…right?
So I’ve been reading a lot lately about this whole “2012″ debacle–the apocalypse theory that states come 2012, the world as we know it will end (insert mental soundtrack: hear REM’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It”). I was first made aware that we even had a new conspiracy doomsday theory when I heard all the brouhaha about Daniel Pinchbeck’s 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. The man, who I can most imagine getting along famously with William S. Burroughs, is everywhere (he’s even been on the Colbert Report!).
The premise of all of these 2012 prophecy books is based on a Mayan belief/prediction that the evolutionary cycle we are in will come to a conclusion in 2012 (possibly opening a gateway to a higher physical/spiritual manifestation). Now, I’m a skeptic by nature, but oddly enough, I’ve found myself mysteriously drawn to these books.
My problem is that rarely, if ever, do these prophecies come true. Let’s begin with the most famous: Nostradamus. Now, I love me a good Nostradamus book, but you would think that someone trying to warn subsequent generations of their fate wouldn’t mask it in curious quattrains. The fact that his readers had to interpret what he was saying made it possible for him to say nothing, tell people he was predicting the future, and have them (after the fact) disassemble his words and reassemble them into a coherent, mostly true “prediction.” In reality, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy–readers will interpret what they want to believe.
My other problem with prophecies is that they really just seem like a way to scare the unsuspecting public. Remember December 31, 1999? Millions were convinced that our lives were over because of a computer glitch that we weren’t smart enough to predict twenty years earlier. What was the recommended course of action (at least in the US)? HOARD! RUN OUT TO YOUR GROCER!! STOCK UP! BUY BUY BUY! And then, post 9/11, the US government institued coded “terror threat levels.” To me, they seemed to be something the government would enact whenever commerce slowed down. Raise the threat level to orange, and once again, the recommended course of action becomes PURCHASE FOOD! BUY BOTTLED WATER!! STOCKPILE!! Those in fear purchase many products (and therefore fund many wars).
My absolute skepticism aside, I must admit I’m curious. I’ve picked up Pinchbeck’s novel and paged through it (my curiosity hasn’t pushed me to the purchase point, yet). But I did take a look at the Gaia Project, which seemed to echo recent Nobel Prize-winning director Al Gore’s thoughts on what the future has to hold and why, and I must admit that the one 2012 book I actually can’t wait for is Beyond 2012.
To me, what happens (spiritual transcendance, physical annihilation, what have you) if the prophecy is fulfilled is a moot point; I’m just curious to see why these people think that 2012 is the magical apocalypse date.
Is it really true? Will the world really end in 2012? Or did the Age of Aquarius just come some twelve years too late?
image from www.llewellyn.com
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12 Comments
October 17, 2007 at 7:26 pm
The end of the world has already occurred. It was August 18,1999, according to Criswell Predicts. We just don’t know it yet. Oh, and the rapture has also occurred, but Jesus only took two old ladies with him.
October 17, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Oh, Mr. Criswell. If only Mae West would have made it to the White House.
October 24, 2007 at 4:18 am
I like the site http://www.polereversal.com
They have great discussion forum and news articles on 2012, pole shifts, and the mayan calendar.
October 24, 2007 at 12:11 pm
ooh, thank you! I’ll have to check it out.
November 14, 2007 at 10:23 am
lol @ two old ladies statment
I haven’t read anything on it. I’m one of those who buys lotsa books, but reads very few, lol
But I have been known to “hear” things now and again, um, direct 
Still, I dunno about 2012, and, again, have read nothing on it. Just know it’s one of those Mayan things… I think it’s likely not the true end of the world, but that “our world” (“as we know it”) will likely be, or begin to be, highly different than it is now.
Things are already moving in that direction. I don’t watch TV, but I just read on here that there was recently a government gathering and kind of admitting that indeed UFO’s are for real? That is, they haven’t a clue, and have indeed been lying to the public on this issue… Wow, times they are a-changin’
And “The Secret” — all out there as if it’s for real, heh People learning they indeed have the pow-uh, haha And that’s the thing, we are very powerful…the key is to learn to get over all our excessive fear, and hence the true reason for the directive “fear not.” We draw that which we fear…
And, again I don’t watch TV, but I hear there are more and more programs on the “paranormal.” Awesome. We never woulda seen that next to “Father Knows Best,” eh? lol
As for Nostradamus, I would imagine he intuitively did the masking of his channelings for reasons that we know not
It doesn’t seem like the name “Hisler” needs much work to see “Hitler.” And what motivation did he have to “scare the public”? He, and I believe Edgar Cayce, as well, predicted his own death. And you feel that was their own self-fulfilling prophecy? I don’t think so.
Hey, I get the power of suggestion thing, but I think it’s the rare case, and needs lots of “nurturing” to make it manifest. In doing psychic readings, it amazes me, how I’ve gotten proper names and how things “come” about individuals that are thousands of miles away from me. All I do is listen, and I “hear” these things. Just like I’m sure Notradamus, Edgar Cayce and lots of others do. And we ALL have the ability to do this
And evenutally this will be common knowledge.
Someone suggested to me once that my readings info might have the power-of-suggestion effect. Again, I believe manifesting takes a lot of nurturing (continual focus and belief). And one reading I did clearly countered the self-fulfilling idea. This was one of the first readings I did upon learning of this ability. I was reading this young woman. To be concise, there was kind of an indirect prediction/warning about a certain activity. A subtle warning that it would be wise to discontinue this activity. She didn’t take it seriously, the warning wasn’t heeded. Several weeks later I spoke with the young girl, and her boyfriend, who had been a young healthy guy, had died…during this “activity.” No, this was not a dangerous activity, there were other significant factors per his death. Sorry, I’m not going to share all the details about it. But this outcome freaked me out. I had no idea the warning was so serious. Neither this young woman, nor I, knew how serious this warning was. But my point here, the boyfriend knew nothing of the reading. And yet he died, and that strongly aligned with the reading. So how does he fit into the power-of-suggestion theory?
Yeah, our world is changing, because we’re changing. Psychic ability, UFO’s, crop circles, we’re going to find out what it all means, the truth, the truth about who and what we really are. And that’s a good thing
All we need to remember is we are exceedingly powerful, and it is only fear that weakens us. AND death is not to be feared either, we don’t really die, it’s just another doorway 
Peace,
Dove
November 14, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I believe that I was born too long ago to be an Indigo child, or whatever that whole deal is about. My mentor says that those kids are “just born with it (enlightenment).” Maybe they are but I still sense that they need some guidance, occasionally, from us older (and sometimes wiser) sorts.
I DO know THIS about 2012: the Pentagon’s very own website addressed that year way back in 2004. They said that they had hired the best scientists and had concluded that North America could be under ice, like, for a VERY LONG TIME come 2012. I doubt, very seriously, that they consulted the Mayan calendar. The PDF of the report has since disappeared from their website but there is lots of mention of it out there on the web. I read the whole thing and even saved a copy to some hard drive somewhere – god knows where it is now.
My suggestion for Americans, regarding 2012 is, “Buy a really good coat.” Or move to Paraguay, where the Bush family has recently bought up about a hundred thousand acres. Or more to Northern Australia where a really smart, psychedelic guy named Owsley bought some land after predicting the same thing that the Pentagon did (tho he was more than a decade ahead of them).
-~wolf
November 14, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Even if that is likely the physical reality, WHAT IF, that’s secondary to our discovering the magnitude of our own power, especially collectively.
What if we are rapidly evolving to a point where we can change physical “reality”?
A few things that might suggest this possibility would include, “The Secret”
The mind-body connection. Scientific studies that have proven the potent power of “prayer” — and I don’t look at that one as the power of something outside of us. It reflects he power of our own thoughts and feelings (beliefs). And with a group of “believers” praying, it makes it even more potent…
As well as the discovery that scientific experiments tend to reflect the scientist’s hopes/beliefs for the outcome
But if you can never embrace that you have this kinda power within you, yeah, then you damn well better take the action that you BELIEVE you should — buy the coat
Our true beliefs are powerful puppies 
Dove
November 14, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I love when you comment, dovelove
you always have something mind-tickling to say.
AND, I thought of your earlier comment when I came across this blog post this morning…http://bijanc.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/from-blue-book-to-x-files-dc-ufo-event-features-brass-and-pols/
November 28, 2007 at 6:40 am
no its not true.because they said 2000 it would end.it didnt.2006 it would end.it didnt.they said 1999 it would end.it didnt.so no its not going to.
July 22, 2008 at 12:51 pm
[...] (think of the massive Katrina debacles), but this just reminds me of so many other situations where our government has told us to hoard (and usually the most expensive items, such [...]
August 13, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I have always known that I would die at the age of 55. I have known this since I was 14 years of age. I had never heard the name Nostradamus, and what kind of name is that I wonder, Nos-tra-Dam-Us. Is there some special meaning hidden in the name? It is 2008 I was born 1957, do the math. Since the age of 14, I have never forgotten for one day that I would die in 2012, and then I found Nostradamus and I understood. I have been in several accidents, I wonder why I have not been killed in one of them……………………….jvl
October 27, 2008 at 1:50 am
i was just wondering if the world is going to be over in 2012? Nostradamus said it and all of theese pastors and priests say that the bible says it even tho the bible says no one knows. My mom is like a walking bible and she watches christian shows all the time and shes scared me when she told me i only have 3 years to live. Idk, does anyone have an answer for this?
plz email me at clauren70@aol.com