me most quite frankly, is a government blog I ran across recently that is supposedly assuring us the world WILL NOT end, then they spelled it out. At 12 minutes past midnight on the 21st, our version of why the world won’t be ending will be posted.
The other day, I ran across something on my simple gestures that encapsulates where we are now as a species, a global community. Take a look.
It’s like an updated (and shorter) version of Desiderata, which was a kind of blueprint for the Sixties, but fits even now:
Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Let’s take that with us into 2013 and beyond. See you tomorrow, on December 21. And we wish all of you happy holidays and a prosperous, healthy and insightful new year!
I’ve just realized what a great idea not having daylight saving time turned out to be.
My home state of Queensland doesn’t have daylight saving like the other Aussie states so we are one hour behind all the other eastern states in Australia.
That means the end of the world won’t hit us for another 4 minutes,while Sydney and Melbourne should be gone right now.
Go to go now.What can I do for the last three minutes of my time here on earth ?-)
Love this post.
Heard from natalie in astrualiaa awhile ago. She says it’s 12/21/12 there and she’s alive and well!
I don’t think people in general understand the concept that from the very moment each of us wails our first breath of air into our lungs, we are dying! And I recently had a lucid dream in which a disembodied Voice said quite clearly and succinctly to me: “It isn’t the dying that counts. It’s how we do it that matters”. I woke up and understood the message. It’s how we choose to live our lives that make the difference. Dying isn’t all that important, because we never die. But when we move through mortal life from the first breath to the final breath, it’s all that falls between those two acts that matters! Guess the old adage, “TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE” is on spot! Happy Solstice to everyone, and Blessed Be!!
I will look forward to reading your blog tomorrow, and I look forward to hopefully a new peaceful world.
Merry Christmas!!
Same to you!
Great post, thankyou!
I kind of grew up with the Apocalypse, from the spectre of Atomic War, to the Revolution, to California falling into the ocean………..I think we love the Apocalypse in the West, especially Hollywood.
But I agree with you, we really are at the tipping point. Everything is changing too rapidly for us to comprehend, including the monumental, unfathomable fact that we are changing our planet. In a sense, it really is the end of the world, at least the world we know. The emerging paradigm is that we are all connected, from the cosmic, quontum level to the environemental level to the psychic level, and as the old saying goes, “what we do to the earth and each other, we are doing to ourselves”.
I’ve been thinking of a prayer for the Solstice, and came up with the Lakota prayer, “Mitakuye Oyasin” (All My Relations).
Happy Solstice and New World to all!
I like that Lakota prayer!
The Fountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C69RtZzKsFE
Thanks for the link! Off to check it out, Aleksandar.
Great post. I totally agree. Funny you mentioned The Matrix as I re-watched it on the plane last week. It seemed to apply to how I feel about the end of the Mayan calendar.
The matrix is a good metaphor all the way around.
Years ago, a co-worker lent me The Matrix promising that it would “change my life”, but I found its blur of sci-fi quasi-existentialism to be a shallow, unsatisfying imitation of The Thirteenth Floor. The root metaphor of both stories is basically the same, but executed with more poignancy (and clarity) in the contemporary setting of the latter. As a viewer, the familiarity of the ‘real’ world is more welcoming than the bleak, tech-y future presented in The Matrix.
Thanks – I’ve added The Thirteenth Floor to my Netflix.
It’s an excellent movie. I promise that you’ll love it! 🙂
I want to frame the wonderful quotation and hang it on the wall. May do that.
It’s already 12-21 in some parts of the world, and guess what…..they’re still business as usual! Things they are a-changin’, for sure. Our middle son is leaving tomorrow, moving to Tennessee to get married. This is the first long-distance “break” in our family, but it’s a joyful one. I wish everyone happiness and love, and am so appreciative of everything we share on the macGregaor blog! 🙂
I used to have a desiderata poster and am sorry it got lost in many moves!
a beautiful thought-provoking post – it’s been way too long since i last read from the desiderata and i’d forgotten how much i love it – thanks so much for the wonderful/timely quote – and for reminding us all what’s really important in these “changing times and shifting paradigms” –
happy happy holidays – we’ll visit saturday! 😉
Thanks so much for Desiderata; it is timely wisdom. I love the reminder from your friend in Australia that he mirrors the solstice where he is. It seems to me a powerful time to be dreaming awake as much as possible, willing and seeing the world we want now. If it blows up while I’m thus occupied, at least I won’t go staring at a clock. Here in CT it’s hard to do Christmas as usual, so I think people are going deeper for meaning and connection. Every blessing to the MacGregors and this cyber-community on this Solstice and through the New Year.
Likewise to you, Adelita!
I woke last night and peered at the clock on my bedstand. It was 1:11. I smiled and thought of you and now you post about it, and the latest End of the World. Things ARE definitely changing, that’s for sure. I’m going to clean out some drawers to make room for what’s coming… all good I hope! 🙂
Sounds like something I should do, too!
Here’s the world time clock website –
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
According to that website Brisbane is 15 hours ahead of Miami .
So at least you guys get an extra 15 hours before the earth ends over there.
At least we have 3 hours more than New Zealand.-)
Thanks for the clock link!
Re the version of Desiderata as quoted. I think what sums up 12-21, or in my case 21-12, is: “And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” I feel there is nothing to fear – all we have to do is observe and adjust in whatever way is required in the future. Life is, after all, about change – everything changes. – we wouldn’t learn and develop if it didn’t.
Agreed!
Yep. We’ll party like – it’s 1999!
The world has been ending my whole life. Armageddon was supposed to prevent I would ever enter high school. Then, my children would never enter high school. Now, I’m hearing my grandchildren will never enter high school… I’m really jaded about this whole end of the world scenario. I’m starting to formulate a plan, for the next three years of my life – so when my eldest grandson enters high school…
It may be February 2013 before I get a clue about my plan…
Happy Holidays to all. Bake cookies to share.
Funny! I think the world has been ending for most of my life, too.
Re:
” 12/21/12 is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the hours of darkness outnumber the hours of light.”
Down in my part of the world it is the opposite.It’s summer solstice and the hours of light outnumber the hours of darkness.
“…and if the world ends on this date, at 11:11:11,then we’ll be gone here in Australia before you guys get to see that number come up on your clocks.
It would be kind of ironic if 11:11 was the last thing that I saw on this earth,as if I haven’t seen it enough already for one lifetime 🙂
maybe I should post the 12-21 earlier? How far behind or ahead of eastern standard time r u? Well, if it all ends, see you on the other side, Daz. We’ll party.