2012: The End of the World as We Know It

2012: The End of the World as We Know It

Our daily dependence on energy from fossil fuels is plugged into environmental peril, systems of human violence, and immense economic exploitation.

What human energies are driving such madness? And what is the human energy of change?

While considering the gifts of renewable energies of Sun, Wind, and Water, it is important to remember our Human Energy as a renewable resource that is present for us at each moment.

Yes, each moment. Now! This year we celebrate the local and international groundswell of people turning away from entanglement with exploitive systems towards healthy communities with sustain- able visions of the future.

There is no one right way to do this—transition involves difficult and honest discussions, inner soulful wrestling, outward action, many ideas and many hands, and ultimately the unleashing of much joy and abiding love.

2012 MayDay Parade Sections

Scene 1: Consider This

MayDay 2012 Wounded EarthStaff Artists: Cece Bellamy, Willow Cordes-Eklund, Bill Osbrisch, Emily May Taylor

We are entangled in a vast network of manufacturing and consumption that provides convenience at the cost of depleting our limited fossil fuels resources.

A long Pipeline and shrouded figures using modern technologies symbolize our dependence on these resources.

Energy Gremlins make sure everyone stays plugged in, as the Wounded Earth suffers.

Cranes dance behind, mourning and absorbing the grief of the Wounded Earth.

Scene 2: Break the Spell

Earth HeartGustavo Boada, Bart Buch, Munir Kahar, Tina Nemetz

Break the spell that divides us from each other. As humans, we live very separate, isolated lives.

Whirling Deer Hearts urge us to awaken and open our hearts, while keeping rooted to the earth.

Deer Spirits urge us to love and give unconditionally. Sacred Spirit Shirts honor those who have passed from this earth. Earth's Heart sleeps, worn down by the drudge or our daily life.

The Goddess of Compassion reminds us that genuine compassion is the source of change-- let your heart open to embrace change.

Scene 3: Make Do

MayDay Social DanceAngie Courchaine, Madeline Helling, Soozin Hirschmugl, Lindsay McCaw, Dee Henry Williams

A celebration of the work being done to change our communities. Change requires a combination of old and new ideas, and reaching out to neighbors.

Sweepers reclaim the streets, clearing out the old ways so new ones can enter.

Beavers with tools are resourceful and Sloths on Bicycles remind us to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.

Human Libraries honor the wisdom of our elders and the knowledge held in our communities.

The Town Square and Maypoles offer a place for dancing and meeting our neighbors. Clotheslines remind us of ways to cut down on energy use.

The Amen Corner encourages people to speak their minds and share their ideas.

Scene 4: Surround of Light

MayDay Cat Ion DragonKevin Long, Blake Love, Monica Rojas, Mark Safford

We are surrounded by light, which embraces us all as we journey around the sun through the seasons.

The Four Horses from the four directions – North, South, East and West – gather to await the message from The Forest.

The 38 trees of The Forest commemorate the 150th anniversary of the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, MN.

The Sun calls for us to move and grow and seed arks symbolize the new beginnings, while Vegetable Beds and Compost Toilets remind us how we are a part of a larger cycle of life.

Zumba Bees energize and celebrate the changes occurring.

Ouroboros symbolize the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth and Cation Dragons bring auspicious energy to these new beginnings.

The Tree of Life Ceremony 2012

MayDay tree of life 2010Steve Ackerman, Louis Alemayehu, Tara Fahey, Greg Herriges,

Lynette La Rue, Jeong Ae Neal, Esther Ouray, Sandy Spieler

Behold the curious wonder of an end, which unleashes a beginning, The wonder of tiny beings having big impact in the world, The wonder of human-powered work, The wonder of common sense, The foreboding wonder of the wounded Mother Earth, The radiant wonder of the medicine of recognizing each other; of coming together O eternal wonder of Prairie, Woods, Sky, and River; the sustaining energy of the Sun, the Tree of Life!

The MayDay Parade & Festival is presented with the assistance of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.

Thank you to our festival stage sponsors!:

Peace Coffee: Lake Stage Sponsor
Seward Co-op: Family Stage Sponsor
Hennepin County Medical Center: Diamond Stage Sponsor

Akhenaten's Dream by Louis Alemayehu

Louis Alemayehu is a poet/spoken word artist, environmental activist, community counselor and celebrant, and Transition Town trainer, He is one of the founders of the spoken word and musical performance team, "Ancestor Energy".

Many people have asked to read the poem spoken by Louis Alemayehu during this year's Tree of Life Ceremony in Powderhorn Park as part of In the Heart of the Beast Theatre's Mayday Festival ( 2012).

The edit used in this year's Ceremony is posted below and is from Louis's poem Akhenaten's Dream. Hear a reading of the entire poem here. Thanks to Louis for allowing us to share this edit as read in theMayday Ceremony!

Akhenaten's Dream

Who really knows the cost of our comfort?

Of all the petty energy consuming stuff we think we have a right to:
"Central heating
Air conditioning,
Cars,
Airplanes
Electric lights
Inexpensive clothing,
Recorded music, movies, hip replacement surgery and
Your national defense!"
If you love your Country more than the Earth that cradles her,
If you keep burning the fuel of fossils,
You are dumping in your living rooms
Feeding your babies a formula full of arsenic, mercury and lead.
Will our babies have babies?
Will they survive?
Will they want to?

Who really knows the cost of our comfort?

Of all the petty energy consuming stuff we think we have a right to:
"Central heating
Air conditioning,
Cars,
Airplanes
Electric lights
Inexpensive clothing,
Recorded music, movies, hip replacement surgery and
Your national defense!"
If you love your Country more than the Earth that cradles her,
If you keep burning the fuel of fossils,
You are dumping in your living rooms
Feeding your babies a formula full of arsenic, mercury and lead.
Will our babies have babies?
Will they survive?
My friends are committing suicide now…
They don't want to be here anymore.
Beyond your flesh
Beyond your room
your house
your piece of ground,
your town.
Beyond your state, region or country,
Beyond your continent or island,
Beyond the 3rd Stone from the Sun – our sweet Mother Earth,

Beyond your mother, father, family, nation, race, class and gender

Beyond capitalism, socialism, racism, class-ism, nationalism
Yeah, beyond Jesus, Jonah, Buddha, Mohamed, Musa, Joseph Smith,
Beyond all that… our sweet Mother Earth,
and all the Devine Mothers cradling us,
cradling us all, all,

Beyond our hunger for oil, gas, coal, uranium and wood
burning, burning, burning,
daily choking
the life from the precious air we breath
Beyond our tears of joy or rage
Beyond all we believe is either grief or joy

How do we recognize the green sprouts coming through the concrete?
Wake up and live now
In Sunflower Splendor!
Open Morning Glory!
Wake up for the first time and LIVE!

What you have a right to is the Natural World.
What you have a right to is your movement through Seasons.
Embodied or not, as everything turns, turns, turns…
We are dancing inside Nearness
Dancing in the Sacred Web of Life made of
Mud and starlight
Semen and seasons
Novas and notions
Stardust and the chorus of all singing planets known and un.

everything turns, turns, turns…

I see you now. I see you now. I see you now…
So touch me now with kind hands
The Snow will make us friends.
The Rain will make us family.
The Wind will teach us a New Song
Rooted in a Deep Democracy beyond what we know now.

Touch me brother with kind hands,
Embrace me sister with hope-heart

I see you now. I see you now. I see you now…
I see you now with the eyes of my heart,
No enemy, no other…
I see you now with the eyes of my heart,

In this mornings' glory!
Transformed, revealed, awakened, naked
So touch me now with kind hands, hand in hand in hand…

I press my palm against your heart-breast,
I speak softly to you, as you see it and feel it now too:
With kind hands, hand in hand in hand…
Gripping! I got you now! I got you now!
Stepping gently on this Holy Earth
Touch beyond all boundaries fearlessly

Take my hand
And together we can make it.
So when I am afraid
I know you are there for me
As I am for you.
I am because you are
I am because you are
Together we can make it.
I am because you are
I am because you are

For the Earth to live America must die…
Yeah I said it!
For the Earth to live America must die!
For the Earth to live ALL nations must die.
For the Earth to live Germany
Spain
England
Egypt
Azania
China and Guatemala
All must die,
Must be transformed

Wherever we are going, we will all go together or not go at all!
There are spaces in the Heart as vast as the Universe,
We are lovely locked together
There was never any more beginning than there is now
Any more heaven or hell than there is now

Hand in hand in hand…
Gripping! I got you now! I got you now!
I got you now! I got you now!
Stepping gently on this Holy Earth
Transformed, revealed, awakened, naked
Now striding toward…
SunRise

mayday 2012 graphic