The conjunction of the winter solstice with the galactic equator is not just a one-time event that happens on December 21, 2012. The disc of the sun is one half a degree wide, so it will take about thirty-six years to fully traverse the galactic mid-plane. The conjunction is an event that is happening now and will be happening for some years after 2012. The period of conjunction began around 1980 and will continue until approximately 2018.

The alignment is formed by the location of the winter solstice sunrise crossing the galactic equator. The galactic equator can be visualized as a circle projected onto the sky in a similar way as the ecliptic but in the plane of the galaxy. The circles of the galactic equator and the ecliptic intersect at an angle of 60° to each other. This creates the effect of a cross in the sky.

The classic Maya knew this cosmic cross as the Sacred Tree, and it was extremely important to them. Jenkins believes this is the real origin of the cosmic Mayan world tree depicted on the sarcophagus lid of Lord Pacal. It also corresponds to the cahib xalcat be or four junction roads, the crossroads of Maya mythology recorded in the Quiché book of the Popol Vuh. Importantly, this is the site of the entrance to the underworld, Xibalba.

The galactic center and the ecliptic(A = 6,000 years ago; B = 3,000 years ago; C = today)

Graphic by John Major Jenkins