Heroic Dreams - All Things Medieval

More information on the History Channel’s two hour premiere about Nostradamus and his prediction for 2012. The tagline for this show is “20/20 is hindsight and 2012 is foresight”. It premieres on the History Channel on Jan 4, 2009 at 9pm/8c. (wow, 2009 already, we are certainly hurtling toward something- Will)

Here is  the official press release (Pretty darn chilling):

“In 2012, a rare and possibly Earth-shattering astrological alignment is due to occur that will precipitate a cataclysmic event. Whatever is in store — a massive cosmic collision, a global environmental disaster, an Armageddon-like religious showdown, or a more subtle transformation — there have been multiple predictions from different times and cultures that December 21, 2012 will mark a major shift in the history of our planet. 

NOSTRADAMUS: 2012 takes a detailed investigation of this chilling prophecy. This explosive two-hour sequel picks up where The Lost Book of Nostradamus left off. NOSTRADAMUS: 2012 seeks answers to key critical questions that may loom in just four years: Is there any modern scientific proof that such an alignment will indeed happen? Is any other compelling evidence throughout history that 2012 will be a year of unprecedented, even deadly, upheaval? 

There is no disputing that we are a planet in crisis, and that there is a growing public obsession with 2012.  But there is no cogent distinction between the sobering facts and hysterical fiction. What, if any, is the scientific ballast that substantiates the fears? NOSTRADAMUS: 2012 will look for the parallels between the nightmarish daily headlines and the 2012 prophecies from Nostradamus and others. 

From the mystical realms of the Guatemalan jungles to the high-tech corridors of NASA; from the Hopi elders and Mayan shaman to the most respected thinkers of the modern age; from the symbology of the ancient pyramids in Mexico and Egypt to that of the gothic cathedrals and monuments of Europe — the 2012 doomsday warning will be cast in a frighteningly modern context.  December 21, 2012 is bearing down on us with alarming speed - and whether or not we are able to collectively heed the warnings and affect a course to avert disaster may be the defining moment of the modern age. “ 

Okay stick with me here because I am going to give you even more stuff about 2012.

The press release talks about the predictions across cultures and times all around the world. Let’s take a look at that.

The Mayan Calendar: Really does stop at December 21st, 2012. There is a lot of speculation about why. Some say that it is because it will be the end of the current era and the beginning of a new era. Others say it has something to do with the sun and sun cycles. Still others say that any calendar has to stop at some point. Heres a link to more on this There is a lot of speculation on this and nothing is really concrete.

Hopi Predictions: I can’t find anything that pins the Hopi predictions exactly to 2012 but I have found some interesting stuff about the series of events they predict that lead up to the end of this cycle and the beginning of the next. Here is a good link to the actual prophecies There are predictions like:

There are nine signs and most of them have been fulfilled.

“The land shall be criss-crossed by a giant spider’s web” -Sounds like electrical and telephone wires to me.

“The land will be crossed by snakes of iron” - Trains obviously

“The land shall be criss-crossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun” - Highways?

The next prophecy that hasn’t occured yet is:

“You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it.” This could be oil spills and already fulfilled?

Now for some scientific fact:

Does our solar system exactly line up with the plane of the galaxy on Dec 21, 2012. Beats me. I have done some research on this and have discovered that its practically impossible to determine where exactly the central plane of the galaxy actually is. All they can really do is guess at it.

Now to ground out all of that stuff I am going to take the contrary view and point you toward a book written over a hundred years ago. It debunks all kinds of popular myths and manias. Its Called Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds and is available for free at the Gutenberg.org site right here

Back to the History Channel Special

We are just going to have to wait and see what they say. And the History Channel is a very credible source that does its homework. And the special they did on the lost book of Nostradamus was great. I have some posts about this here: The lost book of Nostradamus