Don't Worry, It's Not the End of the World ~ Debunking 2012

“The sands of time are running out for the world and not even Indiana Jones can save us now. The astrological alignments and numerological formulae cannot be wrong: on December 21 this year, the apocalypse foretold 5,125 years ago by the ancient Mayans will come to pass and the world will end.”

This is a quote from The Daily Mail newspaper, in an article that went on to debunk the 2012 end of day theories.

Yes, the Mayan calendar comes to an end, apparently, but this does not mean the end of time. What it does mean is a mystery, but nowhere did the Mayans predict a world ending apocalypse, to the best knowledge of archaeologists and anthropologists.

Even if the Mayans did prophesise doom and gloom, we know that prophesies (ancient and modern) are very open to interpretation and rarely if ever come true. Remember Harold Camping who was convinced that the bible predicted the end on October 21 2011? He had to make an embarrassing retreat when sunrise heralded another earth day on October 22. Many of Camping’s followers, as is often the case, were left out of pocket.

As an astrologer, I can tell you there is nothing in the December 21, 2012 chart that predicts the end of the world. I hang my reputation on that and if any astrologer out there can prove to me otherwise, on the basis of the astrological measurements and the common sense application of factual evidence, then I will give up astrology for good!

You see, while planetary alignments suggest the type of energy that will prevail, we cannot accurately predict how that energy will manifest. This is because, as human beings, we have the free will to decide whether to draw upon the energy available and if we do, we have the free will to decide how to use it -  destructively or creatively, for our own good or for the good of others and so on. For example, the disruptive, rebellious, sudden-change inciting energies that accompany the on-going Uranus-Pluto square are there to be tapped into. While many of us will proactively embrace the opportunity for a shake-up of the status quo, still more of us will carry on with business as usual, dealing with change only when we absolutely have to.

Imbedded in the symbolism of every astrological alignment, however challenging it looks on paper, is the opportunity for positive growth and change. It’s up to us, collectively and individually, to make the best of it and to positively learn from the experience.

When ‘sensible’ astrologers make predictions (or forecasts, as I prefer to call them) they are based on our practical knowledge and experience, including our understanding of the symbolism of the planets, our experience of what occurred during previous similar alignments and our knowledge of history and/or current affairs (or personal history and current circumstances in the case of a forecast for an individual person). To that we apply a big dollop of good old fashioned common sense. Only then do we have a set of realistic assumptions on which to make a forecast.

When forecasting the future, headline grabbing sensationalism which taps into people’s fears, should play no part. Neither should astrologers claim to have some kind of special hotline to the gods.

I learnt astrology by taking classes, sitting exams, reading books, studying myself and my friends, sharing with my colleagues and listening to my clients. I am not a chosen one with exclusive access to arcane knowledge and I don’t hear voices in my head. I am not a guru and I don’t need followers. I simply want to help my clients and readers and encourage them to question me and more importantly to question themselves and the world. I would be worried if anyone took my opinions and suggestions as the final and only word on the matter.

An end of the world prediction based on no real evidence, astrological or otherwise, will never come from an astrologer who knows their stuff.

Yes, we can say with some authority that we are going through challenging times and that things could well get tougher. In the years to come, an economic catastrophe to make the 2008 banking crisis look trifling is a possibility, as are environmental disasters, but these events are by no means inevitable.

We should be prepared for anything, but we should not live in fear, for it is fear that the 2012 doom mongers are playing on. Many of them are cashing in nicely. The Daily Mail article mentions an entrepreneur who is selling places in bunkers for $50,000 to those who are wealthy enough and dumb enough to fall for the con. And there are entire websites devoted to selling 2012 survival kits. Anything from gas masks to bullet proof vests. A year’s supply of dehydrated food is there for the ordering if you can afford the thousand-dollar plus price tag.

So let’s be sensible this 2012. It’s wise to plan for potential hardship, but healthy to hope for a better world and responsible to do our bit to try to make that happen.

Instead of running scared and giving your money and energy to gurus and salesmen and other scaremongers, be smart with your time and even smarter with your money. Ask questions, pull your head out of the sand, look around, trust yourself and stay flexible.

We are living through a time of great challenge, but even greater possibility. Are you ready?

www.mandilockley.com