About that NPR dreck - Mayan Calendar Spurs End-Of-The-World Debate

About that NPR dreck - Mayan Calendar Spurs End-Of-The-World Debate

This is what I wrote to NPR about their lame story of July 29, 2009. See or listen to the story here: http://www.npr.org/templat es/story/story.php?storyId=111341700

Oh boy, a lackadaisical approach to the research on this story sure shows (and you guys are usually a little better).

2012 is the end of a particular Mayan calendar. They have several of different durations. The Mayan calendars are remarkable for their accuracy and this one that ends in 2012 is no exception.

Without engaging in the research I am sure you will do next time you cover this New Agey story, I will point out what I recall of research that I did some twenty years ago. The particular calendar that ends in 2012 is something like 500+ years in duration. It maintains incredible accuracy through the entire length of time it covers. Compare that with our calendar that lasts only a year. Three hundred sixty five and ONE FOURTH DAY! Oops. Pretty shoddy in comparison with the Mayan one that is precise right to the end.

Further, when our calendar comes to an end, we don’t usually get all nervous about the end of the world. Well, at least most years other than the one when the 1999 calendar expired. 2012 is the end of a calendar, NOT the end of the world.

The Mayan calendar, as the Western calendar, has little or no relevance to the Chinese, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, or other religions and cultures that use some other time measure.

Then there is the suggestion that somehow the Mayan calendar is connected with the so-called “Age of Aquarius.” Well, it isn’t. That Age is presumed to start when the beginning of the Tropical Zodiacal Sign Aries (the exact point of the Spring Equinox) “precesses” from the Sidereal Zodiac Sign (OR the Sidereal Constellation - depending on your persuasion) Pisces into the Sidereal Sign (or Constellation) of Aquarius. Since there is no agreement about where the Sidereal Signs or Constellations begin and end, the range of just when that might occur spans some two thousand years. The researcher Nicholas Campion compiled a list of suggested dates that extends from 1457 to 3550. (He’d be an excellent interview on this topic by the way.)

About the astrology of the Signs, Pisces is not (as your commentator suggested) about self and selfish interests. Pisces is the Sign most connected with emotional absolutes like truth, love, beauty, art, poetry, music, faith, sacrifice, and belief. The Age of Pisces is more properly connected with the Christian Age (both share the symbol of the fishes) and with the significance and power of world religions and movements based on faith.

Aquarius is NOT a water Sign, Pisces IS. Aquarius is socially conscious, scientific, and is especially connected with technological advancement. The Element associated with Aquarius is Air. The picture associated with Aquarius, The Water Bearer, is of a man pouring from a large vase or pitcher, not literal water, but the symbolic water of spirit - representative of science and ideas that will nurture and support humanity. Because he’s a water bearer people often make the mistake of thinking that Aquarius is a water sign. It’s an Air Sign.

Another mention in the story was of some unidentified “alignment of planets.” I’ve looked and you can look too, there’s no remarkable alignment of planets in 2012. There have been and will be some very remarkable alignments, but nothing special in 2012.

The alignment that is most often referred to is of the Solstice (December 21 is the day of the Winter Solstice) in alignment with the Galactic Center. While the alignment will be close, 2 degrees 58 minutes, it will not be exact until something like 2225-2226.

I began researching this stuff in 1960, I’ve got some accreditations but I’m no big deal, no books, and no TV specials. In this case, I do however know about what I write.

Tim Rubald
C.A. NCGR (Certified Astrologer, National Council for Geocosmic Research)
C.A.P. ISAR (Certified Astrological Professional, International Society for Astrological Research)
Also certification from OPA, Organization for Professional Astrology; LA CCRS Astrology Center (Los Angeles Community Church of Religious Science), and others.