# 2012 Mayan Cycle- What was the first publicizing of this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 22, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-mayan-cycle-what-was-the-first-publicizing-of-this/450206 "2008-05-22T03:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-mayan-cycle-what-was-the-first-publicizing-of-this/450206/1 "2008-05-22T03:50:43Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmayancalendar.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmayancalendar.html) In the 1970’s, I read all the UFO/Ancient Mystery/Paranormal crap I could, and the first time I recall seeing the Mayan Calendar Cycle mentioned was in the book version of the TV “documentary” _The Outer Space Connection_ (1974-75), produced by Alan “In Search of…” Landsberg, EXCEPT that the date given was Christmas Eve 2012. Then around 1978-9, I read _Robert Anton Wilson’s Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati_, in which he discussed the idea that a ton of cosmic & cultural cycles converged in 2012 (from a study by the McKenna brothers). So did those start the 2012 meme or was there even an earlier source? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-mayan-cycle-what-was-the-first-publicizing-of-this/450206/2 "2008-05-22T12:13:07Z")
Interesting. My readings indicated that there wasn’t consensus on how to read the Mayan (or Maya, as you prefer) calendar until the 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-mayan-cycle-what-was-the-first-publicizing-of-this/450206/3 "2008-05-22T13:41:35Z")
Perhaps there wasn’t a consensus. That doesn’t preclude possible attempts before the 1990s. Do you recall the hippy-dippy Harmonic Convergence event of 1987? It was meant to prepare humanity for the 26-year “Hell Cycle” leading up to 2012. > **[Harmonic Convergence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_Convergence)** > > The Harmonic Convergence is the name given to the world's first synchronized global peace meditation, which occurred on August 16–17, 1987. This event also closely coincided with an exceptional alignment of planets in the Solar System. > Although the event had been predicted by author Tony Shearer in his book Lord of the Dawn (1971), the principal organizers of the Harmonic Convergence event were spouses José Argüelles and Lloydine Burris Argüelles via the Planet Art Network (PAN), a peace movemen... ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-mayan-cycle-what-was-the-first-publicizing-of-this/450206/4 "2008-05-26T15:09:36Z")
I’m pretty sure I remember seeing the mayan thing mentioned in a new-age book in the 70’s. But all I’ve got is my memory, so I can’t swear to it.