2012: Doomsday! . . . um, maybe not

[slyc_willie]

There's been a dearth of doomsday-related tomes on bookstore shelves and similar programs on TV (especially the History Channel) in recent days. It reminds me of the fervor that built up around the turn of the millennium, when numerous interpretations of Nostradamus' quatrains flew off the shelves in the late nineties.

Well, here's the truth: on December 21, 2012, the sun of our solar system will be aligned with the galactic core of the Milky Way (which is our galaxy, if you didn't know). Astronomers call this event "momentous." It occurs only once every 26,000 years or so, when the functions of what is called the Precession of the Equinoxes culminate in an alignment of our planet and sun with the distant center of the galaxy in which we reside. Great and wonderful (or terrible) things are destined to happen.

The theories as to what will happen on or around 12-21-2012 abound. Some theorize there will be massive earthquakes, floods, etc. The Yellowstone Caldera, a massive volcano in the southwestern corner of Wyoming, is, and has been for many thousands of years, poised to erupt. Others indicate a massive EMP barrage caused by what is termed a "galactic wave" sent out from the core, which will fry any and all electronic devices. And others say it will simply be the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, and nothing more traumatic than that.

From the Mayan Calendar to the prophecies of the Hopi, Edgar Cayce to Mother Shipford, and even an interpretation of the I Ching, the date of 12-21-2012 is a significant one. It appears to foretell a time of destruction, pain, pestilence and general chaos. Men will behave as animals and so forth.

This sort of event occurs, as I said, only once every 26,000 years, when the axis of the Earth, warbling slowly through the twelve houses of the Zodiac, lines up perfectly to create what is called the Sacred Cross; the position of the Earth and the Sun in relation to the position of the center of our galaxy. If you're a junior astronomer, you can already see the alignment happening now with a good telescope, as the alignment falls between the constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpio. In fact, if you know the Sagittarius constellation, the arrow in its bow points perfectly toward the galactic core at this conjunction.

This "momentous event" is going to occur in about three and a half years. Are you going to be ready for it?

Should you be?

 

[Verdad]

Eee, you give me an excuse to post something I came across while flipping through the latest issue of Wired Magazine. The article is here, and it's about Georgia Guidestones.

Long story short, Georgia Guidestones are a weird megalithic monument, sometimes referred to as American Stonehenge. Possibly everyone knows about it, but for me, it was the first news of the thing.

It looks kinda creepy, with all that sacred geometry stuff, and has inscribed on it, in a number of languages, instructions for the survivors of apocalypse. The true identity and affiliations of the commissioner haven't been cracked despite the best efforts of conspiracy theorists, but the creepiest of all is the content of the instructions. They're a combo of worshipping 'reason' in the sense that makes you balk at the word (read: eugenics and stuff) and some kind of quasi new age quasi spirituality. Apparently they've been giving headaches both to local church and to assorted wackos all around the world.

If I'm not mistaken, somewhere in the article there was a reference to 2012. and the solar flare-ups, which reminded me of the thing.

 

[cloudy]

um...the Hopi prophecy doesn't mention a date, slyc. It wouldn't, since North American Natives had no calendar. All it says is that we are poised for this world to end, and the next to begin. Specifically, it says that the Creator will take the earth in his hands and shake it. But, and this is important, it isn't a doomsday prophecy, just one that says we will move into another era, and that that movement, or change will involve upheaval.

("dearth" means an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack. Perhaps you meant an "abundance"?)

 

[Guest]

um...the Hopi prophecy doesn't mention a date, slyc. It wouldn't, since North American Natives had no calendar. All it says is that we are poised for this world to end, and the next to begin. Specifically, it says that the Creator will take the earth in his hands and shake it. But, and this is important, it isn't a doomsday prophecy, just one that says we will move into another era, and that that movement, or change will involve upheaval.

("dearth" means an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack. Perhaps you meant an "abundance"?)

I like that Creator shaking the earth bit.

Kind of like the Magic 8 Ball?


*Signs Point to No*

*Ask Again Later*

*Yes*

*The Planet is Doomed*


The mental picture I get from that is delightful.

 

[john-the-author]

I like that Creator shaking the earth bit.

Kind of like the Magic 8 Ball?


*Signs Point to No*

*Ask Again Later*

*Yes*

*The Planet is Doomed*


The mental picture I get from that is delightful.

"Yes, Definitely!"

<snerk!!>

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Can you get down to a specific time of the day? I intend to be taking a nap.

 

[Stella_Omega]

What does that mean, "Aligned with the magnetic core of the galaxy?"

 

[Stella_Omega]

From the NASA website;

Confused about 2012 "Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months" is a report on the Fox News website. They stated the report was commissioned and paid for by NASA. It was reported by The National Academy of Sciences and includes a comment by Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics division at NASA. If nothing is going to happen as a result of the event in 2012, why would NASA allow such nonsense to be reported.

There is nothing wrong with the National Research Council report on heliophysics, and NASA is very pleased with it. As you note, this report includes a worst-case analysis of what could happen today if there were a repetition of the biggest solar storm ever recorded (in 1859). The problem is the way such information can be used out of context. There is no reason to expect such a large solar storm in the near future, certainly not in 2012 specifically. Your reference to “the event in 2012”, and the use of this information by Fox News, illustrates this problem. There is no prediction of an “event in 2012”. We don’t even know if the next solar maximum will take place in that year. There is analogous misunderstanding or misuse of statistics on asteroid and comet impacts. Such impacts are extremely rare, but always possible; but there is no connection between this low-level risk and the dire claims some people are making for 2012. The whole 2012 disaster scenario is a hoax, fueled by ads for the Hollywood science-fiction disaster film “2012”. I can only hope that most people are able to distinguish Hollywood film plots from reality.

David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
March 23, 2009(link)

and

306b. Another question about the year 2012
Hello, I've been doing a little bit of research on the December 21st 2012 theory lately, seeing as it is the only respectable end of the world theory out there. I believe I understand the principle behind it but I'm unsure about a few notes in it. It seems to state that we will be perfectly aligned with the Black Hole that is at the center of our universe, giving a 10 percent chance that our own poles will dramatically switch as the Earth slows down and starts to turn the other way. As I'm sure you already know of this theory, knowing your intelligence just from your other articles that I've read, I would like to ask you your own opinion on this theory, and would the change take effect on other planets as well, causing their poles to shift and sort of having a Galaxy wide end?
Reply
Dear William

Nothing much will happen to the universe or Earth and planets in December 2012. It is the time when the Maya calendar, which is quite sophisticated and has long cycles, will end (I think) its 5th cycle and start its 6th. It's like your car's odometer going past 499,999 to 500,000.

The universe has no center, by the way. Our Milky Way galaxy has one, for sure, and a big black hole sits there (I have written about it) but I am not sure it has much influence on us. If its rotation axis were pointed at Earth, telescopes might see a lot of X-ray and radio noise from it, but we are too far for any large effect, also it probably rotates the way the galaxy does, and therefore we are looking at its equator. And Earth's rotation can't change significantly because of the conservation of its angular momentum..

For more, see top of this page and look under #264, #291b and #302, also (about the Earth's rotation) #165, #166 and #108. (Link)

Another link

a list of 243 (estimated) questions and answers on the NASA site

 

[slyc_willie]

um...the Hopi prophecy doesn't mention a date, slyc. It wouldn't, since North American Natives had no calendar. All it says is that we are poised for this world to end, and the next to begin. Specifically, it says that the Creator will take the earth in his hands and shake it. But, and this is important, it isn't a doomsday prophecy, just one that says we will move into another era, and that that movement, or change will involve upheaval.

("dearth" means an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack. Perhaps you meant an "abundance"?)

Sorry; I was typing too fast. I meant "no dearth"

No, the Hopi don't give a date, but their prophecies have been interpreted by some researchers to coincide with the Mayan calendar. Like anything else, prophecies are interpreted very widely.

 

[slyc_willie]

Eee, you give me an excuse to post something I came across while flipping through the latest issue of Wired Magazine. The article is here, and it's about Georgia Guidestones.

Long story short, Georgia Guidestones are a weird megalithic monument, sometimes referred to as American Stonehenge. Possibly everyone knows about it, but for me, it was the first news of the thing.

It looks kinda creepy, with all that sacred geometry stuff, and has inscribed on it, in a number of languages, instructions for the survivors of apocalypse. The true identity and affiliations of the commissioner haven't been cracked despite the best efforts of conspiracy theorists, but the creepiest of all is the content of the instructions. They're a combo of worshipping 'reason' in the sense that makes you balk at the word (read: eugenics and stuff) and some kind of quasi new age quasi spirituality. Apparently they've been giving headaches both to local church and to assorted wackos all around the world.

If I'm not mistaken, somewhere in the article there was a reference to 2012. and the solar flare-ups, which reminded me of the thing.

I've heard of the stones, and they seem to have been used the same way Stonehenge was, as a calendar to mark the equinoxes and solstices. Hadn't heard about their being linked to any 2012 prophecy, though.

From the NASA website . . .

Perfect examples of the confusion regarding the date of 2012. No one really knows what, if anything, is going to happen. As Cloudy said, the date of 2012 doesn't necessarily mark the end of civilization, just the end of an era. The Mayans themselves believed we were in the Fourth World, and when that ends in 2012, the Fifth World will begin.

 

[redpaint]

Guess I would only have one thing to say on that day. "Today is a good day to die." In other words I am not going to worry myself over what may or may not happen three years from now. There is nothing I can do to stop what will happen.

 

[Stella_Omega]

"Confusion?"

No, ignorance, marketed by moneygrabbers.

I really hate this bullshit.

 

[cloudy]

No, the Hopi don't give a date, but their prophecies have been interpreted by some researchers to coincide with the Mayan calendar.

I don't know what you've been reading, but that's absurd (no offense intended towards you). The Hopi prophecy is a living, breathing tradition. It isn't something to be interpreted by researchers from the outside, since it was never written down like the Mayan calendar, and there can't possibly be a date associated with it. Have you read it? If not, you should.

The only thing it mentions, as far as timing goes, is that there are certain signs to look for to show that the end of this "world" or era is coming. That's it. In that aspect, it's closer to the biblical book of Revelation than it is to the Mayan calendar.

This is only a tiny part of it:

This is the First Sign: We are told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, but not living like Pahana men who took the land that was not theirs. And men who struck their enemies with thunder.

This is the Second Sign: Our lands will see the coming of spinning wheels filled with voices. In his youth, my father saw this prophecy come true with his eyes -- the white men bringing their families in wagons across the prairies.

This is the Third Sign: A strange beast like a buffalo but with great long horns, will overrun the land in large numbers. These White Feather saw with his eyes -- the coming of the white men's cattle.

This is the Fourth Sign: The land will be crossed by snakes of iron.

This is the Fifth Sign: The land shall be criss-crossed by a giant spider's web.

This is the Sixth sign: The land shall be criss-crossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun.

This is the Seventh Sign: You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it.

This is the Eight Sign: You will see many youth, who wear their hair long like my people, come and join the tribal nations, to learn their ways and wisdom.

And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease.

 

[Verdad]

I've heard of the stones, and they seem to have been used the same way Stonehenge was, as a calendar to mark the equinoxes and solstices. Hadn't heard about their being linked to any 2012 prophecy, though.

Linking unlinked things is the bread and butter of paranoids! (I think the mention was of some conspiracy theorist or another deciding the stones pertain to 2012, and in the meantime, of course, whatever secret organization commissioned them has already created the world economy crisis. <No, I really don't read that kind of stuff. It was in Wired!>)

 

[cloudy]

Linking unlinked things is the bread and butter of paranoids! (I think the mention was of some conspiracy theorist or another deciding the stones pertain to 2012, and in the meantime, of course, whatever secret organization commissioned them has already created the world economy crisis. <No, I really don't read that kind of stuff. It was in Wired!>)

The Georgia Guidestones were erected in 1980, though. Kinda rules out any relation to Stonehenge, ya know?

 

[Verdad]

The Georgia Guidestones were erected in 1980, though. Kinda rules out any relation to Stonehenge, ya know?

I know. That's the name they've been given by the press or whomever, to add to the mystery. Apparently the unease they inspire has the counter benefit of boosting tourism.

 

[john-the-author]

Linking unlinked things is the bread and butter of paranoids! (I think the mention was of some conspiracy theorist or another deciding the stones pertain to 2012, and in the meantime, of course, whatever secret organization commissioned them has already created the world economy crisis. <No, I really don't read that kind of stuff. It was in Wired!>)

I agree. One of my faves is people who want to link the Great Pyramid with whatever they have handy, usually done by taking measurements of this and that and mashing 'em together... and quite ignoring the fact that the measurements they usually use are probably 3000-4000 years newer than the measurements the Egyptians themselves used. Erich von Daniken immediately springs to mind for a fountainhead of huckstering and credulity.

 

[Katyusha]

During the last solar maximum there was an abundance of misinformation going around regarding an unusual planetary alignment in our solar system. The idea was that solar maximum was going to occur on a specific date, and on that same date the planets would be in an unusual alignment, which was going to have a significant impact on the predicted solar storm and cause large earthquakes and other major disasters all over Earth because of the unusual gravitational and magnetic pulls. This, of course, did not happen, and I seriously, seriously doubt it's going to happen in 2012.

First of all, "the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line." What this means is that we are always, in some way, aligned with the center of the galaxy. The earth, sun, and center of the galaxy being in a specific alignment is not likely to have any more impact on us than a planetary alignment would. The magnetic and gravitational forces of events like alignments simply aren't strong enough over these distances to cause huge solar storms and the geological and atmospheric issues that people worry about.

Furthermore, if this kind of thing were going to change or even destroy the world (volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.) we would long since have started noticing a major increase in the numbers of geological events happening around the world. Astronomical events happen on an incredibly slow scale, with slow build-ups and reductions in strength and power; these forces aren't some kind of laser where you're completely unaffected by it until you're directly in its path. An event like this would not suddenly cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on the one day, week or even year that we're in the closest alignment.

I've seen things that say something like, "sunspot cycle beginning in 2012 may put satellites, power grids at risk." Solar cycle 24 began a year or so ago, and yet we're still in a very deep solar minimum and still occasionally seeing "old-cycle" sunspots. We may or may not be at solar maximum by 2012; the sun is on an AVERAGE 11-year cycle, the minimums and maximums aren't on a clock and they may or may not happen when they're predicted to. As for solar storms...those can't be predicted down to a date.

So, bottom line, I am not worried, nor will I become worried. Any disasters that happen in 2012 will either have to do with the natural cycle of the planet or will be man-made (nuclear strike, for instance).

 

[TE999]

There's just one rational and thoughtful thing to do in this particular case...party like it's 2012, baby!! Woohoo!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I am, Tom. I'm taking a nap.

 

[john-the-author]

I am, Tom. I'm taking a nap.

Hear, hear!! I'm getting a bunch of work done and then I'm calling it quits for the day. There will be many alcohol in my near future. I've got two different zinfandels I wanna open: "7 Deadly Zins" (which I've had and it's very good) and "Sin Zin," which my boss recommended to me as being even better.

 

[slyc_willie]

I don't know what you've been reading, but that's absurd (no offense intended towards you). The Hopi prophecy is a living, breathing tradition. It isn't something to be interpreted by researchers from the outside, since it was never written down like the Mayan calendar, and there can't possibly be a date associated with it. Have you read it? If not, you should.

The only thing it mentions, as far as timing goes, is that there are certain signs to look for to show that the end of this "world" or era is coming. That's it. In that aspect, it's closer to the biblical book of Revelation than it is to the Mayan calendar.

This is only a tiny part of it:

On one of the recent Nostradamus shows, they made a big deal out of comparing various prophecies. I don't remember who the professor was, but there was an academic bigwig who had compared Nostradamus' quatrains to the Hopi prophecies. The Mayan Calendar was worked into it somehow.

Like I said, prophecies abound. The only way to know if any of them are accurate is through hindsight.

 

[slyc_willie]

I agree. One of my faves is people who want to link the Great Pyramid with whatever they have handy, usually done by taking measurements of this and that and mashing 'em together... and quite ignoring the fact that the measurements they usually use are probably 3000-4000 years newer than the measurements the Egyptians themselves used. Erich von Daniken immediately springs to mind for a fountainhead of huckstering and credulity.

Oh, God. Von Danniken. He was on one of those shows about "ancient astronauts." That man has made an awful lot of money selling bullshit.

I remember reading The Mystery of the Sphinx and thinking how plausible the theories in it seemed. But a lot of it was convenient conjecture in that they took advantage of the fact that you can't carbon-date stone. First they said the Sphinx could be 12,000 years old, then that it was just the head that had been carved at that date, in the shape of a lion's head, and the body was carved later . . . .

Interesting stuff, good fodder for a sci-fi story, and hey, it could just possibly be true. Ya never know.

 

[slyc_willie]

There's just one rational and thoughtful thing to do in this particular case...party like it's 2012, baby!! Woohoo!

I am, Tom. I'm taking a nap.

Hear, hear!! I'm getting a bunch of work done and then I'm calling it quits for the day. There will be many alcohol in my near future. I've got two different zinfandels I wanna open: "7 Deadly Zins" (which I've had and it's very good) and "Sin Zin," which my boss recommended to me as being even better.

*snerk* Y Deadly Zins. I'll have to look for that next time I'm in the liquor store.

Okay, I'm taking bets on how many doomsday cults will make the news on 12-21-2012. I'm saying four.

 

[Stella_Omega]

*snerk* Y Deadly Zins. I'll have to look for that next time I'm in the liquor store.

Okay, I'm taking bets on how many doomsday cults will make the news on 12-21-2012. I'm saying four.

I'll pot my name in for six. it's a nice mystical number