A Face on 2012

It was a chilly Saturday morning with gray clouds blanketing the sky, and a brisk wind blowing. It was unusual for Los Angeles to showcase this sort of damp weather to newcomers. Even though the weather was out of character, the 2012 Conference at the Ricardo Manitoban Theatre brought out hundreds of people. A long line of folks from all walks of life stood, clustering Vine Avenue. Around the block they went, excited and waiting to learn something new- or rather something very old. Who could have guessed a city that doesn’t wake until noon could bring out so many hungry humans at nine a.m?

            What brought these people out here on such a blustery day? What made them stand in line for two hours? Why these people? Why this moment?

            Not everyone in line knew Daniel Pinchbeck. “Wasn’t he on StarTrek?” No.  Some wrinkled their noses and were confused by that name. Some people talked excitedly, with a touch a fear in their voice explaining that on “December 21st, 2012, the world will end!” When asked where they learned that, they proudly replied, “Mayan Prophesy, man!” Mayan Prophesy, indeed.

            A smile, a nod, and encouraging words expressing that those with that mentality would certainly enjoy the good news of the day, was the only response to illicit. The hungry were in line for the buffet. Some came ready to gorge themselves on the all-you-can-eat mentality of “new” prophesy. Some came because they heard the green beans had a nice sauce. 

            Some were in line with interesting ideas. I spoke with one young man with large frizzy blond mane. He had a cool vibe about him and when asked who he wanted to hear speak, he replied, “Jordan Maxwell- he’s an all around cool dude”. He then spoke of his time down in Mexico where he first learned about the Mayan Prophesy. One of his buddies down there became good friends with a group of older gentlemen who claimed to be Mayan Warrior descendents. They often wore their ancient battle gear down to the local watering hole. This men spoke of the prophesy in a slightly negative way. They saw it as the time where “the white man gets his due”. They believed 2012 heralded a time where white men would be taken down from his power- and these ancient warriors were ready to help it happen. According to the young man with the lion’s mane, these men had a full stockade of weapons ready to bust out on the tourist resorts come December 21st. He laughed, I laughed, and we all felt a little uncomfortable.

            After that new-take on the 2012 mystery I found another group of people that refreshed my faith in what 2012 hopefully will be. When asked how they felt and what they thought 2012 would be, I heard back, “We’re looking forward to a change.”, “It’s like a new movement.”, and “The world will be so much better man!”. When asked how this would happen, they became quiet. It seems that many people attending the conference were aware that a positive shift would happen, but they didn’t understand how it could happen. When asked how they fit into it, that answer could also not be answered. One young lady quipped, “Its all just another trend- like skinny jeans. Sure it might be something beautiful, but it’s becoming hollow because no one is really looking into themselves, only listening to the words of others.” Ouch- yet, could she has a point?

            However, not all those in line for the buffet where there to take and not give. Some understood that if a positive shift were to occur, they would have to take the reins and make it happen. A young man in big black sunglasses and a tweed coat caught my eye. I saw him earlier eating a hot dog. Something about the way he wiggled attracted me. He had this bumpy-jumpy energy that just sucked a person into his sphere. “I can’t wait to hear everything that they’re going to talk about! I am so excited, I even had Daniel Pinchbeck sign my book, see! Its great! I love it! I mean, we live in an amazing time, I can’t wait till 2012!” Then I asked him what he would do to help usher the change. This young man brought a dying ember back to a blaze, “Oh, I’m an actor and I write! That’s why I am in Hollywood, I want to make movies that will change the world! That will make people think! I want to use my art and my talent to help other people wake up. Life is equal to art!” It was wonderful!

            The line moved.

            We parted ways.

            Everyone entered the theatre.

            Despite the heavy merchandising of the event- 2012 t-shirts, planned vacation/ Ayuhasca trips easily for sale, crystals, “Goddess Music”, seminars on promising, ‘How to be a Shaman in Two Weeks’, which could easily sour an event, the people were upbeat and looking forward to the next hours. I found myself speaking to a young man that flew all the way from Montana to attend the 2012 Conference.

            He was a quite, soft-spoken young man and I immediately loved him. His demeanor was calm and gentle. When we talked about the shift, he said, “the individual self must become clear. Balance within yourself first. Then you can help the world”. Fair words. He had an incredible mind and didn’t mind sharing a bit of it with me.  He was into free-form music and all types of language. He explained to me, that he visualized a language that encoded the unspoken. He was working on a way to translate those unspoken words into intuitive, free form music. Once he was fluent in this language, he would teach it to us.

            The 2012 Conference brought out many different humans from all walks in life and spiritual journey. The beginner who understood little, and who were hungry to know something, learn something, they just wanted something. The curious abounded: those who didn’t really understand what was going on, but had picked up a copy of 2012 in an Urban Outfitters and felt a small stirring inside. The young ‘shamans’ of tomorrow, who took this conference as a way to learn more about their world and how to use their own gifts to shape it into something magical. Then there were the two sisters whose mere presence stirred my soul. 

            They were from Ecuador. They were older and very wise. They grew up knowing about the 2012 prophesy. It was common knowledge in their household that someday, in the future the world would change. We spoke of the spiritual ignorance of western society, “Correction my dear, western society is ignorant of everything.” One sister explained that “the western world is so hungry for something spiritual. Americans don’t have their own spirituality, they have borrowed and watered down from many other cultures and they are still left thirsty. Give the children values first, then give them the IPOD. People here are trying to get a quick fix, and their whole spiritual journey is nothing but quick fix after quick fix… it seems that spirituality could be an addiction to many rather then a way of life. Now, even though it seems American are stuck, it will be alright. Even if someone embarks on the wrong path, it doesn’t mean they are doomed to stay there. They may have a false teacher now and then, but God is good and will send another to help guide the lost back. Americans must look to God and inward.” Her knowledge is something many strive to understand their whole lives, and her and her sister were raised in it. The sisters had a point; perhaps change should start with the children.

            These were just a few of the many souls that attended this event. These were just a few of the humans that were waking up and were hungry for breakfast. Some wanted lunch after a morning of hard work. None were quite ready for dinner yet. These are the people that will change the world. All of them came to the buffet line of knowledge and left with a full stomach. 

Creative Commons Image: "Embroidery Faces" by acrossandtwokisses

Creative Commons Image: "Faces in the Woods' by Keith1999