Category: Global change

The Maya Cosmovision: Beyond 2012

Tikal © 2007 Peggy Kornegger
“The Maya Keepers of Time know the opening of this new cycle to be transcendental, as it is the beginning of the Fifth Sun and brings with it the possibility of great spiritual awakening, insight, and realization for all of humanity.”—Nana Mercedes Barrios Longfellow, Maya Mam elder

Contrary to what you might hear or read in the media, the Maya never predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012. Never. That’s a complete misinterpretation of the ancient Maya teachings, which have been handed down and preserved by indigenous Maya lineage carriers. The Maya cosmovision brought forward by the Maya elders of today speaks of the end of one cycle or Sun and the beginning of another, one filled with light. This is a time of transition, possibility, and expansion, not apocalypse.

Over the past eight years, I have had the opportunity and honor to learn about the traditional Maya teachings from Nana Mercedes Barrios Longfellow and other Maya elders from Guatemala. A number of us have traveled with the elders to Guatemala and participated in traditional fire ceremonies at Maya sacred sites there. Gatherings and fire ceremonies with the elders have also taken place in the United States, often at Rowe Center in the mountains of western Massachusetts.

Nana Mercedes’ teaching always involves a discussion of the Cholqij, one of the twenty sacred Maya calendars. The Cholqij is used as a guide for the spiritual growth and evolution of human beings, thus its particular importance at this time. The calendar consists of a 260-day cycle, each day of which carries a different frequency. In Nana Mercedes’ words, “Spirit speaks through the energy of the day. If we attune to the frequency of the day and begin to obey the laws of the universe, that day that sacred energy will fully support us.” Using the calendar on a daily basis helps humans to live with a conscious awareness of the larger cosmos that we are a part of here on Earth.

Over the years, I have learned so much from Nana Mercedes: about slowing down and getting in touch with the flow of each day’s energy (through meditation/prayer); about living life with humility and respect for all beings; about being of service to others and being grateful for the blessings we receive every moment on this beautiful planet. To spend time with Nana Mercedes is to experience a deep connection to a profound and wise way of living in the world. “We are one heart,” she has always said, and for me that is one of the most beautiful of the Maya teachings. I feel it profoundly when I am present at a Maya fire ceremony and also when a group of us—some longtime friends, others new friends—comes together to hear the wise teachings that have been handed down for thousands of years.

In September, about 30 of us spent four days at Rowe Center with Nana Mercedes and Nana Regina (who is also from Guatemala). Afterward, my heart was full, and I felt the ancient wisdom and light embodied by the Maya, and other indigenous peoples, shining forth powerfully and helping with the global awakening of all beings to universal oneness. More and more, I see evidence of that awakening, in spite of the huge challenges the planet faces today. The Great Shift—this transition to a new era, or new Sun, which the Maya have foreseen—is with us now. And it’s not about one date, or even one year. As we release old ways based in separation and fear, the cosmic energy will carry us forward beyond time and space into full immersion in the realm of the heart. As Nana Mercedes herself has said, “We are destined to be evolved beings, living in harmony, with great gratitude for the miracles of life.”

Mud in Your Eyes

Photograph © 2012 Peggy Kornegger

What do you do when life events hit you hard, knocking you to the ground, facedown in the mud? When you lose your job, your home, or your health? When a hurricane, flood, or other environmental disaster devastates your city or town? Does “oneness” or “universal love” have any relevance in a world full of pain and suffering? Having faced job loss, financial uncertainty, and health challenges myself in recent years, I know there are no simple answers to such difficult questions.

Some events, like birth and death, are part of all life cycles on Earth, but others, like war, economic turmoil, or global warming, are linked to human constructs and beliefs. We live on a planet currently experiencing extreme polarity and imbalance. Yet, within this seemingly chaotic tension, there is a glimmer of hope. The dissolution of rigid hierarchical forms that do not serve all of humanity is on the rise, and possibilities that did not exist in the past are coming to the forefront of human consciousness. We are finding the will to survive, and prevail, in our relationships with one another.

If you turn aside from the mainstream-media interpretation of world events and look instead at local community alternatives grounded in acknowledgment of the connection between all beings, you will see a new Planet Earth being born. If you pay attention to the lesser-known stories about individuals and groups stepping up to help others in life-threatening circumstances or dire need, you will witness compassion in action. We have not reached critical mass as yet, but the energy of transformation is expanding daily.

Countless people around the globe have envisioned and worked tirelessly for this transformation, and continue to do so. It takes tremendous courage to see clearly both what is and what is possible and remain centered in hope and love. But it is what we are being called to do at this time. If we don’t do it, who will? We stand at the very edge of possibility. We hold a vision of universal loving-kindness and generosity of spirit in our hearts. We truly are the change we wish to see in the world.

As the saying goes, it only takes one candle to light the darkness. We are that light, each of us and all of us. Loss is part of life, but love makes it bearable. Even when we bow our heads in sorrow or pain, we are never really alone. Look up, wipe away the muddy tears, and see the light of those who share the Earth path with you and who may be experiencing exactly what you are. Reach out to a stranger, and you may discover a commonality that bridges all seeming differences. It is oneness and universal love that creates that miracle of connection.

 

It Had to Be You

A major realization for me in recent months is that no one else could have been me, and my life could have been no other way. Everything has brought me to where I stand and who I am today: a unique human be-ing and a member of a global family upon this Earth. Each of us alive at this time on the planet came here for a specific reason—we chose to be present at a Great Shift in human consciousness and to play our part. And that part is not to try to copy or pattern ourselves after someone else, some courageous or visionary person whom we might admire. We came here to be ourselves, our extraordinary, unrepeatable selves. Therein lies the miracle.

Just like snowflakes, no two of us are alike, and together we form a whole that embodies the light of each single individual. Through living fully in self-love and a deep sense of oneness with all beings, we shine radiance throughout the universe. Each of our lives is a work of art, co-created with Spirit and infused with infinite expansive energy and possibility. Together, individual by individual, we are helping to birth a new way of being on Planet Earth, one centered in love and compassion. It is through loving and embracing our own inner soul-self that this universal love grows and expands.

In truth, we can’t be anyone else but ourselves. We are different in gender, sexual identity, age, race, ethnicity, physical appearance, cultural heritage, etc., and it doesn’t work to copy someone else’s idea of who you are or should be. We were created differently for a reason; no one else can be or do what we came here to be and do. It may be a line from an old romantic love song, but it also applies in this case: “It had to be you.” Without you, the world would have been different, just as George discovers in the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. Every word you or I speak, every action you or I take or don’t take, ripples out from our lives to affect everyone we know, and by continuing vibration, everyone they know as well. The world is a web of vibrational interconnections, and the wonder of that is that by living our lives fully and lovingly, we help to create an entire planet of love and lightness of being. This is what the Great Shift means. Be your true self, and the world shifts into its true self.

 

Second Chances

During my individual session with Panache Desai in July (see blog post “Rainbow Child”), he played music by Deva Premal and Miten that really helped me flow with my inner journey. One song that had particular meaning for me was “Second Chance.” Because I was integrating all parts of my life—the young, outspoken radical lesbian-feminist as well as the older, softer, eclectically-spiritual woman—I found the idea of a second chance extremely appealing. It was a second chance to be fully human, standing in the infinite expansiveness of who I am and loving every bit of it.

It occurs to me now as I think of it that this is where we all are headed during this time of planetary transformation—toward the realization that we are everyone and everything, as well as our unique individual selves. Oneness means that there is no “other.” And this is our “second chance” on Planet Earth to understand that cosmic truth. Legend has it that ancient Atlantis came to an untimely end because the people failed to uphold the higher spiritual laws of oneness. We are at a similar choice point now. That second chance is fully here in our lives every moment of every day, in every breath that we take. Are you looking at your neighbor and seeing your own reflection? Are you looking in the mirror and loving yourself? Is your heart embracing all that you see as part of you? That is unity consciousness. That is why we all incarnated at this time: to look in one another’s eyes and love all that we see, similarities and differences.

Global peace, universal compassion, and loving-kindness are not just pipe dreams articulated by a few Buddhists, shamans, and latter-day flower children. Every human being has the opportunity to live out the potential of this magnificent blue planet full of infinite variations in consciousness. And those moments of living awareness of oneness are available to all of us. The media likes to report violence and catastrophe, entrapping us in fear. Don’t allow yourself to live in that place. Yes, terrible, painful events occur, but other more hopeful realities exist too; they just aren’t reported in the mainstream.

Ultimately, it is love that will energetically shift everything: people reaching out and caring for one another in spite of the dominant social matrix based on separation. And that caring is occurring now, more and more, all around the globe. Individuals of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual identities are finding common ground and choosing kindness instead of fear. The new generations are of such mixed heritage and cultural background that they often don’t identify with any one thread but instead embrace it all. Many think in terms of both/and instead of either/or—straight, gay; feminine, masculine; spiritual, political; thinking, feeling—they sense an inclusive world beyond polarity. Look into their eyes and see the future. They are living I AM consciousness, oneness that encompasses all. When we finally realize with every fiber of our beings that we each embody all parts of humanity, prejudice and hatred will cease to exist, and love will be the planet’s guiding force.

 

What Do Vegans Eat Anyway?

During the years of the Great Shift, our diets are evolving right along with us. Vegetarianism has grown in popularity, for reasons of both health and compassion for animals. I myself have been a vegetarian for 35 years and primarily vegan for about 12 of those years. People often ask me what I eat. Some ask the skeptic’s question “What do you eat for protein?” but others are really curious about what makes up a vegan’s diet. With that in mind, I thought I’d share a sample menu of what I usually eat in a week, with the disclaimer that this is not a recommendation or a framework from any particular dietary regimen. It is what I have come to from years of variations. I change things up whenever I come across exciting new recipes.

I became a vegetarian mainly because of a reluctance to contribute to the suffering and death of animals, but I was also concerned about health issues and sustainability. When I first made the change, I ate lots of eggs and dairy, thinking I needed to have that protein to make up for lack of meat. I soon discovered it was unnecessary because veggies, grains, nuts, etc. provide plenty of protein. In fact, recent studies have found that Americans eat too much protein, which can be detrimental over time. So I cut back on eggs and dairy until finally I dropped them from my diet entirely (except when I can’t access any other vegetarian options while traveling).

Vegetables, fruit, grains, nuts, seeds, tofu, beans, and legumes are the basis of my diet now. I was a raw-food vegan for several years, and my diet is still about 70% raw, but I have added back some cooked meals as well. 99% of the food I eat is organic. I also buy locally grown whenever possible, which is easy in the summers when local farmers markets have flavor-full, nutrient-dense organic vegetables and fruit.

Breakfast: Large fruit & greens smoothie that includes 1 cup coconut water, 1/2 banana, 1/2 orange, 1/2 pear, 1/2 apple, a handful of blueberries & strawberries, 2 romaine lettuce leaves, 2 dinosaur (lacinato) kale leaves (destemmed), a cup or two of spinach, 2 tablespoons ground flax seed, 2 tablespoons flax seed oil, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon each raw hemp protein powder and spirulina. Some people might be put off by the greens added here, but they really don’t overpower the fruit, and you can always adjust amounts to personal taste. (Greens are key health foods, especially raw—include them wherever you can.) Hemp, flax, and the other add-ins balance out the sweetness in the fruit and help to give me sustained energy for many hours.

Lunch: Protein smoothie: 1/3 cup almond milk, 2/3 cup coconut water, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 large banana, 8 walnut halves, 1 tablespoon each: raw pumpkin seeds, raw chia seeds, raw hemp protein powder, raw almond butter, flax oil. Blend on high for 1 minute.

Sample Dinners: Every night, I have an oversized bowl of salad that includes 4 or 5 kinds of lettuce, arugula, dandelion greens, watercress, sunflower sprouts, and dulse, with a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice, and ground raw pumpkin seeds mixed in. Main course could be one of the following: 1) raw basil pesto with cooked quinoa pasta; 2) cooked zucchini-mushroom-tomato sauce with crumbled tofu, served over quinoa pasta; 3) sprouted raw wild rice mixed with chopped raw carrots, red pepper, celery, zucchini, dinosaur kale, walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice; 4) cooked curried red lentils with brown basmati rice; 5) raw veggie sunburgers with sliced heritage tomatoes; 6) quinoa avocado salad with raw red pepper, scallions, carrots, pumpkin seeds, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice; 7) soups such as raw cucumber-spinach or cooked spicy black bean.

Snacks: Celery with raw tahini or hummus, nuts, fruit.

As I say, this is just a sampler of possibilities. There are dozens of wonderful vegan recipe books available. Ultimately, the idea is to find food and recipes that are enjoyable and fun to eat. Tastes are very individual, but contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to eat vegan food that is both life-enhancing and delicious. Ultimately, you have to love what you eat because that energy is also digested with your food! Bon appetit!