Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age

In this book that promises answers to the "secret" of 2012 , Gregg Braden offers fresh perspectives on the concept of "time." Can time be just another dimension that repeats in endless cycles, like the repeating leaves of a fern? Nature shows us the ubiquity of repeating patterns known as fractals. Are these patterns embedded in the workings of the universe?

Braden explores the ideas of various ancient cultures regarding "World Ages" and shows their similarity. One of these cultures is that of the Mayans, who have risen to public awareness because their calendar, an astronomically accurate and incredibly lengthy measure of time, goes only to 2012, then stops. Pop culture has turned this into a possible "doomsday" scenario. Since I am writing this in 2013, it is obvious that the world did not end.

But did a World Age end with the winter solstice of 2012? Other authors on this subject did not consider 2012 "the end of the world" but as a fluid point between two ages, generally based on the precession of the equinoxes, a 26,000 year cycle that traces a path around the twelve constellations of the zodiac. This time period, known to the Mayans, can be divided into five World Ages of 5125 years each. Braden says we are at the end of the last of these five cycles. But that would assume that this point in the sky (at the beginning of the Age of Aquarius) was somehow the starting point. How is there a starting point to a cycle that presumably endlessly repeats?

One answer might be that this is the point where (as author John Major Jenkins said in his book, [[ASIN:1879181487 Maya Cosmogenesis 2012: The True Meaning of the Maya Calendar End-Date]]) our solar system lines up with the midpoint of our galaxy, the Milky Way. But it's not clear that we are lined up with the galaxy, and I confess to finding the whole business confusing. But perhaps 2012 really is a dividing line between World Ages, and perhaps it actually means something for human consciousness. Braden discusses the concept that how we think and feel influences matter, and, if this transition time does mean more natural disasters, we have the power to reduce their impact through our thoughts and actions.

It certainly does seem like we are living through a difficult time in our planet's history, for whatever reason. We know there has been climate change and extinction events in earth's past. Should we read some ominous meaning into the strong storms and earthquakes we've had since the century turned? There have also been way too many human-caused tragedies, with wars, terrorist attacks and nuts with guns shooting innocent people. If this is the turmoil of a transition from an age that is ending and leading to a Golden Age (as alleged by authors like David Wilcock, in [[ASIN:0452297974 The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies]]), then let's hope we get through it intact.

Braden also offers a "time code" and a "time code calculator" for figuring out when "seed" events might repeat, or at least when conditions will exist for them to repeat. I was less interested in this, since it cannot predict actual events and it seems questionable as to which events are really "seed" events that might repeat. The basis for this calculator, which relies on the number known as "phi," seems dubious.

The book makes some attempt at an explanation of the repeating nature of time, stating that time IS space as space expands outward from its beginning. Conditions on earth (and human consciousness) change with earth's position in the galaxy. There's the influence of the mysterious movement of earth known as the precession, as the position of the morning star slowly moves around the twelve constellations as it rises in the morning, a movement that takes almost 26,000 years to complete, a period much longer than human history. Yet this cycle was known to ancient peoples, including the Mayans. How are we and our planet influenced by this long cycle?

Fractal Time explores many interesting questions. Like other authors, Braden offers interesting speculation, but is unable to provide solid answers to "The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age" (the book's intriguing subtitle).

Well-known bestselling author Gregg Braden merges his scientific background as a former computer scientist with his beliefs and research. Fractal Time explains his method of using events in the past to predict similar conditions in the future. The universe is not random, but operates in recognizable patterns. With the mystical December 21, 2012 date looming ever closer, Braden explains the Mayan calendar and that this upcoming date is merely the end of a cycle which is 5,125 years long. He presents traditions and predictions from indigenous cultures around the globe and across history, and they all point to this cycle end-date. Braden asserts that life on Earth presents windows of opportunities based on these fractal patterns. People can then exercise their free will and either go with the flow or consciously change the patterns.

-- Alice R. Berntson, New Connexion Journal
[...]

Cosmic time dimensions are so clearly spelled out that you seem to finally understand how our earth cosmic cycles happen in a way that makes sense and is comprehensible as is so characteristic of Braden's gift.

I have been a fan of Gregg Braden since 2000 when I first read The Isaiah Effect. Since then I have enjoyed all of his other books, and have read a couple of them more than once!

The reason I was so excited when I purchased my copy of Fractal Time is that I know many people are concerned about the coming 2012 Mayan prophecy. In fact, there are many who believe that 2012 heralds the coming Armageddon, and not a week goes by that I don't find some piece of literature taped to my front door about the "end days."

The core of the book is Gregg's theory that events in time, if powerful enough, can create a repeatable pattern that can be found with his time code calculator (which is based on specific dates and phi). When he speaks of fractal time, he writes:

"It's a pattern. And that pattern is part of a cycle. It's as predictable and reliable as any high tech forecasts from the computer models, but it comes even earlier than they do." (page 82).

After reading Gregg's theories on time (he bases his information on the theories of leading scientists) I have to say that I can now look at time in a whole different way. If a fractal (or pattern) is repeatable in a leaf or a snowflake, why not time?

Besides his scientific resources, Gregg also draws on many philosophical and mythological resources, including The Bible Code and Tibetan, Hindu, Mayan, Aztec and Hopi Prophecy.

All of these cultures agree that we are in times of great change. And they have known about this change for thousands of years.

But none of them say that the world will end. They say the world as we know it will change.

"... 2012 is a process rather than an event. And it's one that is already well under way" (page 169).

According to an ancient Hopi prophecy that was etched in stone, we have two choices: We continue to dwell in the realms of mind, forever focused on acquiring, where we meet chaos and destruction. Or we choose to dwell in the realm of heart, where we are connected to everyone, and understand the importance of compassion and love.

"...heart-based focus and living will have a direct effect upon the way we experience 2012 and our time of change" (page 192).

Gregg points out that scientific research proves that the human heart generates a stronger magnetic field than the brain, and can directly affect the Earth's geomagnetic field.

What I found as I read through this book was that the scientific evidence proving our deep connection to our planet and to each other is overwhelming.

"So what does all this mean for 2012? Are we headed into a time of catastrophe or 1,000 years of peace? Are we looking at Armageddon, Eden, or possibly both? The truth is that no one knows for sure" (page 191).

Fractal Time filled me with hope for our future and inspired me to start making changes in how I view the world now. I greatly enjoyed this book, and know that it has changed the way I look at 2012. Though the coming days may be challenging, they are also an opportunity to grow and change the way we feel about ourselves and the world.

All Gregg Braden's books bear upon the larger scheme of things, esoteric messages encoded in ancient times, planetary themes such as the Shift, etc etc. This book is no exception.

It is divulged that we are rapidly approaching the end of a 5,125-year cycle of time, the end of a world age. This began in 3114 B.C. and will culminate in December 21, 2012.

Moreover, this cycle constitutes the last fifth of an even greater cycle (or world) describing "the precession of the equinoxes - our 25,625-year journey through the 12 constellations of the zodiac".

The date December 21, 2112 signifies the alignment of our Earth and the entire solar system with the "galaxy's equator" and "the heart of the Milky Way".

Braden defines "fractals" as "simple, self-similar, and repeating patterns" and it is his thesis that everything that happens in our universe occurs in repeating cycles.

This applies both to momentous world events and events in our personal lives. The appendices contain a simple method to calculate the reoccurrence of personal events or rather the reoccurrence of similar conditions in our lives to a particular seed event.

The momentous date in 2012 is not to be regarded as "the end of the world". What is occurring is not actually an event but an unfolding process. Just as life crises although seemingly horrendous actually present wonderful opportunities for growth, 2012 may prove to be the year where a global crisis forces mankind to transform to a new level of being, where we learn to allow heart-based decisions instead of those based on cold reason to take precedence.

But surprised how much I'm enjoying it! I'm not a big math person, but he makes things understandable and fascinating.

I am thankful to have come across this reading. It is a good collection of information. Some of the content is debatable, but what isn't?

Nature extends its beautiful synchronized shapes, which I refer to as aesthetic modules, into the time dimension. This interesting phenomena reinforces creationism and emphasises specific patterns which direct occurences and events into unique but predictable outcomes. This matrix is also discussed in detail in Gerald Shingleton's novel; Journey to Terra Incognita, where the seven day week has always been and always will be. Read this book to expand and understand God's mysterious creation. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of information clearly untold. I hope more will come.

Heck, it's Gregg Braden. How could it be anything but stellar??

Another Greg Braden's interesting books.