The Mystery of 2012
An Update from Robinson Crusoe Island
by Jeff Salz, Ph.D.
Why all the hubbub about December 21, 2012?
Is it the end of the old world … or just the opening of a new movie?
After an expedition around the world, one cultural anthropologist shares his thoughts.
The expedition is over. The crew has departed, leaving me alone on this sparsely inhabited island in the South Pacific. In 1704, privateer Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for the tale of Robinson Crusoe, spent four and a half years stranded here. I have but four and a half days. Marooned indefinitely, cut off from the rest of the world, the swashbuckling, amoral Selkirk discovered a deep spiritual peace and elevated perspective that he recalled for the rest of his life.
An account in The Englishman, a newspaper at the time of his rescue, recounts:
“This plain man’s story is a memorable example that he is happiest who
confines his wants to natural necessities, and he that goes further in his
desires increases his wants in proportion to his acquisitions; or to use his
own expression, ‘I am worth eight hundred pounds (a LOT of money at that time),
but shall never be so happy as when I was not worth a farthing.’ ”
Interestingly, 2009 is exactly three centuries from the year of Selkirk’s escape. Inspired by his story, moved by his insights, I seek a homeopathic dose of the same medicine. Or at least enough distance-inspired perspective to provide some clarity on my life and the findings of our recent expedition.
Just a month ago I got the phone call. One of those you dream of. An archeologist had discovered a ‘monument’ on an undisclosed island off the coast of South America that was potentially linked not only to the Mayan culture, but to the “phenomenon of 2012”. The History Channel was mounting an expedition and needed an anthropologist/adventurer to join him on his return escapade to the site.
There were rough seas to traverse in a small boat. Steep and treacherous volcanic rock to climb. Pay was nominal, hardships plentiful, conditions hazardous. Was I interested?
You bet.
Two weeks later I was on a tuna-fishing boat, the Tio Tomas, steaming away from Valparaiso Chile embarking on the three-day trip to Robinson Crusoe Island.
Filming on Robinson Crusoe Island
Jim Turner is a force of nature.
His relentless enthusiasm and boundless imagination have made him a near-legend here on the island. Jim first stumbled across the ‘monument’ in 1996. An archeologist with a specialization in pre-Columbian Mayan architecture, he was bumming around the end of the world with a backpack when an unusual formation at the uninhabited tip of the island caught his eye. He recognized the shape of the 150 foot tall tower as the distinct form of two principal characters of the Palenque-era Maya: the snail and the jaguar. Returning home and beginning his research, Jim Turner made a startling discovery: the final transit of Venus and the last solar eclipse of the World Age of 5,125 years – according to the Long Count calendar – were to be uniquely visible from the slopes of the ‘monument’.
Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to pile up.
Jim was well versed in the history of the Mayan kings of Palenque who had a propensity to memorialize their reigns with temples and palaces. However no such structure had ever been discovered to commemorate one of the greatest kings of all: the legendary Chan Bahlum. Could it be that Chan Bahlum and his ancient Mayan mariners somehow found their way thousand of miles from Central America to these deserted shores to carve a memorial befitting a royal figure of such rank? One that would reign for thousands of years and have a front row seat for one of the greatest spectacles of all time: the final total solar eclipse of 2012?
It seems that no matter how deeply one investigates the Maya, the outcome is few answers… and a lot more questions.
Why did an advanced civilization appear more than 1,500 years ago with the most sophisticated calendar till the advent of the computers of the 20th century, construct a huge empire replete with observatories to study galactic cycles… and then suddenly disappear? So suddenly that 2009 findings suggest a sudden departure
with household implements abandoned – almost Pompeii-style – helter-skelter in ancient kitchens ? Why does their 5,000 year calendar (so accurate that experts like Michael D. Coe tell us it has “not slipped one day in over 25 centuries”) end specifically on a precise date: December 21, 2012? Is it a coincidence that they choose as their final day the exact date that our solar system, our sun and our planet align with the center of the Milky Way galaxy – an event that will not happen again for another 26,000 years? And that day happens to fall on the exact date of the winter solstice?
Mysterious ‘Mayan’ Monument … and Stars
And is it a co-incidence that Jim Turner’s ‘monument’ stares out at an unobstructed view of the horizon in one of the few locations on the planet with an actual vista of the final solar eclipse of a two hundred and sixty century cycle?
(A disclaimer: You will find no spoilers here. To divulge all our findings would be a disservice to our sponsors at the History Channel. The show is tentatively scheduled for broadcast on January 3, 2010. I hope you will make a note to tune in. Suffice to say, if we have done our job right the viewer will be left enthralled by the adventure, amazed by the research… and left to wonder. For to be full of wonder is indeed ‘wonder-full’.)
Personally, I am impressed that so many of the oldest indigenous traditions agree, predicting times of massive transformation immediately ahead. Not only Mayan and Hopi, Aztec, Inca, many scholars from many of the world’s leading religions – including Christian, Hindu and Jewish – agree. For non-believers, it is impossible to deny the forecasts of scientists of every stripe who warn that peak oil, global climate change, changing demographics, the rise of consumerism, species extinction and our current world-wide economic downturn are in conjunction to overcome our societal slumber with a wake-up call in the form of a ‘perfect storm’ of planetary proportions.
Still, in my opinion the news is good. Not easy… but good. At the edge of a precipice, the only step ahead is one in some entirely different direction. I believe this journey to the edge may scare us just enough to change course.
While there is ample agreement among major traditions that an old world may be coming to an end, there is every reason to believe that a new and better world is in the works. Elders the world around point to a rebirth that may lead to an even brighter future. Forty years ago Oswald White Bear Fredricks – co-author of The Book of the Hopi – took me aside and explained a Hopi prophesy found on the rocks of Old Oraibi. We were soon to depart the Fourth World for the Fifth, he explained. This would be a rebirth for humankind, an emergence from a time of greed, scarcity and spiritual impoverishment. During my dozens of visits to Nepal and India I have repeatedly experienced the Hindu belief in the imminent end of the age of darkness called the Kali Yuga. The world of injustice and suffering we inhabit currently is little more than Brahma’s bad dream from which he is about to awake – and us with him – into the Golden Age, the paradisiacal Satya Yuga.
I would remind Hollywood filmmakers and those of similar cataclysmic persuasion that the end of a calendar does not mean the end of the world. Mayan time – like that of Hindu and most indigenous traditions – is cyclic, it flows from one ‘world cycle’ into another. We use a similar language when we speak of the ‘end of the year ‘ never thinking to debate whether or not there will be a new one coming once midnight has passed and the last page is ripped from the preceding year’s datebook.
The danger being a 2012 devotee is that – whether you are apocalyptic or optimistic – it is possible to just sit in our chairs, lulled into a sense of misguided fatalism, waiting to see what happens next. In our current world situation, that would be a mistake. Instead, we must leap to our feet and actively embrace the Buddhist notion of kharma: the understanding that our destiny is no more or less than as the choices we make. No matter what tradition you embrace – be it spirit or science – 2012 presents an essential opportunity, a rallying point for concentrated efforts to create new paradigms in politics. In business. In life.
Exactly three hundred years after Selkirk was plucked off this island and returned to his family, I ponder my experience and inevitable return. Like most of us, I recall my initial experience of photos taken by astronauts on the moon that offered us our first clear images of the earth from space. The ultimate group portrait of life shared on a giant blue ball floating in space, somewhere between Mars and Venus. It was a transcendent moment that would affect our awareness forever.
On December 21, 2012 the sun will move into direct alignment with the center of the Milky Way. Perhaps our planet will – as some mystics claim – be bathed in cosmic rays that will elevate our consciousness and a new golden age will begin. I do not know. But of one thing I am absolutely certain. On that date we will all have the opportunity to upgrade our perspective from the planetary to the galactic.
As Alexander Selkirk understood upon arriving back from his adventure around the world: the greatest gift of all is the chance to see our lives and homes with fresh eyes, as if for the first time… and then, out of appreciation and gratitude, make better choices for our life ahead.
On December 21, 2012 we will all have that opportunity.
One of today’s authentic adventurers and explorers, Dr. Jeff Salz has spent a lifetime traversing most of the remaining blank spots on the globe. A professional wilderness guide and expedition-leader with a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, he continues to leads frequent mountaineering treks to remote areas and unclimbed summits in the Himalayas.
When not in the wilderness, through articles, books, keynote speaking and consulting, Jeff is the ‘guru of adventure’ for today’s most cutting edge organizations. His client list includes top leadership at organizations such as eBay, Microsoft, Wal-Mart and the Walt Disney Company.
One of the “possibly related posts” auto-generated by WordPress on your blog was “Fortitude: A Christian’s help for stress, anxiety.” Must have used the same buzz words. Glad to read about your marvelous adventures! And I’ll be in the US for this airing so I’ll actually get to watch it — yay!
Interesting blogpost, did not thought reading this would be so interesting when I read the title with link!!
I’m an hour and 20 minutes into the show. I’m not reading this, cause I want to enjoy the end.
Little old lady in the Arkansas Ozarks — Mexico lover since I was 10 in 1957
I really enjoyed the show “Apocalyse Island”. Very thought provoking.
Perhaps, Jim Turner is correct, now is the time to discover the mysterious Myan civilization. The calendar ends at a time of alignment of the universe. In astrology life cycle major changes happen in 30 year cycles, planets aligning in the same positions as in birth, each time denoting major changes. Perhaps their knowledge of astrology is leading many to the wrong conclusion. If the universe is aligned to it’s exact position at it’s conception, does it mean it’s the end or does it simply mean a major change. We have the capacity to destroy the earth and hopefully we will be smarter than that. The alignment will probably just cause major changes. We can let that fact cause chaos or we can embrase it and change with it. The way I see it, it is really up to mankind to act civilized and humane to each other. After all, venus will be going through a major eclypse, and is not that the planet of love. Our thoughts should not be what will happen to me but rather how can I be of help when these changes occur. If that is our thought, then indeed, there is a big change coming, only it’s for our betterment not our destruction.
People forget, in the bible it says no one but God knows the end, not even the son of god. People need to be aware, they do not need to be scared to death of tomorrow. Live a good life for the moment and there will be no need to worry about subsequent moments.
Thanks, Judi.
I could not agree more when you write:
“… it is really up to mankind to act civilized and humane to each other. After all, venus will be going through a major eclypse, and is not that the planet of love. Our thoughts should not be what will happen to me but rather how can I be of help when these changes occur. If that is our thought, then indeed, there is a big change coming, only it’s for our betterment not our destruction.”
Glad you enjoyed the show!
Jeff
Perhaps, Jim Turner is correct, now is the time to discover the mysterious Myan civilization. The calendar ends at a time of alignment of the universe. In astrology life cycle major changes happen in 30 year cycles, planets aligning in the same positions as in birth, each time denoting major changes. Perhaps their knowledge of astrology is leading many to the wrong conclusion. If the universe is aligned to it’s exact position as it’s conception, does it mean it’s the end or does it simply mean a major change, probably just cause major changes. We can let that fact cause chaos or we can embrase it and change with it. It is really up to mankind to act civilized and humane to each other. After all, venus will be going through a major eclypse, and is not that the planet of love. Our thoughts should not be what will happen to me but rather how can I be of help when these changes occur. If that is our thought, then indeed, there is a big change coming, only it’s for our betterment not our destruction. People forget, in the bible it says no one but God knows the end, not even the son of god.
Just watched the show. Most interesting! However, I’m not sure which island you landed on. If it was Robinson Crusoe island, why take a boat when you can fly there? Also, wasn’t there mention in the show about possibly finding something on top of monument? After you ascended the monument there was nothing said about that.
In any case, I enjoyed the show and its thought provoking subject.
Bob
Hi Bob:
Some of the film crew flew. A very small plane.
We needed the boat to get all the gear over to the island.
While there is one fishing village on the island, our trip began on the other side,
Jeff
Just saw the History Channel show and it looks like an amazing find! Please keep us posted if there is a follow-up expedition planned.
My friends and I plan on having an “end of the world” party on the monument @ 11:11 GMT December 21, 2012
You are welcome to attend
As an aspiring anthropologist and student of the craft, thank you for putting this into writing. Its absurd how everyone jumps on the ‘2012 bandwagon’ and lets this one ancient event be the justification to finally live their lives. We arent even promised tomorrow, let alone promised December 21, 2012. We should all be living the lives we want anyways, its sad that it has to come to an apocalyptic catastrophe to wake people up. Well keep up the good work. I’ll be watching. Maybe run into you in the field one day if I ever graduate. Ha!
-John Brookshire
Thanks, John.
Well said…
My thoughts exactly!
Live for today, fully, passionately…. and do
it in a way that allows and encourages others to do the same!
Best,
jeff
What an adventure! It takes me back to when I was a teenager searching for lost gold in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona and looking at giant intertwined snakes made from rocks on the hillside representing the symbol of Montezuma.
I could completely identify with your description of Mr. Turner behaving like a Geiger counter as the monument drew closer… when something so primitive is in your blood, the feeling is like nothing else. I know that exact feeling.
It’s at that point that one has to realize that it doesn’t matter whether the world ends in 2012 or not. The both of you have gazed upon something that only the ancients have seen, and stood upon their creation.
The anticipation lies not in what is ahead for the world… but what is left to discover in the mountains of that island!
But maybe that’s just the treasure hunter in me.
Hello Jeff:
I watched the show yesterday and found very interesting info, I bet that was an amazing journey for you guys, I really enjoyed the energy of Jim Turney whean he show you the monuments, great job!
I’m from Mexico City but I spent 3 years in the South of Mexico, Oaxaca and Chiapas, have you been there ? there are amazing monuments and history from the mayas.
Do you know if Jim Turner has a blog or email as well ? I will like to contact him and share some info about the maya’s culture .
Was great the meet you here in your blog, I will read you later!
Ericka J
It is interesting that people are ‘jumping on the 2012 bandwagon’ and that we now understand that something is going to happen by 2012. It doesn’t so much matter that we just figured out that there would be several celestial alignments, what should maybe concern us more is why we forgot so much of what we knew thousands of years ago. Makes me wonder what else has been lost or forgotten over time.
Hey Jeff:
Also just watched the show on History and like the previous comments on your blog I was very interested and also enjoyed the show quite a bit. I was a bit saddened when nothing was mentioned on the outcome of your journey; in other words, Is there going to be a full out archeological expedition?
Best wishes! Kudos on “The Way of Adventure”!
Thanks for asking….
We’ve done our part, getting the show aired on the History Channel.
Now let’s see what kind of excitement and energy Jim Turner can manifest for the
next stages of investigation!
Hi Everyone:
Just heard from Turner.
He asks that anyone interested in contacting him do so via his site: http://www.apocalypseisland.com/
Happy Adventuring!
Jeff
[…] in Uncategorized There’s a show on the History Channel called Apocalypse Island that I found very interesting. It’s not because I believe the world is going to end in 2012, […]
The show really sparked my interest and I thought I’d write about it on my blog!:
propagandawerks.wordpress.com
Hi Jeff. So glad I found your blog. Although you seem like a great guy and I don’t want to appear to be a crank, there’s a bunch of people who were less-than-impressed with the History Channel program. I count myself among their number and was wondering if you’d respond to the criticism on the History Channel message board.
http://boards.history.com/topic/History-Of-Christianity/Apocalypse-Island-On/520087011&start=0
as well as here:
http://www.islandcrisis.net/2010/01/apocalypse-island-jim-turner/
I, for one, appreciate your idealism and what you do, but still feel that the Apocalypse Island program was misleading and irresponsible from an archeological and historical viewpoint. It had fairly high production standards as these things go but was basically a waste of two hours of programming.
Hi Ed,
I certainly understand your frustration with the project and resulting film.
All I can say is that I was invited to participate and went along for the adventure of it…not for the science. And that is what it turned out to be… an adventure.
The science? Well, you can judge that for yourself.
A lot of folks enjoyed the ride. It was a journey of discovery made for television with no definitive conclusion. (BTW: I can also tell you that the show and script the independent producers submitted was not the show that finally aired. That is the nature of working with with major network that foots the bill and exercises final editorial control)
As you noticed, Ed, I was skeptical throughout. I remain skeptical. But I applaud Jim Turner, the producers and the History Channel for airing a show dedicated to the pursuit of truth and imagination – no matter how fanciful – in pursuit of issues of potentially major importance
like the 2012.
If you read my blog you will see how my thoughts diverge from the mainstream pseudo-science Hollywood inspired babble that currently jam the bandwidth. I believe that 2012 may well be a turning point – and end to human society on the planet as we have thus far known it. Good or bad? I’d say that is up to the choices we make. I am dedicating much of my traveling and speaking to that subject.
I’m too busy at the moment to enter into the public debate about the show but want to say thanks for your thoughtful critique and for having the gumption to get in touch personally.
Civility, kindness and communication are what will get us through this challenging time.
Thanks for exercising them all!
Did the monument really look like a Mayan monument to you? I just couldn’t make that out watching the program. I thought it was an interesting show but think there is a little too much hullabaloo over the “end of time” thing. I do believe that there is more in this world and universe than we can see and understand. Too bad we don’t have a way to get into the mindset of those that built all the monuments around the world so that we could know what they were thinking.
Cecil: I agree with you! Too much hype about the 2012 end date… and the ‘monument’ was a bit of a disappointment. Great trip. Glorious island.
Wild adventure. And I thought the photography was in itself worth the watch
Jeff:
What an interesting show 🙂 Not, perhaps, because it was strictly “accurate” (after all this remote island is actually well known and has a population on it), but rather because it has made people think, do research comment and participate in discussion. And that, in turn, is always a very good thing.
I agree with you wholeheartedly: the photography was well worth the watching–what a beautiful place!
When you climbed the rock/monument…what was at the top? Did scaling it provide some deep insight? On your climb, did you see any direct evidence that the rock/monument had been deliberately worked by humans in the distant past? I wish the show had provided these answers; it did seem partly the point, after all 🙂
As for the 2012 end date…it is the end of the b’ak’tun, but not the end of their calendar…the 14th b’ak’tun should be pretty darn interesting, I figure. Seems to me that we’ve fixated on this as THE end date, when in fact, it is AN end date. Time will tell, that’s for sure.
Thanks! And thank you for addressing comments personally. I think that is exceptionally wonderful!
david
David,
Right on! Thanks for the thoughtful commentary and I TOTALLY AGREE.
That particular calander ends… who knows if there are others that were destroyed or are still waiting to be discovered.
I believe there ARE others that do not.
.And yes, as the Mayans beleive in cycles not endings, of course there will be a 14th baktun, and I too consider it a likely ‘rebirth’.
Less likely because of some external circumstance but because we finally push past the ecological tipping point and EVERYTHING changes.
With regard to your question…. all I can say is that at no point and at no place on/near the “monument” was I able to detect any
historical presence of humans. Should have been a scrap of tool, shred of scaffolding… something. I’m not saying it is definitely NOT what Turner thinks, but I never saw any evidence.
Yes, the island IS accessible. And phenomenal. Go, my friend, check it out for yourself!
Best,
Jeff
Great to hear! There are so many wonderful places I would love to go–I have been working on photography and would love to take it to the next level. If only there was an adventurer who needed a budding photographer 🙂
Thanks for the reply…it is beyond appreciated!
(You can delete this comment; it is really just to say THANK YOU for your time. You can reach me at my email address I supplied)
Kind regards
david
Did you really spend 3 days on a tiny boat to go look at a pile of rocks? You know the island has an airstrip right?
Yes … to look at that ‘pile of rocks’ – some 32 hours to be exact. I did not enjoy much of it. Some of the crew flew in while Turner and I and the producer and camera guy plus most of the gear arrived by boat a couple of days later. We did manage to get all of us – eventually – on flights out.
Very interesting story, haven’t seen the History channel show yet. A tsunami hit the juan fernandex island this morning…this is where your expedition took place..yes? Wow ..
Jeff,
I recently watched the History Channel program featuring you and Jim Turner on Juan Fernandez Island. I’m glad to hear this island is more accessible than the show first led me to believe.
The shots of the bay and surrounding terrain are terrific. I would like to be there to watch the once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event in late December 2012. I’m sure there will be many groups there to experience and hopefully document the event for assumed, future generations as well as the real-time enthusiasts who can’t make the trip.
I look forward to more adventures by you and others who seek uncharted places and authentic, historical evidence of links to our past which may help interpret our future.
No matter what the implications of this particular journey, your experiences are priceless – and more so when shared.
Thanks for being there,
Kind regards,
Jack
Dr. Salz,
Just seen the show on History Channel. I enjoyed it…but I must be one of the only people on this planet that does not watch TV to educate myself! Maybe all the people that say stuff about “the show wasn’t accurate…blah blah blah”, should go to the place that you got those 3 letters in front of your name. I’m just saying. Go to school if you want education…not the couch with the remote in your hand! Stop relying on the television to get your news and education. Don’t know how many old Fox News clips I see of OIF while I was over there…AND IT WAS ALL COMPLETELY WRONG AND MISLEADING! Every network has one thing in mind…$$$…that’s it. Dr. Salz took a trip, got on TV, climbed the sketchiest rock I ever seen (hahaha) and has great memories. If it’s not really a Mayan sculpture or it is, who knows. One thing I’m curious about is, why are there pyramids built around the same time and on different sides of the planet? Just a thought. But anyways Dr. Salz, thought it was a good show and adventure. Forget the nay-sayers…they prolly nitpick indiana jones movies too. Whatever. Be good DOC…hope to see ya on more adventures.
Mark
There is a page about you,
“Jeff Salz is NOT part of the scam” at
http://apocalypseisland.webs.com/jeffsalz.htm
It is part of the “Apocalypse Island” website at
http://apocalypseisland.webs.com/
There are many new hits today and yesterday
from Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.
I guess the television there must have aired the show again.
I just want to put my 2 cents worth in here. I read the negative comments on the show, and most of them sounded like they don’t really know what they are talking about. In fact quite a few sounded like they were couch educated. No other way around it, they wouldn’t know the truth if it came up and bit them in the arse. And THAT is putting it mildly. One website I’d bet only put the bad comments on the list, they did not have one positive thing posted!!! That tells me they altered the results!!! That is so easy to do. Find a positive one and just delete it. I’d bet that’s what happened, because no matter how good a show is, or bad, for that matter, there will ALWAYS be dissenting opinions!!! Always. Some will like it, and some will not. That’s just how it goes.
I have seen way to much in this life and others, to out of hand dismiss anything just because so called science says it can’t be. Too many times they have been proven wrong!!! Getting a college education does not guarantee you are educated. It simply says you got the grades, not the knowledge. And what happens if what they are currently teaching is wrong?? Then you’ve got a degree in disinformation. What good is that going to do? Remember there was a time when so called scientists swore the earth was flat. That bleeding someone would make you healthy again. That ghosts weren’t real. The list goes on and on, and they have since been proven wrong. Knowledge is a growing thing. Remember that. You never stop learning.
Tianca