84-Year-Old Mayan Leader Visits Lake Elsinore, Dispels Fears About The World's End

A Mayan elder visited Lake Elsinore Monday to assure residents the end of the world has not arrived.

Despite fears by some that Dec. 21, 2012 marks the end of time on the Mayan calendar, Alejandro Cirilo Perez Oxlaj -- otherwise known as Wandering Wolf -- promised an audience of about 75 gathered at The Diamond Club in Lake Elsinore that the world is safe so long as the generations adhere to the tenets of the ancients, which include caring for the planet and practicing peace.

Speaking through Peruvian translator Aymar Ccopacatty, Wandering Wolf, 84, told the crowd he lives in Guatemala and was elected by his people to serve as elder. He explained that under the Mayan calendar, earth is entering a sixth sun -- a time of new beginning, not a finale.

As for the end of being hype, Wandering Wolf called it nonsense -- an invention of the modern world.

"The Mayan calendar has not ended," the elder confirmed for Monday's audience.

Captured On Film

Monday’s debunking also kicked off the release of “The Shift of Ages,” a film that tells the story of Mayan culture, the 30,000-year calendar used by the people, and theories about what’s causing world-changing events.

Wandering Wolf is featured in the 2012 docu-drama written and directed by Steve Copeland, a 35-year-old Canyon Lake resident who says he spent seven years and $1 million making the film.

Copeland was on hand Monday and explained that he became interested in the Maya and their calendar after he discovered how little is known about the indigenous people's ancient way of life.

“Most people don’t even know Maya still exist, even though there are millions of them living today,” he said.

But Copeland was also impacted by the events of 9/11, which he says sparked a vision about doing a project that would bring about peace in an increasingly hostile world. With that idea rolling about in his head, Copeland coincidentally had a chance meeting with Wandering Wolf in the mid-2000s. As the then-budding filmmaker tells it, while volunteering time with a nonprofit organization that worked to benefit various charitable organizations, he was asked if he would “pick up this Mayan elder from the airport.”

“Sure, but how will I know what he looks like?” Copeland asked.

“Just look for the guy that’s about four feet tall.”

Wandering Wolf is indeed very small in stature, and his clothes – brightly colored natural fibers embellished with ornate hand stitching – stand out. (Click on the brief video clip to see Wandering Wolf at The Diamond Club.)

“I spotted him right away,” Copeland said.

Wandering Wolf was traveling with his wife, who serves as a translator. From the airport, the three journeyed to Joshua Tree and formed a bond. Copeland saw in Wandering Wolf his film’s subject, and the elder saw an opportunity to share his prophecy.

The Power Of Collective Human Intention

Joseph Giove, executive producer on “The Shift of Ages” and founder of the nonprofit Common Passion, met Wandering Wolf in 2006 while traveling in India and learned of the film project through an interpreter. The San Francisco resident was intrigued by the struggling creative venture, but had no interest in becoming involved.

“I have lots of projects. I didn’t need another one. But within a few months, I was totally sucked in,” said Giove, who was also at Monday's event.

Giove helped bring in money for the project and today is working to promote the film.

During Monday night’s event at The Diamond Club, Wandering Wolf autographed posters and several people lined up to give donations. Giove said contributions are being split between the nonprofit Common Passion, which is headed by Giove and works to ease violence and suffering in communities through the “power of collective human intention, and Copeland’s production company, P-Qubd, LLC, which is in debt to investors who helped finance “The Shift of Ages.”

Both Giove and Copeland insist that while making money off the film is a goal, there’s more to it.

“There is a message of peace and harmony, and healing wounds,” Giove said. “This is what we’re trying to achieve.”

A New Beginning In Lake Elsinore

The message of peace and harmony is what inspired Lake Elsinore Storm President Dave Oster. The elder’s visit Monday to Lake Elsinore was prompted by an invitation from the city's top baseball guy. After watching “The Shift of Ages” “four or five times,” Oster said he wanted to borrow from the film.

“We want to make a positive change,” Oster said of his club’s desire to do more in the community. “That’s what this movie is about.”

Oster is friends with Copeland. The two men met 11 years ago during a Lake Elsinore Storm promotion they worked on together. As Copeland promotes “The Shift of Ages” and his next film -- a sequel in a trilogy about the power of positive change through action -- Oster is planning a massive citywide cleanup in 2013 and other projects that could “create a huge community effect” in the city.

Oster said The Storm will also be launching its campaign, "Play It Forward," which aims to challenge other sports teams and businesses to take action in their communities.

"We hope it's a domino effect," Oster explained.