This document summarizes theories about the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar in 2012 and potential ramifications. It discusses the Mayan use of complex calendars to track time cycles and their prediction of global catastrophe. Some predictions include pole reversal, increased solar activity causing warming or an ice age, and tectonic plate shifts. The document examines the astronomical alignment in 2012 and theories that this could trigger earth changes marking the end of the current world age.

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The End of Time
Megan Kirk
COM/220
Axia College of University of Phoenix
March 15, 2009

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The End of Time
As the year 2012 approaches, slowly but surely, scientists begin to turn their attention
towards the origin of ancient prophecies, oracle predictions, and the unusual activity going on in
our atmosphere. There are a number of predictions due to happen on Dec. 21, 2012, known by
many as Doomsday. One of the most popular theories that have been around for years is that
2012 marks the end of the time. There are over 1,720,000 Google.com search results for “2012,
End of the world,” and numerous websites that strongly promote the idea. Many even use the
title in their domain names of, endoftheworld2012.net as well as endoftime2012.com. ABC
News published the article, “Will the World End in 2012?” in July 2008 and AOL.com put out a
news story titled, “Thousands Expect Apocalypse in 2012.” This idea has become worldwide and
heavily researched, based largely off the fact that ancient calendars from the Mayan civilization,
over 1000 years ago, end Dec. 21, 2012. Predictions indicate a series of massive Earth changes
based on long lasting astrological cycles. People find it hard to trust a civilization without a
telescope but amazingly, as Michael D. Coe mentions in The Mysteries of 2012 (2009), the
Mayan’s system to keep track of time has “not slipped one day in over 25 centuries.” The
Mayans were magnificent timekeepers. As time counts down, the date gets closer. Could Dec.
21, 2012 be the end of the world? More importantly, how could it happen?
Fortunately, the Mayan calendar, which is not just one calendar at all, is the keeper of
many indications. The Mayans used a complex system of several calendars to measure all the
aspects of life. They had calendars to measure time as well as the astronomy and rotation of the
Earth, Sun, Moon, and other solar cycles. From afar, the Mayan’s were able to keep track of
Venus as it rotated around the Sun. As a helpful tool for prophecy, the calendars provide insight
and wisdom in hopes of teaching the ways to better one’s conscious.

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According to the Mayan’s date system, time began on August 11, 3114 B.C. There are
two calendars the run parallel to keep track of time. The Tzolkin, a cycle of only 260 days,
important for prophesying events, and the Haab, a solar cycle of 365 days. Combined the Tzolkin
and the Haab represent one Calendar Round which is approximately 52 years. Interestingly
enough, every 104 years the Venus Cycle synchronizes with both counts as it returns to its
starting point. Another major calendar, the Long Count tracks dates that relate to each other over
a long period. The Long Count also considered a Creation Cycle lasts approximately 5,125.36
years and is broken down in five basic ways.
.
Long Count English
measures of time translation
Kins 1 day
Uninals 20 day months
18 Uninals (360
Tuns
days)
20 Tuns (7,200
K’atuns
days)
20 K’atuns
Bak’tuns
(144,000 days)
Figure 1 Mayan Long Count
Each Long Count consists of 13, 144,000-day cycles known as Bak’tun Counts. Classic
Maya time, the point at which Mayans were most active was during Bak’tun 9, 435-830 A.D.
After 830 A.D., mysteriously all Mayan civilization disappeared. As of 2009, it is now Bak’tun
13, 1618-2012 A.D., the last and final. April 6, 1993 began the start of the final K’atun, the one

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that ends just shy of four years from now. The Mayans named this end time the “triumph of
materialism,” and predicted humanity to drift far away from our sense of oneness and nature,
experiencing a kind of collective amnesia (Alim Gaynor, 2009). According to J. Kremer, in his
2000 article, The Maya Shape of Time, “the sacred Sun Stone tells us that we live in the fifth sun
or the era of Nahui-Olin. During this solar age, the destruction of our world will occur through
the power of the sun and of earthquakes.” Each creation cycle is said to be ruled and destroyed
by one of five natural disaster-causing elements. Animals destroyed the first age. Wind the
second, fire the third, water the fourth, and the Sun will destroy the fifth. Specifically, Mexika
traditions indicate the causes of the first era destruction were jaguar and sun. The second era, the
product of wind, experienced disaster by hurricane as the third suffered in volcanic lava. Floods
ruled the fourth. The current fifth age is already experiencing increasing destruction from the
Sun. John L. Petersen, a co-writer of Mysteries of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies, and
Possibilities (2007) says that global warming could cause another ice age. The Earth is one
degree Celsius cooler than the hottest recorded temperature in one million years and still rising.
The depletion of the O-Zone layer, the part of the atmosphere used for protection against the
Sun’s harmful radiation gets weaker everyday. By 2035, the Himalaya mountain range, the
largest mountain range in the world, which spans through parts of India, China, Pakistan, Nepal,
and Bhutan, could completely melt.
Writers of the Living Prophecy website describe the age of the fifth sun as a time ruled
by "4 Earth." The term, 4 Earth, also known as Caban, is said by writers at 13 Moon (2005) to
reflect the meaning of movement, shift, evolution, earthquake, navigation, synchronicity, clue
tracking, and turtle. There is no detailed explanation of these grouped terms so many

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independent researchers as well as certified scientists have taken it upon themselves to
understand the meaning.
One known influence of the events of 2012 lies deep within the Mayan calendar. As well
as the Tzolkin and the Haab, the Mayans have smaller cycles that represent 13 to 20 days as well
as larger cycles, such as the Precession of the Equinoxes, a cycle of almost 26,000 years. The
Precession of the Equinoxes, which has been corrected over time and re-estimated to last about
25,800 years is recognized and followed by not only the Maya but by the Aborigines, Apache,
Cherokee, Dogon, Egyptians, Essenes, Hopi, Iroquois, Kabbalists, Navajo, and Qero elders of
Peru (Alim Gaynor, 2009). Precession is a term for movement. In this case, precession refers to
the rotation of the Earth as it revolves around the sun and spins on its own axis. An equinox is an
event that happens twice a year, around September 20 and 23 when the center of the Sun lines up
directly over the Earth’s equator. Much like equinoxes, solstices are similar events in which the
Earth’s axis points either directly towards or away from the Sun depending on the season. Both
events cause the Sun to align perfectly with the Earth. The Precession of the Equinoxes, also
known as a Great Cycle, consists of five 5,125 year Long Counts. The current Long Count,
which started in August 3113 B.C., ends in 2012 A.D. and is the last one recorded. The
completion of this Great Cycle will be accompanied by a winter solstice and a rare astronomical
alignment in which the Sun will cross the galactic equator of the Milky Way, aligning also with
the center of the galaxy.
There are many predicted
Figure 2 the Sun as it crosses the Galactic
Equator of the Milky Way outcomes of
this situation. One famous

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predicted event, the reversal of Earth’s magnet poles could cause world destruction. This
reversal, also known as a wobble, is a change in the Earth’s tilt or in the location of the magnetic
poles. Patrick Geryl, a Belgian researcher, believes the next astronomical alignment “will trigger
a reversal in the magnetic fields of the Sun, causing it to get 10 or 20 times hotter, which will
reverse the Earth's rotation on its axis and flood its inhabitants.” (Rossi, Holly Lebowitz, 2006).
J. Kremer, in his year 2000 article says, “Prophecies tell us that there will be a time when there
will be a big jerk in the movement of the Earth... Earth will come to a halt for that time. There
will also be major changes in the polarization of the Earth.”
Robert Bast, writer of Survive 2012, explains there are two ways the poles could switch.
The entire planet could flip over or even stranger, the Earth’s outer crust can move independently
from the rest of the planet, continuously changing location. James Bowles of the Apollo moon
program argues in his book The Gods, Gemini, and the Great Pyramid, the Earth’s outer crust is
only 99.9% secure on the planet (Robert Bast, 2006). Each layer of the Earth can move on its
own. As the solar system moves together, both the Sun and Moon are asserting strong
gravitational pulls on the Earth and its inhabitants. In July of 1966, Scientists at Columbia
University in New York confirmed the Earth’s inner core is moving slightly quicker than the rest
of the planet, averaging a higher speed of .33 seconds a day. .33 seconds might not sound like a
big deal, but this indicates the Earth’s outer crust could completely lap the rest of the planet in
about four hundred years, causing serious climate changes. David Pratts (2000) suggests three
possible causes of magnetic pole switches. The Earth’s pole could undergo a reversal if
experiencing polar wander, crustal slippage, or an axial shift. An axial shift may occur if an
asteroid or comet hits Earth hard enough that it causes the planet to tip over. A polar wander
would occur if the location of the magnetic poles and Earth’s equator somehow change. Crustal

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slippage in this case refers to the movement of tectonic plates that lie in the Earth’s
asthenosphere. The movement of tectonic plates under a continent can trigger massive
earthquakes, volcanoes, and disruption in the geographical lay out of the Earth. Theosophy is
supported by the idea that the Earth’s axis changes four degrees through out every precession
cycle. As small as it sounds, a four-degree change of the Earth’s axis would assert a noticeable
change as one’s hometown changes latitudes. The sun would shine on places that are not yet to
be shined on. Dry areas could shift completely into water. Whatever the cause of pole switches
may be heavy predictions indicate the upcoming event.
Robert Bast, author of Survive 2012 (2008) reports evidence that magnet pole switches
have taken place before lies in Siberia, in what they call, woolly mammoth “graveyards.”
Somehow, along the coast an amazing number of mammoth carcasses stand tall, still intact from
thousands of years ago. Their bodies, in well enough condition, allow researchers to see the food
still in their stomachs and mouths. Scientists describe the mammoths as if they had frozen in
place. The ironic thing is the food discovered inside their bodies consisted of grass, beans,
buttercups, and other food found typically in the summer. Gregg Braden restates this evidence is
The Mysteries of 2012. David Pratt on his Pole Shifts homepage (2000) mentions, “The Eskimos
of Greenland recalled a time when the earth tilted over and all people were drowned.”
Scientists suggest that magnetic pole switches are the cause of much extinction, including
the disappearance of dinosaurs and other larger species. Pole reversals could be the cause and the
end of Ice ages and the reason for glaciers and massive flooding. The next expected pole reversal
is due to occur on December 21, 2012, the same day the Sun crosses the galactic equator and is
in perfect alignment with the Earth and the center of the Milky Way. As unbelievable as it may
sound on December 21, 2012, the Sun is supposed to undergo a solar cycle, much like a wobble

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or pole reversal, and perform a 180-degree rotation as it does about every 11 years. Coincidently,
on that same day, Saturn and Jupiter are supposed to be on opposite sides of the Sun, raising
solar activity to its maximum (Eden, 2006).
Figure 3 represents the predicted locations of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, 2012
As all
this
alignment is going on, the Sun is creating the Maya tree of life, the pathway to the Underworld.
On December 21, 2012, the Sun will cross the galactic equator right next to what the Mayans call
Xibalba, the black whole or “dark rift.” Xibalba is considered the place for renewal. Kremer
(2000) insists the Lords of Death, Sickness, and Suffering all reside there and act as teachers and
purifiers. Karl Maret (2007) argues in The Mystery of 2012 that black hole is 2.5 million times as
heavy as the Sun and its center is the gravitational still point for billions of stars. The hole
consists of gravitational waves and cosmic, gamma, and X-rays radiating in every direction.
The Mayans claim that it is at this passing time the Earth will go through a cycle of
purification. There are many ideas of what purification could mean. For some, they see this time
as an opportunity for the world to go from cataclysm to enlightenment, world war to world

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peace, a time for massive Earth changes, physical destruction, spiritual awakening, and the old
world dying to the new world is being born.
Pacal Votan, a seventh century Mayan prophet spoke out, “if humanity wishes to save
itself from biospheric destruction it must return to living in natural time” (SkyTime, 2005).
Prepare to expect changes not only in weather patterns but also in how people perceive life.
James J. Hurtak, president of the Academy for Future Science predicts a new era of true
enlightenment where the exclusive material mind-set will have to pass away in order for human
nature to implement new tools at quantum change (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2009).
Bast, Robert (2006). Galactic Alignment. Survive 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2009 from
http://survive2012.com/why_2012_alignment.php
Eden, Dan (2006). The Real Doomsday? December 21, 2012. Viewzone. Retrieved March 8,
2009 from http://www.viewzone.com/endtime.html
Gaynor, Alim (2009, January 8). Preparing for 2012 A.D. Mississippi Link, p. 13. Retrieved
March 11, 2009, from Ethnic News Watch (ENW) database.
Jenkins, J. M., Argüelles, J., Calleman, C., Sitler, R., Ardagh, A., Edwards, G., Joseph, L., Lee,
L. V., Janosh, Rose, S., Page, C., Petersen, J., Maret, K., McLaughlin, C., Braden, G.,
Weidner, J., Laszlo, E., O'Dea, J., Stray, G., Ardagh, A., Russell, P., Marx-Hubbard, B.

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Dr. Blackburn-Losey, M., Macy, J., Houston, J., & Pinchbeck, D. (2009). The Mysteries
of 2012, Predictions, Prophecies, and Possibilities. Colorado: Sounds True, Inc.
Kremer, J. W. (2000). The Maya Shape of Time. ReVision 23.2, p.24. Retrieved March 11,
2009, from General OneFile via Gale
Rossi, H. L. (September 25, 2006). Beliefwatch 12/21/12. Newsweek, p.10. Retrieved March 27,
2009, from General OneFile via Gale
What the End of the Earth in 2012 Means (Jan 13, 2009). Philippine Daily
Inquirer. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from General OneFile via Gale