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Fractal Time

Fractal Time

The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age
by Gregg Braden 2009 256 pages
3.91
834 ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Time Operates in Repeating, Fractal Cycles

A growing body of evidence suggests that time's waves, and the history within them, repeat as cycles within cycles.

Dynamic, cyclic force. Ancient traditions and modern science converge on the understanding that time is not merely a linear progression but a dynamic, cyclic force. These cycles are like great waves of energy pulsing across the universe, linking past and future. This perspective views time as an essence that follows the same rhythms governing everything from subatomic particles to galaxies.

Patterns within patterns. The universe is built on fractal patterns—self-similar structures that repeat on different scales. Just as a fern leaf or a coastline exhibits the same pattern whether viewed up close or from afar, time itself unfolds in repeating, yet not identical, cycles. This fractal nature means that understanding a small cycle can illuminate larger cosmic rhythms.

Predicting conditions. This understanding allows us to think of events in time as "places" within these cycles that can be measured and predicted. While we cannot predict exact future events, we can anticipate the conditions that make certain outcomes possible. This knowledge empowers us to prepare for and potentially alter the course of repeating patterns.

2. Ancient Civilizations Accurately Charted Cosmic Cycles

The Maya who calculated it also inscribed it as a permanent record for future generations.

Sophisticated timekeeping. Ancient civilizations, particularly the Maya, possessed an astonishingly advanced understanding of cosmic cycles. Their Long Count calendar, unlike anything seen since, charted fractal time with incredible precision, identifying the mysterious end date of the present world-age cycle: December 21, 2012. This knowledge was etched into stone monuments, built to last until the "end of time."

Universal consensus. Beyond the Maya, diverse ancient traditions—from India's Mahabharata and Vedic yugas to the oral histories of indigenous Americans and the Hopi—all spoke of coming "end of time" scenarios. These prophecies consistently describe a never-ending dance of cycles, where world ages conclude with cataclysmic changes (fire, ice, flood) before a new age begins.

Deep cosmic understanding. These cultures recognized Earth's journey through the heavens, including the precession of the equinoxes (our 26,000-year voyage through the zodiac). The Dendera zodiac in Egypt, for instance, is a celestial map that accurately depicts these movements, demonstrating a profound ancient knowledge of planetary and galactic cycles that modern science is only now confirming.

3. The 2012 End Date Signifies a Rare Convergence of Major Cycles, Not the World's End

Not the end of the world, but the end of a world age—a 5,125-year cycle of time—and the way we’ve known the world throughout that time.

End of an era. The December 21, 2012, date marked by the Mayan calendar does not signify the end of the planet, but rather the completion of a 5,125-year "world age." This cycle, which began in 3114 B.C., encompasses nearly all of recorded human history and represents the end of a particular way of life and thinking.

Rare cosmic alignment. This date also coincides with an even rarer astronomical event: the alignment of our solar system with the core of the Milky Way galaxy. This galactic alignment, a process spanning years (roughly 1980-2016), last occurred approximately 26,000 years ago, marking the completion of an entire precessional cycle. The simultaneous ending of these two nested cycles makes this period truly extraordinary.

Transition and renewal. Ancient traditions universally viewed these endings as beginnings—a necessary "cleansing" or "purification" paving the way for a new world age. The Maya, for example, saw this as a "gestation period" culminating in a spiritual birth for humankind, an evolutionary leap in consciousness. It's a transition, not an annihilation, offering an opportunity for renewal.

4. History Repeats Conditions, Not Events, Often with Greater Intensity

Each time a cycle appears, it repeats the general conditions that make something possible, rather than a precise outcome.

Uncanny parallels. History often presents striking similarities across different eras, suggesting underlying cyclic patterns. The assassinations of U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, separated by 100 years, exhibit an eerie list of coincidences, from their involvement in civil rights to the names of their successors and assassins. These are more than mere chance; they hint at repeating conditions.

Seed events and fractal expressions. A "seed event" initiates a pattern, setting conditions that tend to repeat at rhythmic intervals. These repetitions are "fractal," meaning they are similar but not identical, and often manifest with greater intensity. For example, the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack (a surprise attack on America) became the seed for later conditions, including the 1984 nuclear threat and the 2001 9/11 attacks.

Conditions, not destiny. The crucial distinction is that cycles repeat conditions, not precise events. The stage is set, the ingredients are present, but the final outcome is not predetermined. This understanding is vital because it implies that knowing when conditions are ripe allows for conscious intervention and different choices.

5. The "Time Code Calculator" Reveals Future Conditions from Past "Seed Events"

If we know where we are in a cycle, then we know what to expect when it repeats.

A tool for insight. The Time Code Calculator is a practical tool, rooted in fractal mathematics and the golden ratio (phi), designed to reveal repeating patterns in time. It allows us to peer into history and identify when conditions from past "seed events" are likely to recur in our future, whether personally or globally.

Simple calculations. To use the calculator, one needs two inputs:

  • The date of a significant "seed event" (e.g., 1941 for surprise attacks).
  • The total length of the overarching cycle (e.g., the 5,125-year world age).
    Applying the golden ratio (.618) to these inputs generates dates for when similar conditions can be expected to reappear.

Empowering foresight. This tool provides a "heads-up" for future possibilities. For instance, it can pinpoint "hot dates" for potential global conflicts or economic shifts, or even personal cycles of love and loss. Knowing these repeating conditions in advance offers an unprecedented opportunity to make conscious choices, potentially altering outcomes and fostering peace or healing.

6. Global Crises Follow Predictable Fractal Patterns

The Time Code Calculator demonstrates this beautifully, showing that 1973 is precisely the year when the 1914 conditions of world war would appear as a repeating cycle.

Repeating patterns of conflict. The 20th century, marked by unprecedented human suffering and global wars, reveals clear cyclic patterns. World War I (1914) serves as a seed event for conditions of global conflict that recurred at predictable intervals. For example, the calculator identifies 1973, the year of the Arab-Israeli War and a near-nuclear confrontation, as a repeat of 1914's conditions.

Economic cycles. Economic collapses also follow fractal patterns. The 1929 stock market crash, a seed event for financial turmoil, predicted similar conditions in 1979, 1999, and 2007/2008. While the outcomes varied (e.g., 1979's crisis was averted by federal budget tightening), the underlying conditions for economic vulnerability were present on schedule.

Opportunity for intervention. The convergence of multiple crisis cycles (e.g., atomic weapons, global war, economic collapse) around 2010-2012 highlights a critical juncture. Recognizing these repeating conditions allows us to:

  • Exercise extra care and diplomacy during tense periods.
  • Introduce new patterns of peace and cooperation.
  • Avoid falling into historical traps of conflict and fear.

7. Earth's Magnetic Fields and Solar Cycles Influence Planetary and Human Changes

When the field lessens, even a little, the weaker shield allows more of the sun's energy to reach Earth's surface. It's this increased solar energy that begins a period of global warming.

Earth's magnetic shield. Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere, acts as a vital shield, protecting us from harmful solar winds and radiation. Its strength directly influences global temperatures and climate stability. When this field weakens, more solar energy penetrates the atmosphere, initiating periods of global warming.

Solar and climate correlations. Historical data from Antarctic ice cores, spanning 420,000 years, reveal a clear correlation:

  • Declining magnetic field strength.
  • Increased solar output (e.g., intense sunspot cycles, with Cycle 24 peaking around 2012).
  • Resulting global temperature increases (1-2 degrees Celsius).
  • Polar ice melt and rising sea levels.
    These patterns are precisely what we observe today, indicating that current climate changes align with natural cyclic phenomena, potentially accelerated by human activity.

Human connection to magnetism. Intriguingly, the human brain contains magnetic particles, linking us directly to Earth's magnetic field. Changes in this field can profoundly affect our:

  • Nervous systems and brain activity.
  • Perceptions of space, time, and dreams.
  • Emotional well-being and behavior (e.g., intense behavior during full moons).
    This suggests that as Earth's magnetic fields fluctuate around 2012, human consciousness and emotions are also directly impacted.

8. Human Consciousness and Collective Choice Can Alter Cyclic Outcomes

The words Will you change it? appear to be a direct question to those who would be certain to read the ancient code maker's message. It is a question to us.

Prophecy and paradox. Ancient prophecies, like the Bible Code, often present paradoxical outcomes for the same moment in time (e.g., "Earth annihilated" vs. the "threat itself" being destroyed for 2012). The key to resolving this paradox lies in a direct question embedded within these texts: "Will you change it?" This implies that our choices are paramount.

Quantum influence. Modern physics, particularly the "observer effect" in quantum mechanics, supports this ancient wisdom. Experiments show that the mere act of observation, or the focus of consciousness, directly influences the behavior of quantum particles—the fundamental building blocks of reality. The greater the focus, the greater the influence on the outcome.

Choice points. Princeton physicist Hugh Everett III's "choice points" theory suggests moments in time when we can "jump" between already-existing possibilities by shifting our awareness and beliefs. While chaos and suffering are potential outcomes of repeating cycles, our collective consciousness and choices can steer us toward a different, more positive trajectory.

9. The Current Era is a "Choice Point" for a New World Age

At the end of one and the beginning of the next, nature offers us the greatest chance for change.

The "bottleneck" of change. Leading scientists describe the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a "bottleneck" in time. This period is characterized by a convergence of unprecedented crises:

  • Depletion of natural resources.
  • Exponential population growth.
  • Global poverty and economic disparities.
  • Accelerated climate change.
    This unsustainable trajectory demands a "substantially new manner of thinking," as Albert Einstein warned, to ensure humanity's survival.

A unique opportunity. The 2012 convergence of major cosmic cycles presents a rare "choice point." It's a moment when the universe conspires to make change easier, offering humanity a profound opportunity to:

  • Wipe away outdated patterns of the past.
  • Set healthy, new patterns for the future.
  • Embrace holistic, sustainable living.
    This transition is a "purification" that forces us out of comfort zones and onto a new path.

The Hopi path. The Hopi prophecy, etched on Prophecy Rock, illustrates two paths: one of greed and suffering, and another of love, strength, and balance. The "ladder of choice" connects them, signifying that even those on a destructive path can choose anew. This period of global change is seen as an inevitable clearing, an opportunity to learn from 5,000 years of history and choose cooperation over fear.

10. Heart-Based Focus and Global Coherence are Key to a Positive Future

Regulating emotions is the next frontier in human evolution.

The heart's magnetic power. Scientific discoveries reveal that the human heart generates the body's strongest magnetic field, vastly more powerful than the brain's. This field extends beyond the body and interacts with Earth's geomagnetic field. This connection suggests a profound, two-way communication between human emotion and planetary systems.

Collective emotion's impact. Data from GOES satellites on 9/11 and other global events show measurable spikes in Earth's magnetic field correlating with mass human emotion. This indicates that strong collective feelings, whether stress or coherence, can have a tangible impact on the planet's life-sustaining fields, influencing everything from climate stability to peace between nations.

The Global Coherence Initiative. This understanding has led to ambitious projects like the Global Coherence Initiative. By teaching individuals heart-based coherence—a state of emotional balance and positive focus—it aims to:

  • Measure the interaction between human hearts and Earth's magnetosphere.
  • Inspire collective positive emotion to create a "global coherence wave."
    This initiative offers a blueprint for transcending past divisions and literally creating a "second Eden" by harmonizing our collective feelings with the planet's fields, easing the 2012 transition into a new world age.

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Review Summary

3.91 out of 5
Average of 834 ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Fractal Time by Gregg Braden explores cyclical patterns of time, blending quantum physics, ancient wisdom, and spirituality around the December 21, 2012 Mayan calendar ending. Reviews are polarized: supporters praise its paradigm-shifting concepts about electromagnetic human emotions affecting reality and time's fractal nature, finding it inspirational and well-researched. Critics dismiss it as pseudoscience with selective evidence, dubious mathematics, and leaps in logic that don't withstand scrutiny. Many note its relevance has faded post-2012. Readers appreciate discussions of choice points, repeating historical patterns, and optimistic messaging, though some find the material dated, poorly supported, or overly complex.

Your rating:
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About the Author

Gregg Braden is a New York Times bestselling author internationally recognized for bridging science and spirituality. His career spans roles as a Computer Geologist for Phillips Petroleum during the 1970s energy crisis, Senior Computer Systems Designer for Martin Marietta Defense Systems, and first Technical Operations Manager for Cisco Systems, where he developed the global support team ensuring Internet reliability. Since 1991, Braden has spent over 22 years researching remote monasteries, mountain villages, and ancient texts to uncover timeless secrets. His paradigm-challenging work includes The Isaiah Effect, The God Code, and The Divine Matrix, published in 17 languages across 27 countries, demonstrating how ancient wisdom holds keys to our future.

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