Summary
John Major Jenkins (4 March 1964 – 2 July 2017)[1] was an American author and pseudoscientific researcher. He is best known for his works that theorize certain astronomical and esoteric connections of the calendar systems used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. His writings are particularly associated with 2012 millenarianism and the development of Mayanism in contemporary and popular culture, as an outgrowth from the New Age milieu.[2] He is one of the principal figures who have promoted the idea that the ancient Maya calendar ends on 21 December 2012 and that this portended major changes for the Earth[vague].[3][4][5] He has self-published a number of books through his Four Ahau Press.
He died on 2 July 2017 from cancer of the kidney at the age of 53.[6]
Alternative view of cosmology edit
Jenkins considered scientific approaches to cosmology a byproduct of limited thinking. In Tzolkin: Visionary Perspectives and Calendar Studies, he writes, "I primarily wish to promote a visionary approach to these matters, as there is much more to the Sacred Calendar than can be seen with the rational intellect," and that these visionary perspectives "can more closely touch the spirit of the calendar" than does the anthropological literature.[7]: 5
Jenkins also maintained that, in order to accept and understand his cosmological theories, one must also accept the premise that the Mayan kings journeyed to “distant places,” and continuously “renewed” their kingdoms at specific points in the Maya calendar.[8]: 322 Jenkins is also a supporter of “The Lost Star” theory[9] which extrapolates the existence of a binary companion of the Earth’s sun based on a believed mathematical discrepancies in “earth wobble.”[10]
Appearances edit
In October of the year 2000, Jenkins work was featured on two episodes of Places of Mystery series on the Discovery Channel.[11]
Jenkins was interviewed and appears in the film Manifesting the Mind a film by Andrew Rutajit.[12]
Jenkins is featured speaking in the documentary 2012: Science or Superstition. The film explores the interpretations of the ancient Mayan predictions by researchers and scholars.[13]
Jenkins is also featured in the documentary/film 2012: Startling New Secrets.[14]
Publications edit
- Journey to the Mayan Underworld (Four Ahau Press, Boulder, CO: 1989)
- Mirror in the Sky (Four Ahau Press, 1991)
- Tzolkin: Visionary Perspectives and Calendar Studies (Borderland Sciences Research Foundation, Garberville, CA: 1992/1994)
- Mayan Sacred Science (Four Ahau Press, Boulder, CO: 1994)
- Maya Cosmogenesis 2012 (Bear & Company, Santa Fe, NM: 1998)
- Galactic Alignment: The Transformation of Consciousness According to Mayan, Egyptian, and Vedic Traditions (Inner Traditions International (Rochester, VT) 2002)
- Pyramid of Fire, co-authored with Marty Matz, Bear & Company, 2004
- The 2012 Story: The Myths, Fallacies, and Truth Behind the Most Intriguing Date in History (Tarcher/Penguin 2009)
- Three Plumes of Judas (fiction) self-published, 2017
References edit
- ^ Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities linked authority file (LAF).
- ^ "John Major Jenkins". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ Dudek, Duane (April 18, 2009). "Did the ancient Mayans predict the end of the world?". Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ ANASTAS, BENJAMIN (July 1, 2007). "The Final Days". The New York Times. pp. 4–6. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ GARNER, DWIGHT (February 5, 2009). "The End Is Near! Now the Good News: It Could Be Groovy". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ "In memory of John Major Jenkins". Letterpress Depot. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ Jenkins, John Major (1994). Tzolkin: Visionary perspectives and calendar studies. Borderland Sciences Research Foundation. ISBN 0945685165.
- ^ Jenkins, John Major (1998). Maya cosmogenesis 2012 : the true meaning of the Maya calendar end-date. Santa Fe, NM: Bear. ISBN 1879181487.
- ^ Cruttenden, Walter (2005). Lost star of myth and time. Pittsburgh, PA: St. Lynns Press. ISBN 978-0-9767631-1-6.
- ^ "The Great Year and the Lost Star by John Major Jenkins, May 2006". www.alignment2012.com.
- ^ "About John Major Jenkins". alignment2012.com.
- ^ Manifesting the Mind - A Film by Andrew Rutajit (official YouTube release), retrieved 2022-06-28
- ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ John Major Jenkins | Investigators | 2012: Startling New Secrets | Syfy Archived December 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
External links edit
- Alignment 2012 John Major Jenkins own website. Accessed April 2009
- John Major Jenkins video interview Archived 2009-10-10 at the Wayback Machine, John Major Jenkins discusses 2012 in a two-part video interview with his editor at Tarcher Books