2012 Stuff...

There has been much discussion over the events of 2012, but it may be the Mayan prophecies do not address the entire human species. It may be the struggle and revelation foretold is meant to only affect certain individuals. These would be the ones who are currently going through a cycle of destruction and into a higher dimension of consciousness. If this is so, the affected individuals would have experienced an ego shattering episode in their lives corresponding to the last era's end - 1987 through 1998. If they have managed to survive the upheaval, they have been restructuring themselves and are due for major transformation December 21 2012. This might be what is meant by the Ascension. The years between December 21, 1999 through December 21, 2012 mark the beginning of the sixth era. By December 21, 2012 the sixth era will be fully in place, the transformation will have completed itself.

The feared world-ending catastrophe might refer to the ego-death of the consciousness, similar to that which occurs before the final stage of Enlightenment. If the above statements are valid, the Winter Solstice of 2012 doesn't mark the beginning of a transforming process - it marks the end.