Well…here we are. 12-21-2012. A date that erroneously predicted as the end of the world… Armageddon, in fact. One professor, Gerardo Aldana, an associate professor at the University of California Santa Barbara who has been studying the Mayan calendar since 1995 had this to say:
“[...]the theories of mayhem attributed to the calendar came largely “from a misunderstanding of the calendar and mythology.”
Aldana argues the misinterpretation dates back to the 1960s when archeologist Mike D. Cole published “The Maya.” There he suggested the Mayan calendar would end in 2011 or 2012, hinting, in jest, that it meant the end of the world. Scholars have since said there’s no evidence the calendar predicts an apocalyptic future.” Read more here.
In fact, the predominant belief for most who follow the Mayan Calendar is that it is the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. Many even go further and express that it is an exciting time, a new period of optimism and positive opportunity for we humans.
But don’t tell that to the doomsdayers….you will wreck yet another deadline of carnage and End of the World anticipation. These people spend their lives wrapped up in wanting to get out of here that they never really live. It is actually quite sad.
This is the dark thinking and gullibility of far too many who become obedient Sheople and follow orders here in America and abroad. They drink in the rhetoric fed to them by charlatans, snakeoil salesmen and women, false prophets and greedy self-interest entities. It is a serious game of feeding relentless fear and paranoia.
I don’t know about you, but there is no way that an end of the world prediction is going to deprive me of watching my 2 year-old granddaughter open her new drum on Christmas morning – in front of two parental units who may want to strangle me. No sirree! I for one, am going to wake up tomorrow appreciating every day I have in this life and look forward to many more and I am also going to be thankful that the days will now begin getting longer.
I wish the same for all of you and wish you the Happiest of Holidays!
The boyfriend and I, in anticipation of the world NOT ending, since that was never predicted in the first place, attended the Ascension Ball. We were asked to show up in creative black tie. That was fun. Drums are a great grandmother-to-granddaughter gift. Blessings to you and yours.
I love it! Many blessings to you as well
I got a real laugh out of that – a drum! Is that a bit of revenge or something? (GRIN!)
I wonder if some of the ex-friends I have who turned out to be “Maya end of the world” people are going to apologize for things like throwing me out of a blog because I said that the Mayan calendar was man-made and that the Mayan elders where getting really pissed about the stuff that people were saying. One person was a leader in one walkaway community but fell into another cult (I don’t remember the writer’s name that she followed) and you didn’t dare say ANYTHING negative about him or their BS “prophesies”. It rather hurt to get tossed out because of the truth, but that happens a lot sometimes.
The Maya (still around for readers who don’t know) have been saying for years that when yesterday came up, all that would happen would be the cycle of their calendar would start all over again. (A friend related to me that he thinks a lot of the Maya actually celebrated yesterday and today… I’d love to get confirmation on that.) I’m going to talk to my mentor about this topic a bit more – we’ve always taught about the Mayan calendar and all of the ‘death, doom, and destruction’ “Prophets” in the Fantastic Archaeology course and I’m not sure how he’s going to approach it the next time – maybe talk about all of the hullabaloo and how the “prophets” ignored (and even belittled) the people whose calendar it was in the first place and that it caused a lot of unnecessary and wrong fear and misery.
The drum…lol…yep, my little bit of Christmas morning fun. As far as the doomsdayers…what is their next date? We seem to be ticking them off and nada happens. It is too hard to not poke fun, but I do have to stop and appreciate that some of these folks are truly devastated this morning. What a sad and gloomy world that they live in – always anticipating the End – and so disappointed when it eludes them.
My understanding has always been the same as yours, that it is the end of one calendar and a new beginning…even referred to as the Age of Aquarius…a positive transition. Oh well…I always prefer to look at the world through a glass half-full perspective anyway. Happy Holidays!
Let’s see if I can get this right…
Nettv Cettv Rakko Ofunkkuse! (Merry Christmas – I think I have it right including spelling – in Muskogean!)
Or Happy Holidays! (Whichever fits better!)
Leah and Mrsgunka, I hope you made the very best of the longest night and got some well deserved rest during this Winter Solstice. We grandmothers have some living to do! Hanging out with the next generation requires the energy and willingness to play. Kids grow up soon enough and will come into the : “You want me to do What with Whom?” stage before we know it. As they enter into adulthood they will, by necessity, form their own circles and we may become less important. That is how it should be, but in the meantime we can enjoy them with gratitude for their presence though at times laughter and tears may be close together.
Today is the first day of the Season of the Fallow Fields and another Turn around the Sun as the days lengthen in preparation for another Spring. There are challenges to be met by all of us if we are to grow into the Purpose of our Lives and I wish for the Strength to meet them as they arise.
Leah, you are a treasure and your dedication is deeply appreciated.
Keep Going! Keep Growing! Ing
Many heartfelt thanks to you my friend…and I will heed your words. We do need our strength to keep up don’t we? And I love 12-22…the knowledge that the days will now be getting longer. Growing up in northern regions of Alaska it wasn’t always a quick realization, but just knowing that the days were lengthening was a boost. Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season, Ing…
When the kids were little we would go “home” for Christmas. One devious uncle liked to pick out loud gifts for the kids. :-0 One year it was drums. Sadly after several days snowed inside at Grandma’s house, my dear husband “accidentally” stuck his fist into each drum as he was packing the car. I can’t remember what he bought for their kids the next year, but obnoxiously loud. It didn’t take long till they wanted quiet toys or clothes they could play with a little longer.:-) I was very happy to wake up this morning to the sun shining and the birdies fighting over the bird seed. Wonder if those in their bunkers have got the good news yet?
LOL…I have a feeling I know where this is going to lead. Nana (me) will suddenly have a drum in residence! But the look on my daughter’s face will be worth all my own self-inflicted torture in the months to come from hearing the rat-a-tat-tat of that drum.
Well said. I wish you and all your friends who work so hard for all of us a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. Thank you for all you do.