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.