1 Kawok (6th June 2023)

1 KawokWe have been through the inner alchemy, the transformation of the Kame trecena and now emerge fresh and newborn. The trecena of Kawok acts as the midwife assisting our birth into a new phase of life.

Chak sends the fire serpent (lightning) from the sky, from the Dresden Codex
Chak sends the fire serpent (lightning) from the sky, from the Dresden Codex

Today we begin our rebirth process. Kame changed us, with Tijax finally cutting away what was holding us back. Now Kawok is here to sooth us and to wash away any debris. The midwife aspect of the energy of the nawal Kawok gently guides us, helping us move through our rebirth process and into the world. The healing feminine energy of this day brings compassion to our process, and creates a graceful and beautiful experience of rebirth.

Both Kawok and 1 have strong connections with birth and new life. The number 1 representing potential may give rise to us needing a little assistance to realise the potential within our opportunity. We may be ready to grow and walk, but sometimes we need a little help to get on our feet as we take our first tottering steps. Kawok is there for us, ready to hold our hand, gently but firmly guiding us as we emerge into our new world. She is a representative of the healing woman and the wisdom of the grandmothers. Today we may choose to seek out those women who support us through our process of rebirth or re-invention. The compassion and wisdom shown to us by the women around us helps us to move forward into new areas.  This day is the very beginning of the new life, or a new direction, which has all the potential to be whatever we choose it to be.

 

Ixchel empties the water jar, washing away the old world in order to bring in the new. From the Dresden Codex
Ixchel empties the water jar, washing away the old world in order to bring in the new. From the Dresden Codex

Nawal Kawok is in some ways a counterpart to the nawal Tijax. Where Tijax has masculine aspects of healing, Kawok has the feminine aspect. Kawok is sometimes referred to as rain or storm. It is this rain that washes away that which has been cut out by Tijax.

While most healing roles within the Maya world do not seem to be gender specific, this one is. Both women and men may be healers, prayer makers, herbalists and diviners, only women will become midwives. Kawok is the energy of the midwife. Kawok helps to clear the obstructions from the birth process, in some ways it actually represents the birth process. Kawok brings the new into the world. In the Mayan cross, Kawok, the birth process finishes the sequence which starts with Aq’ab’al (conception) and moves through B’atz (gestation.) In the sequence of the calendar, Kawok precedes Ajpu. Ajpu represents the resurrection of the maize lord, also the creation of the world. Kawok creates the conditions for that to happen, the rain which brings forth the sprouting of the maize.

In its storm aspect, Kawok can be destructive, although it is a destruction which allows a new creation to happen. Kawok energy can give rise to some tempestuous situations, it can be a day which can give people a rough ride, although this may be for the eventual good. It is a day to ask for the gentle rain to bless your crops, and for the harsh rain to stop. It is a day which washes away the old and outworn in life, so that the new growth, life and divinity may emerge.

The number 1 is representative of the seed, of unity. It represents birth and beginnings. It is a low and odd number, which usually represents something challenging. However, the seed can grow into a mighty tree, it is full of potential. It just needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop, just as sometimes we need encouragement to develop our ideas.

New Video – The Trecena of Kawok (6th – 18th June 2023)

The trecena of Kawok brings the opportunity to birth something new, or to be reborn ourselves.

My 2023 calendar is now available. The calendar shows the days of the Chol Q’ij, formatted onto the Gregorian calendar. This year it is available electronically as a pdf in both English and Spanish. Printed versions, in English, are now beginning to run low, but you may be able to still find a copy locally here in Guatemala, in Lava Love Cacao in San Marcos. See this link for details on how to get your pdf https://thefourpillars.net/?page_id=9580 If you are the more technically minded I have created a plugin for Google calendar which will enable you to track the days of the sacred calendar on your smartphone. I am currently updating it so that it will also give a summary of the energy of the day. In this way you can ensure that your activities are aligned to the most conducive energies! It is available for purchase here.

Within the village of San Pablo la Laguna, there is an organisation doing great work. They are called ODIM and are specialising in medical and educational services. During the pandemic restrictions, they helped feed many people, but this is in addition to their regular, long term work there. You can find out more about them through this link https://tinyurl.com/yb4l3rux

Popol Jay is an ancient name to define the House of the Council of Elders, among the Maya of Guatemala. These were places of wisdom where sacred knowledge about medicine, the calendars, music, spiritual practice and more was kept and passed to future generations. All were burnt down during the Conquest and subsequent Colonization periods. Today, the Q’eqchi’ Maya Council of Elders Releb’aal Saq’e has joined forces with many supporters to rebuild the Popol Jay of the North, in the lowlands of the Petén region, heart of the Maya culture of the Classic Period. The Elders have worked hard to acquire land and co-design this Center of Knowledge to share ancient wisdom with the World. To donate to the Elders of Peten to fund the Popol Jay, please use this link https://tinyurl.com/8s7vkvr