The Prophecy of Transition to a New Age

Taken from “The Mayan Prophecies for 2012” by Gerald Benedict

Then creation dawned upon the world. During the creation thirteen infinite steps added to seven was the count of the creation of the world. Then a new world dawned for them.” Chilam Balam of Chumayel

The Message

The Mayan fifth World Age is drawing to a close; the sixth will begin in 2012. This marks the start of a new Great Cycle of time and the resetting of the clock of precession. We are, thus, between ages, a period known as the ‘Apocalypse’, meaning a time of revelation or disclosure. The prophecy combines with others that speak of the recovery of ancient wisdom, the assimilation of new truths, and the opportunity humanity will have to work out is problems responsibly by the choices it makes.

Commentary

The transition of our civilization into a new age is a theme running through the Mayan prophecies and is probably the most familiar of them. The energy for the prophecy is derived from Mayan astrology, which in its modern form has kept us mindful of the astrological ages which are believed to mark progressive and significant changes in the development of humanity. The astrological age is determined approximately 26 000 years. What is termed “The Great Year of Pisces” ran from 25300 BCE to 500 CE during which Neanderthal man became extinct, Homo sapiens emerged, and the Mayan Long Count Calendar found its start date in 3114 BCE. The present Great Year, which began in 500CE,will conclude in 26 300 CE, and the ‘New Age’ of Aquarius will begin sometime between 2060 CE and 2100 CE. However, we are already under the ‘orb of influence of Aquarius’ which, it is suggested, will guide humanity’s escape from the confines of the Earth (its cradle) and its journey out into the universe. What this aspect of the prophecy speaks of, is a new migration that will settle other planets once the great tribal migrations settled regions of the Earth.

Astrology apart, it is important to understand that the Mayan prophecy of a New Age does not stand alone, but resonates with other traditions, such as Vedic Hinduism’s life-cycles of the Earth which are of 24 000 years duration. Each cycle was divided into four yugas, or ages of varying lengths, the Kali Yuga, a dark, materialistic age; the Dwapara Yuga, electrical or atomic age; the Treta Yuga, the mental age; and the Satya Yuga, the age of truth or enlightenment. In Hindu thought we are now in the Swapara Yuga of electronics, atomic energy and technology, or what Arguelles calls, the ‘Technosphere.’ Buddhism has world cycles corresponding to various mental states, such as desire, anger and fear, purity and trance, the cycles charting the karma-influenced spiritual evolution of the individual and humanity. Judaism looks to the ‘Messianic Age’, Christianity to its fulfilment with the second coming of Jesus. The Mayan prophecy of a New Age is therefore consistent with the collective perception of other established spiritual energies.

The Mayan elders understand that we are, at present, between worlds, and that during this ‘apocalyptic’ period two things will happen. The first is that new truths will be revealed though the rediscovery of Mayan wisdom and the second is that we will have the chance, both individually and collectively to re-order our priorities, and by arriving at the end affecting the right decisions, resolve the problems facing planet Earth. This is the agenda for the apocalyptic interim period leading to 2012 and the start of the New Age. In a sense, humanity is therefore on trial, currently working out its salvation ‘with fear and trembling.’

That the world is actually moving towards its physical end is doubtful, but this possibility needs to be considered. Even if the destruction of the world is not yet on the agenda, our passage to and beyond 2012 may not be easy since :

The polluted energy of the collective unconsciousness will turn against humanity. Whatever happens, it will be an expression of the energy that is radiated by humanity that is unable to live in peace and to make the right choices for peace, welfare, health and inner spirituality.’

However, the consensus among scholars suggests that while our transit between the Age of Pisces and Aquarius will be difficult, even threatening, the New Age offers a hugely positive potential involving profound changes at every level of life. The great Hindu guru Swami Sri Yukteswar (1855-1936) prophesied that the Atomic Age, the Swapara Yuga referred to above, is a new ascending age in the life of our planet, during which we are destined to witness far-reaching changes in our religious, social, economic and political institutions. His is an independent prophecy entirely in accord with that of the Maya.

Contemporary Mayan elders who have recovered and are disseminating the ancient wisdom, teach that this interim period is given to us as an opportunity to heal our abuse of the planet, to reconcile our antagonisms and to work harmoniously for the future. The calendars indicate that we are passing through the 13^th and final 394-solar year batkun cycle which, according to the prophecies, would be characterized by ‘the triumph of materialism’, and the transformation of matter’. During this last baktun which began approximately 1618CE and which will end in 2012 CE humanity has become increasingly disconnected from the primal energies of Nature, thus severing itself from the natural energies on which people best thrive.

Summary

Our transition towards a New Age offers us a period of probation during which we have the opportunity to make the decision to improve and stabilize our relationships and to accept our responsibility for the Earth. It is only by making such positive choices, that we can begin to solve the problems we face. In Mayan cosmology, the New Age signifies the creation of a new world; hopefully this will mean regeneration for humanity and the planet’s ecology.