discussing: McKenna, Jung, History, The Future, Wasteland, Eden.

Thanks for the reply Alex.

How old is that Yoga book?

Yes. Little children getting blown to bits in Afgahistan via drone attacks is a miraculous divine happening! Go with the flow....**

**the sarcasm may be hard to detect via written text on the net. So I'll clarify that I'm not serious, in case any genius' out there thought otherwise**

I think hope/faith may be a little bit of an inhibition. I think some people feel that change has to happen, will happen, that we'll make it through - and that we can ride along on that gravy train. Though that may be (that we may all simultaneously change when the time is of the utmost peril, or something like that) but I don't think it will happen, and potentially justifiably so, without effort. And not effort to dispel what we consider "bad" - like fear, that may only be a perpetuation of a dualistic/dichotomous lens that we currently seem to perceive through. To try and distance ourselves from the aspects of ourselves - habits, characteristics that keep us separate, without understanding those aspects within ourselves won't help us. We can try deceive ourselves, whispering mantras to hold the flood gates at bay but the debt will collect that way.

I think the idea of the Hero's Journey is very relevant. We all have to undergo that process. Though that doesn't necessarily mean a external journey/adventure, though it may feel like or have some of those aspects. But of an internal journey. One of maturation, to borrow a phrase; "Be all that you can be." That means dealing with our personal and thus collective nativities, neurosis.

A lot of interest in different world religions and spiritual traditions has been a good thing, showing people are feeling something/interested in a different/deeper aspect/way of life, but the "threat" or downfall of that is that people can make the mistake (which may be part of the process too) of "Spiritual bypassing."

http://www.realitysandwich.com/spiritual_bypassing

We can get too caught up with the destination and not the journey. Wanting the "reward" without the effort - with 24hr abs videos, we want results without the effort. Real growth I think requires going deep within, leaving nothing unexamined, easier said than done of course, but it is necessary.

I think 2012 and that hoopla is besides the point. I'm interested in the different ideas around it, and have read books about it but I think the date as a time of something to come is not too important. We can sit around with our thumbs up or asses praying, stretching, chanting, hoping that our chakras all align on Dec. 21st but the work that should and is beckoning to be done is now. There is no other moment then now...

Sorry if I'm coming across as a dick : )