365 days with mxmtoon

Episode: August 16 – Harmonic Convergence
Host: mxmtoon (Maya)
Date: August 16, 2021

Overview

In this episode, mxmtoon (Maya) dives into the story of the Harmonic Convergence of 1987—a globally synchronized mass meditation centered around astrological alignments and New Age beliefs about awakening humanity. Alongside this mystical event, she touches on the debut of punk rock legends The Ramones, and shares a personal reflection from her own August 16th.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What was the Harmonic Convergence? [00:45]

• On August 16–17, 1987, the world saw the first globally synchronized mass meditation, prompted by an alignment of the sun, moon, and six planets—the so-called “harmonic convergence.”
• The event was promoted as an opportunity for people to harness the universe's energies and potentially usher in a great new era or even the end of the world.

Quote:
"On this day in 1987, planets and humans aligned to usher in a new age of peace, tranquility and enlightenment. Or at least that was the marketing pitch." (Maya, [00:45])

• The convergence featured a "grand trine"—an equilateral triangle in astrology, believed to indicate peace, harmony, and positive energy.

2. The Longstanding Human Fascination with the Stars [01:55]

• Maya contextualizes the Harmonic Convergence as part of a long history where cultures, from the Aztecs and Maya to Buddhist and Christian thought, link human destiny to the stars.
• She notes, "the idea of a connection between human power and planetary alignments is an ancient one." ([01:43])

3. Pop Culture Connections [02:34]

• The event’s name and idea surface in popular culture, notably in the Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra series, where planetary alignment causes the spirit and material worlds to connect.

Quote:
"In the mythology of that world, harmonic convergence is a planetary alignment that only occurs once every 10,000 years. That’s not the case in the real world, by the way..." (Maya, [02:44])

4. The New Age Theory and Its Architects [03:06]

• Created and promoted by Boulder-based Jose Arguelles and Lloydine Buras Arguelles, whose central project was reconstructing spiritual calendars inspired by Mayan and Aztec mythologies.
• The Arguelles duo were also key figures in spreading the 2012 apocalypse myth based on misreadings of the Mayan calendar—a myth since debunked by historians.

Quote:
"In fact, remember that theory that the world was going to end in 2012? Well, Jose and Leudine were major proponents of it." (Maya, [03:54])

5. The Mayan Calendar: Fact vs. Fiction [04:30]

• Maya highlights the complexity and scientific sophistication of the Mayan calendar, noting its precision and longevity, and debunks its association with doomsday predictions.
• Shares that the Mayan calendar predicted the Spanish invasion in 1519 better than it did any apocalyptic event.

6. The Goals and Hopes of Harmonic Convergence [05:00]

• Jose Arguelles believed that if 144,000 people meditated simultaneously, it would trigger a five-year spiritual cleansing and possibly avert global destruction.
• Meditators gathered at key sites like Mount Shasta, Central Park, Stonehenge, Mount Fuji, and the Great Pyramid.
• Celebrities John Denver and Shirley MacLaine participated, and even Johnny Carson joked with his audience by chanting "om."

Quote:
"The primary goal of harmonic convergence was to help the Earth move into a prophesied era of peace, the Age of Aquarius." (Maya, [05:56])

7. Did It Change the World? [06:26]

• No significant spiritual transformation, alien communication, or averted apocalypse can be credited to the Harmonic Convergence.
• The enduring belief that mass meditation could have societal benefits continues, referenced in the Transcendental Meditation movement and more recent public meditation events.
• Maya shares a snippet from a 1987 radio announcement—“Right now, Earth is saying, hey, the way things are going, I’m a nervous wreck. Do something different... So why not give art, artists and the creative spirit a try?”

8. “A Sacred Site Inside Your Heart” [07:34]

• Maya appreciates the idealism of the era and notes her favorite line from the radio spot: "a sacred site could be inside your heart, too."

Punk Rock Revolution: The Ramones Debut [07:43]

• On August 16, 1974, The Ramones played their first gig at CBGB in Manhattan, sparking the punk revolution.
• Maya emphasizes their groundbreaking “wall of noise” sound and influence on bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash.
• CBGB’s iconic role in the scene is celebrated, though lamented for its 2006 closure after a failed lease renewal.

Quote:
"Locals in the neighborhood still talk wistfully about the days when punk rock ruled that block." (Maya, [08:39])

Personal Memory: August 16 in Maya's Life [08:44]

• Maya recalls being a junior leader for high school freshmen in 2016, involvement in student admissions and diversity work, and her penchant for camp counselor–like leadership.
• Reflects warmly on those memories:
  "I have no idea how I got here to being a musician today, but I do know that if I wasn’t, I would probably be doing something in education." ([09:06])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [00:45] "On this day in 1987, planets and humans aligned to usher in a new age of peace, tranquility and enlightenment. Or at least that was the marketing pitch."
• [01:43] "The idea of a connection between human power and planetary alignments is an ancient one."
• [03:54] "Remember that theory that the world was going to end in 2012? Well, Jose and Leudine were major proponents of it."
• [05:56] "The primary goal of harmonic convergence was to help the Earth move into a prophesied era of peace, the Age of Aquarius."
• [08:39] "Locals in the neighborhood still talk wistfully about the days when punk rock ruled that block."
• [09:06] "I have no idea how I got here to being a musician today, but I do know that if I wasn’t, I would probably be doing something in education."

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:45] Introduction to Harmonic Convergence
• [01:43] Historic fascination with astrology and fate
• [02:34] Pop culture: Avatar and Harmonic Convergence
• [03:06] Jose Arguelles, Lloydine, and the 2012 myth
• [05:00] Meditation, aliens, and Age of Aquarius
• [06:26] The results and the enduring legacy of mass meditation
• [07:43] The Ramones debut at CBGB and punk’s birth
• [08:44] Maya’s personal story: high school leadership

Tone & Style

Maya’s narration is light-hearted, inquisitive, and personal—blending historical fact with playful asides and genuine curiosity. Her style is attentive to both the mystical and the mundane, with a youthful and slightly whimsical sense of humor.

This episode blends the eccentricity of New Age spiritualism, the rebelliousness of punk rock’s birth, and the warmth of Maya’s personal memories—making for a quirky, informative, and relatable listen.