2012

I finally had a chance to visit the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum, which also happens to be a very laid back town with the same name with beach-hut hotels. These ruins in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula are spread out along the coast with the Caribbean sea as its back drop (quite literally).

Every time the topic of the Mayans comes up, inevitably the conversation leads to 2012 -- believed by many to be the end of the world (except the Mayans themselves it seems).

Contrary to what Hollywood would have us believe, for the Mayans the 2012 date marks the completion of a World Age Cycle (like many cycles before). Rather than something to fear, we can understand the 2012 prophecy as signalling to us that we need to awaken and realize that these times on earth are precious we are living in land-mark times in the history of our planet. Mayans believe that we’re collectively at a cross-roads moment that is calling out to us to participate in our fullest capacity. We’re each being summoned to bring our inspiration and empowerment to the fore, as we must all take our places in transforming our human culture to be one of harmony - with ourselves, with each other and with all of Nature.

The Mayan Ruins at Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula

Carlos Barrios, a Guatemalan who was trained as an Ajq'ij in the Maya tradition, has this to share in regards to 2012: "Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action...The prophesized changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are.”

"This is a crucially important moment for humanity and for earth. Each person is important. If you have incarnated into this era, you have spiritual work to do balancing the planet...The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find you heart, and you will find your way."

"This is the time people need to know what is the purpose of their own lives. This is a dangerous time because we can go to the next step, to the transition, to the fusion of the polarities, or it is a time when we can be destroyed. This materialistic way of life, all this business about economic and social position in the world, it needs to change and the people need to go inside themselves in order to know what they are and to find harmony with the mother earth, with human beings, with their brothers, with the animals, with the plants. It's an important time because we are in the moment of the prophesies and humanity can be destroyed or we can be saved, all together."