The Mayan Prophecy, Timewave Zero, and 2012...the Great Debate

On Tuesday November 27th I shall be taking part in a debate about 2012, organised by the indefatigable David Luke as part of his excellent Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness series of lectures (£7/5 arrive at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start).



Also appearing will be Dr Cameron Adams, Gyrus, and (hopefully) Daniel Pinchbeck via skype. Booking is essential, and you can do it via the October Gallery website.

It may come as no surprise to learn that I'm - how shall I put it? - less than convinced by the flurry of predictions surrounding December 21st 2012. I'll be the first to admit that I'm wrong if we wake up on the 22nd to find that the UFOs have landed (I do hope not - I've got a lovely gig in Chagford on the 23rd), but it seems to me that this is just another expression of a very Judaeo-Christian concern with eschatology, the apocalypse, and the end of history. I prefer an altogether less linear view of time.

Don't get me wrong. I'm quite convinced that climate change is going to deliver us the mother of all shit storms, but obsessing about an arbitrary date in a calendar is just another distraction.

If you'd like to read more then why not download the latest edition of Paranthropology, where you'll find my article 'Get thee enhurued!': Magic Mushrooms, Time and the End of the World.

And while you're at it, check out Matthew Watkins mathematical dissection of the Timewave.

See you in London.

2 comments:

  1. If you haven't already, it's worth checking out The Mayan Word on youtube - briefly, it's a sample of perspectives from the indigenous Maya on the whole 2012 issue. More Zapatista than Arguiles, it's a very fine film. I blogged about it and embedded it here: http://coyopa.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/2012-the-mayan-word-film/

    In other news, we miss you both - looking forward to seeing you soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, thanks for that Tom. In one of those my god it's a small world moments, The Mayan Word was made by Mel, an old friend of mine...

    Miss you guys too - hope to see you in a week or two xxx

    ReplyDelete

 

Featured post

Shroom: ten years on

I find it hard to believe but it's exactly ten years since my book Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom was published. Thou...

Popular Posts

Twitter Updates

Archive

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *