KALAMAZOO, MI –

If the calendar continues after Dec. 21, 2012, a group of young adults in Kalamazoo preparing for a cosmic consciousness shift will appear in MTV’s “True Life: I'm Preparing for the End of the World” in February.

Bill Richmond, a New York City freelance videographer who has worked for MTV since 1997, is documenting the lives of doomsday theorists, including Western Michigan University 2010 graduate Tyler Trierweiler, his twin brother, Vinny, and Julian Alcantar, who are all 24-year-old local artists.

The men do not believe an asteroid will strike the earth on Friday; however they do believe the stars are aligning to heal human hearts.

“Every human being will shift from having a fear-based consciousness to a love-based consciousness,” said Alcantar, who met the Trierweiler’s while living in a cooperative home near Indiana University in South Bend two years ago. “It’s the culmination of a process, the date is only a number or symbol, but time doesn't exist; it’s always now.”

Their belief is based on a movement called the Christ consciousness, which is not associated with Christianity but tributes Jesus Christ. The men believe there is a higher-dimensional energy grid cradling the earth, “which increasingly charges as more connect to its expansive energy.”

They believe the grid will be fully activated and “a new earth will be born” on Dec. 21, according to an animation video they created to raise funds to travel and share their views while being documented for MTV. They launched a Kickstarter page and were able to raise $2,313 for the project. The money is being used to fund their travels and living costs while taping and promoting the episode.

“We went to Chicago from Dec. 2-5 and rented a hotel, interacted with people and passed out flyers,” Tyler said. “We set up a 'New World headquarters' and asked people to fill out a survey card about their stay on Earth. It was amazing.”

The camera was rolling on Dec. 6., as they prepared vegetarian lasagna and salad for a group of friends at their home, an artist cooperative in the Vine Neighborhood, where they discussed their beliefs about the evolution of humanity and the upcoming "grand awakening."

"Our solar system is aligning with the galactic center of the universe and that's the reason people are awakening," Tyler said. "At 6:12 a.m. on Dec. 21, in Michigan, our galaxy will be aligned with the universe and that represents the ending of a dark age and a new cycle of humanity."

They lit candles and poured boxed wine, as about a dozen friends – many who are Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community Community students – feasted in their living room, which is decked in hand-painted murals. Their friends were asked to sign legal documents before being taped.

Alcantar was living in California when his friends invited him to move to Kalamazoo to help spread their message on MTV. He said he couldn't pass up the opportunity. The three, plus five others, moved into the house, coined the Musician's Cooperative, in September.

“We’re the only people interested in it,” said Alcantar, an abstract artist. “Everyone else is occupied, but we’re living our lives based on this shift happening. It is part of a planetary process and this information is coming from ancient history, religious texts and Mayan culture. It all comes down to the same thing: the Golden Age.”

The artists are preparing for the "end," which they believe is the beginning, by gazing at the sun when it rises and before it falls because the sun is the most significant energy source and "is a symbol of an all-loving deity." They eat vegetarian food, meditate, and extend their love to others, as well.

“We live one day at a time because we trust the universe will bless us with more experiences,” Tyler said. “We eat vegetarian because flesh and blood have denser energy vibrations and we want to raise our vibrations to higher dimensions by eating fruits and vegetables.”

The twins decided to relocate to Kalamazoo after temporarily living in Colorado over the summer to be closer to family and because they found the house for the cooperative. Both are Portage Central High School graduates.

Tyler connected with MTV after responding to a casting call posted on Craigslist, but this is not their first reality television attempt. The Trierweiler's made headlines after opening a café/music venue/reality television studio called "The Dirty Hippie" in Grand Rapids last year.

“It was shut down because we were holding too many dubstep raves,” Tyler said.

To celebrate the consciousness shift, they are hosting an "Ascension Party" to bring in the "new earth" on Friday. Of course, MTV is invited.

Contact Ursula Zerilli at uzerilli@mlive.com or 269-254-5295. Follow her on twitter.