Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Mayan Calendar: End of Days?

I can’t believe March is almost here. I’m a little perplexed how the last two months flew by, and now we have ten months left in the 2012 yearless if you consider the Mayan end of the world prophecy/calendar. Not a lite topic for some folks, I assure you. 
Ever wonder what that prophecy really means? In short, it’s centered on the Mayan Calendar and hinges on a shift in the world as the way we know it. Does that mean complete Armageddon or does it mean a flood of devastation that hits our lives, and threatens the world and how we live it? ABC news did a take not too long ago on the subject. If you get a chance, read it here.  Also, check out another interesting blog called "end of the world 2012."

Personally, I don’t put too much stock in prophecies, except when I’m writing them. (HeHe) I think the changes that have transpired over the last 100+ years have been awe-inspiring, meriting life-changing circumstances that rival any prophecy. Just calculate the advances in technology, medical, social etc…,I can go on and on, but you get the point.


The first book I wrote had a Mayan tie to it, and I did a good amount of research, even as far as reading the Mayan’s Book of Creation, Popol Vuh. That’s a tricky one there because technically it’s been transcribed and logically one would want to question its interpretation.  Despite not being an expert, I thought the author and translator, Dennis Tedlock, a professor of English and Anthropology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, did a heck of a job. I never took the text too literal, but as a writer, I found aspects of the Mayan story fascinating. 
 
With all the hub bub, what I’m really curious about it what you believe? Do you believe life will change irrevocably at the end of the year? Will it be like a post Apacolytic world like The Hunger Games, Jericho or even The Walking Dead? LOL. No seriously, though…what do you think?



Mina B.

14 comments:

David P. King said...

I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching most other people freak out during the last month of the year. It'll be great!

Now, the supposed prophecy that's supposed to come about in 2015 sounds much more interesting. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think they just ran out of room on their stone calendar!

Cynthia said...

While this would be an interesting year to follow, with the election the Olympics just around the corner, I don't believe we'd run into any dystopian themes as a result of these events....hopefully.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Oh I had no idea you wrote a book entitled Popol Vuh. I will have to take a look at this when I have more time.

DonnaGalanti said...

Mina, it is fascinating! I dont believe the world will end in a big bang predicted like the Apocolypse...on the other hand we started with a bang - eh? Who knows some big meteorite could wipe us all out in a second and I knoew scientists are tracking them in space...but still...

This all leads into the religious question too...I have relatives who believe the end is coming and their church is going up first. Guess I'm stuck on earth to help grow the grass again after its all over.:)

Sarah Tokeley said...

The world isn't going to end this year, it's going to end with a meteorite in 2015. (Apparently!)

Phoenix Carvelli said...

I think it would be a good day to plan a party. It is actually my mother's birthday! If it is the end, we might as well go out here like I plan to spend my next millennia by having a big homecoming party!
I do not believe it will be the end but it would still be a good day to have family and friends around to celebrate!
No one knows the exact date of the end of our time (thank goodness!). I still have too many books to read and places to go! :)
Phoenix

Ronald L. Smith said...

I heard a report on National Public Radio all about the Mayan prophecy. It can be Googled, I imagine. Basically, they talked to a few mayan elders and they said it wasn't going to happen. I don't remember all the details, but it seemed like it was something that the western world took and ran with, without all the proper history and context to it.

But sometimes, I do think the world needs a big meteor headed straight for us!

Keith David Wilson said...

I don't know. In general I think we are far too condescending as a culture to those that we consider "primitive" because we do not understand them or simply because we have technology - which may be our 2012 undoing anyway. All of this is actually pretty germane to my forthcoming novel - Geillan: A Prisoner's Tale. It's sort of mystical fantasy hinting at past cultures like ancient Egyptians, Minoa/Atlantis, etc. I found you via Becky Galanti and saw that you reviewed her book - would you be up for a bit of apocalyptic reading? :0 Let me know and I can send you a pre-publication review copy. Great blog by the way!

Keith David Wilson said...

I meant DONNA Galanti. Sorry Donna!

Mina Burrows said...

@David - I think I'll do the same. I didn't know about 2015. I need to look that up. Thx.

@Alex - I saw a cartoon on that. Very funn.

@Cynthia - You're probably right, but there goes that imagination of mine...

@Michael - LOL. Not me, Dennis Tedlock - he's the one who transcribed/authored the Mayan writings.

@Donna - You're right! Big Bang or not, it should be fun to watch. Lol!

@Sarah - 2015? Meteorite? Who knew. You & David have enlightened me. Thx.

@Ron - Ditto on "the world needs a big meteor headed straight for us!"

@Keith - Hi! I agree. Technology has spoiled us. Thx for stopping by.

Claire Hennessy said...

My understanding is not that world will end in a apocalyptic devastation kind of way, but that we are ending one cycle and entering another. One source says a 26,000 year cycle. Apparently going from the 3rd dimension into the 5th dimension, which will mean lots of things, one of which will be easier access to beings in other dimensions. I find it all fascinating anyway.

when does the mayan calendar end said...

its june now.still only half an year to go.

Emmaline Pham said...

It seems that people here are having an interesting discussion about the Mayan stone calendar and prophecy. But whatever our beliefs, I think having a study and thorough look at the Mayan civilization is a very interesting subject. We learn about their way of life, and how they came up with that knowledge about the end of the world and the stone calendar. And maybe, we can relate some of their knowledge to our modern living. Plus, the theory definitely sparks the imagination of many writers, producing earth-shaking literature like Mina’s book. I also think that that is one of the things the Mayans passed to us, modern people. :-)