Very much like the well known Inca and Aztec civilizations who rose to power at a later date, the Mayan belief system was based around their perception of time as being cyclical in nature. That the Maya were exceptional astronomers is without question, close observation was made of celestial and terrestrial cycles, and what they found was recorded in the form of calendars. Their application of this data to predict weather patterns was no doubt of great assistance in matters agricultural. Ceremony and ritual were also intimately associated with these findings, with a priest class who's role was to interpret the data/calendars and make prophecies that dictated the future actions of the empire. Would the future be a time of bounty or a time of strife? Are the heavens in a favourable position?

The Mayans being rather organized had several calendars, but it is the 'long count' calendar that has great importance. This calendar was the point of reference for any significant/historical social events. Indeed it is so well formed, our western calendar can be linked to it and this has allowed modern scholars to discover the now infamous date that lies so close on the horizon. Apparently for the first time in five thousand years the long count calendar finishes a cycle. In 2012.

Our understanding of the Mayan calendar is derived from the Mayan texts or codex', in particular the Dresden codex (named for the area in Germany in which it is stored). Measuring eight inches in height and eleven feet in length it is made from Amatl paper (fig-bark covered with a lime paste) this is then folded in the manner of an accordion.

Of all the surviving pre-Columbian texts, the largest amount of astronomical data is found in the Dresden codex, it also contains pictures. Very interesting pictures indeed. For example the last page of the Dresden codex appears to show the destruction of the earth by water with the Mayan Goddess Chac Chel pouring water from a jar and the great sky crocodile raining water from its mouth to drown the world.

Needless to say this portends annihilation by deluge. On the bright side it could be worse, say death by fire, I for one can swim but I am certainly not fire proof.

It is in a number of writings that date from the late 15th/early sixteenth century that the most specific information regarding 2012 calendar predictions can be found. Called Chilam Balam ("oracular priest" and "jaguar") this collection of only nine writings named after Yucatan townships appear to be a combination of both Mayan and Spanish beliefs. Consisting mainly of calendrics, astrology, history (both pre-Spanish and colonial) and herbal medicine

It is impossible to cover the Mayan civilization without paying mention to the remarkable and enigmatic figure of Lord Pacal Votan. Lord Pacal it is said, came from across the sea to the Yucatan peninsula from his homeland. A place called Valum Chivim, that was struck by catastrophe and sunk beneath the waves. Residing in the holy city of Palenque, he was a culture bearer and prophet to the ancient peoples of the Yucatan region in the 7th century a.d. A teacher of great wisdom who performed miracles of healing, understood mathematics and intriguingly was known as a magician of time, able to maneouver his way through dimensions. I'm sure modern day quantum physicists would love a chat with Lord Pacal Votan, regarding worm holes and string theory. Even with his death the mystery of Lord Pacal deepened, i refer of course to his remarkable and intricately carved sarcophagus lid. The mind boggles.

It is Lord Pacal Votans prophetic message that reverberates so poignantly at this point in human history. Lord Pacal speaks of the end of this World Age Cycle on December 21st, 2012 AD. As this date approaches, we are experiencing nothing less than the death throws of the old world dying and the birth pains of a new world being born.

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