Page Page Page Page 6 www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca www.thegreengazette.ca Dec/Jan 2012 Dec/Jan 2012 Dec/Jan 2012 Dec/Jan 2012-13 13 13 13 THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE THEGREENGAZETTE The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar H ollywood’s doomsday films may have made famous the final day of the last baktun, but long before Hollywood, researchers around the world were work- ing on deciphering the meaning of the final day. Countless meanings have been brought forward for consideration and criticism, and as we approach December 21, 2012, one thing is clear—no one knows exactly what will happen or the meaning of the end date. I have been journeying for many years both physically and mentally— contemplating ancient prophecies, visiting ruins, speaking to remaining Mayans, and reading what I can on all the subjects of prophecy from lost civilizations that have come before us. The driving force behind my curiosity, something we all ask our- selves from time to time, is Who am I? Where do I come from? And where am I going? Perhaps in the understanding of our ancient past we can understand what our future holds; however, as I sit here now, typing this article, I still have no clear answers to any of these questions. The clues to these prophecies, I have discovered, are embedded in many intriguing artefacts such as the Popol Vuh (a body of mytho-historical narratives of the Post Classic K'iche' kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands); the architecture and astronomy of ancient buildings; stone carvings; the Dresden Codex (a pre-Columbian Maya book of the eleventh century of the Yucatecan Maya); and the Maya Long Count calen- dar system. Each of these ancient wonders has brought about tales of how the end date will affect humankind, from end-of- the-world apocalyptic scenarios, to the return of a god, to the spiritual transforma- tion of man, to the visitation of beings from another planet or dimension. Let your imagination decide. Of course, all of these prophecies are based on theories and are a matter of opinion, as I have come to realize for every supporting theory there exists an equal debunking theory. Theory aside, one thing can not be denied: the astronomical and mathematical intelligence of the Mayan people can not be explained. Mayan astronomers were so dedicated to their beliefs that it pervaded every single aspect of their lives. Every day had its position in the stars and every day had meaning. Their most significant contribution was definitely the calendar system—a combination of many different interlocking calendars that is even more accurate than the Georgian Calendar we use today. The two main calendars were the Tzolkin (a 260-day calendar) and the Haab (a 365-day calendar). The two calendars ran concur- rently, and were joined together to form another unit of measuring time: the calen- dar round (a 52-year cycle). The Mayans also used the Long Count calendar in con- junction with these other calendars and incorporated them into some of their pyra- mids, including El Castillo. El Castillo has four stairways (sides) each bearing ninety- one steps, plus the top platform for a total of 365 days. The design also reflects the equinoxes and solstice of our solar year. During these equinoxes the sun casts a shadow of a serpent that descends the staircase to join its carved head at the ground level. The Mayans had advanced knowl- (Continued on page 7) El Castillo, the temple of Kukulkan in Chichen Itza, Mexico. During the spring and fall equinoxes a shadow cast by the sun creates an illusion of a massive serpent descending the pyramid. By Teena Clipston The Last Baktun - a time period of 5,125 years in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar that ends on December 21, 2012. This 1,300-year-old inscription is described as on of the most significant finds in decades, discovered this past June in Guatemala at the La Corona dig site. “ewly discovered stone carvings confirm ‘end date’ of Mayan calendar The second known inscription to confirm the end date of the Mayan calendar has been discovered this past June in Guatemala at the La Corona dig site. The find is being noted as one of the most significant hieroglyphic discovery in decades. Most of the carved inscription deals with political history; however, there is a reference to the end and a king’s return in the year 2012.”
The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: The Last Baktun: Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar Deciphering the Mayan Calendar
H ollywood’s doomsday films
may have made famous the
final day of the last baktun,
but long before Hollywood,
researchers around the world were work-
ing on deciphering the meaning of the
final day. Countless meanings have been
brought forward for consideration and
criticism, and as we approach December
21, 2012, one thing is clear—no one
knows exactly what will happen or the
meaning of the end date.
I have been journeying for many years both physically and mentally—
contemplating ancient prophecies, visiting ruins, speaking to remaining Mayans, and
reading what I can on all the subjects of prophecy from lost civilizations that have come before us. The driving force behind
my curiosity, something we all ask our-selves from time to time, is Who am I?
Where do I come from? And where am I
going? Perhaps in the understanding of our ancient past we can understand what
our future holds; however, as I sit here now, typing this article, I still have no
clear answers to any of these questions. The clues to these prophecies, I have discovered, are embedded in many
intriguing artefacts such as the Popol Vuh (a body of mytho-historical narratives of
the Post Classic K'iche' kingdom in Guatemala's western highlands); the architecture and astronomy of ancient
buildings; stone carvings; the Dresden Codex (a pre-Columbian Maya book of the eleventh century of the Yucatecan
Maya); and the Maya Long Count calen-dar system. Each of these ancient wonders
has brought about tales of how the end date will affect humankind, from end-of-the-world apocalyptic scenarios, to the
return of a god, to the spiritual transforma-tion of man, to the visitation of beings
from another planet or dimension. Let
your imagination decide. Of course, all of these prophecies
are based on theories and are a matter of opinion, as I have come to realize for every supporting theory there exists an
equal debunking theory. Theory aside, one thing can not be
denied: the astronomical and mathematical intelligence of the Mayan people can not be explained. Mayan astronomers were so
dedicated to their beliefs that it pervaded every single aspect of their lives. Every day had its position in the stars and every
day had meaning. Their most significant contribution was definitely the calendar
system—a combination of many different interlocking calendars that is even more accurate than the Georgian Calendar we
use today. The two main calendars were
the Tzolkin (a 260-day calendar) and the
Haab (a 365-day calendar). The two calendars ran concur-
rently, and were joined together to form another unit of measuring time: the calen-dar round (a 52-year cycle). The Mayans
also used the Long Count calendar in con-junction with these other calendars and
incorporated them into some of their pyra-mids, including El Castillo. El Castillo has four stairways (sides) each bearing ninety-
one steps, plus the top platform for a total of 365 days. The design also reflects the equinoxes and solstice of our solar year.
During these equinoxes the sun casts a shadow of a serpent that descends the
staircase to join its carved head at the ground level. The Mayans had advanced knowl-
(Continued on page 7)
El Castillo, the temple of Kukulkan in Chichen Itza, Mexico.
During the spring and fall equinoxes a shadow cast by the sun creates an illusion of a massive serpent descending the pyramid.
By Teena Clipston
The Last Baktun - a time period of 5,125 years in the Mesoamerican Long Count
calendar that ends on December 21, 2012. This 1,300-year-old inscription is described as on of the most significant finds in
decades, discovered this past June in Guatemala at the La Corona dig site.
“/ewly discovered stone carvings
confirm ‘end date’ of Mayan calendar
The second known inscription to confirm the end date of the Mayan calendar has
been discovered this past June in Guatemala at the La Corona dig site. The
find is being noted as one of the most significant hieroglyphic discovery in
decades. Most of the carved inscription deals with political history; however,
there is a reference to the end and a king’s return in the year 2012.”
Cycling the Pacific Ring of Fire, “volcano-hopping” by mountain bike around the globe’s largest ocean is an expedition of epic proportions undertaken by Canadian adventurers Janick Lemieux and Pierre Bouchard.
Come and meet these passionate reporters as they share their tales and dis-coveries gathered during the third and final stage of this ambitious “cyclovolcanic” quest. While coming full circle, the couple rode some 25,000 km between Indonesia and Can-ada, exploring on bikes volcanic isles and peninsulas of Asia, Far East Russia, and Alaska, remote and magical spots of Western Canada, and the Ring of Fire’s very centre, bull’s eye ... Hawaii.
“Cycling the Pacific Ring of Fire part 3 ... Full Circle” is a multimedia docu-mentary presentation of the adventures they’ve endured and scenes Lemieux and Bou-chard witnessed during 27 months in the saddle between Jakarta and Vancouver, a chronicle of the closing stage of this incredible and outstanding mega MTB-trek. Along the way, the pair got familiar with volcanoes and folks of Indonesia, the Philippines, Tai-wan, Japan, Russia’s Kurils and Kamchatka, Alaska, Western Canada, and Hawaii. Over a thousand stunning images, several original video excerpts, along with animated maps and graphics, the adventurers portray their fabulous journey with witty and insightful commentary and observations, intertwined with melodies and rhythms of Montreal com-poser Martin Tremblay. This highly volatile, explosive and “subversive” cocktail of cul-ture, nature, and adventure will sure enthral you.
Janick Lemieux and Pierre Bouchard have been patrolling the world on their burdened bikes, seeking adventures and searching for the people and landscapes of our planet, since 1990. Besides seeing their work published in magazines around the world, they are long-time regular contributors to Canada’s Pedal Magazine, Vélo Mag, and Géo Plein Air.
As part of Pedal Magazine’s “Cycling the Pacific Ring of Fire part 3 ... Full Circle” pan-Canadian lecture series, the two globetrotters on wheels will stop over in Williams Lake to present their inspirational and captivating account at the Central Cari-boo Arts Center on Thursday December 6, 2012 at 7 p.m. Admission is for all ages is $10 and tickets will be available at the door.
Read an in-depth interview with Lemieux and Bouchard on page ?. The last page of the Dresden Codex
written by the Yucatecan Maya in
Chichen Itza depicting a great flood
flowing from the mouth of a celestial
dragon, representing the Central
American notion of apocalypse. Photos
of all pages can be found at http://
www.famsi.org/mayawriting/codices/
edge of astronomy and mathematics and were obsessed with time and space—that
is what makes the end of the Long Count calendar so mysterious. They believed our lives are embedded in a large cycle of
natural rhythms connected to the move-ment of constellations and other celestial
bodies. Like many ancient cultures, the Mayans integrated astronomy into their architecture. In some of these buildings
and stone carvings, celestial calculations and glyphs also provide information on the end date. Everything was intercon-
nected within time and space and predic-tions and prophecies were made based on
this astrology. On a recent visit to the ancient ru-ins in Chichen Itza, Mexico where El Cas-
tillo the temple of Mayan deity Kukulkan (or “Feathered Serpent” also translated as
“Man with Beard”) stands, I spoke with Mayan tour guide Jesus who correlated the end date with the return of Kukulkan.
Unlike the short dark-skinned Mayan peo-ple, Kukulkan was described as a tall
white man bearing a long white beard. Where he came from is unclear; however, some say he came from heaven to earth.
Mayan folklore suggests he was a mysti-cal man who brought love and penitence
to the people. He also had the power to heal the sick and bring the dead back to life.
When he departed, he promised the Mayan people he would return. Unfortu-nately in 1519, the Mayan people mistook
the arrival of Spanish Conquistador Her-nando Cortés with the return of Kukulkan.
The Mayan people welcomed the Con-quistador and in return the Spaniard al-most annihilated the Mayan population.
Ironically baring the same name, my tour guide Jesus believes that Kukulkan is in-
deed Jesus Christ. What I find intriguing about this claim is this is not the first time I have
heard it. In 2011 my travels and research brought me to the Hopi Reservation in
Arizona where a similar legend was told to me by anthropologist and Hopi tribal chairman Micah Loma’omvaya. Micah
spoke about the return of the lost white brother, Pahana, who will come at the end
of the age. The correlation between the two accounts can not be coincidental. Comparable accounts can also be told in
Aztecan myths in reference to the return of Quetzalcoatl.
A different account of the end date was described to me by Mayan tour guide Miguel while visiting the Maya ruins of
Gervasio on Cozumel Island in Mexico. Miguel supported the idea that end date may indeed bring about destruction,
linked to an astronomical event called the Galactic Alignment. I was surprised to
hear Miguel bring up the galactic align-ment theory as I had always believed the theory to be part of a new age fringe sci-
ence mentality. Perhaps Miguel had been influ-
enced by such ideas. I will never know; however, simple calculations inevitably show a link between the Galactic Align-
ment and the Mayan calendar system. The Mayan legends state we are in the fifth
and final world, each world lasting 5,125 years. Multiplied by five, this brings us to 25,625 years. Every 25,800 approximate
years, the sun completes a full 360 degree
(Continued from page 6)
rotation through the zodiac. It appears,
from Earth, that on the December solstice the Sun and the Milky Way come into
alignment. The position shifts slightly every year based on the wobble of the earth. On December 21, 2012, it will ap-
pear to be halfway or in the center of the Milky Way, crossing the galactic equator.
This is certainly an amazing celestial event, but it does not explain how the cycler event would cause any type of
destruction. Perhaps some clues to any sort of doom can be uncovered on page 74, the
last page of the Dresden Codex, or in the Popul Vuh, both of which describe a
coming destruction on the end date. According to the Popol Vuh, we are living in the fourth world. The book
explains that the gods created three previ-ous failed worlds all of which have been
destroyed. The same fate is predicted to befall us at the end of the fourth world. The Dresden Codex supports this claim
by suggesting a great flood will come at the end of the age.
However, don’t let all this gloom and doom depress you… According to Mayan Elder Carlos Barrios of Guate-
mala, and many others, there will be no doom at all but a transformation into a
new age of the 5th sun. An age of con-sciousness, as the earth aligns with the heart of the galaxy we will all be raised
into a higher vibration - bringing light, love, and peace into the next age.
