2012 End of Days

12-21-2012

End of Days

It happens only every 26,000 years; the Galactic Alignment, where the Earth’s Winter Solstice Sun passes through the Dark Rift of the Milky Way, marking the end of the 13-Baktun Cycle in the Mayan Long-Count Calendar. In astronomical terms, the Sun conjuncts the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. The Milky Way extends in a general north-south direction in the night sky. The plane of the ecliptic is the track the Sun, Moon, planets and stars appear to travel in the sky, from east to west. It intersects the Milky Way at a 60 degree angle near the constellation Sagittarius. This rare galactic alignment was predicted anciently by the Maya, whose culture, calendar and beliefs were based on their prophetic interpretation of these significant celestial events. 

According to the ancient Maya, one Era - or World Age Cycle – passes about every 5200 years (5,125.36 to

be exact). To the Maya, 1 Baktun = 144,000 days. 13 Baktuns then = 1,872,000 days, or one World Age Cycle. December 21st, 2012 marks the close of the 5th millennium, making it the largest. The date marks the closing of the Oxlanh Baktun (which means the 13th Baktun) and the beginning of the new (6th) Maya Millennium.

According to researchers, something definite happened in the middle of the first century BC and it was carved in stone by the Maya. Something also happened in 830 AD (in Baktun 10) which signaled the ‘Beginning of the end’ for the Maya civilization. The Maya considered these events to be so significant that they calculated a ‘countdown’ of sorts, beginning August 11th, 3114 BC and ending on December 21st, 2012. 

The last long count calendar was carved on the western periphery at Toniná, located in Chiapas, Mexico, near Palenque in 909 AD. The dates translate as follows: 0.0.0.0.0 = 3114 BC, 1.0.0.0.0 = 2715 BC, 2.0.0.0.0 = 2325 BC, 3.0.0.0.0 = 1932 BC, 4.0.0.0.0 = 1537 BC, 5.0.0.0.0 = 1143, BC, 6.0.0.0.0 = 748 BC, 7.0.0.0.0 = 354 BC, 8.0.0.0.0 = 41 AD, 9.0.0.0.0 = 435 AD, 10.0.0.0.0 = 830 AD, 11.0.0.0.0 = 1224 AD, 12.0.0.0.0 = 1618 AD and 13.0.0.0.0 = 2012 AD. 

The start date, August 11th, 3114 BC would have been written with five place values using Dot and Bar Numeration - 0.0.0.0.0 or 13.0.0.0.0.  The end date, 12-21-2012 (displayed on the clip of the pen) would be written the same way – 0.0.0.0.0 or 13.13.13.13.13 – continuing in the repeating cycle; 13.0.0.0.0 (displayed at the bottom of the pen barrel) representing midnight and 0.0.0.0.0 (displayed at the top of the pen cap) representing dawn. It is the December Solstice that ends a cycle and begins a new one; a new Era or Period of the Sun. According to Maya leader Victor Montejo, 12-21-2012 will mark the close of a great prophetic cycle as well as the close of the 5th millennium. 

Contrary to some modern-day beliefs, the events of 2012 may be less about physical destruction and more about Spiritual Transformation and Renewal. So, the world may not come to an apocalyptic end on December 21st, 2012, but according to the Maya, there will be a transformation. For those who will be interested in watching, the process will take 60 or 70 hours to complete. The changes of 2012 may also come gradually, rather than one sudden or singular event. At the end of a 13-Baktun Cycle, time speeds up, like the winding of a tether ball… the people of the earth become distracted by materialism and corruption, which were depicted by the Maya in the form of the 7 Macau (the Big Dipper); a beautifully colored bird who represents the pride of the world which emerges toward the end of a World Cycle. The 7 Macau (featured upside down on the pen barrel – beneath the Milky Way) is consumed with Ego; his cry is “Look at me – I am so beautiful – Look at me!”.

The 7 Macau’s counterpart is One Hanahpu (featured with arms outstretched on the pen barrel), the Father God or Sun Deity who represents balance and humility in the universe. It is the return of One Hanahpu that restores balance to the world at the beginning of a new World Cycle. The 7 Macau is deceived by One Hanahpu’s sons, the Hero Twins; who trick him into believing that he really is the ruler of the universe. The 7 Macau is toppled by the Hero Twins (featured on the pen barrel) ushering in the return of the reigning One Hanahpu who emerges from the underworld, represented by the Maya as a frog (featured on the bottom of the pen barrel) or crocodile (featured on the barrel of the pen). One Hanahpu rules the universe with power, restoring all things to their original order.  Materialism and corruption are replaced by spirituality and integrity; Ego is replaced by selflessness; old is sacrificed for new and darkness is replaced by light.

Cultural ceremonies and rituals surrounded celestial events for the Maya – even their games reflected the relevance of the universe in daily life. Ancient Ball Courts can be seen in much of Central America where two teams competed against each other attempting to place a Ball through a small hole in the center of the court – the Sun passing through the Dark Rift of the Milky Way. A simplified representation of this symbol – a dot resting inside a chevron -is featured at the bottom of the pen clip beneath the Dot/Bar-Numerated 2012 date. The Mayan understanding of a 365 ¼ day year was represented in the steps of their 4-sided temples and repeats 4 times on the gripping section of the pen.

It has been said that Eternity is not a long period of time; it is the cessation of time, or that Eternity is the unmoving center of time. The 260-day Mayan Calendar which is still in use today functions as a wheel within a wheel, featuring 20 Day Signs on the Outer Wheel and Dot-Bar Numeration on the Inner Wheel. The date of 12-21-2012 is set in high relief on the cap of the 2012 pen at 4 Ahau (the blowgunner, who also appears on the top of the pen cap) marking the exact moment that the Galactic Alignment will occur in our time. Some observers say that this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising it to a higher level of vibration. (Carlos Barios, Maya Teacher).

The 2012 Collection is the fourteenth in the David OscarsonTM series of Limited Edition Writing Instruments. Produced in five color variations, each limited to an aggregate production of 52 pieces (including Fountain Pen and Roller Balls). The 2012 Collection will stand as a tribute to the enduring wisdom of the Mayan culture as well as the precision and accuracy with which they predicted the conditions of the world and events in the heavens in our day. As above, so below…

Hard Enamel

The 2012 Collection continues in the spirit of artistic mastery and the tradition of Old World craftsmanship by combining the centuries-old technique of Guilloché with the art and expertise of Hard Enamel. Using a mortar and pestle, a composition of glass, water and metal oxides is ground for hours by hand.  When settled, the water is removed, leaving the fine paste that is the basis for hard enamel.  A quill is then used to apply each coat of the mixture to the surface of the metal, ensuring that the entire guilloché area is completely covered in enamel.  The components are then fired in a furnace at temperatures exceeding 1,000° F, fusing the enamel to the metal and forming a layer of glass.

After cooling, the pieces are manually ground with a diamond file, restoring their proper shape and surface.  This tedious process is repeated at length until the level of enamel reaches the depth required to cover the peaks and fill the valleys of each intricate guilloché pattern.  When the final stages of firing are completed, the pieces are polished and buffed, revealing the velvet finish of translucent hard enamel.

Production of translucent hard enamel demands the highest levels of patience, experience and skill.  A five-year apprenticeship is required to ensure that the highest levels of quality will be met in each individual Collection piece.  

The 2012 Collection will be produced in 5 color variations:

Opaque Azure Blue with multi-colored Opaque Hard Enamel in Gold Vermeil (52 pieces)

Opaque Sapphire Blue with multi-colored Opaque Hard Enamel (52 pieces)

Opaque Pistachio Green with multi-colored Translucent and Opaque Hard Enamel (52 pieces)

Opaque Black with multi-colored Translucent and Opaque Hard Enamel (52 pieces)

Opaque Red with multi-colored Translucent and Opaque Hard Enamel in Gold Vermeil (52 pieces)