2012: The Transformation

From the Love of Power to the Power of Love

By Robert Roskind with Tata Pedro Cruz

Summary by Leslie King, Atlantic University

There are many paths in life, many guided by spirituality, by religion, by culture, and by race. Yet there is just one path dedicated to the concept of One Love. One Love is the idea that we are all universally connected and that love is what holds us all together. It is the beginning and the end. It has the power to transform and to heal. Race, culture, sex or religion do not matter on this path, as Robert Roskind discovered in his book 2012: The Transformation from Love of Power to the Power of Love. Interested in the idea of One Love (think Bob Marley’s One Love), the author has been inspired to search for the idea of love as the wisdom behind various cultures. In this book, he explores the Maya.

One might say the path to Mayan One Love began on the Winter Solstice of 2005 in Belize. It was at this time that Robert Roskind became intrigued with the Mayan culture and calendar. Like many others, Roskind began to look for the meaning within the calendar end of 2012. Was this meaning perhaps one of universal love? He hoped this to be the case. But rather than begin the search for the Mayan meaning in the historic Mayan sites, his family instead opted to return to their home in the States.

This disappointment for Robert soon turned into opportunity. He received an email about a Mayan calendar seminar based on the theories of researcher Jose Argulles. Roskind contacted the seminar coordinators and found them interested in a presentation about his work with Native Americans and Rasta elders. Both he and Julia, his wife, traveled to Sedona, NM for this event.

No strangers to the area of Sedona, the two had an opportunity to visit with their friend, Hopi elder, Radford Quamahongnewa. They had become friends during one of the Roskinds’ other book projects. Mentioning his Maya interest to Radford, a special connection was made between the Hopi and the Maya. Nomadic in their mythological and historical background, the Hopi people originated from an area in the Grand Canyon (from the underground Third World from where they emerged into the above ground Fourth World). Celestial signs encouraged them to move to different places at various times in their history. They would simply leave their villages and travel to a new location. According to Radford’s uncle, the Hopi created Mayan civilization during one of these moves (also explaining why the Maya sites may have been abandoned).

Like the Mayan end of the Great Cycle, the Hopi have a 100 year-old prophecy explaining that at some point in the future they would enter into the Fifth World, leaving behind the chaos and separation of the Fourth World. Later another interesting prophecy was brought to mind. This one was found within a few Native American tribes, the Incas, and the Q’eros. In it is the idea that the indigenous people of South America would unite with those of the North, ushering in a new cycle of global purification.

This information led to another family vacation for the Roskinds, during the next Winter Solstice, to Activation Maya 2006 in Guatemala, where they would meet Tata Pedro Cruz, a Mayan elder (as well as doing a presentation like the one for the Argulles seminar). Tata Pedro however, left Activation Maya before the Roskinds could meet him (apparently one of the coordinators of the event wanted Tata Pedro to shorten his ceremonies, which was unacceptable to Tata Pedro). But the Roskinds persevered and made contact with a Guatemalan named Danny Diaz.

During the trip to Activation Mayan 2006, the Roskinds took a side trip to visit Dr. Rosita Arvigo, a well-known herbalist and healer. Originally from Chicago, with a background in naprapathy, Arvigo moved to San Ignacio to study with Mayan shaman and healer Don Elijjio Panti. He was the last to be given the 1000 year-old Mayan natural healing and remedy oral knowledge. Arvigo also learned much from an herbal midwife named Hortence Robinson. With an extensive background in founding herbal and medicinal organizations in Belize, Arvigo strives to continue the natural health propensity of the ancient Mayan culture.

Her brand of healing works through two categories - physical and spiritual. She organizes treatments into three categories of timelines. Acute problems are expected to be better in three treatments: stomach issues feature herbal remedies and should also take no more than three treatments. Spiritual problems have the expectation of being treated after the first session.

Her particular practice deals with common aliments that have household remedies, and she is confident with women’s issues, specializing in uterine massage. The Mayans as well as other Native Americans have a history of using this treatment. Arvigo also maintains a balance with traditional medicine. There are some things that modern medicine can handle better, but there are others that benefit from her brand of medicine.

What underlines Arvigo’s Maya medicine is the principle of love. Spiritual healing is about love, forgiveness, and opening up to the divine. It comes through prayer and ritual and through creating a channel within to receive the divine and spiritual love.

Roskind also found that there is one Maya dialect that is very similar to the Hopi dialect. It is so similar that each culture can understand the other. More proof that the Hopi and the Maya are related.

The Roskin family also took a side trip to the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. Luis Artuto Gonzalez was their guide for these six hours. In this "Place of Voices," the architecture stemmed back to the fourth century BC and featured the gigantic ceiba tree (a sacred tree to the Maya, as well as the source of their copal ritual incense). Historically, it looks as though this ceremonial city cropped up as if from nothing, and just as mysteriously, disappeared.

It is here where the structures of the city created a map of celestial importance. It told of the lunar cycles and the orbits of Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter. It also marked the date of solar and lunar eclipses, including when the Earth, the Sun and the Milky Way are in alignment.

Tikal was built during what is considered the Classic Mayan period. The Post-Classic period brought strife and warfare to the area. But the Roskinds were not looking for this type of history. They were looking for the spiritual aspects of Tikal. This their guide was able to provide by taking them to a section of great energy within the old city. Located in a small stone chamber, Luis had them all hum to hear the echo - a vibration. This hum helped to align each person with the harmonics of the universe. When in harmony, life flows better. Tikal just happens to be on one of the 13 great energy sites on earth. The energy may have shifted, however, and been a sign that it was time for the civilization to move to a new area.

Luis went on to explain that there were several teachers of love who passed through Tikal. They were the ones who survived the great flood of Atlantis. They were the people who carved the messages on the walls of Tikal.

Then there was the explanation of the 13 crystal skulls, which are thought to possibly come together in 2012, causing a vibrational frequency that will shift our consciousness to a more unified, love-oriented mode. These skulls may hold ancient wisdom within them, much like a computer chip, or they may function as a recharger for the parts of our brains where ancient wisdom is stored.

Materially these skulls are made out of quartz crystal. It seems as though stone-age man could not have possibly carved them, as they are perfect beyond the carving tools of the time, though. However, there is no evidence that they were created by modern tools either.

Luis believes that when the time comes for this shift in consciousness, we must prepare ourselves. We must be healthy, both mentally and physically. Our paths, whether we follow advice from Paramahansa (Autobiography of a Yogi) or Bob Marley (just two examples), must concentrate on what is valuable - and have nothing to do with materialistic concerns.

Upon returning home, Robert began to read more about the Maya. He and Julia also reconnected with Danny Diaz. Danny provided the next step in their search of Mayan One Love. He helped set up a meeting with Tata Pedro, as well as an interpreter named Chus Landa. Before that meeting though, he agreed to join the Roskinds at a One Love concert in Prescot, AZ.

At this particular concert, the peace of the One Love Moment was a bit interrupted. Radford spoke at the beginning of the event with his message of peace. This was followed by several angry lecturers. Not until the next night, with consciousness music, did the vibe return to that which was desired (peaceful, One Love).

Like the positive energy generated by the concerts, Mayan teachings are also about universal healing. In Robert’s research, he learned about the great Mayan teacher and bearer of universal love - Quetzalcoatli. This white deity appeared in the same time frame as Christ, Mohammed, and Buddha. He also bore other similarities to these other iconic figures. Quetzalcoatli was of virgin birth, suffered temptation, and descended into its dark murkiness, then becoming spiritually enlightened.

Interestingly enough, he was also to be resurrected on dates that coincided in both Mayan and Hopi predictions. Unfortunately, the return coincided more with the Hopi prophecy that there might be a return of a great white man - one that could lead them to enlightenment, or one that would bring misery. This was when Cortes landed on Mayan shores, so it is not difficult to see how the prophecy ended.

Roskinds’ question at this time was: were the Mayan calendars encoded with a message of love? Robert chose to follow Carl Calleman’s conclusions on the calendars, which were endorsed by Mayan leader Don Alejandro Cirilo Perez Oxlaj. This grand idea behind the calendars is that they reflect the spiritual nature of the universe.

After describing the calendar - the Haab, the Tun and the Tzolkin, Roskind explained their context. The calendars depict the present, the past, and the future of the universe. They were also a resource to see what energies were available on a daily basis, so one could map out life accordingly, as well as pay attention to spiritual energies at a given time.

To understand more about the calendars, it is important to look at the Nine World Ages. Each age reflects the creation of the universe up to time periods that we are just now entering. Beginning with the cellar level of creation, the Nine World Ages culminate with a universal level, which we are fast approaching.

With the end of the calendars’ Great Cycle comes a huge celestial event - the Sun, Earth and Milky Way will all be in alignment. Robert stated that he believed this will be a time when Spirituality flows, providing us with the opportunity to truly evolve. It will be a time for the world to create itself anew. We will find ourselves much more peaceful, with our understanding that the divine is within each of us. We will have our free will, but we will understand that we are co-creators with the divine. This transformation will be helped along by those who are currently open to the power of love, who no longer seek to be separated from one another or from the divine.

In February 2007, the Roskinds again returned to Guatemala, but this time they stayed in the Lake Atitlan area. and took a tour led by Dolores Ratzan, who was the ex-wife of Martin Prechtel. Martin was a half-blood Pueblo Indian, who had become a spiritual leader to the Maya, and written many books on the subject. During the political upheaval in Guatemala, he and his family had to flee the area and move back to the United States. Upon their divorce, Dolores returned to her homeland.

Much Maya spirituality and rituals were described in Martin’s books. These included a year-long boy-to-man initiation process. This helped the young men deal with sexual maturity and warrior wisdom and helped channel away potential violence and bad sexual habits.

The Maya had other rituals to help maintain respect for one another and maintain peace. This included the practice of a husband going into debt to his in-laws. This would necessitate being sure about the idea of getting married. Debt plays a large role in other rituals as well. The spiritual leaders all became indebted to one another, which allowed for humility. It also promoted self-sacrifice and a remembrance that the divine provides what is needed for everyone.

However these rituals are all a part of the past. Politics happened, and many of the rituals were given up during times of war and despair. Many of the traditional beliefs are still intact, however, though Christians have done much to convert the population. Even though many Christian churches have been built on traditional Mayan spiritual sites, the Maya have made room for both sorts of belief structures. They understand that the sites have spiritual meaning and they practice their spirituality within their hearts.

The following day, Robert and Julia met Chus Landa, who would introduce them later to Tata Pedro. At this meeting, Chus mentioned that the locale was becoming very commercialized with New Age seekers. Many people with false credentials had been making a lot money claiming to be spiritual teachers. Chus feels that if one has that sort of gift to offer, then they should offer it for free.

Robert and Julia’s next adventure was with two women who had started a home for foster children in California. The Roskinds had met these women at their hotel, but as synchronicity would have it, they met another woman who ran a nearby orphanage, and so they introduced her to to the women from California. A tour of the local orphanage was then arranged for them all.

This tour centered on the idea of unconditional love. When all saw how well the children of the orphanage were doing (with no television, no legalese interference, and no internet), it became apparent how people can flourish when they are given what they really need - love. Even in the the California orphanage, the amount of time spent in trying to do the best for each child within the government system, is a gesture of unconditional love by the two women who had started the home.

The Roskinds then met Tata Pedro. As they chauffeured this Mayan elder on an errand, Chus explained much about this gentleman. It was Tata Pedro who has become a champion for the old Mayan traditions and spends much of his life making sure they will be remembered. When it came time to speak with Tata Pedro, Robert asked him about the idea of love. Tata Pedro was indeed a person who believed in the power of love, and its basis in all spirituality. He also talked about forgiveness, though his belief on the subject is different than that of simply asking for forgiveness without really meaning it. One must ask the divine for forgiveness–feeling remorseful, with the intention of not repeating the same act. Tata Pedro then gave a biographical sketch of himself and his quest for Maya spirituality.

The Roskinds were fortunate enough to be invited to one of Tata Pedro’s Mayan ceremonies. The ritual, which would center somewhat on a sick family member of the Roskinds, was held in a cave, black with the smoke of ancient rites. Here Tata Pedro laid out candles and incense and explained the symbolism of each of the ceremonial elements. When the ritual was over and the Roskinds had returned to their hotel, they learned of the family member’s death, knowing they had said goodbye at the cave.

As Robert began writing this book, he felt that he needed yet another visit with Tata Pedro. So he and julia headed back, with gifts aplenty. They brought Tata Pedro organic cherry juice (for his gout) and a bag of Hopi blue corn. They also gave him and their interpreters Native American totem bags and small ceramic bears made by the Cherokee. Tata Pedro made his bear into a musical instrument by blowing into the holes. The symbols painted on the ceramic bear were also relative to both the Maya and the Hopis.

Tata Pedro discussed an upcoming ceremony at the Grandfather Trees, on the other side of a volcano. He had previously done a similar ceremony at this site that attracted several hundred people. This had agitated the local Christian churches, and those institutions have since admonished their parishes to not participate in these rituals again.

One of the interpreters explained that those in the Western world live inside their heads, while true Mayans live inside their heart. They live in harmony. With discussion about the nature of these people as living calendars, the conversation turned to the Mayan calendar. The Mayans used the calendar to know how to live life, when to plant, when to make important decisions, and when to make shows of gratitude.

Tata Pedro’s next ceremony was for the opening of a new restaurant in town. During this ceremony more emphasis was given to Mayan symbology. Each symbolic gesture equalled a quality of universal love with earthy connotations.

At the edge of a corn field, a little path led up to the Grandfather Trees. Huge oaks, the Grandfather Trees, surrounded an area of hill-like mounds. These mounds were actually five pyramids. At the highest point was a covered, concrete altar that the Catholics built in order to make it their site of worship. This turned out to be a positive thing, as it rained during the ceremony, and Tata Pedro’s group remained sheltered from the elements.

Tata Pedro said the Grandfather Trees talked to him, and he has learned much from them. With that idea in mind, he began the ceremony. As at the other rituals, he explained the symbols involved and how each applied to helping humanity be more a part of the universal love.

Before heading back to the United States once again, the Roskinds had another opportunity to talk with Tata Pedro, and they discussed the coming of 2012. Tata Pedro said that the world would not come to an end at that time. Instead, it would begin a new time period. Life would still be familiar, but wonderful, for those who truly embraced love and the Maya spiritual guidance. There will be three groups of people. One group will embrace the universal power of love. The second group will be oblivious; they will not even be aware of a change. The third group, those who are not open and who are living falsely, will suffer and perhaps even die.

Before leaving Robert reflected on his own spiritual awakening. In four decades he had seen vast changes - coming from a culture that did not have an environmental meaning to a world that has the potential to create energy without destroying the earth’s resources. Self-help and alternative medicines are on the rise, and leaders have risen up to defend the oppressed. He could see how an awakening could happen at a fast pace. Would this be enough for a complete shift in world consciousness?

It was at this point that Robert felt the book might be finished; he had found his message of One Love. But within a few months of returning to their regular life, Danny Diaz contacted him. Apparently the original organizers of Activation Maya were parting ways. There was to be a new, free event called Unification Maya, and it was thought that there would be 2500 Mayan elders who would return to Tikal during the Winter Solstice. What a perfect finale for the book.

Back to Tikal. The Roskinds readied themselves to be at the sacred city at dawn. However, there were several obstacles. The first was gaining entrance to the city. The site demanded a fee that was unplanned for by those attending (apparently the site coordinators had not informed the entrance gate guards about the event). Then things went well for awhile; they were able to spend the morning in a relaxed, contemplative state of mind and to enjoy a flute concert. In a few hours the Maya elders would parade inside the city.

While they waited they received another tour of Tikal by spiritual tour guide Danilo Rodriguez. He discussed how we are about to enter into a world of light, emerging from the darkness within. Life becomes a balance of the two, and love is the glue that holds everything together. They discussed the idea of Christ appearing on the western continent. Danilo said some linguists believe it was not Aramaic that Jesus spoke, but Maya. With this he also explained that when one talks about the early Mayas, one is talking about the Egyptians - a unified, very large culture that was connected throughout the world.

The time for the elders’ procession came and went - no procession. By noon Tata Pedro had also not arrived as scheduled. Instead people were being hassled at the main gate. There would be no 2500 elders.

Tata Pedro and his party finally did make it in and began the ceremony for those who were there. The ceremony was similar to the others the Roskinds had witnessed, and with this came a sense of peace and love.

Deciding that the site would make everyone leave by the normal closing time, the Roskinds headed back to their hotel. They found peace with the events. It was not quite the ending that Robert had envisioned for the book, but it was just fine. Ironically, though, they had left Tikal too soon. Another group, the Rainbow Family, came in after Tata Pedro’s ceremony and began their own. Several Maya youth, studying the traditional Maya ways, joined in, and events lasted well into the night and until early dawn.

Before leaving the area again, the Roskinds made plans with Tata Pedro and Danny Diaz to be part of a gathering they would host in North Carolina in 2008. This gathering would include camping, healthy-living, consciousness music, enviro-friendly workshops, and instruction on how to live life in an awakened state of consciousness. This seemed like a great culmination of the Maya journey of One Love.

Robert again reflected on his past and the journeys that had led him to this point. In looking back he could see how sometimes obstacles were just the right thing for creating the perfect set-up for One Love. These included the time his teenage daughter ended up being the opening speaker at a large, Jamaican One Love concert. The Prime Minister was supposed to open the concert, but in the end he did not. Instead, a young, middle class, white girl faced a large audience of Jamaicans - and won them over with her inspired words of being peaceful, healing, and of course, love.

In the end, love is all about ceasing the discord of our lives and creating unity. When those in discord try to take that away, it is they who will find themselves profoundly changed. It is time to unify our cultures and to love, just love.

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