by Gregg Braden, Peter Russell, Daniel Pinchbeck, and Geoff Stray

Book review by Tedi Elliott 

Whether you’re an expert on everything ‘Mayan calendar’ or you’ve never heard of it, this book has something guaranteed to blow your mind.

It is a compendium of writings and essays by a tremendous variety of renowned mystics, poets, scientists and thinkers who walk you step by step through the facts and theories surrounding our impending date with destiny…December 21, 2012. Not only are you thoroughly brought up to speed on how the Mayan’s came up with that crazy calendar, you are given specific practical instructions on how to prepare for and participate in what is coming.

And what, exactly, is coming? Will 2012 mean the utter annihilation of the planet, or will it usher in a new and wonderful golden age? Are we doomed, done for, SOL…or are we being given the opportunity to save ourselves and make everything better? I don’t want to ruin it for you, but I have to say: when the current state of affairs in this world gets me down, I flip through the pages of this book, and I am filled with hope. But time is short.

Divided into four parts, The Mystery of 2012 begins in Part One with a basic overview of how the ancient Mayans developed their amazing calendar. It sounds so simple doesn’t it? But this civilization was doing much more than just marking the days. These were shamans and cosmologists and philosophers and seers and they seem to have intended for us to have access to what they saw. Even more fascinating…it begins to come quite clear that thousands and thousands of years back, a great many other ancient wisdom traditions had corresponding predictions, from the Hindu Vedas to the ancient Egyptians, the Hebrews and numerous indigenous peoples, the window of time around 2012 AD was seen as having a great effect on human consciousness.

Part Two deals with science, business and politics in the context of 2012. Ervin Laszlo, the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, and Karl Maret, M.D. who discusses revolutionary advances in light technologies for human health and well-being, are just two of the stellar minds investigating what 2012 could mean for technology, health care and scientific endeavors. The essay by Corinne McLaughlin is on the very real possibility of “non-adversarial politics”…wouldn’t THAT be lovely?

Part Three delves into spirituality, signs and symbolism surrounding 2012. Sufi scholar, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ph.D. describes an awakening world where the divine is no longer relegated to the chapel or synagogue, but is found everywhere in everyday life.

We begin to realize that there is some specific reason why we are here on the planet at this very important time.

Part Four deals with a new, evolving humanity. Might human beings actually change form in some way in order to adapt to the coming changes? Is time really speeding up or does it just feel that way? Ecologist Joanna R. Macy, Ph.D. writes of “the Great Turning” describing the coming times as a guide, helping mankind to see the way forward as we move “from the industrial-growth society to a life-sustaining society.” She sees this shift as the “essential adventure of our time” and who could argue? The title of the essay by James O’Dea, president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, is “You Were Born for Such a Time as This” and that really sums up the exciting idea that the people on earth right now will have a big part to play in ushering in the Golden Era.

And if you’ve heard those voices that say 2012 will be an apocalyptic, destructive end of the world in a ball of fire, where only the lucky few are siphoned off to their reward in heaven, you can read about those theories here as well, and decide for yourself. It’s already 2008, folks. Time is short.