Myths, legends and tales are inseparable parts of martial arts tradition. Myths, legends and tales used to be a way of tradition’s and culture’s transmission through the ages and from man to man, since there were no sophisticated ways to document the history plus their symbolism was educative. We are talking about eras when the sun and the lightning were considered Gods in almost all cultures, but what about today in our daily lives?[Photo: Poster of the approximately $200,000,000 budget movie “2012” (2009)-Directed by Roland Emmerich, Written by Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser, Starring: John Cusack, Thandie Newton & Chiwetel Ejiofor]
We all know that the 2012 will happen good and bad things in mankind, isn’t it? I know what will drive me crazy this year and this is going to be the atmosphere which will start developing as we will be approaching on December of 2012 and all this deliberate promotion of tales concerning the doomsday of December 21, 2012, which will attempt to turn all of us in eras which remind the scotadistic ages of human history.
No matter whether we believe or not the legendary stories about warriors’ enlightenment process or the way that some traditional martial systems were created, we notice that these legends are talking about the creation of something good which aimed to better human life or fight the evil. There are also some religious books which were interpreted and/or promoted as eschatological, when in fact they are speaking about human and spiritual wars on earth, in this life where the Good prevails. In how much deep depression should one be to be addicted to stories which concern the termination of life and human beauty?
You probably are aware of these stories circling around about the end of the world on December 21, 2012. Nobody asks why or how, since the Maya, Nostradamus and the movie “2012” have predicted it. They do say so and no one seems to wonder. I really admire the receptivity of some people. Someone comes and tells us some story, presenting some evident the way it suits him best and we in times of the immediate access in any source, we are just buying that story. This is how it works in martial arts also. There are some innovative modern mixed arts which are believed as classical or archaic. So let’s take a look to some details about the Mayan and Nostradamus Prophecies.
[Photo: Maya mask from th
e National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City]
The truth is that the Mayas had no any specific prophesy about the 21st of December, 2012. It is just their Long Count Calendar which ends. In fact this calendar doesn’t end then, but it ends on August 11, 3114 BC, according to the way that they were actually calculating, using their favorite numbers of 13 and 20. But again the mystery of that calendar’s end remains. The answer is simple and very logic. Their calendar ends- no matter when- since their civilization was terminated before they were able to prolong their calendar further as they used to do. Mayas were using different calendars, in fact very short which were prolonged. They had an innovative way to determine the time of their social, agricultural, administrative, financial and religious matters in order to live an organized social life. A calendar assists people to keep their tradition and plan their future. The western Gregorian calendar which we use today does exactly the same thing. And yes each last day of a calendar means the end of the time and an end of time means that a new chronic period begins.
Then, we have the Prophesy of Michel de Nostredame or Nostradamus (1503-1566). Many different versions and interpretations circle the web and the bibliography. Almost all of them are modified assumptions and personal conspiracy theories followed by misinterpretations from the translation of Nostradamus’ book “Les Propheties” which was written in French and appeared in 1555. Think of that time sociologically, politically, religiously etc.
[Photo: The Portrait of Michel de Nostredame (Nostradamus), a French Renaissance Medicine & Astrologer, painted by his son César de Nostredame (1553-1630?) about 1614]
It seems that Nostradamus was half genius and half foxy. He knew what attracted the people of his era (much more educated people are attracted to that tales nowadays when most of the world population spends time in the invisible world of the internet). Nostradamus was collecting ideas from older prophecies, medieval chronicles and ancient historical texts such as The Bible or Plutarch and Richard Roussat. Then he was writing them down in a very genius way full of inspiration and imagination, in fact referring to facts that have happened and will happen again deterministically, since the history is constantly repeated. There is also a theory that Nostradamus was paid in order to spread fear since fear brings control especially in very difficult times, when the human masses united by the common problems are ready to revolt. Some say that these prophecies were later changed several times for political, propagandistic and/or militaristic reasons, even in order to suit a movie script.
So apparently, there are no such prophecies about the ending of the world in 2012. But do you want me to predict some things concerning this legend of the doomsday next December? There are many things which will be announced, reported and heard. Perhaps we will be surprised by some views of people who seem experts. Survival guides will be published. Tips for avoiding and reversing the facts will be uploaded. Special martial arts classes will be organized for the World War III. Sophisticated binoculars will be sold on line for watching the comet or the planet which approaches the earth. Expert Shamans will be foreseeing if you will be among the survivals- Visa accepted. Photographs from secret crypts, built decades or even centuries ago will be released. Maps with the safest places on earth will be published, describing where the water of the great cataclysm will not reach- book now. Swords specifically designed for cutting down the toxic epidermis of aliens will be repaired. Scholars will connect different popular conspiracy theories, giving a definitive end to the puzzle and a nice story to kill your time until the next catchy story . Books and articles will be written. More books will be written, sold in very good prices, like you care to save money if the world ends. Some holy men will suggest new sects for the development of parallel diplomatic relationships with Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mohamed, Zeus etc.. securing a position to Heaven, no matter who the boss is finally.
... Yes, since everybody is talking about, something will happen next December. When the i-phones and i-pads started selling something happened indeed.... and everybody was talking about..
Most of all these things make me laugh. Some make me sceptical about the human nature which readily allows imagination to divert reality, when the reality is not pleasant, instead of acting to better that reality. What makes me angry is that we allow fear and suspicion to replace our love, forgiveness, hope, and action.
[Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_calendar, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostradamus & http://www.universetoday.com/14094/no-doomsday-in-2012/]
