12-12-12: Why this Day Matters to a Bunch of Weird People

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The looming termination of a Mayan calendar cycle in 9 days has inspired absurd predictions of the apocalypse or the dawn of a new era in human history.

But today, the superstitious and the numerologically inclined are reveling in a one-shot event: the date 12/12/12.

Indian numerologist Swetta Jumaani claims that “If you're in a business of trading money, or the buying and selling of anything, (Wednesday) is a good day to make investments … If you want to buy something — property, if you want to buy gold — it'd be a good day."

It’s also a terrible day to wear black. “Black is a very inauspicious color. Something bad always happens,” Jumaani added.

In numerology, the number 12 is particularly significant because 1 + 2 = 3, which correlates to Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. 12-12-12 is also the last date of the century with a repeating-number format, making it a once-in-a-lifetime event for the entirety of the world’s population.

Numerologists and fanatic “dozenalists” view 12-12-12 as an opportunity to harness “double energy,” according to Las Vegas numerologist Scott Petullo. “Other-dimensional spiritual energy abounds; the veil between this everyday world and the spiritual dimensions is more easily pierced.”

Gary Grinberg, a former radio talk-show host from Cleveland, insists that 12-12-2012 actually adds up to 11, a day of “emotional drama.” He cites the Oklahoma city bombings of 4-19-1995 (4+1+9+1+9+9+5=38; 3+8=11).

Numerology quickly gets more migraine-inducing. As Peter Mucha of Philly.com explains, dates like today aren’t very common.

“12-12-12 is the last triple date till the first New Year's Day of the next century. (Technically, it won't start in 2100 because there was no year zero.) Every year since 1-1-01 has had a triple. (7-7-7 was especially big for Vegas weddings.)”

“Oh, there will still be quadruples every 11 years (2-2-22 is next), and yearly doubles (1-3-13), although they are lacking in the symmetry factor. And let's not forget the coming exhilaration of two Pi Days! There's 3-14-15 ... matching the mathematical constant's first five digits ... and 3-14-16, which is closer to its actual value of 3.14159 etc.”

“But a yearly series of countdowns by ones ended with 12-11-10, and palindrome fans, who had their heyday from 11-1-11 to 11-22-11 last November, will have to settle for the strained likes of 3-1-13 or 02-11-20 until next century.”

“Ascending strings have only two years left — 11-12-13 and 12-13-14 — until 1-2-34. And after next year, you'll have to wait until 1:02 3-4-56 to again include hours and minutes.”

Head hurt yet? I haven’t been so confused and bewildered by first grade math since Jim Carrey’s on-screen implosion in The Number 23.

It also means one last chance for an impossible-to-forget anniversary date. Courthouses and drive-through wedding depots across the country are experiencing a deluge of star-struck couples rushing to get married today. In Los Angeles, the county clerk is expanding hours and allowing people to apply for marriage licenses online in advance, while in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, couples can pay $500 to partake in the “wedding event of the century” at 12:12 PM.

One lucky American, Kiam Moriya, was born on December 12, 2000, at 12 minutes after noon in Bronxville, New York, meaning yes, he’ll turn 12 on 12/12/12 at 12:12PM.

Pope Benedict XVI also began using his official Twitter account today. It’s unclear whether the date had any particular role to play in the Vatican’s decision, though if early tweets are any sign, @Pontifex looks like it’s going to be pretty boring. (Sorry, Pope.)

Before you draw any conclusions about your fate today, retired DePauwUniversity mathematics professor Underwood Dudley wants to bring you down to Earth. “It’s just a cute day… The delusion of numerologists is that numbers have a power over events, but they don't. Just because it's 12-12-12 doesn't mean anything will happen. It would happen anyway,” Dudley commented.

While the Countdown to the Apocalypse lists the time until the end of the world at 8 days, 19 hours, the real Doomsday Clock is still set at 5 minutes to midnight. Additionally, Ascended Master Saint Germain is apparently preparing to lead his followers through the Mount Shasta Portal of Ascension.

Yikes?