From one of the pioneering authors who introduced the 2012 countdown to the world's spiritual community comes an epic exploration of the origins of this portentous date. Jenkins examines the date's roots in Mayan cosmology, modern astronomy, and ancient prophecy.

Introduction: An unstoppable idea -- The 2012 story -- Recovering a lost world -- The long career of the long count -- Seductive spells -- Breakthrough or breakdown -- The 2012 explosion -- Doubting scholars -- The galactic alignment theory : update -- And the big picture -- Sacred science and perennial philosophy -- The fulfillment of the Maya prophecy -- Ending the war on us -- The Maya Renaissance -- Restoring the big picture -- After the party.