Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness focuses more on the transformation and less on the 2012. James Endredy is apparently a leader in the field of ecoshamanism -- a field about which I know very little, so you may have to take my comments with a grain of salt.
Endredy opens his consideration of 2012 with a brief overview of various prophecies, followed by the obligatory description of all the usual suspects: volcanic and supervolcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, a pole shift, asteroid collisions and a smorgasbord of possible man made disasters.
However, he quickly moves into non-ordinary space in relating his conversations with Grandfather Fire and Grandmother Growth -- The First Shamans. Here the picture becomes more optimistic. At least it's optimistic assuming that we are willing to open to the truth and to our Luminous (Higher) Self, which are the keys to transformation. The core message seems to be that since "consciousness underlies everything," a change in consciousness will result in a change in external reality.
According to Grandmother Growth such a change in consciousness can best be brought about through "...the use of rituals and offerings," hence there is considerable discussion of various types of altars ( e,g, healing, manifestation, creation, and transformation) and offerings (e.g., votive, food, propitiatory, initiatory and foundational).
Endredy's consideration of the Mayan calendars is interesting in that he focuses far less on their predictive value and a static interpretation of their symbolism than on how they can be used as a guide to the transformation of daily life. According to him the "sacred" calendar is designed "specifically to align humanity with the cycles of creation."
He discusses the role of the traditional Mayan Day Keepers and then briefly outlines the twenty Day Creators, each of which carries its own energy and is most propitious for certain activities. For example, Batz' (or Chuen) days are "very life-affirming and productive. They are good days for traveling, business deals, creating art, and constructing." However, the energy of an E (or Eb) day "...awakens us to the mystical aspects of life and numinous mysteries," and are a good day for "...beginning a new stage of life or discovering the need for a change...."
There are a number of practices provided, e.g. for dealing with mental, physical, spiritual and environmental energy "drains." Mental drains consist of such things as negative thoughts, impatience, superficial relationships, unresolved conflicts, and repetitive thoughts or actions. Endredy suggests that you identify an energy drain that you want to correct and build a fire or light a candle. Then "confess" your energy-draining actions to the flame, imagine specific instances of them, commit to resolving them, and visualize experiencing a more positive outcome in the future.
When out in nature have you ever been drawn to a particular stone because of its shape, size, color or maybe just some unidentifiable "something"? Have you ever picked one stone out of hundreds and taken it home with you to place on a shelf, an altar or in the garden? Well, one of the more unusual and interesting sections deals with "the power of talking, divining and healing stones." According to Grandmother Growth "...each rock has a different story," and the challenge is to "...learn how to communicate more deeply" with it.
The Warririka of Mexico, along with many other indigenous people, believe that some stones have "special" powers; they refer to them as tekas. Some tekas can be asked to "...help heal the physical body, others work more on the psyche, some are good for grounding during difficult times, while others work magic at helping to manifest intent."
Depending on their function they may be referred to as a guardian, luminous, shadow, dreaming, magical or happy teka. Some may want to be taken with you, some may want to be left in place; some want to be held while others want to be bathed; some work better with fire and sun, others work better with earth and water.
In closing, Endredy's approach to 2012 might best be summarized by something he wrote quite succinctly in his opening pages:
Our Mother is injured and crying. Transformation is needed. The outcome will be determined by our actions.
