The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies, and Possibilities

This title was one of the first to delve into the mystery of the Mayan calendar's predictions for 2012. A compendium written by people who have studied 2012 for some time, this book reads much like a "Chicken Soup for the Cosmic-Shifter's Soul," offering many different theories and possibilities for the future. Most of these support the idea that humanity is currently going through a profound moment of spiritual evolution and consciousness, which will culminate at the end of the Mayan long-count calendar.

Ultimately, this is a book of hope, albeit one with a new-age slant (and why wouldn't it - the "new age" of Aquarius begins around the same time that the Mayan calendar ends) so be prepared to open your mind to a whole new reality... A time when peace really will guide the planets and love will steer the stars! Highly recommended.

Eric Rankin, author of The Aquarians: An Ancient Mayan Prophecy--A Modern Phenomenon

whatever you believe about the not to distant future, if you can give this an honest look see, this is probably one of the most comprehensive glances into the might be's and very possibles.. and to boot, it's the best, coz it's not a doomsayers manual i believe, but rather, given towards rather seeing the opportunities that lie ahead. If you've read one of the net's inventors, clifford Stoll's Silicon Snake Oil, and his call back to being grounded, this is the larger or extended picture to that. I ran across this book, after many diferent things in different ways came together. I didn't want to be a cynic anymore, I really don't think that's healthy, but I do desire to be a moderate realist... and this might just be a decent start

I purchased this book under the assumption that I would be able to walk away with an understanding of the Mayan calendar and it's "Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities", since 2012 obviously has a close affinity to it. About eighty-percent of the authors never even allude to the Mayans, so this definitely does not ameliorate one's intellect on them. There are indeed authors of essays that do elaborate on the subject of the Mayans and go more into detail about their perspective utilizing elements from the Mayan culture. However, there are others, which is unfortunately the masses, and even if I am partial to attributes of their interpretations, that had me quite incensed. The only reason I would simultaneously retort these and advocate certain elements is a thing called constructive criticism. Personally, I think most that buy this book will buy it thinking that it is the amalgam of interpretations from Mayan researches. I think this perspective is innocuous and highly probable for the reason I identified in my initiatory sentence. It is irritating to read about a perspective and not once hear anything about the Mayans or 2012, or at the end of the essay you read, "When is this going to happen, 2012." Considering the lure of 2012 was exclusive to an interpretation of the Mayan calendar-apparently now it is ubiquitous to everything-I would have liked to have seen more interpretations backed by concrete evidence rendered from valid research of Mayan documents. In summary, if you would like to learn more about the Mayans, their Long and Short count calendars and their connection to 2012-which I implore-read another book and stop here with this review. Then, and only then, may I suggest you return for a sojourn here.

With that misconception aside, I can review the book for what it is. The Mystery of 2012 consists of four bodies of "Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities":

The Mayan Calendar and Mayan Cosmovision (4 essays)
Science, Business and Politics in the Context of 2012 (6 essays)
Spirituality, Signs, and Symbolism Surrounding 2012 (8 essays)
A New Humanity: Evolution Toward 2012 and Beyond (6 essays)

Even though I bought the book with an erroneous assumption of its subject matter it is definitely worth reading. However, there are two words of warning that I must draw forth: 1) This book consists of a preponderance of New Age writers and interpretations. Therefore, if you are biased to the archaic interpretations of spiritual scriptures then you may want to obviate this reading. 2) At times, depending upon where your interests lie, it is a very soporific book. So, there may be things that you trudge through that you find superfluous and/or find resonance in one or two sentences in the essay. Quite literally there will be articles in the book that brings you much elation, and the contiguous article you may think is just simply persiflage, or a rendition that contradicts the former altogether.

Within these pages are a myriad of interpretations of life's multitudinously existing and ubiquitous facets, consisting of: healthcare, cosmology, astrology, spirituality, politics, economy, global warming, evolution, computers, apocalyptic end, enlightenment...etc. My reading of even the most marginal essay in this book has definitely yielded some sort of profundity not even relating to the 2012 or the Mayans. Not to mention several authors that write about varying subjects that seem quite intriguing and are worth further expedition. There really is no need to critique each essay or advocate the more personally interesting ones, because they are too great in number for an effective book review.

In the end, place the Mayans and their calendar aside, and view this book from the perspective of, "Where is our society headed in the next four years, and beyond?" We do not need to seek ancient knowledge to understand that the world is changing, dramatically and exponentially. I do think there is a great shift coming to our society, be it malignant or enlightening, or both-malignant and then subsequently enlightened. I have found that many try to rebuke the 2012 scenario by comparing it to the year 2000 or Y2K, I do not think these years are even marginally close in comparison. Regardless if you feel that all this is New Age "mumbo-jumbo" and completely inane, there is a truth that exists that you cannot remain ascetic to: the world is stretched beyond its capacity to contain the insidious effects of human behavior for eons, and we are seeing the now precipitously engaged ideologies of today are causing a level of moral, economic, natural, political, spiritual, intellectual, and familial dissolution, GLOBALLY, that cannot be abated. The velocity of its impetus must/will takes its course. We are on the verge of World War III due to America's jingoism and the controlling global elite pursuing profit over ubiquitously affable and viable relationships. The galactic clock is churning and there are events in store for this world that we are not going to be able to alter.

For my rendition, especially if you look at other prophecies throughout the world-the Hopi, the Mayans, the Indian (Vedic tablets), the Taoist, the Buddhist, the Christians, etc-is that this is indeed an inevitable event that will be the time that allows us to ascertain a new level of consciousness and being. Will it be in 2012 or 2050? I do not know, but a profound event is imminent. Maybe that will come from the ashes of what is World War III, another American Revolution (since the Federal government has nearly dissolved the State and municipal levels, manufactures solidarity, liberalism and political apathy in our public schools, obviates teaching the PRINCIPLES that this nation was founded upon, fuels the concrescence of our State militia with the Federal troops, continues to endeavor in the erection of the Police State by fighting the "terrorist" and finally, culling out the "terrorist"-or political dissension- with things like the Patriot Act), an asteroid striking Earth, a nuclear terrorists attack, etc.

History has shown us that it repeats itself by recurring tantamount events, and that is not a theory or an extrapolation. Whatever it may be, enlightenment or apocalyptic, I am ready.

essays run the gambit from explaining the Mayan calendar to evidences of global change for the better as well as theories of extraterestrial explainations for the source of the Maya themselves. i found the book comforting and non alarmist as well as broad in scope. a very useful book for those who are wondering what 2012 is all about

I enjoyed this more than any other book written on the subject! To me the author appeard to be very well studied on the subject with great insight of a more realistic view, but yet a very profound spiritual perspective. This book resonated with my own beliefs about 2012. It truly gives hope for a new and positive outcome instead of the doom/gloom in all other books I have read in the past. Good read for anyone wanting to explore the spritual effects of what 2012 is really about.