Well, May 21, 2011 came and went without much fanfare. No devastating worldwide earthquake. No zombies running wild through the streets. Half the human population didn’t suddenly disappear. No apocalypse, no Armageddon.
At first, I found it rather amazing how much attention this prophesy garnered. Practically everyone I know was talking about it. I know I was discussing it. But I’m a somewhat peculiar person, fascinated by all things strange, morbid, and fantastical. Then I really got to thinking about all the chatter surrounding the prediction. While it is true that many were laughing at Mr. Camping, I think that most people are fascinated by and perhaps, fearful of, the end of the world. Think about how many films have been made about possible ‘end of the world’ or post apocalyptic scenarios, from devastating natural disasters (The Day After Tomorrow) to zombie creating viruses (I am Legend) to alien invasions (War of the Worlds). And really, don’t we all understand that the ‘end of the world’ most likely means, ‘the end of people’, or the end of humanity as we know it. The human race has been obsessed with trying to forecast the ‘end’ since the beginning. Look at the basis of the 2012 prophesy. People believe the Mayan calendar has the world ending in 2012. This is an ancient civilization we are talking about here!
So, what is it about us humans that we are so enthralled with ‘end of the world’ predictions? Is it that we are all, in some way, fascinated with the dark and morbid? That would explain the success of all those zombie and alien movies. Or is it that we want to know, to understand death and what comes after? Is it that we want to be reassured that there is more, and that more will be something better, that we will find ourselves in Heaven (whatever you may think it to be) and live on? Perhaps we are afraid of what we don’t know or understand and we have this uncontrollable urge to control everything. Is it that we want our lives, our world, to end when we’re damn well ready for it to end? Or maybe it’s that we don’t ever want any of it to end and we’ll do whatever we can to fight the inevitable.
In the end (pun intended), there isn’t much we can control or foresee. The ‘end’ can come at any moment, be it the end of an individual life or the end of all. And we don’t really know what happens after death or what will happen after Armageddon. So, why be obsessed with trying to figure it out? Why worry about where you’ll be or what you’ll do? It is better to live and love to the fullest, to relish every moment, every breath. You can’t be so afraid of dying, of the end, that you forget to live. So, get out there and live and love as if it were your last day, because it could be. Discover the world, make new friends, learn new things, play, laugh, jump out of a plane (with a parachute of course), whatever, just be present.
But keep a stockpile of water and canned goods just in case.
Just for fun, and maybe a few tips, here are some of my favorite apocalyptic/post apocalyptic films:
1. The Road
2. Zombieland
3. 28 Days Later
4. Dawn of the Dead
5. Shaun of the Dead
6. Mad Max and Road Warrior
7. Matrix series
8. Children of Men
9. 9
One thing about the Mayan Calendar that many people do not know is that it is based on early pagan beliefs. Pagans generally follow the awareness of "as above, so below" meaning that our lives are refected in everything in nature - and life is a wheel. While Christians believe that life is a straight line (born, live, die, go to Heaven), Pagans believe that the cirle of life reflects the seasons, the sun and moon, the plants and all living beings. We are born, we live, we die, we are reborn, we live again. As the sun sets and rises every day, as the seasons come and leave and return again, so do we. My point is this. The Mayans believe that 2012 brings the completion of the movement of the galactic star patterns to the beginning. The Mayan Calendar is an astrological calendar. History shows us that evolutionary changes have happened to mankind according to the revolution of the stars in the universe.
ReplyDeleteWe Pagans who follow the Mayan Calendar do not believe the world is going to end in 2012. We believe, as did the Mayans, that 2012 marks the next global evolutionary change for mankind on this planet. We are courting enlightenment once again, but the choice is ours. We can and will tip one way or the other, towards the dark or the light, depending on the choices we make. Every day.
Lisa, you are so right. Live every day to its fullest. People fear death because people fear change. Embrace change and be willing to embrace new ideas. And most of all, embrace each other and know that we are all one. We are meant to understand the connection we have with each other and with the universe, and when we have reached that understanding we will evolve as nature intended. It's the Power of Love.
Love you Lisa dear.
Well said...maybe you should be writing this blog! Yes, it's true, people do fear change and death is the ultimate change. But we shouldn't fight change or each other. I do believe in the Power of Love and like you, I do believe that we will evolve when we can stop fearing what we don't understand or can't control, people included.
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