The phrase "Earth Changes" was coined by the American psychic Edgar Cayce in the 1930s in reference to his belief that the world would soon enter a series of cataclysmic events causing major alterations in human life on the planet.
This includes "natural events" (such as major earthquakes, the melting of the polar ice caps, a pole shift of the planetary axis, major weather events, solar flares and so on[1]) as well as huge changes of the local and global social, economical and political systems.
Cayce's term was taken up in certain segments of the New Age movement,[2] often associated with other predictions by people claiming to have psychic abilities.[3] These beliefs have occasionally been associated with Christian millennialism and beliefs about UFOs.[1] Some New Age adherents believe that Earth changes will preface a "Golden Age" of spirituality and world peace.[4][2]
Prophecies of Edgar Cayce
editIn the 1930s and 1940s, Cayce made many prophecies of cataclysmic events involving the whole planet,[4] with a series of "earth changes" occurring between 1958 and 1998.[5] He predicted that the polar axis would shift and that many areas that are now land would again become ocean floor, and that Atlantis would rise from the sea.[5]
Prophecies of others
edit
In the late 1980s, Lori Toye published the I Am America Map, based on several visions that she claimed to have beginning in 1983.[6][7] The I Am America Map sold over 40,000 copies, and was followed by subsequent maps: Freedom Star World map, Golden Cities map, and an Earth Changes Progression series of maps. These maps represented the earth's future geography after climatic earth changes.[8]
In 2004, self-proclaimed psychic Gordon-Michael Scallion issued a variety of prophecies centering on the concept of "Earth Changes". He publishes a monthly newsletter, The Earth Changes Report.[9]
Reception and interpretation
editProphecies of Earth changes have been described as a form of pseudoscience, in which terminology and ideas borrowed from science are used to rationalize non-scriptural apocalyptical thought based on visionary experiences.[3] David Spangler, a leader of the Findhorn Foundation spiritual community, described prophecies of Earth changes as an expression of collective fear and anger, rather than as foretelling of actual future events.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Barkun, Michael (2006). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America. University of California Press. p. 172. ISBN 0-520-24812-0.
- ^ a b Lewis, James R.; J. Gordon Melton (1992). Perspectives on the New Age. SUNY Press. p. 12,64,204. ISBN 0-7914-1213-X.
- ^ a b Hammer, Olav (2004). Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age. BRILL. pp. 243–244. ISBN 90-04-13638-X.
- ^ a b Partridge, Christopher Hugh (2003). UFO Religions. Routledge. p. 118. ISBN 0-415-26324-7.
- ^ a b Hanegraaff, Wouter J. (1998). New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought. SUNY Press. p. 353. ISBN 0-7914-3854-6.
- ^ Pickover, Clifford A. Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction. Prometheus Books, 2001. pg. 358
- ^ Larson, Bob.Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2004. pg. 43
- ^ Larson, Bob.Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2004. pg. 161
- ^ Larson, Bob (2004). Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative Spirituality. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. 163. ISBN 0-8423-6417-X.
- ^ Smoley, Richard; Jay Kinney (2006). Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions. Quest Books. pp. 292–3. ISBN 0-8356-0844-1.