2012...The Hopi Prophecies (cont)

I hope you've all had a pleasant few days since my last post. I'd like to thank all of you who've shown enough interest, thus far, to join this blog, as well as the hundreds of folks who've dropped by for a look-see. I'm gratified to be among the millions of people who have felt a calling... a very real NEED...to look for answers in this age old quest to discover the truth behind the nature of our existence.
Last time in our examination of the prophesies relating to our current year, 2012, we were exploring the predictions made by the Hopi, a culture of Native Americans found in Arizona; specifically, the "Nine Signs" of the end of what they refer to as "The Fourth Age", which is, according to their reckoning, our own times. The nine signs, which I listed in my last post on this subject, were first published in a mimeographed manuscript that circulated among several Methodist and Presbyterian churches in 1959. They have since become famous and have been related in many books, articles, documentaries, and websites. Some of the prophecies were published in 1963 by Frank Waters in "The Book of the Hopi". The account begins by describing how, while driving along a desert highway one hot day in the summer of 1958, a minister named David Young stopped to offer a ride to an Indian elder, who accepted with a nod. After riding in silence for several minutes, the Indian said:
"I am White Feather, a Hopi of the ancient Bear Clan. In my long life I have traveled through this land, seeking out my brothers, and learning from them many things full of wisdom. I have followed the sacred paths of my people, who inhabit the forests and many lakes in the east, the land of ice and long nights in the north, and the places of holy altars of stone built many years ago by my brothers' fathers in the south. From all these I have heard the stories of the past, and the prophecies of the future. Today, many of the prophecies have turned to stories, and few are left -- the past grows longer, and the future grows shorter.
"And now White Feather is dying. His sons have all joined his ancestors, and soon he too shall be with them. But there is no one left, no one to recite and pass on the ancient wisdom. My people have tired of the old ways -- the great ceremonies that tell of our origins, of our emergence into the Fourth World, are almost all abandoned, forgotten, yet even this has been foretold. The time grows short."
He then went on to relate the nine signs. The first sign, you may recall, goes like this:
"This is the First Sign: We are told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, but not living like Pahana men who took the land that was not theirs...who struck their enemies with thunder."
What does this sign refer to? The term "Pahana" seems to refer to white skinned people, the first of which White Feather refers to is from the ancient Hopi mythology. From Wikipedia:
* The true Pahana (or Bahana) is the Lost White Brother of the Hopi [which] left for the east at the time that the Hopi entered the Fourth World and began their migrations. However, the Hopi say that he will return again and at his coming the wicked will be destroyed and a new age of peace, the "Fifth World", will be ushered into the world.*
Obviously, the other "Pihana" men were the Caucasian Americans and Europeans who settled the west.
You may recall, from your high school history lessons, that many Native American cultures, upon meeting the Spanish invaders, thought that these were indeed the ancient white "great ones" that had visited the natives in the ancient past, and had promised to return. The implications of this are yet another fascinating aspect of these prophecies. Who were these ancient white-skinned "gods", or "great ones", in the first place? Will they, as the prophecies state, indeed return to signal the end times, or great change which many believe will come? It is becoming more prevalent in popular culture and, indeed, among a growing group of scholars, that these descriptions refer to extraterrestrials. There is another group of ancient beings in Hopi mythology, very similar to the Pihanas, called "Kachinas", or Ant People, the stories of which some say lend credence to this proposition. The Kachina belief, or cult, in the Hopi culture, which has been traced back to at least 1300 A.D., is based in the belief that there is a life force in all things in creation, whether animate or inanimate. All humans must be able to properly interact with this force in order to survive.
The Kachinas are said by the Hopi to be other worldly beings, sent to help humanity, that took up residence in the San Fransisco peaks, near Flagstaff, Arizona. Kachina dolls, which are still made today by the Hopi, are teaching tools which the Hopi use to teach their children the significance of the Kachinas. The Kachina dance, still practiced by the Hopi, involves the wearing of masks which are used to portray the Kachinas. There appears to be some credence to the theory that they were of extraterrestrial origin. The Kachinas legend is similar to the Sumerian stories of the Anunaki, extraterrestrials said to be our creators and teachers. Also, the Hopi state that they descended from the "Anasazi". It's not difficult to see the similarity in the two names. It is also apparent that the Hopi thought far beyond themselves and the world around them, and speculated about life existing elsewhere in the cosmos and in places unseen by mortals.
An intriguing aspect of the Kachina cult is the presence of the belief in the Blue Star Kachina, an ancient Hopi legend. The Hopi believe that the appearance of this star, sometimes referred to as a "dwelling place" which some Hopi say will fall to earth, will usher in the end times. This is discussed in the ninth sign of White Feather, the Hopi elder I mentioned previously.
In my last post on this subject wherein we listed ALL of White Feather's nine signs of the coming of the end times, we see that he explained the first three signs as:
1) The coming of white man.
2) The coming of the white man's wagons.
3) The arrival of the white man's cattle.
The fourth sign, which speaks of the land being crossed by snakes of iron, was not specifically explained by White Feather, but the obvious conclusion which has been drawn by all who have speculated on it's meaning is that it refers to railroad tracks. The fifth sign, "The land shall be crisscrossed by a giant spider's web." , is one I'd like to comment on, as I have seen it misinterpreted on a number of television documentaries dealing with the 2012 prophecies. It's been speculated that this refers to the world wide web, or internet. I believe this is obviously inaccurate, as it's placement in the prophecies, coming after the arrival of cattle and before the sixth sign of the coming of "rivers of stone crisscrossing the land and making pictures in the sun"  (highways and their mirage producing effects) , clearly shows it is referring to the arrival of telegraph, telephone, and power lines.
The seventh sign, which states that the sea will turn black and cause many living things to die, could be a prediction of modern day oil spills.
The eighth sign, predicting youth with long hair developing an interest in native American culture and visiting tribal areas, could be speaking of the "Hippee" movement of the 1960's, though there is some uncertainty here.
We come now to the ninth and final sign. Because of it's significance, let's review.
"And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease."
Much speculation has been made as to what the blue star, or "Saquasohuh", in the Hopi language, refers to. Theories range from the falling to earth of the Skylab space station (a dwelling place) of the late 1970's to the arrival of "Nibiru", the fabled 12th planet spoken of in the Sumerian texts. Others have predicted it as the crashing of an asteroid or comet upon the earth, or the comet 17p/Holmes that came close to the earth in 2007. Some have even speculated that, again, because of it's description as a "dwelling place", that it could be the arrival of an extraterrestrial mother ship.
Whatever form this blue star takes; whatever it's origins, the indications are that great changes will take place. A complete rethinking of how we live our lives will be paramount to our survival.
In 1997, various Hopi Elders appeared with Art Bell on the popular radio show Coast To Coast A.M. to discuss what they foresaw for our planet and our species. Of course, their perspective is one born of their own culture and beliefs. A closer look, I believe, reveals a comparison with what some of us have read and been taught in Christian teachings, leaving out, of course, those Christian elements found in the Bible. I will leave you, and our look at the Hopi, with some of the transcript from that show, wherein one of the Hopi Elders spoke of what is to come:

" The story of the Blue Kachina is a very old story, very old. I have been aware of the story of the Blue Kachina since I was very young. I was told this story by grandfathers who are now between 80 and 108 years of age. Frank Waters also wrote about Saquasohuh, the Blue Star Kachina in The Book of the Hopi, The story came from Grandfather Dan, the Oldest Hopi.
"It was told to me that first the Blue Kachina would start to be seen at the dances, and would make his appearance known to the children in the plaza during the night dance. This event would tell us that the end times are very near.Then the Blue Star Kachina would physically appear in our heavens which would mean that we were in the end times.

"In the Final days we will look up in our heavens and we will witness the return of the two brothers who helped create this world in the birthing time. Poganghoya is the guardian of our North Pole and his Brother Palongawhoya is the guardian of the South pole. In the final days the Blue Star Katchina will come to be with his nephews and they will return the Earth to its natural rotation which is counter clock wise.

"This fact is evidenced in many petraglyphs that speak of the Zodiac, and within the Mayan and Egyptian pyramids. The rotation of the Earth has been manipulated by not so benevolent Star beings . The twins will be seen in our North Western skies. They will come and visit to see who still remembered the original teachings, flying in their Patuwvotas, or flying shields. They will bring many of their star family with them in the final days. 

 "The return of the Blue Star Katchina who is also known as Nan ga sohu will be the alarm clock that tells us of the new day and new way of life, a new world that is coming. This is where the changes will begin. They will start as fires that burn within us, and we will burn up with desires and conflict if we do not remember the original teachings, and return to the peaceful way of life.

" Not far behind the twins will come the Purifier, The Red Katchina, who will bring the Day of Purification. On this day the Earth, her creatures and all life as we know it will change forever. There will be messengers that will precede this coming of the Purifier. They will leave messages to those on Earth who remember the old ways. 

" The messages will be found written in the living stone, through the sacred grains, and even the waters. (Crop Circles have been found in ice) From the Purifier will issue forth a great Red Light. All things will change in their manner of being. Every living thing will be offered the opportunity to change from the largest to the smallest thing. 

"Those who return to the ways given to us in the original teachings, and live a natural way of life will not be touched by the coming of the Purifier. They will survive and build the new world. Only in the ancient teachings will the ability to understand the messages be found.  

"It is important to understand that these messages will be found upon every living thing, even within our bodies, even within a drop of our blood. All life forms will receive the messages from the twins.. those that fly, the plants, even the rabbit. The appearance of the twins begins a period of seven years and will be our final opportunity to change our ways. Everything we experience is all a mater of choice.  

"Many will appear to have lost their souls in these final days. So intense will the nature of the changes be that those who are weak in spiritual awareness will go insane, for we are nothing without spirit. They will disappear, for they are just hollow vessels for any thing to use. Life will be so bad in the cities that many will choose to leave this plane. Some in whole groups. (Mass suicides?)

"Only those who return to the values of the old ways will be able to find peace of mind. For in the Earth we shall find relief from the madness that will be all around us. It will be a very hard time for women with children for they will be shunned, and many of the children in these times will be unnatural. Some being from the Stars...some from past worlds...some will even be created by man in an unnatural manner and will be souless. Many people in this time will be empty in Spirit...they will have Sampacu...No life force in their eyes.
"As we get close to the time of arrival the Purifier, there will be those who walk as ghosts through the cities, through canyons they will have constructed in their man made mountains. Those that walk through these places will be very heavy in their walk; it will appear almost painful as they take each step, for they will be disconnected from their spirit and the Earth.
"After the arrival of the twins, they will begin to vanish before your eyes like so muck smoke. Others will have great deformities, both in the mind and upon their bodies. There will be those who would walk in the body that are not from this reality, for many of the gateways that once protected us will be opened, there will be much confusion. Confusion between sexes, and children and their elders.  

"Life will get very perverted, and there will be little social order. In these times many will ask for the mountains themselves to fall upon them just to end their misery (Revelation). Still others will appear as if untouched by what is occurring...the ones who remember the original teachings and have reconnected their hearts and spirit...those who remember who their mother and father is...the Pahana who have left to live in the Mountains and forest.  

"When the Purifier comes we will see him first as a small Red Star which will come very close and sit in our heavens watching us...watching us to see how well we have remembered the sacred teachings.  

"This Purifier will show us many miraculous signs in our heavens. In this way we will know the Creator is not a dream (again, Revelation). Even those who do not feel their connection to spirit will see the face of creator across the sky. Things unseen will be felt very strongly.  

" Many things will begin to occur that will not make sense, for reality will be shifting back in and out of the dream state. There will be many doorways to the lower world that will open at this time. Things long forgotten will come back to remind us of our past creations. All living things will want to be present for this day when time ends, and we enter the forever cycle of the Fifth World.  

"We will receive many warnings allowing us to change our ways from below the Earth as well as above. Then one morning in a moment. We will awaken to the Red Dawn. The sky will be the color of blood;  many things will then begin to happen that right now we are nor sure of their exact nature. For much of reality will not be as it is now.  

"There will be many strange beasts upon the Earth in those days, some from the past and some that we have never seen. The nature of mankind will appear strange in these times as we walk between worlds and we will house many spirits even within our bodies. After a time we will again walk with our brothers from the Stars, and rebuild this Earth, but not until the Purifier has left his mark upon the universe.
"No thing living will go untouched, here or in the heavens. The way through this time, it is said, is to be found in our hearts, and reuniting with our spiritual self...Getting simple and returning to living with and upon the Earth and in harmony with her creatures. Remembering that we are the caretakers, the fire keepers of the Spirit. Our relatives from the Stars are coming home to see how well we have faired in our journey."

Until next time, may you have peace of spirit, and joy in your heart.

Ladies, Gentlemen, Children Of All Ages...

Hey Gang...
Taking a few days off to get some much needed rest. Here's a little something to entertain you, in the meantime. Thanks to Bobby for the submission! Just click below!

Till next time, may you all be in peace, with joy in your hearts!

Link:
The AMAZING BEATLEJUG!

The Good Fight

Hi everyone,
Though we are in the midst of an in depth look at the possible events surrounding the 2012 enigma, today I'd like to take time out to share with you something I'm certain will move your heart. It's a subject most people don't think about, unless they or their loved ones are personally affected. I want to bring to your attention and, hopefully, stir you to action in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis.

As I'm sure you all know, Cystic Fibrosis is a terrible disease.

*Approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have cystic fibrosis. An additional ten million more—or about one in every 31 Americans—are carriers of the defective CF gene, but do not have the disease. CF is most common in Caucasians, but it can affect all races. The effects are devastating. It causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly the lungs and pancreas. When mucus clogs the lungs, it can make breathing very difficult. The thick mucus also causes bacteria (or germs) to get stuck in the airways, which causes inflammation (or swelling) and infections that lead to lung damage. 
Most people are diagnosed with CF at birth through newborn screening, or before the age of 2. A doctor who sees the symptoms of CF will order a sweat test or a genetic test to confirm the diagnosis. Currently, there is no cure for cystic fibrosis. However, specialized medical care, aggressive drug treatments and therapies, along with proper CF nutrition, can lengthen and improve the quality of life for those with CF. There is no way to accurately predict how long a person with cystic fibrosis will live, as many different factors affect a person’s health. Severity of disease and time of diagnosis are two such factors. Many people have a mild case of CF, while others can have moderate or severe cases.*
A very dear friend of mine, Tara Sullivan, was blessed with having a wonderful son with CF.  His mother, my friend, lost him not long ago to this terrible affliction. His name was BJ Barker. Tara and BJ are pictured above. To say my friend was blessed by BJ and his plight is no cliche'. BJ lived many years, and was an outstanding young man...truly a person of the highest caliber; loyal to his friends, a loving brother to his siblings, and the light of his mothers life. He "fought the good fight" his entire life, refusing to allow CF to dictate the terms under which he lived. He was loved by all who knew him, and is missed, though not forgotten. His life served and continues to serve and shine as an example of how one must live a life...as if today is the only day we have. The effect he had on all that knew him can not be measured. I, unfortunately, did not have the pleasure of knowing him well;  still, I can visibly see and feel the mark he made in this world by observing his legacy in those that were blessed with BJ in their lives as they carry on, having him forever entrenched in their hearts. 
If there ever was, in this world, a cause worthy of your support, the fight against Cystic Fibrosis uniquely qualifies. I'd like to encourage you to visit the Cystic Fibrosis website at www.cff.org, and see how you too can lend yourself, your time, your passion, or your financial resources to this, the worthiest of causes. 

Next time, we'll resume our 2012 series. Until then, may you be in peace, with love and joy in your heart. 

Wade

*Info provided by www.cff.org

2012 (contiued)

Today, we'll continue our look at the question of what, if anything, will happen on December 21, 2012. Upon what did the Mayans base the end of the long count calendar, and it's completion on this date?
The Mayans, over many generations of observation, developed an incredible knowledge of the heavens. They were able to view the night sky with stunning clarity, as it was seen long before the advent of electricity. There was, of course, no diminishment of perception as is caused today by the glare of dazzingly lit cities. Studious onlookers were able to clearly view the movements of thousand of stars,  planets, and comets, as well as the grand panorama of the edge-on view of our Milky Way galaxy. From this precise, continuous surveillance, they were able to work out the cyclic movements of celestial objects to an unbelieveably exacting degree. They were able to correctly determine that our solar system will cross the galactic equator around the time of December 21, 2012, which, through earthly eyes, will be seen as the rising sun converging with the center of our galaxy. This, as we covered earlier, marks the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar. It began, some 5126 years ago, with the same celestial event. According to the texts, the age began with a destructive earth movement, and will end with such. Most astronomers concur as to the veracity of the Mayans' astronomical determinations. No widely accepted mainstream science validates the destruction scenario, but there are many scholars who have put forward compelling theories that earth changes, solar events, and astronomical anomalies may occur.
The Mayan mythology involved is a subject I won't detail here, except to relate that therein are contained tales of creation, destruction, feuding gods, and analogies to the galictic alignment in allegorical form; indeed, the importance of the ailgnment is clearly demonstrated.
From here, we'll move on from the Mayan aspect of our discussion, to another native American culture, the Hopi Indians. Though the Hopi do not actually prophesy an exact date for the end of the age, many elders do agree that the date of December 21, 2012, closely matches the time frame spoken of in Hopi Prophesy.
*The Hopi originated from a group of Southwestern people called the Pueblo. Their villages are located on the mesa tops or flat topped hills located in northeast Arizona. The Old Oraibi village was founded around 1100 AD. It is the oldest inhabited settlement within the United States.*
The Hopi claim to have originated in areas south of the U.S. border, from Mexico and into Central America, but this is not well documented.
What do the Hopi prophesies say? The Hopi believe we are in the fourth world, or age, of creation, which is VERY similar to Mayan philosophy. Here are some examples:
"When the Blue Star Kachina makes its appearance in the heavens, the Fifth World will emerge". This will be the Day of Purification. The Hopi name for the star Sirius is Blue Star Kachina. It will come when the Saquasohuh (Blue
Star) Kachina dances in the plaza and removes his mask..."
 There are a number of signs, according to thr Hopi, that signal the movement toward the end of the age:
"The Fourth World shall end soon, and the Fifth World will begin. This the elders everywhere know. The Signs over many years have been fulfilled, and so few are left.
"This is the First Sign: We are told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, but not living like Pahana men who took the land that was not theirs. And men who struck their enemies with thunder.
"This is the Second Sign: Our lands will see the coming of spinning wheels filled with voices. In his youth, my father saw this prophecy come true with his eyes -- the white men bringing their families in wagons across the prairies."
"This is the Third Sign: A strange beast like a buffalo but with great long horns, will overrun the land in large numbers. These White Feather saw with his eyes -- the coming of the white men's cattle."
"This is the Fourth Sign: The land will be crossed by snakes of iron."
"This is the Fifth Sign: The land shall be criss-crossed by a giant spider's web."
"This is the Sixth sign: The land shall be criss-crossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun."
"This is the Seventh Sign: You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it."
"This is the Eight Sign: You will see many youth, who wear their hair long like my people, come and join the tribal nations, to learn their ways and wisdom.
"And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease.
"These are the Signs that great destruction is coming. The world shall rock to and fro. The white man will battle against other people in other lands -- with those who possessed the first light of wisdom. (Mesopotami?)There will be many columns of smoke and fire such as White Feather has seen the white man make in the deserts not far from here. Only those which come will cause disease and a great dying."
We'll look closely at those prophesies next time, as we continue the series on 2012.

Until then, and as always, may you be in peace!


*http://www.mahalo.com/hopi-tribe/

Hello...It's Me

Wade Hutson

Hello All! Thought you might want a look at who's words you've been reading! Today and tonight have been very busy for me. We'll continue our 2012 discussion tomorrow night! Till then...
May you all be blessed with happiness and peace of mind!
Wade

The Merry-Go-Round

Hello Everyone!

I'm going to take a one-day break from our discussion of 2012, to relate some conversations I've had today.

A very good friend of mine read an earlier post I made wherein I talked about my belief that we are destined to "repeat our courses of study" on this earth if we fail to "get it" in this life. He asked me to explain, in further detail, what I meant. This was my response:

Sure, brother. I believe, after years of study, from a scriptural, scientific, and historic perspective, that we, as spiritual beings, make multiple trips to this physical plane in order to learn and experience those lessons which our loving and merciful God intends for us. These "lessons", the greatest among these are unconditional love and forgiveness, are vital for our spiritual growth. Even in recent times, studies have been done involving a number of very young children who begin speaking to their parents about a previous life they lived here on earth. Many of these cases, even in recent times, have shown conclusively that these children knew facts, names, places and events of this previous life, even knowing relatives who are still alive. These relatives, having met these children during the investigation, have verified that these children knew things concerning their deceased relative that they could not possibly have known. Some of these cases have even been documented for universities and have been thoroughly investigated, subsequently found to have no indication of any fraud whatsoever and remain completely unexplained. Also, I've not found ANY scripture that directly contradicts this theory. As with all of my beliefs, I make no claim to have a monopoly on the truth...I am a seeker.
I was shortly thereafter asked, by another friend, about several related topics. Here are my answers. Was John the Baptist actually Elijah? Lets take a look. In Matthew, chapter 11, verses 13-14, Jesus himself said: “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.” However, when John the Baptist himself was asked if he were Elijah, he denied it. In John chapter 1, verses 19-21, we see: “And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Why would Jesus himself say that John was Elijah, when John clearly stated that he was not? Would Jesus lie? Of COURSE not! Would John? Probably not. So, why the discrepancy? If you believe, as do I, and many others from various faiths worldwide, that we are indeed sent here many times…as many as it takes for us to “graduate”, then the answer is clear. Do most of US remember our past lives? No. John was simply not aware of the fact that he had indeed been Elijah. 
We were originally spiritual beings, sent down to complete the cycle of separation from and return to God through many lifetimes of learning experiences. The only way we get back permanently is to master universal love and forgiveness. Then we escape, as the Hindus say, from the Karmic wheel of having to be born into this world again and again, to be welcomed into eternal life and into the presence of God.
As you can see, I've had some very interesting discussions today!
Next time, we'll return to the series on 2012.




Until then, as always, may you be blessed by God with peace...and joy!

2012: The Mayan Prophecies Part Three

Hello Everyone! Before I continue with the discussion I started concerning the 2012 prophecies, I'd like to take a moment to do some house cleaning...
First, I'd like to personally thank those of you who have shown the interest in and taken the time to sign up for this blog. As I am new to blogging,  I was uncertain if this was an avenue that would work for me in sharing those things about the nature of our existence which I am intrigued by. The fact that you have graced me with your involvement is a welcome blessing, and I am truly and sincerely grateful. Accordingly, I will do my very best to make your visits a worthwhile experience.
Comments ARE welcome! Please feel free to add to this discussion at any time. I do moderate them, but only those which are offensive, profane, or disrespectfully argumentative will be excluded. I welcome diverse opinions! As to the theories and conjectures which I proffer herein, please understand that I make no claim that any are the absolute truth. This is a search...a quest, if you will, for answers. I believe that not until we are in a higher plane of existence will we actually KNOW truth, but it behooves us to seek it, nonetheless.
So thank you, again, for being a part of this small (but hopefully growing) assemblage of curious souls!
Previously, I laid out various trains of thought concerning what may, or may not, happen in December of this year.  The Mayans, somewhat now famously, made predictions for future times in their writings, which are related to their cyclic view of time. As I previously stated, one of their works history has preserved is known as the Chilam Bilam, a collection of nine writings which were compiled, actually, after the Spanish had conquered the Mayan civilization. For purposes of identification, though  this is the name ggenerally give to the texts, it is actually called "U Tzol Than Ah Kinoob" (the interpretation (of visions) of the priests), with Chilam Bilam, a holy man of God, as the principal prophet. These writings were based on earlier texts and remembrances the Mayans had from the times prior to their subjugation.
 The Chilam Balam prophecy describes one, and only one, episode in world events, an explanation of conditions and proceedings to take place at the end of the age. This is why the Chilam Bilam is so relavent to our discussion. Again, according to the Mayan Long Count calendar,  our current "age" ends on the fateful day, December 21, 2012, though there is some discussion as to the accuracy of this date.
There are a few distinct prophecies some scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts use to indicate gloom and doom for the world and humanity at large which are specific to this date. One such narrative speaks about "tying up the bundles" of the 13 katuns (the length of the age). This prophecy, effectively, predicts an end to the world.
" “In the final days of misfortune, in the final days of tying up the bundle of the thirteen (baktuns) on 4 Ahau, then the end of the world shall come and the katun of our fathers will ascend on high.” 
This seems to be fairly straight forward, but there's more:
“Presently the Baktun thirteen shall come sailing . . . bringing the ornaments of which I have spoken from your ancestors. Then the god will come to visit his little ones. Perhaps ‘after death’ will be the subject of his discourse.”
This does seem to indicate an end to the world as we know it...but "as we know it"  could well be the key here to the hope that only the present order of the world, not the world itself or it's inhabitants, will perish. The Mayans may have believed that after the "end", the world would continue on in a vastly altered manner, or, be made anew in some way. The prophecy continues:
“These valleys of the earth shall come to an end. For those katuns there shall be no priests, and no one who believes in his government without having doubts.”
Being that the line states that the subsequent katuns, or time periods, will have no priests and that no one will believe in government, then it follows that someone must be here to fulfill those statements.

I will be laying out more of this "optimistic" viewpoint when we discuss some of the alternate theories. Next time, though, we'll continue to explore why some believe that we will indeed face a major catastrophe when the December bell tolls.

Until then and as always, may you be loved, and mostly, at peace!

2012...Eeney Meeney Miney Mo!

In my last post, I began a discussion which will take us to the question of what events may or may not take place on and around the date of December 21, 2012. I highly doubt there are many of you who’ve not been exposed to the conjecture, predictions, and the hype surrounding this enigmatic time.

For the most part, there are three main schools of thought concerning this. The first, obviously, is that the world or even possibly the universe as we know it will experience some catastrophic event that may render the human race extinct, or nearly so, at best, with the possibility of a large scale destruction of the earth, wiping out life as we know it, at worst. Mayan texts, the I-Ching, the Hopi Indian prophecies, and others are referenced as sources for this sort of prognostication. Conversely, a second, thus far less known and discussed theory deals with the coming of a golden age for humanity for those whose spirits are ready to “graduate” to the next level of human physical and spiritual evolution by preparing their hearts, minds, and spirits through the understanding of universal and unconditional love. This is proffered exhaustively in a literary series known as “The Law Of One”, from L/L Research, a group which uses “channeling”, which, simply put, is the speaking of entities, through receptive humans, from other dimensions, times, worlds, and planes of existence. A third opinion is touted by those who feel that there are forces at work, behind public political and economic powers, that seek to create a “New World Order” by reducing the world’s population dramatically, making the masses far easier to control. Known variously as “The Elite”, TPTB (short for “The Powers That Be”), “The Illuminati” (spoken of in the popular book and movie “Angels and Demons” as well as in Masonic conspiracy disciplines), and the name given them by President Dwight D. Eisenhower (he warned the nation about them in his farewell address to the nation), the Military Industrial Complex. These unseen forces allegedly manipulate  all the world’s currency, governments, laws, and social conscience, often using “black ops” technology hidden from the average citizen, often said to be acquired from extraterrestrials themselves.

Of course, one last perspective is that absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, if “ordinary” can be said to actually exist, will happen at all. As recently as 10 years ago, most Americans held to this last opinion. A recent poll conducted by the popular radio show and website “Coast To Coast AM” indicate that at least 52% of respondents say that something out of the ordinary will indeed transpire on or near the December 21, 2012 date. Other polls have shown similar results, if not mirrored, C to C’s numbers. Many Americans, when asked if they felt that increased public influences such as books, movies, and television had given rise to a higher public consciousness concerning 2012, agreed but also related increasingly strange, uncomfortable forebodings and apprehension literally “in the air” in the past few months, as the prophetic date inches closer.

Again, we ended, in our last discussion, with a recap of the Mayan Long Count calendar, demonstrating their cyclic perspective on time, in contrast with our Western, arrow-like view. We demonstrated how they believed that what has happened before will occur again. This relates directly to what they predicted for our immediate future, as outlined in their series of writings known as the “Chilam Bilam”. This will shed light on the first school of thought I mentioned above, of a coming onslaught of calamities, but also how some think there is, hidden in the prophecies, a glimmer of hope for us all.

Until next time, and as always, may you be at peace.

The Mayan Calendar 101

Much is being made of the Mayan prophecies concerning 2012; specifically, December 21, at 11:12 UTC (6:11 Central Standard Time) being that moment at which the world will suffer some great catastrophe. The “Long Count” Mayan calendar does indeed appear to end on that date and at that time. They calculated, correctly, that on the winter solstice in 2012, the sun will be aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years. Though many opinions abound and there is much heated debate, some believe that the Mayan 2012 date may mark the end of civilization or perhaps the beginning of a time of great tribulation.

         When the Spaniards, who had recently voyaged to the Americas (in the middle part of the last millennium) came across the Mayans, they considered them to have pagan practices associated with the devil. Because of their prejudices, once they conquered and enslaved them, they began to burn and otherwise destroy most of the writings of their civilization (known as codices), most notably under the direction of Bishop Diego de Landa. One Catholic, however, intervened and prevented three from being destroyed. These Mayan codices are now known as the Madrid, Dresden (containing the highest amount of astronomical observations and calculations of any of the surviving pre-Columbian texts), and Paris codices. Also, there exist nine writings called The Chilam Balam, wherein there are found the most detailed calendar predictions.

         Unlike Western thought, so familiar to us, of a straight forward flow of time, the Mayans viewed time as cyclic in nature. Put quite simply, that which has occurred in the past will happen again as the cycle rotates. With the Long Count, however, there does seem to be an end, as there is nothing further recorded after the December 21, 2012 date.

         We find a stark contrast in the interpretation of the texts. One points to destruction; the other, to a new, golden age for humanity.

         Let’s begin with the Long Count. Understanding of these cycles is essential. It gets a bit complex, so bear with me.

         First, the long count is represented as a five place notation system of ascending cycles – kins (days), winals (months consisting of 20 days), tuns (years consisting of 360 days…5 days shorter than our year), k’tuns (20 tuns, or 20 x 360 days), and bak’tuns, which are 20 k’tuns. SO…a bak’tun is 20 times a group of 7200 days, equal to, approximately 394.52 of our years, or exactly 400 Mayan years. That’s all very clear, right? Riiiiight….

         The full cycle of the long count, it is believed, is complete when 13 bak’tuns have passed since the time of the creation of this universe, identified to be August 11, 3114 BC. This date represented only the LAST creation. There were 3 others before that, with each creation lasting the same length of time, being 5200 Mayan years, or at least 5126 of ours. Since the previous creations are now gone, and supposedly ended at the end of each cycle, many have argued that ours will end as well.

With that, we’ll end today post, and continue next time.

Until then, may you be at peace.

No Fear

With all the negativity and calamity happening today; with all the corruption, greed, and self serving behavior engaged in by those we choose to lead us: with all the prognostications of pain and suffering to come, there is a way forward, free of fear, paranoia, and trepidation. Indeed, there can be a golden age ahead. In tomorrow's blog post, I'll offer some perspective. Stop by and be my guest.

www.consciousconsideration.blogspot.com

They said WHAT?

Starting with the Sumerians, the first known great civilization from 8,000-6,000 years ago that spawned the Babylonians, Persians, and Assyrians, through ALL subsequent advanced civilizations and non-advanced indigenous cultures, including the American Indians of North America, the Mayan and Incan empires of South America, the Aborigines of Australia, ancient Chinese and Hindu text scriptures from the far east, the Egyptians, the Dogons of Africa, the Greek and Roman Gods of "mythology", and, of course, the Hebrew accounts in the Bible, every culture has asserted that heavenly beings or “gods” had created mankind “in their own image”. This, I believe, is a far too common account to have been a coincidence. Many theories abound as to the meaning behind this belief which has spanned virtually all our known history. 

One theory comes from by far the oldest texts known concerning the origins of the universe, our planet, and our species itself, the Sumerian tablets.

Zecharia Sitchin, (July 11, 1920 – October 9, 2010), one of the world’s foremost experts in ancient language and culture, translated the Sumerian texts, uncovering an incredible account which seems to have influenced the majority of the “down-line” civilizations I mentioned above. Despite most main stream scholars’ opinion that they constituted nothing more than elaborate myths, the Sumerians themselves asserted that these accounts were, in fact, history. Sitchin ascribed to this belief, not only in reference to the Sumerian accounts, but also that of many others, including the Vedic texts from ancient India.

In short, the Sumerian accounts state that “gods” from another planet Nibiru, which is proposed to orbit our Sun every 3,600 years, arrived on Earth some 450,000 years ago and created humans by genetic engineering of the DNA of native species on earth at the time with DNA from their own makeup, possibly beginning with the great apes, then fine tuning the DNA to produce hominids such as the Neanderthals, concluding with the creation of modern humans.

Sound far fetched? Maybe. Strangely enough, there may be evidence to suggest that this theory holds water in some ways.

I’ll be getting more into the details of this in later posts, as well as some other possibilities that have been bantered about by various scholars. Before I do, I want to address, up front, something which I KNOW some of you are wondering about. What, if anything, I am postulating about my attitude of or belief in God? Does this mean that I don’t believe that God created the Universe or the world? Does this mean I don’t believe in God at all?

The answer to the last question is that it doesn’t affect, at all, my faith or my attitude towards God, Whom I DO believe in. I, as a free soul, reserve the right to believe that there IS indeed a loving and all encompassing God, which, as HE said, is Love itself. The details of my faith we’ll leave for another time.

Any true quest for the truth requires that preconceptions must at times be abandoned and that all stones be overturned, as I have said previously. Together, we’ll search for what really IS, and time will tell where that leads us.



Until next time…May you be at peace!

Why Am I Here?

All of us have wondered, from time to time, "Why am I here?". This can be, for some people, a life long quest, with literally years spent trying to determine just what "mission" they are on this earth to perform. This endless searching for one's deep, hidden purpose is, in my view, quite a waste of one's time and energies. I believe, just possibly, that I can save everyone years spent in this vain pursuit. It seems to me that The Answer...The Truth, is actually very simple and straight forward. THE reason we are ALL here, every one of us, is to learn to love..., unequivocally, with no conditions. All the rest, as one of history's wisest men (do you know who? HINT: Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1) said, is vanity...a complete waste of time. We are NOT here to be a success in business or to write the next great novel or even to become known for our supposed wisdom, although these and many other accomplishments may be achieved as a result of learning and practicing our main purpose, which is to love. Know also that pure love can not be achieved without true forgiveness...toward others and, importantly, toward ourselves. In forgiveness, we find the peace we are all searching for. Naturally, as with all worthy virtues, forgiveness is HARD. It may well be the most difficult challenge we will ever encounter. Yet we MUST meet this challenge, if we are to ever "graduate" to a higher level of existence. The dour alternative is to repeat the "class" over and over until we "get it". Those who fail are destined to have to suffer this physical life again and again. Even if you believe we are saved by the grace of Jesus, it does not disqualify you from completing your course of study. God is indeed merciful, but we, nevertheless, are responsible for our spiritual growth. So, now that we know WHY we are here, I suggest we all focus our efforts toward the accomplishment of the task at hand. The next time you are overcome by bitterness, anger, or indignation, remember your assignment, and strive to re-arrange your heart. I can promise you that at least two things will be true...first, it'll be tough...second, you will be blessed.

Good luck, God Bless, and may peace be with you.

Until next time...

Politics Unusual

I had planned today to continue the discussion I began yesterday pertaining to ancient Sumeria. With your pardon, however, I'd like to take time out, today only, to address a subject I encountered twice in recent days. For most of my life, I've been quite active in debates and discussions relative to the political landscape in the United States. However, I have been drawn in spirit, for some time now, to excuse myself from the fray. I find, increasingly, a negativity embedded in such ventures. Rather, I find myself on a path of discovery...searching for a deeper understanding of who we are, where we came from, why we are here, and what is to come of us. I feel called to share my search with those who also feel what I feel...that our lives...our society...our focus as sentient beings has been led down a fruitless path of vanity, self indulgence, and endless conflict over the last scrap of stale bread at the table. We are meant, I think, for so much more. I am no longer interested in wasting precious time arguing endlessly and fruitlessly over subjects such as that cess pool which is politics. Of course I have my own views and opinions and continue to feel VERY, VERY strongly about them. But in my spirit I can't continue to justify a moment wasted engaging in arguments which can't be won or lost. It vexes me. I don't feel that anything is to be gained which will positively affect my life and understanding of my place in this reality by entangling myself in such conflicts, which far too often result in feelings of resentment and polarization. I will leave the debates to those who feel that calling. Going forward, as I begin to share my questions and conclusions which arise from my quest for deeper meaning, please know that I of all people do not deign myself to hold claim to any pedigree, spiritual authority, or exceptional wisdom. I only claim to be sincere, open, and, above all, persistent. 

May you be well and at peace, until next time!

E Unum...Pluribus

Yes, I said it backwards...on purpose! Most of us know the term, E Pluribus Unum, from reading it on United States currency. It's meaning, "out of many...one" is used as a analogy for the population of the United States having come from many diverse cultures from all over the world. I have reversed it here to say "out of one...many" for purposes which will become evident as we move forward.

I recall, in my adolescence, learning about the origins of civilization in World History class, a very brief mention of the Sumerian culture. Our teacher probably spent only about twenty minutes discussing ancient Sumeria, briefly mentioning that they invented writing and were prolific farmers. We then proceeded on to an exhaustive study of ancient Egypt, lasting, I felt at the time, an eternity. The impression left was that the Sumerians were minor players in history.

Fast forward to present day. Turns out, the ancient Sumerians were no minor leaguers, as I've discovered. They were the "Unum"...the "one". In fact, their story is one of the most intriguing mysteries of all time.

Some 6,000 years ago, what has been called "the most crucial event in human history" took place in an area called the Fertile Crescent along the southern portions of the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, near where they empty into the Persian Gulf, which is in the southeast area of what we now call Iraq. Seemingly out of nowhere, a highly advanced culture appeared sometime before 4,000 B.C. Some scholars believe the date to be as early as 8,500 B.C. This culture appeared to have no predecessors and spoke a language bearing no resemblance to the native languages which came from the area, such as Assyrian, Canaanite, Hebrew, Persian, etc., nor to any spoken in the general area at the time, such as African, Asian, or European dialects. Literally overnight, they developed magnificent cities, an advanced system of government, highly sophisticated ethics, and complex irrigation and farming. In addition, their system of writing (they pretty much invented it) is the oldest form of sophisticated writing ever found. This system of writing, according to Laurence Gardner in Genesis of the Grail Kings was "neither crude nor primitive", with NO KNOWN SOURCE, "as if it arrived from another world". Having no previous civilization to draw from whatsoever, they arrived with a complex system of attributes including kingship, priesthood, the love making arts, music, arts, advanced astronomy, and human kindness. The also had metallurgy, leather making, and advanced wood working. Theses attributes, together called "The Me", was given via subterfuge by the "god" Enki's daughter, having gotten Enki drunk and subsequently stealing the "goods" (knowledge) and giving it to the Sumerians. The rumors, however, were that Enki secretly wanted to give the people this knowledge, but because his comrades, the Annunaki, were against it, he had to resort to this charade.

So, here we are, with a civilization, possibly the most highly advanced of the ancient world, just "showing up" out of nowhere with no predecessors, with amazing knowledge and culture, supposedly given by a "god", Enki, of the Annunaki. And oh, did I forget to mention how the word "Annunaki" is translated by the Sumerians themselves? It literally means "those who from the heavens came".

Hmmm...

Until next time, Peace and Love!

Let There Be Light

One of my earliest and most cherished memories in life involves standing upon the front lawn of my Grandparents’ home on a sunny spring day at the tender age of five. Gazing up at the clouds in the splendor of childhood’s innocent wonderment, I stood transfixed, my thoughts dancing with amazement as I took in this stunning display. The clouds, their textures seemingly so reminiscent of living cotton prior to harvest, floated as if by magic against the stark background of a clear, majestic blue sky. Singularly focused on this magnificent panorama, I began to envision, as I imagine most of us have done, a myriad of shapes in the clouds depicting those things I was familiar with at that tender age. A horse appeared, followed by a kingly lion. Another (I fondly and bemusedly recall this one quite vividly) even reminded me of George Washington himself, riding gallantly upon his worthy steed! Thoroughly engrossed in my personal entertainment, questions began to take shape in my mind. These questions continued to develop in a natural and logically progressive way, covering “profound” mysteries such as “were the clouds really made of cotton?” or “how did they float there in the sky without falling?” Eventually, I came upon questions, at first holding no more significance than those which preceded them, that I believe all of us have asked, flowing into my young mind like water along a quickly moving stream, such as “why is the sky so blue?” “Where did the clouds come from…where did I come from…where did ANYTHING come from, and WHY? ”It occurred to me that very day that I had no idea whatsoever.
Like many children in my cherished hometown, I was ferried each Sunday morning to church...Baptist, in my case, where I attended Sunday school and morning worship services. The teachers had done an excellent job of relating all the stories from the bible, including the creation account found in Genesis. While I found this account entertaining and quite believable, something just felt “incomplete” about it, as if it were just a rough sketch. Though I was and remain fully convinced that God was responsible, I could not help but feel in my heart that, for whatever reason, He had not seen fit to reveal the details. It just seemed too simple. I was dying to know more.
That burning curiosity has never left me, and my questions have grown proportionately with time, age, and life experiences. Now, with the years flowing by and the realization that there are probably fewer sunrises ahead for me than behind, I have set myself upon the task of finding some answers. Many of you may also feel this desire…this unceasing call to explore the mysteries of our existence. Perhaps, in the coming days, weeks, and months, as I begin to share insights I have found which ring true in my spirit, you may find paths that will lead you to your own answers.
Until next time…Peace and Love!