Review from

Hope Dance Magazine

January-Febuary 2007

2012 The Odyssey

by Shawna Galassi

Armageddon is Not What it Used to Be.

Had someone come to me last month and told me they believed the world would be a better place in six years, I would have assumed the person was hopelessly out of touch or on drugs. If someone were to come to me today with the same prediction, I would have to agree -- and not because I’ve discovered happy pills. The change in outlook came after seeing “2012 The Odyssey,” a film that explores what’s going to happen in 2012, the year the Mayan calendar ends.

Those who know about the Mayan prophecy are split into two camps: the catastrophe camp and the ecstasy camp. In the film, director Sharron Rose travels the country speaking to various experts on the subject, all of whom fall into the ecstasy camp.

The experts explain the significance of the year 2012. Incredibly, the Mayans knew that on December 21 of that year our sun would align with the center of the galaxy -- a phenomenon that only occurs every 26,000 years. The spiritual leaders interviewed by Rose all believe that this event will mark a positive transformation in our collective consciousness.

Gregg Braden, a renowned author, explains that as 2012 approaches, the earth’s magnetic fields are weakening. The magnetic fields act as the glue in our consciousness, and as that glue becomes weaker the parameters that have been holding human consciousness in place for over 25,000 years will fall away. We will then have a great opportunity to transcend the perceptions, beliefs, and biases that the magnetic fields have held in place. Braden discusses the positive changes he’s already seeing take place. He says that everyone, other than a handful of leaders, wants more than the war and bloodshed of the last century, and people are finally starting to ask, “What’s going on in the planet?” and “What can we do?”

Moira Timms, another expert, believes that when there is universal distress -- as noted by the dwindling of resources, widespread turmoil, and an inability to find a place to stand -- there is a charged moment in which the transcendent takes over and brings things into resolution and harmony. She predicts that as we approach 2012, we are going to experience a conscious shift.

Her words are echoed by a group of Incan elders, of ancient Peruvian ancestry, whom Rose captured on film during a trip they made to the U.S. to discuss the Mayan prophecy. Through a translator, the Incans state how this is a time of tremendous crisis in the world. But as with any crisis, it is accompanied by opportunity. They view 2012 as a great opportunity to reinvent who we are and what kind of world we want to leave our children. In listening to these wise elders, it’s hard not to feel extreme sadness. While they come bearing words of hope and encouragement, our calling card consists of bombs and other weapons of mass destruction.

Rose aptly remarks that these ancients are more in touch with nature, the cosmos, and the people around them than we are. She compares this polarity to the difference between the forest and the city, explaining, “In the forest, the quiet helps us remember not only who we are, but what we know. Our powers and potentials are atrophying in the modern world.” Rose adds that while the Incan elders know what is important -- our relationships to earth and each other -- modern people surround each other with possessions to atone for our lack of connectedness to each other.

Jose Arguelles, the most profound of the spiritual leaders interviewed, refers to our attachment to superficialities as the “collectively agreed upon dream.” He says that as we walk through airports and see all the stores, ATMs, and money changing hands, what we’re seeing is what we’ve all agreed to – the collectively agreed upon dream. Those who are disturbed by what they see and are unable to cope are labeled “crazy.” Anyone who has ever felt out of synch with societal norms will know exactly what he’s talking about. Arguelles offers a quick, but meaningful, antidote: “Find the face you had before you were born. Dissolve the attachments and identifications you were told you needed to have to be a success. Dissolve them all. They’re not helping you.” If the experts are correct, this should become easier and easier as 2012 approaches.

The film concludes with the experts discussing their hopes for 2012. Braden’s parting words are the most resonant. His prayer for 2012 is that people live fully, that they live consciously and with intent, and that they show kindness to one another. He challenges viewers to wake up each day and ask themselves, “What can I do to make this a better world? Wherever I go, how can I leave that place better?” And by acting on these questions, we will create a better world.