2012 Predictions: Should You Be Afraid?

You may have seen apocalyptic movies or news stories foretelling widespread disaster and the end of the world on the day of the winter solstice December 21, 2012. The Stress Monster is licking his chops and sharpening his fangs, knowing that the world is beset by violent climate changes, economic disasters, political upheaval and wars. His eyes glistening with eager anticipation as he thinks about your frustration and discontent, the worry in the pit of your stomach, the anger in your heart, your sleepless nights and health crises. Should we pay attention to these issues? We do seem to be facing increasing difficulties in our lives, our country and our world. Dire predictions are also being made for our current new year of 2010. Should you be afraid? Should you prepare?  Some predictions call for accumulating stores of canned goods, water and medical supplies as well as an arsenal of guns and ammunition.  This article will provide a reasoned background of the issues and a psychological point of view about fear and preparation for the coming events.

Science has documented cycles of time and patterns of events related to the interconnected nature of all parts of our earth and universe. As a matter of fact there are two major cycles of world time culminating in the year 2012: one 5125 year cycle and one 25,625 year cycle. The longer cycle is related to the Earth's travel through the universe. Called the precession of the equinoxes, the Earth's orbit through the 12 constellations of the zodiac, the world's history has been divided into five world ages lasting 5125 years each. At this time every 5125 years, Earth's position in space creates an astronomical alignment with the sun and the galactic core of the Milky Way. Although this has been termed the end of a world age, it is obvious that the world has been in continuous existence and mankind has not perished. The history of these events as well as the major import of world changes signifies the possibility of upheavals and disasters in our future as well as the possibility of positive changes and a world of peace and enlightenment.

In actuality we are already in the midst of the dramatic changes predicted around the date of 2012. Obviously the galactic alignment changes are slow-moving and the time periods are vast. The winter solstice of 2012 marks the height of this change period, although the great shift started in the 1980s and will not actually be finished until 2016. Only a few moments of reflection are necessary to perceive the destructive changes already occurring throughout the world: natural disasters, financial collapses, human tragedies. A few minutes watching the news reveals extreme polarization, frustration and backbiting, a veritable war of words, with few positive outcomes. The 20th century was the most destructive in all of history. By the end of the century, over 187 million people lost their lives to war. This number represents more than 10% of the world's population in the beginning of the 20th century! Our country dropped two atomic bombs on a civilian population in 1945.  Einstein, commenting on the state of mankind, wrote: "We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive."

In his book "Chaos Point: The World at the Crossroads" (Hampton Roads, 2006), Ervin Laszlo, a noted systems theorist, describes the confluence of factors that have brought the world to a tipping point. While not intending to study the 2012 predictions directly, Laszlo concluded that this general time period contains the same mix of destructive and destabilizing forces as well as possibilities for positive change. Laszlo researched the interaction of negative environmental factors such as increase of carbon dioxide, rise in sea levels, pollution, population stress on water and food as well as human influences such as violent political upheavals, international terrorism and increasing number of wars.  The chaos point is reached when the system becomes destabilized and therefore is unusually responsive to small fluctuations which can flip the system toward breakdown or  positive evolution and breakthrough.

Gregg Braden’s book "Fractal Time" (Hay House, 2009)  provides detailed research and a reasoned analysis  of the 2012 issues. Multiple types and sources of predictions foretell a major upheaval culminating in the 2012 era, including prophecies from the Hopi, the Maya, the Aztecs, the Hindus, Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce and others. Vedic scholars, for example, describe this cycle as a Kali Yuga or dark age where human civilization degenerates spiritually. The Kali Yuga is described with rulers who are unreasonable, levy taxes unfairly and see no need to protect their subjects. Famine, migration and death are common in the Kali Yuga. Avarice, hostility and sin increase, while virtue will fade, people will become addicted to intoxicating drinks or drugs, and the helpless will become targets to be preyed upon by others. Some characteristics of the Kali Yuga are certainly evident now.  Historical reference points for the 2012 shift do find evidence of multiple wars, over extended economies and collapsing civilizations. A reference date from the previous cycle found the collapse of the great Egyptian  20th dynasty related to climate changes, natural disasters and food shortages as well as prolonged wars.  Another reference point, the highly advanced ancient Indus civilization and the city of Mohenjo-Daro, may have been destroyed by a massive high-tech war which occurred approximately 5000 years ago.

It is clear that we are already experiencing some of the negative changes predicted years ago. In 2005, the Scientific American Journal published a special edition, "Crossroads for Planet Earth" identifying the challenges already facing our civilization. Historical references, however, clearly also identify the possibility of new renewal among our choice points. In the face of dwindling resources and catastrophic world problems, do we attempt to wall ourselves off and wage war against each other, or do we work together in a global community to solve common problems?  Ancient predictions seem to clearly detail such choice points. Predictions from the Torah in the Bible Code define three choices including Earth being annihilated, the threat being annihilated, or the important choice point question, "Will you change it?"  The Hopi prophecy fails to predict how the fourth world will end in 2012, stating that "It depends upon which path humankind will walk: the greed, the comfort, and the profit, or the path of love, strength, and balance." Quantum physics describes choice points wherein conditions provide an opportunity to change the trajectory of time, making 2012 a choice point for the next world age.

Each individual has a choice, and the importance of making a choice soon is highlighted by the current world crises and the predictions of 2012. I understand that each of us feels stressed and frustrated, experiencing a lack of individual power and feeling helpless against the stage of current events and problems. But the world is composed of individuals. We can act individually or collectively to change to a more positive world.  Experiments in world change conducted over time by groups of transcendental meditators and intention experiments sponsored by Gregg Braden and Lynne McTaggart have demonstrated that world conditions can be altered by smaller groups of people acting in concert to create focued positive changes. It is estimated that the number of people required to begin to initiate positive change is the square root of 1% of the population. The Institute of HeartMath has been studying these issues scientifically for over 20 years. The Institute has demonstrated a link between coherence in the human heart and the magnetic fields of the earth. This link first became obvious when two satellites detected a clear rise in global magnetism beginning 15 minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center September 11, 2001. Human hearts around the world clearly reflected heart-based emotion, in this case horror and dismay, but which showed the connection between the Earth and its inhabitants. It’s interesting that receivers for the human response showed significant changes hours prior to the magnetic response and prior to the actual attack! Ongoing experiments have demonstrated that the heart generates the strongest magnetic field in the body, 5000 times stronger than that of the brain, and that this field travels beyond the body and into space. You can learn to generate heart coherence, www.HeartMath.org, and you can participate with others in developing positive world coherence in the Global Coherence Initiative, www.glcoherence.org. You will be hearing of additional initiatives uniting individuals and creating positive changes as this great time shift occurs.  Local author Laura Dunham has reported on these issues in her book, "Spiritual Wisdom for a Planet in Peril: Preparing for 2012 and Beyond", Langdon Street Press, 2008.  She is participating with others in organizing a national movement for the forthcoming date of 10-10-10 (www.powerofone.org.)

Back to my original question: should you be afraid? My answer is a resounding: No. You should be informed and aware but not afraid. I have provided information to help you develop a reasoned approach to this issue with a heightened focus on the importance of world events. Uncertainty and the absence of alternatives produce stress and fear. Psychologically speaking, fear and anxiety lead only to a continuation of this negative state. As anxiety and fear mount, people become protective and defensive, start hoarding resources, begin fighting with each other, eventually supporting killing and wars and other hostile actions. If you've ever suffered from anxiety, panic attacks or been traumatized, you will be acutely aware of the negative consequences to your mind and body. I want to help you avoid becoming involved in this type of negative cycle which is destructive to you, your family and others around you. Should you prepare? Yes, but not by hoarding guns.   It is prudent to take care of yourself and your family and make whatever preparations you feel appropriate for the next several years in a positive manner. It may be prudent to have some food or medical supplies on hand to tide you over during a weather problem or power failure. Should you enjoy life? Absolutely: yes. Even in the midst of significant problems, life goes on. Peace, love and joy are certainly within the human realm of experience and should be savored when they occur. Being aware of current and possible 2012-based problems, it is important to reduce stress whenever possible and enjoy the positive parts of life. It is clear that people are interconnected and we are all involved in social networks important to a positive environment and future. Why am I as a therapist in life coach writing about the 2012 issues? In my articles and in my psychological practice, I have been and will be discussing methods to increase heart coherence, gratitude and appreciation, all the positive emotions which increase our personal psychological comfort and happiness and also radiate out into the world around us. As awareness grows of the power and importance of individual and collective heart-based coherence, positive outcomes will multiply. To answer the questions posed above, "Will you change it?" the answer will be:  YES. "Will you be afraid?" The answer will be: NO.