Prophecies of Chilam Balam
|
The katuns did not follow each other in numerical order. Any given
katun in the cycle was always followed by a katun that was numbered
two less. For example, katun 10-Ahau was followed by Katun 8-Ahau.
The katun from which the cycle was said to begin was katun 11-Ahau.
(3)
Essentially, the cycle of thirteen katuns was for the Maya a kind of
mundane astrology, not an astrology of the individual, but of the society
and its history. In the several books of Chilam Balam, the influences of
the thirteen katuns are stated, usually as a description of historical events
that occurred during previous cycles. It becomes clear to the reader,
however, that the Maya always expected history to repeat itself and it is
also obvious that the ancient Maya were not very optimistic about their
fate. Most of these "fates" are negative, but then this may have been was
how life was for them. The delineations below are a composite taken
from the Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel and the Codex Perez and
the Book of Chilam Balam of Mani. We are currently in Katun 4 which
lasts for 20 years and is believed to have begun in 1992.
THE KATUN CYCLES
Katun 11-Ahau: Apparently food is scarce during this katun and invading
foreigners arrive and disperse the population. There is an end to
traditional rule, there are no successors. Since this is the first katun it
always opens up a new era. It was during the span of this katun that the
Spanish began their takeover of Yucatan and imposed Christianity on the
natives.
Katun 9-Ahau: This is a period of bad government where the ruler
abuses his people and commits misdeeds. Rulers are so bad that they
wind up losing some of their power to the priests. Carnal sin and adultery
are practiced openly, by rulers and others, and it is also a time of wars. It
is the katun of the "forcible withdrawal of the hand," a phrase the
meaning of which is unclear.
Katun 7-Ahau: This is apparently a time of social excess including
drinking and adultery, a low point in the history of the society.
Governments stoop to their lowest. The "bud of the flower," an allusion
to eroticism, is said to sprout during this katun.
Katun 5-Ahau: During this katun of misfortune, rulers and their subjects
separate -- the people lose faith in their leaders. Leaders may be harshly
treated, even hung. There is also an abundance of snakes, a great
famine, and few births during this period.
Katun 3-Ahau: This katun brings changes and calamities such as drought
and wars. The people will become homeless and society will disintegrate.
Katun 1-Ahau: This katun brings even worse troubles, weak rulers and
destruction. Governments fall apart due to rivalries. There may also be a
great war which will end and brotherhood will return.
Katun 12-Ahau: Finally a good katun. During this period government and
rulers are wise. Poor men become rich and their is abundance in the
land. There is friendship and peace in the land. There will be six good
years followed by six bad before well-being returns.
Katun 10-Ahau: Although this is a holy katun, there is trouble in the land
once again. This katun brings drought and famine and is a time of foreign
occupation, calendar change, and sadness.
Katun 8-Ahau: This may be the worst of the katuns as both Chichen Itza
and Mayapan, the two great ruling cities of Yucatan, were destroyed
during its period. The texts speak of demolition and destruction among
the governors, an end to greed, but much fighting. It is the katun of
"settling down in a new place."
Katun 6-Ahau: This is a time of bad government and deceptive
government. There is also starvation and famine.
THE PRESENT KATUN 4
Katun 4-Ahau: There will be scarcities of corn and squash during this
katun and this will lead to great mortality. This was the katun during
which the settlement of Chichen Itza occurred, when the man-god
Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl) arrived. It is the katun of remembering and
recording knowledge.
Katun 2-Ahau: For half of the katun there will be food, for half some
misfortunes. This katun brings the end of the "word of God." It is a time
of uniting for a cause.
Katun 13-Ahau: This is a time of total collapse where everything is lost.
It is the time of the judgment of God. There will be epidemics and
plagues and then famine. Governments will be lost to foreigners and wise
men, and prophets will be lost.
This extremely depressing set of "fates leaves much to be desired. Out of
thirteen katuns only one, katun 12-Ahau, has a positive reading, and
perhaps katuns 4-Ahau and 2-Ahau could be construed to be somewhat
positive. One would hope that clearer distinctions could have been made
between the various katuns, but such is not the case and if any kind of
astrological value is to be found here, we will have to find it through
observation.
OUR HISTORY AND THE KATUN CYCLE
1973-1993. During this period there was deceptive government
(Watergate, Iran/Contragate) and we did have an actor for a president.
There has also been an acute awareness of famines in Africa. The last
time this katun occurred was between 1717 and 1736. During this period
the "South Sea Bubble," a major business failure caused a financial
panic, and in England, the old and young "Pretenders" continued to claim
the throne. It was during another katun 6-Ahau, this one from 1460 to
1480, that the Spanish Inquisition was established and Lorenzo the
Magnificent ruled Florence. Finally, katun 6-Ahau of 1204 to 1224 saw
the Children's Crusade, an example of mass deception if there ever was
one. Perhaps there is something to this cycle of katuns.
And what of the present katun, katun 4-Ahau? According to the Maya
inscriptions, the katun began on 4/6/1993 and ends with the entire Long
Count/creation epoch on 12/21/2012. Following the prophecy scheme of
the cycle of the 13 katuns listed above, we could expect scarcities and
the arrival of great leaders. It is also the katun of "remembering
knowledge and writing it down." It does appear that in the past this katun
coincided with a questionable measure of stability in the world and also
significant advances in the written word. For example, katun 4-Ahau
lasted from 1224 to 1244. During this time Frederick II took Jerusalem,
but he took it diplomatically. The next time this katun came up was
between 1480 and 1500. Clearly, this was a period of great voyages and
discoveries -- but things were also relatively stable politically which made
exploration possible. This period also marks an important period of
growth in printing. Katun 4-Ahau came up next between 1736 and 1756.
Interestingly, it was during this period that the first encyclopedia was
published. The War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748 did bring a
settlement of territories and a measure of stability, and there were a
number of alliances formed during this time as well. Power kept shifting,
but did not erupt in an all-out way. Such may actually be the case from
1993 to 2012.
Finally, the present Long Count/creation epoch of the Maya comes to an
end on December 21st (the winter solstice), of 2012. What will the katun
that begins this new era be like? The Maya regarded katun 2-Ahau as
half good and half bad, a time of uniting for a cause, but also as the
katun during which came the "end of the word of God." And what does
that mean? It is true that in previous 2-Ahau katuns there were great
religious or ideological crises. Between 1500 and 1520 the Aztecs were
conquered and forced to convert to Christianity. Also in 1517 Martin
Luthor started the Protestant Reformation. 256 years later, between
1756 and 1776, the ideas of liberty and the rights of countries and
individuals became a growing trend and this led to the American colonies
declaring independence from England. One could say that a new era was
indeed dawning, although it took a few more katuns before it could stand
on its own two feet. Quite possibly some of our most taken-for-granted
beliefs, secular and religious, will begin to lose cohesiveness and
credibility after 2012, paving the way for a genuinely new age. If the
Maya were right then hang on for the real changes that should begin in
2012 and culminate with katun 13-Ahau which starts around 2032. One
thing is certain... the Mayans just didn't keep time they were obsessed by
it. They have mapped and kept track of time for thousands of years and
have even determined the start of time which equates to the date August
13th, 3113 BC. Each 5125 years represented an Age of mankind and
was built up of smaller units.
A Uinal was a period of 20 days.
18 Uinals made up a Tun or period of 360 days.
20 Tuns were known as a Katun, and was approximately 20 years.
20 Katuns were known as a Baktun, or a period of approximately 394
years.
And finally, 13 Baktuns constituted a Mayan Age of 5125 years which if
correct will mean that we are approaching the End of the Age.
According to the Mayans 4 prior cycles have past we are approaching the
end of the 5th cycle which equates to December 21st, 2012.