Mayan+Prophecy

__**End of Mayan Calendar 2012--Might 2012 Mean Something?**__

SUBTITLE: ______________________________________________________________ 1130 days until December 21, 2012. With 2012 fast approaching, there has been seemingly increased interest in certain ancient Mayan writings and 2012 calendar predictions. Specifically, December 21, 2012 is when the Maya’s “Long Count” calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era. The date December 21st, 2012 A.D., represents an extremely close conjunction of the Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator (Equator of the Milky Way) and the Ecliptic (path of the Sun), what that ancient Maya recognized as the Sacred Tree. This is an event that has been coming to resonance very slowly over thousands and thousands of years.

While most people believe nothing other than some astronomical occurrences will happen then (and the Mayans were apparently correct about that according to astronomers), some believe that the Mayan 2012 date may mark the end of civilization or perhaps the beginning of a time of great tribulation. It is also getting increasingly popular to refer to the astronomical event as the "galactic alignment" (Nostradamus and 2012. History Channel, original air date 01/04/09)--though most astronomers have difficultly identifying the center of the Milky Way galaxy (and hence many feel that there is no alignment event). Journalist Lawrence Joseph forecasts widespread catastrophe in Apocalypse 2012: A Scientific Investigation Into Civilization's End. Part of the 2012 mystique stems from the stars. On the winter solstice in 2012, the sun will be aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years. This means that "whatever energy typically streams to Earth from the center of the Milky Way will indeed be disrupted on 12/21/12 at 11:11 p.m. Universal Time," Joseph writes. SUBTITLE: ______________________________________________________________ What the records actually were intended to mean by the ancient (pre-Columbian) Mayans (pronounced "Myans") is unknown and has been subject to a lot of debate. But literally, the destruction of the planet seems to be shown by some. When the Spaniards came across the Mayans, they considered them to have pagan (or non-Christian) practices associated with the devil. Because of that, once they conquered them, they began to burn and otherwise destroy most of the writings of their civilization (known as codices), most notably under the direction of Bishop Diego de Landa. One Catholic, however, intervened and prevented three from being destroyed. These Mayan codices are now known as the Madrid, Dresden, and Paris codices. There also is a fourth, the Grolier codex, whose authenticity is sometimes disputed, but may be genuine--only a few pages from it survive. From time to time, other fragments of Mayan drawings of this period have also been found. The Dresden Codex contains the highest amount of astronomical observations and calculations of any of the surviving pre-Columbian texts. There are also nine writings called Chilam Balam (meaning "oracular priest" "jaguar") that seem to combine Mayan and Spanish beliefs that came from the late 15th/early 16th century. The Chilam Balam contains the most explicit 2012 Mayan calendar predictions (and other Mayan calendar cycle predictions). One writer (probably Robert Bast who has his own "wiki") has stated this about the Mayans and the calendar: Like the Aztec and Inca who came to power later, the Maya believed in a cyclical nature of time. The rituals and ceremonies were very closely associated with celestial/terrestrial cycles which they observed and inscribed as separate calendars. The Maya priest had the job of interpreting these cycles and giving a prophetic outlook on the future or past based on the number relations of all their calendars. They also had to determine if the "heavens" or celestial matters were appropriate for performing certain religious ceremonies.

SUBTITLE: ______________________________________________________________ On two different programs, The History Channel claimed: The Mayan calendar seems to say that the world will end in 2012 (Crowley, Phil. 2012, Decoding the Past. Original air date 03/01/07). The ancient Maya have prophesied that the world will come to the end on 13 Baktun on their current calendar. This date translates to December 21st, 2012...A new age may occur... while others...see destruction... The last page of the Dresden codex actually shows the destruction of the world via water. This graphic illustration depicts the destruction of the earth by flood. Others see it as a day of rebirth. And others see it literally, with very severe consequences (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06).

So we see two interpretations from different sources that indicate that either something terrible or something very good will happen in or near the end of 2012. Perhaps I should add that most 2012 Mayan predictions seem to be based upon Western interpretation of the calendar and Mayan drawings as opposed to what the Mayans themselves have ever publicly taught throughout history. On The History Channel, Steve Alten, author of Domain, stated: The four prior cycles all ended in destruction. So when we talk about the Mayan doomsday prophecy, we're talking about the end of the fifth cycle, the very last day, which equates to December 21, 2012 (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06). The History Channel narration after the preceding comment immediately was: This means the fifth and current cycles, like its predecessors, will also end in destruction (Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, Decoding the Past. Original air date 08/03/06). SUBTITLE: ______________________________________________________________ One theory suggests that a Magnetic Field shift will occur around this time, that the calendar was based on pole shifts, which have occurred repetitively throughout the Earths history. The Maya, understanding the time periods between these shifts created their Long count calendar around them and come up with the final date for the next pole shift. But how would they know what to look for to expect another shift? How much time was supposed to pass between these shifts and how did they know it? Was there record passed down to them from long ago recounting a time when there was a prior pole shift so that mathematics could be used to predict the next one to come? Or did the ancients study a form of dendrochronology the study of climate changes by looking at tree rings. Others suggest a much more mythical or religious approach. December 21, 2012 is also the Winter Solstice, and provides us with a view that will not be seen again in any of our lifetimes. The Sun will conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way in the ecliptic, giving us view of the Sacred Tree as called by the Maya, giving us view of the Tree of Life. Both of these scenarios are quite possible, one scientific explanation, and one religious. What we still do not know, and probably will not know is what will happen after this end date until it actually occurs. A new dawn of enlightenment would be a step towards progression, in that mankind would become more aware of their surroundings and the impact that they have on the Earth as well as a higher intelligence and consciousness and a better mindset for helping their fellow man. Perhaps this is the end, when Mother Nature finally decides to shrug off the oppressiveness that has been created by the children and start anew. We may just end up living through another doomsday prophecy, going to work or school as usual, looking back on the prophecies and laughing them off. Peter may have cried wolf too often for our cynical minds. _________________________________________________________________________________ 1) Label the title, lead, closing, and illustrations/graphics in the article. 2) Create a catchy sub-title for the lines that are labeled “SUBTITLE”. 3) Find TWO examples of sentences that use a “SIGNAL WORD”. Copy the sentences into your notebook, circle the signal word, identify the type of signal word, and explain what the sentence means. 4) What type of approach is this article written in? What is your evidence? 5) What is the author’s point or angle? In other words, what is their argument for or against the prophecy being true? 6) After reading the article, do you believe the 2012 prophecy is true? Why or why not?