In this follow-up work to his book, Maya Cosmogenesis 2012, John Major Jenkins continues with the next instalment of his excellent series of lecture papers and books on Mayan cosmology.

In this book he examines how the imminent galactic alignment in 2012 has been presaged in different metaphysical traditions. It is no less than a charting of the transformation of the human soul, both individually and as a galactic community.

The reader will encounter information translated from some of the oldest sources ever recorded. There is also ample material from the recent era of the 20th and 21st centuries. This recipe mixing the very old with the new is virtually guaranteed to stimulate the mind of the intelligent reader.

Author Jenkins has organised his material in a way that leads easily from one stream of thought to the next. One of his most endearing strengths is his meticulous acknowledgement of sources. He also has enlightening information in his end-notes and a bibliography that covers a variety of related interest areas.

The style here is far more esoteric than in his previous book. This reflects the focus on transformation of consciousness, rather than strict adherence to astronomy, archaeology, calendrics and the like. True, we still have a survey of these aspects, but how these things will affect evolution of our consciousness in the coming years is the prime focus.

The material is arranged into five sections. Author Jenkins surveys Mayan cosmology and Calendrics in Part One. This complex knowledge is explained succinctly and includes all the most up-to-date research and findings. A useful side-bar in Figure 1.2 outlines the Mesoamerican calendar systems.

What the reader will learn is why trust can be placed in ancient shamans and their knowledge, as well as the reflection of the heavens ‘as above, so below’ on the geographical aspects and building placement of major Mayan cities and temple complexes.

Part Two examines ancient Gnosis in Europe, Egypt and Persia. I was captivated while reading the section on the megaliths, ley lines and sacred architecture in the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as excellent information on the ‘Stones of Destiny’ and connections to the Mayan Izapan throne.

The Great Cross of Hendaye is also covered in this section. Islamic astrology is surveyed, as are the encoded monuments and meaning of Mount Olympus and Troy. Mithraism is the ancient Persian Sun worship that is often neglected in making the links with our spiritual origins, but is well represented here. Alignment of monuments in ancient Egypt is explained with clarity.

Part Three reaches far back in time to show the connection with the Vedic tradition of India, which may be far, far older than first thought.

In this section is a concise and understandable summary of Sri Yukteswar’s revision of the Vedic World Age system of yugas. Vedic sources hold that we are currently at the end of the kali yuga – the darkest and most materialist of all ages. Author Jenkins discusses the implications of this system.

Chapter eleven is a brief, but delightful tour through the thinking and works of Ananda Coomaraswamy and Réné Guénon. These were two 20th century metaphysicians of the highest order whom you may or may not have encountered before now. This introduction to them will surely whet your appetite for primary sources on the subject of their work.

Within Part Four there are chapters that may take your breath away. Firstly, there is a chapter on the geography of precession, which shows how many places thought to have high spiritual power are connected.

The next chapter covers Freemasonry and the origins of the United States of America. The Masonic influence on the design, placement and decoration of some of the most famous Washington D.C. buildings will amaze you. It becomes clear that the founding fathers of the United States knew very well how precession worked.

In the next chapter, we are almost full circle, but not quite. The critical crossroads of the galactic alignment are examined, from Cusco in Peru to Izapa on the Mexico Guatemala border. The profound and largely ignored decorations on old churches and basilicas are illustrated and discussed.

One could call Part Five speculative. Don’t take this comment to imply that it lacks value or substance in any way. Questions about our galaxy, solar system, planet, communities and our selves need to be asked.

Mr Jenkins poses these questions backed with evidence from so many sources. He delivers Reiserian Cosmecology in relation to the coming alignment. He speculates on the timing parameters of alignment according to the different traditions. Is the alignment going to be a cosmogenesis or a catastrophe? Well, it will depend on your perspective.

An interesting section compares the chakra system of the individual with the galactic chakra system. So, we have the microcosm and the macrocosm, the ‘as above, so below’ once again.

The final word is the rather heartening concept of renewal, whether it is in seven years or 240 years. We do have time to get our respective houses in order.

This is both an enlightening and entertaining book. It is well researched and has connections with all the known ‘primordial traditions’, or as Aldous Huxley stated, ‘perennial philosophies’.

It will please fellow researchers by offering a thorough reference tool and source index to the 2012 Galactic Alignment. For neophytes like me, it is a wonderful learning experience and will help prepare the way for 2012.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the evolution of consciousness, or those curious as to why people keep harping on about the year 2012.

– Reviewed by Jennifer Hoskins in New Dawn No. 99