A Saucerful of Secrets: 2012

** ‘No 2012 doom’ in Mayan prophecy **
A new reading of texts carved by the ancient Mayan civilisation reveals they did not predict the end of the world in 2012, experts say.

The Rat is the keeper of secrets. The time of the Rat is the dead both of night and winter. But life has always succeeded death. As long as there is yin, yang follows. This is an unbreakable cycle.

As we approach 2012, there are those that think the world is about to end. Nah. It might be the end of the Euro (actually I give it 18 months or so) or the end of the delusion that wealth is increased by borrowing. It might be the beginning of the end of the American Cycle which started with the Gettysburg address late in the winter of 1863 and is scheduled to run till 2043. It might be the decline of the Chinese boom of the last decade. Every bubble bursts some time. It might even be the end of FIFA or the Coalition but I actually see both of these limping on a while. Even Bashar Assad, the world’s shortest-sighted ex-optician, won’t be following Gadaffi or Ceaucesu just yet. These are secrets only if we’re not paying attention.

Because prediction and creation are very closely linked. We may deny it and we may not always like it but we get what we want. This is the Tao. When in 2005, I was asked to predict the outcome of the General Election, it was what I actually wanted that was my constant reference point. I didn’t want a new government but I wanted the incumbents chastened and I wanted the smaller groupings to gain a louder voice. And I was right within three seats in each grouping by doing very little other than being very truthful.

The same is true of the end of the world. I’m not buying it and here’s why:

the date the Mayans focus on in their “long count” is midwinter 2012. Many diviners including myself use this date, the Winter Solstice, to gain insight into the following year. So it is not 2012 but 2013 that is indicated. What many of us have spotted about this is that the prevailing Elements on that date lack Wood and Metal altogether. This could be a banking collapse or some perfectly benign wake-up call. What I want is that the things that matter – love, laughter, truth, compassion and forgiveness – are more rather than less highly valued. That’s what’s going to happen. Wait and see. It’s no secret.