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are more decent, more respectful," he observed. "Because there is more human respect now, we can try to find a new life." One eventual consequence of Guatemala's long-enduring climate of terrorism has been mistrust and criticism. From this, few are immune. Accusations are often aimed at people who purport to speak of the Mayan traditions. Mr Barrios is enmeshed in this matrix of uncertainty. He criticises others, and he is criticised himself. are more decent, more respectful," he span of more than 10 million years. orably. We are at the cusp of the era observed. "Because there is more human The calendar that has steadily drawn when peace begins, and people live in respect now, we can try to find a new _ global attention since 1987 is called the harmony with Mother Earth. We are no life." Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij. Devised ages ago longer in the World of the Fourth Sun, One eventual consequence of and based on the cycle of the Pleiades, it but we are not yet in the World of the Guatemala's long-enduring climate of is still held sacred. Fifth Sun. This is the time in between, terrorism has been mistrust and criticism. With the indigenous calendars, native _ the time of transition. From this, few are immune. Accusations people have kept track of important turn- As we pass through transition there is a are often aimed at people who purport to ing points in history. For example, the colossal, global convergence of speak of the Mayan traditions. Mr Daykeepers who study the calendars environmental destruction, social chaos, Barrios is enmeshed in this matrix of identified an important day in the year war and ongoing Earth changes. All this, uncertainty. He criticises others, and he One Reed, Ce Acatal, as it was called by Mr Barrios says, was foreseen via the is criticised himself. the Mexica. That was the day when an _ simple, spiral mathematics of the Mayan important ancestor was prophesied to calendars. The World Will Not End return, "coming like a butterfly". "It will change," Mr Barrios observed. Carlos Barrios was born into a Spanish In the Western calendar, the One Reed "Everything will change." family on El Altiplano, the highlands of date correlates to Easter Sunday, April He said Mayan Daykeepers view the Guatemala. His home was in 21, 1519—the day that Hernando Cortez December 21, 2012, date as a rebirth, the Huehuetenango, also the dwelling place and his fleet of 11 Spanish galleons _ start of the World of the Fifth Sun. It of the Maya Mam tribe. will be the start of a new era, result- With other Maya and other ing from—and signified by—the indigenous tradition keepers, the solar meridian crossing the galac- Mam carry part of the old ways on tic equator, and the Earth aligning Turtle Island. They are keepers of ; itself with the centre of the time, authorities on remarkable Mayan Daykeepers view the galaxy. calendars that are ancient, elegant December 21, 201 2, date as At sunrise on December 21, and relevant. . 2012—for the first time in 26,000 Mr Barrios is an historian, an a rebirth, the start of the years—the Sun rises to conjunct anthropologist and an investigator. World of the Fifth Sun. the intersection of the Milky Way After studying with traditional and the plane of the ecliptic. This elders for 25 years since the age of cosmic cross is considered to be 19, he also became a Mayan Ajq'ij, an embodiment of the Sacred a ceremonial priest and spiritual Tree, the Tree of Life—a tree guide, Eagle clan. remembered in all the world's Years ago, along with his brother, arrived from the East at what is today _ spiritual traditions. Gerardo, Carlos initiated an investigation called Vera Cruz, Mexico. When the Some observers say this alignment into the different Mayan calendars. He Spanish ships came toward shore, native with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will studied with many teachers. He says his people were waiting and watching to see open a channel for cosmic energy to flow Gerardo interviewed nearly 600 tradi- how it would go. The billowing sails of through the Earth, cleansing it and all tional Mayan elders to widen their scope _ the ships did indeed remind the scouts of _ that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher of knowledge. butterflies skimming the ocean surface. level of vibration. "Anthropologists visit the temple In this manner was a new era This process has already begun, Mr sites," Mr Barrios said, "and read the ste- _ initiated—an era they had anticipated Barrios suggested. "Change is les and inscriptions and make up stories through their calendars. The Maya accelerating now, and it will continue to about the Maya, but they do not read the _ termed the new era the Nine Bolomtikus, accelerate." signs correctly. It's just their imagina- or nine Hells of 52 years each. As the If the people of the Earth can get to tion... Other people write about prophe- nine cycles unfolded, land and freedom this 2012 date in good shape, without cy in the name of the Maya. They say were taken from the native people. having destroyed too much of the Earth, that the world will end in December Disease and disrespect dominated. Mr Barrios said, we will rise to a new, 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with What began with the arrival of Cortez, higher level. But to get there, we must this. The world will not end. It will be lasted until August 16, 1987—a date transform enormously powerful forces transformed. The indigenous have the many people recall as the Harmonic _ that seek to block the way. calendars, and know how to accurately Convergence. Millions of people took interpret it—not others." advantage of that date to make ceremony A Picture of the Road Ahead in sacred sites, praying for a smooth tran- From his understanding of the Mayan The Calendars sition to a new era, the World of the Fifth tradition and the calendars, Mr Barrios Mayan comprehension of time, sea-_ Sun. offered a picture of where we are at and sons and cycles has proven itself to be From that 1987 date until now, Mr what may lie on the road ahead: vast and sophisticated. The Maya under- Barrios says, we have been in a time ¢ The date specified in the calendar— stand 17 different calendars, some of when the right arm of the materialistic Winter Solstice in the year 2012—does them charting time accurately over a__ world is disappearing, slowly but inex- not mark the end of the world. Many Mayan Daykeepers view the December 21, 2012, date as a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun. A Picture of the Road Ahead From his understanding of the Mayan tradition and the calendars, Mr Barrios offered a picture of where we are at and what may lie on the road ahead: ¢ The date specified in the calendar— Winter Solstice in the year 2012—does not mark the end of the world. Many The Calendars Mayan comprehension of time, sea- sons and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya under- stand 17 different calendars, some of them charting time accurately over a 60 = NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2003