Shamans consult spirits about forthcoming year

(29 Dec 2011) SHOTLIST 1. Wide of shamans performing rituals for the new year 2. Low shot of shamans dancing while performing rituals 3. Wide of shamans performing rituals around an Aztec calendar 4. Mid of shamans throwing petals over Aztec calendar 5. Mid of shamans holding Aztec calendar, performing rituals 6. Mid of shamans shaking musical instruments around portrait of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez 7. Various of shamans holding portrait of United States President Barack Obama, shaking musical instruments, chanting 8. Mid of shamans shaking instruments, performing rituals, holding portrait of Peru's President Ollanta Humala and First Lady Nadine Heredia 9. Mid of shamans shaking instruments, performing rituals, holding portrait of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori 10. Wide of shamans throwing petals, performing rituals 11. Mid of shamans shaking instruments, performing rituals, holding portrait of North Korea's new leader Kim Jong Un 12. Mid of number 2012 formed with corn grains 13. Mid of shaman drinking from bottle and spitting over the portrait of Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy 14. Various of shamans performing rituals 15. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Juan Osco, Andean Shaman: "This is not going to happen, to those who think that way to spread panic, (we say) no, the world is not going to end. The bad things, hatred, revenge, rage are ending. And a new spiritual world of peace and love will be starting." 16. Mid of shamans performing ritual on man 17. Wide of shamans performing rituals STORYLINE Shamans gathered in the Peruvian capital Lima on Thursday to perform spiritual rituals to "counteract" the feared Mayan prophecies of the end of the world in 2012. The shamans, dressed in traditional Amazonian and Andean outfits, summoned the ancient Inca gods to ask them to change the prophecies that many think signal the end of the world in December 21, 2012. "This is not going to happen, to those who think that way to spread panic, (we say) no, the world is not going to end. The bad things, hatred, revenge, rage are ending. And a new spiritual world of peace and love will be starting," said Juan Osco a shaman from the Andes. In a traditional ritual performed using coca leaves, flowers, and incense the shamans sent positive omens to world leaders from United States President Barack Obama to new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The shamans also predicted that Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would win their battle against cancer. In Peru the use of witches, shamans, and clairvoyants is common and has been used since the time of the Incas in order to predict the future. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...