Monthly Archives: November 2023

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

10 No’j (1st December 2023)

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10 N'ojToday is a day to get things sorted out, a day to find solutions within your community. It is a day when the saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” is extremely applicable.

Some days should really work out well, with a strong and positive effect coming from both the nawal and the number. Today, the clear thinking, analytical energy of No’j is combined with the socially helpful 10. Join minds with your friends, colleagues and neighbours to come up with unique and novel solutions to problems. New communal ideas may solve issues that have been perplexing you for some time.

One slight drawback could be that the energy of the nawal No’j sometimes brings thought without action. It may be a day where the mind drifts through many ideas of how to resolve situations within the community, without actually initiating those ideas. This could even result in the ideas themselves becoming muddled, lines of thought being expressed and followed without actual realisation into the physical world. Whilst the energy of No’j does have a practical edge to it, it can on occasion end up lost in its thoughts.

A logical solution to this may come through cooperation. However, despite your combined solution being obvious to you and your group, be aware that you may still be ahead of your time. Be patient with those you explain your new big idea to, they might need a little time to catch up.

The Nawal No’j

A depiction of the Earth Lord, the patron of the day Caban (N'oj). <yoastmark class=

 

The nawal No’j is the nawal of thought, of intelligence and intellect. Within the count of days, there are two geniuses. B’atz is the creative genius, No’j the intellectual one. No’j is an energy of masculine, logical thought. As the problem solver, it gives ideas and solutions which work in the real world. No’j gives a different way to understand situations, and through this ability comes innovation. It is thought, but also understanding and, indeed, knowing. As such, No’j is also a day associated with divination.

This energy is not necessarily social, it can lead to becoming absorbed into one’s work, lost in one’s thoughts. The influence of No’j can create ideas which may be very much ahead of their time. Do not be surprised if ideas you have on this day take a little time to catch on, the people you express the ideas to may need a little time to process, to see the genius within the idea. No’j is also one of the classic year bearers, or year lords. As a year bearer it is thought to be one of the more beneficial and benign energies.

The Number Ten

The number 10 is another number which demonstrates the connection between the sacred calendar and the human body. As five represents one hand, ten represents two hands coming together. This can be seen as the shaking of hands creating agreement between people. Ten is seen as a good number, a number of community and the laws of society, of acting in harmony.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

9 Ajmak (30th November 2023)

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9 AjmakToday is a day to make peace with your life.  It combines the spirit of forgiveness with the number of the feminine and life. This is potent a day to ask for forgiveness from the women in your life where it is necessary.

If you have been holding guilt over, or blame towards, any particular woman, today is the day to forgive and move on. The energy of resentment is probably having a greater effect on you rather than her, holding you back from progressing. This applies not just to the women in your life, but the feminine aspect of life in general. This is the day to ask forgiveness. Also, to forgive yourself, for the times when you could have embraced more feminine qualities such as compassion and nurture.

Sometimes we have forgotten the feminine nature of where we all came from, whether it is the body of our mother or the Earth herself. This is often caused by imbalance within the generally male dominated society. This is a day to recognise the times when we allowed ourselves to become part of that imbalance, and ask forgiveness for them. After all, as we progress through this trecena of ripening, the trecena Q’anil, how can we reach joyful and abundant ripeness if we are carrying this bitterness?

It is a day to forgive yourself for the things in life you would rather leave in the past. Light a candle and allow the flame to burn away any guilt surrounding any past actions. As the candle burns and cleans your life, feel the other aspect of Ajmak arriving. Allow Ajmak to bring sweetness of redemption into your life.

I’m sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

Nawal Ajmak

Ajmak is the nawal of pardon and forgiveness, the nawal of redemption. It is the energy of being human, of falling down and getting back up again, and giving those chances to others.

When the creators fashioned the four first men, the Bacab’ob, they created them as equals. These four first humans had superhuman abilities, including the ability to see through space and time. As equals were not desired, the gods smoked the mirror of perception, giving us our human set of senses. When we lost the ability to see through time, we lost the ability to see the true consequences of our actions and thus we needed to start asking for forgiveness. Sometimes even well meaning actions can cause problems at a later date. Ajmak represents this ability to forgive others, the ability to forgive ourselves and the ability to accept forgiveness.

Ajmak is a sensual energy, which creates some of the reasons for it’s needing to be forgiven. It is kind and very lovable, but irresponsible. It can be a very talented energy, with great ideas. However it can also be very easily distracted, especially by anything that makes it feel nice. This often leads Ajmak to failing to fulfil it’s true potential, although due to it’s lovable nature it is easy to forgive. One of the lessons with regards to the Ajmak energy is learning to forgive oneself.

The Number Nine

The number nine is the number of lunations in the human gestation period and in the sacred calendar. The sacred calendar is known as a calendar of life, and it is women that give life. As such the number nine is seen as the number of life and the number of the divine feminine. It gives all that it is attached to a strong feminine presence. It is a day on which women may wish to give thanks for their gifts.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

8 Tz’ikin (29th November 2023)

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8 Tz'ikinMay be the day when the whole picture is finally revealed to the world. With the 8 representing wholeness and Tz’ikin bringing the vision, it is the day when the new vision combines with the old to bring prosperity.

The energy of the days numbered 8 can be seen as an overlap, where the novelty of the energy of the number 1 combines with the energy of the ending of number 7. It is the seam between the new fabric and the old, that which joins the previous weaving to the current. As such it can be seen as a combination of energies, a re-imagining of an old principle or vision, again breathing new life into an existing idea. When combined with the energy of the nawal Tz’ikin this brings in the energy of prosperity. This is a day of bringing together existing ideas with new energy in order to sustain those around us.

If you have the vision for a new venture, particularly a new business venture, this is a great day to seek advice from those who have taken on similar tasks before. The combination of the old and new may bring great success.

The day 8 Tz’ikin is the day on which green candles are offered to the ceremonial fires to give thanks for our prosperity and the prosperity of  our families and our communities. It is a day to give thanks for our ability to focus on fine detail, but also to see the bigger picture when required. As we give thanks for what we have, we also ask for the vision to come to us, to help those around us prosper. This is a day to give thanks for what we are perfecting, and what we cried out for.

Nawal Tz’ikin

Bat Falcon sitting on top of Temple 216 at Yaxha. Photo by Mark Elmy

Nawal Tz’ikin is the nawal of prosperity, which sometimes seems odd to people seeking “higher knowledge”. It is not quite seen the same here. If your family is starving, you are more likely to fall off the road, perhaps into dishonesty or criminal activity. By asking nawal Tz’ikin for prosperity in your life, you are more likely to be able to help others. You can be more constructive within your community. That is not to say that your own input will not be necessary, just that your hard work will pay off.

Tz’ikin has the ability to give visions, it helps people to see the bigger picture within life. It also helps people to focus on details. It has grand aspirations and helps people to rise to the top of their abilities.

Just as Tz’ikin can focus, its broad vision can occasionally cause distraction. Sometimes, just when it is heading towards its goal it can be distracted by something “shiny.” This energy gives an ability to create great social networks, but sometimes spends too much time trying to maintain them.

The Number Eight

The number 8 is considered to be a number of wholeness. It can be seen as birth (1) and death (7) combined to represent the whole cycle of the soul. It can also be seen as the point where the four first men who raised the sky from the sea were joined by their wives and the world become whole. The eighth day of the trecena is the most common day for ceremonies to be made. It is still in the balanced range of numbers and is an even number, which is also considered fortunate. As this wholeness represents every aspect of the energy of the day with which it is coupled. It is the wholeness of the nawal that is addressed in ceremony.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

7 Ix (28th November 2023)

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7 Ix Today can be seen as a day to make our decisions about which altar we feed. How can the Earth and our community prosper from our choices?

With Ix as the guardian of the altars and the Earth herself, today can represent our decisions to how we connect with them. The altars and sacred sites can be seen as the ears of the Earth. When we make ceremony or visit these sacred places to make offerings, we petition the Earth. Today is a good day to choose what we make our petition about.

It is said that both Ix and the number 7 are connected with the seven shames; excessive pride, ambition, envy, lying, criminal activity, ingratitude, and ignorance. This is a day on which it is possible that these shames may be closer to the surface, when they may be more obvious in others, or more tempting to choose.

The shrine at the top of Cerro de Oro, beside Lake Atitlan. This is one of the most sacred natural altars within Guatemala.
The shrine at the top of Cerro de Oro, beside Lake Atitlan. This is one of the most sacred natural altars within Guatemala.

However, if the day is approached from the positive aspect, it can be a day on which we may experience the magic of the spirit of the Earth all around us. Her beauty may be very evident, especially if you are open to it. It is a day when the natural altars – springs, caves, overhangs and mountaintops – are particularly energised and open to our gratitude for all that we have received from Mother Earth. All that is required is to make a decision between the needs of the self and the needs of the world. Mother Earth is receptive to your petition, what are you going to ask for, and how can you help her?

Nawal Ix

A dancing shaman transforms himself into a jaguar. From a late classic era vase found at Altar de Sacrificios. Source http://shortstreet.net/Maya/mayapaintedvases.htm
A dancing shaman transforms himself into a jaguar. From a late classic era vase found at Altar de Sacrificios. Source http://shortstreet.net/Maya/mayapaintedvases.htm

Ix is possibly the most feminine of the nawales. It represents the spirit of the Heart of the Earth. We could see this as what we might call Mother Earth or a Maya representation of Gaia. Ix can be seen as a mothering energy, nurturing all things. However, this should not be confused with weakness. The animal totem of Ix is the jaguar and it is as the jaguar that Ix is often known. The jaguar is, of course, powerful and stealthy. Ix also embodies these qualities. This jungle cat is an animal of the night. She slips magically through the darkness, the spots of her back a representation of the milky way. She carries the sun on its nightly journey through the underworld.

Industrialised societies tend to see the Earth as an inanimate source of material wealth. Non-industrialised societies see her as a living entity with whom we can interact, and she carries the nawal Ix. So, it is on Ix days that prayers are offered at her places, the shrines and altars, her ears, to ask for what we need in our world. A spirit of gratitude and humility keeps Ix healthy. Ix is of course deeply connected with the natural world and it is here that they find their wisdom, power and wealth. This is a day to give thanks, to remember gratitude, and a day to engage with your magic.

The Number Seven

If we imagine the numbers 1 through 13 as a pyramid, the number seven would be at the top. Seven is the number of balance, it gives the ability to weigh up situations and see all points of view. While this may be very noble, it may lead to indecision.

However, it is also known as a number of death and endings, which would seem strange as it is only half way through. It is another representation of the change of state of the soul, showing half of the journey (1-6) in the mortal world and half (8-13) in the otherworld. As such it can be a great number on which to finalise or end something.

Number Sequence.jpg

The sequence of numbers as they appear with each appearance of a nawal. Here we see that the sequence begins with 1 and ends with 7, giving 7 as a number of finality.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

6 Aj (27th November 2023)

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6 AjThis is a day to create harmony and stability in our homes, families and communities. This is a perfect day for a global meditation to bring peace and stability.

At the top of the sacred hill Paclom, in the centre of Momostenango, is a cross. Unlike many of the crosses you might see, it has two cross pieces. I was told that reason for the second bar was that it creates a two-dimensional representation of the four directions. As such this cross represents the number 6, which is the other name for Paclom, the six place.

For me this especially represents the power of the number six. It has the horizontal Earthly stability of the four cardinal points, yet is also vertically connected with the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth. Today on the day 6 Aj, we see that stability amplified. It is as if the vertical post, or spinal column, that would normally be found with any six day, is energised by the connection of Aj between the Sky and the Earth, the divine masculine and divine feminine essences.

So, what is the point of this energisation? To bring this stability and blessing from the Celestial and Earthly realms into our communities and homes. This is a day on which to ask for, and give thanks for, stability in our homes and communities. It is particularly a day on which we can call upon the “greater powers” to energise us, to give us strength, so that we may sustain those around us.

May the Heart of the Sky be in My Heart

May My Heart be in the Heart of the Earth

May the Heart of the Earth be in My Heart

May My Heart be in the Heart of the Sky

The Nawal Aj

The Temple of the Foliated Cross, Palenque
The Temple of the Foliated Cross. This small temple houses one of the most remarkable and beautiful friezes, the Foliated Cross. Together with those of the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Cross, this forms an architectural version of a codex. It shows both mythic and historical accounts of the ruling dynasty. The three temples together form the cross group, the sacred heart of Palenque. Picture by Mark Elmy

The nawal Aj is related to many things which generally revolve around leadership on an earthly level. It is also known as the cornstalk, sometimes the staff of life. It represents the spinal column within the body, that which allows us to stand tall, proud and brave. As the cornstalk, it has it’s roots in the Earth, and its head in the sky. If we wish to lead in a just manner, we should cultivate our connection with the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth.

Aj is an authority, it is gentle, yet noble. It works quietly for the community it leads. It does not seek the limelight. This is a day that seeks sustenance for it’s people, that keeps everything in it’s rightful place. It is a day where we ask for the courage and bravery to stand up straight and tall, to do the right thing.

The Number Six

The number six is said to be the number of ultimate stability. It is the first of the three middle numbers of the cycle, the balance point. Six days are frequently used for ceremony thanks to their conducive energy.

The number 6 carries the qualities of the number 4, but has an extra axis. If we think of the number four representing the cardinal points, the number six adds a vertical axis to these. It brings in the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth. The number six has the stability of the number four embellished by the masculine and feminine principals. If the number four represents the physical world and the number 6 represents the physical world animated by the life force energy.

It also represents family, relating to the six qualities which hold families together – health, understanding, property, employment, friendship and actions.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

5 E’ (26th November 2023)

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This should be a good day to put your energy into your lifepath. It could be particularly good if a journey is aligned with your work.

 

I tend to think of E’ days as rather beneficial days. They can represent exploration in its many guises; physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Sometimes they may also represent a combination as a physical journey may bring knowledge or a spiritual experience. However, every journey requires an input of energy and today this is highlighted. How much do you want to go on that journey? How much energy are you prepared to invest? These questions may come up today.

As the number 5 can also represent rushing into things, there may be an element of frustration with the journey taking longer than expected. This day we might feel that we wish we could just teleport to the destination! It may also come up against some unforeseen obstacles. To overcome these obstacles will once again require our energetic input. The reward will be a great advancement on your path.

The Nawal E’

Footprints
Footprints mark the road, from the Dresden Codex

Nawal E’ represents the journey of discovery, the life path in both its physical and spiritual aspects. E’ is the explorer, it craves novelty. It inspires travel to understand different cultures and ways of life, it is a seeker of experience. It can be a thrill seeker, and sometimes will take risks to understand what it is examining. Whilst it gains experience and understanding through physical travel, E’ also drives us to explore our inner world, helping us to understand our own minds and hearts, and those of others. E’ sometimes creates a restlessness. A desire to find new things within the world means that E’ finds it difficult to sit still.

E’ can sometimes cause us to explore simply for the sake of exploration. We seek the new experience because it is there. This can give rise to a lack of direction, aimless wandering. However, even in its wanderings E’ is discovering. It may not know exactly where it is going, but it will when it gets there. In it’s best aspect, E’ seeks out knowledge and experience in order to form an understanding which brings wisdom. E’ enjoys sharing the wisdom gained with its peers, for the enrichment of the community.

The Number Five

The Sacred Mayan calendar is said to be a calendar of human life and can be seen as a microcosm of the human body. The number five is one of these parts. It is representative of the hand with its five digits. It is with our hands that we work, and with what we earn we pay our debts. Five is also a number that relates to the sacred fire where we pay our debts with offerings and prayers. Five might be so busy working that it fails to remember what it is working for. It can also signify that what it is attached to becomes work, or is “hard work”.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

4 B’atz (25th November 2023)

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4 B'atzThe day 4 B’atz is a wonderful day to weave your ideas into the physical world. It can be a light-hearted fun day, a day to embrace the creative joy in life and ground it into the world around you.

As the creative genius of nawales, the energy of B’atz certainly brings the ability to bring that extra sparkle top whatever it touches. As both entertainer and performer, it has the ability to hold attention and create something impressive for all around. Today, we see it connected with the very down-to-Earth, practical energy of the number 4. However, far from this practicality taking the shine off the energy of the nawal B’atz, it is more about the nawal B’atz bringing its shine to the mundane world. This is the day to bring out the beauty within the everyday world, to weave true creative beauty in the most physical of worlds.

It is a day that brings stability to your creations and your art forms. If there is an idea that you have been sitting on for a little while, waiting for the right time to bring it out in the open, today is the day to bring it into physical reality. This is the day to decorate the world, to weave your beauty into your physical surroundings.

The Nawal B’atz

Images of weaving using a backstrap loom, from the Madrid Codex

There are two nawales which bestow genius talents, one of which is B’atz, the other being No’j. B’atz is the nawal of artisans and of weavers. This is not just creation and weaving on the Earthly level. It weaves the threads of time together to create reality. B’atz is the nawal of the sacred calendar. The calendar could be considered to be the fabric created from these individual threads of time.

If B’atz is clever enough to weave time into order, it is clever enough to create more down to Earth trinkets. B’atz is the master artisan, creating whatever it chooses, at will. It is just as comfortable painting, as it is playing music or writing. The arts come naturally to this nawal. However, this can lead to issues when B’atz has to deal with those less talented than itself. This can lead to a certain arrogance around those who fail to achieve their standard of excellence.

Their talent draws attention, which is something B’atz craves. It is the nawal of the born entertainer, who can sing, dance and play all at once. This nawal is the life and soul of the party, it also makes excellent teachers, who hold the attention of students through entertaining them. It is a particularly fun loving nawal that feeds on the adoration of the crowd that it pleases.

B’atz is a day to create, especially within the fields of the arts. It is also a day to weave your reality the way you see fit. Where Aq’ab’al was the conception, B’atz is the gestation.

The Number Four

The number 4 is very important within Mayan mythology. Four represents the cardinal points, the four colours of maize, the four carriers of the year, the two equinoxes and two solstices, as well as midnight, sunrise, midday and sunset. The number four is representative of the four first men, who raised the sky from the sea to create the world we live on. In Mayan myth it is four pillars that support the sky from the Earth. As you can imagine, four is a number which represents stability, a good, down-to-Earth number.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

3 Tz’i (24th November 2023)

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3 Tz'iFinding the faith within you is the key. The day 3 Tz’i may be a day where your faith in the world may be challenged. Your loyalty tested by circumstances.

The energy of the nawal Tz’i has its polarities. It often brings days which remind us of the unconditional love that can be displayed, faith in the world and in humanity. Days when justice comes to those who deserve it. However, the energy of the number 3 may bring challenges to these values. It can possibly bring out the more difficult side of Tz’i. This could be a day when the unjust appear to get away with their deeds. Your faith in the universal laws may be shaken. You may find yourself let down or betrayed by those you trust. Equally you may find yourself acting disloyally.

It is a day when authority, represented by Tz’i, may be challenged. This can be a double-edged sword depending on whether you are the challenger or the authority. Whilst these challenges may be hard, the true power of Tz’i is the connection with unconditional love. This may be a day where you have to grit your teeth and have faith to continue, but it may also be a day when the true solution is to approach the challenge with an open heart and mind.

If those around you act without integrity, giving as good as you get only draws you into that energy. If the external world begins to fall apart, there is only one constant to which you can turn. That is the one within you. Focus on the unconditional love that you hold, on your faith in humanity, and extend this into your home.

The Nawal Tz’i

The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex

Tz’i is possibly the nawal with the most colourful reputation. Some describe it as the nawal of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and it has the possibility to live up to that label. One of the functions an Aj Q’ij (Mayan spiritual guide) performs is divination, usually using red seeds called Tz’ite. If a question is asked about a relationship and Tz’i comes up in the reading, it is seen as a sign of  infidelity. Tz’i is instinctual, and closes its ears to reason when it gets an idea, particularly when it is hormonally driven. This is the worst possible aspect of Tz’i and when it falls down, it does so spectacularly, which is why it tends to be remembered for those events.

However, what is sometimes forgotten is the other side of Tz’i, which is the side more frequently displayed. Just as Tz’i can represent infidelity, it also represents faith and loyalty. Just as it can be the trouble maker, it also represents law. It is the nawal of police, lawyers and judges. Tz’i is unwavering faith, unconditional loyalty. The totem animal of Tz’i is the dog, and through the actions of dogs we can understand both the loyalty aspect, and the instinctual. Tz’i is also the guide and protector on life’s path, ensuring that it’s charge travels safely. It is a day when your faith or loyalty may be tested,  where your instincts are stimulated. The positive traits of this day give rise to to some of the greatest displays of friendship. However, be aware that your loyalty may be tested by temptation.

The Number Three

There are various myths about the creation which link with the number 3. One is that at the time of creation, three stone jumped out of the fireplace and formed the new world. These three stones are called the hearthstones, and are still seen in many Maya homes today, on the fire supporting the tortilla griddle. From an astronomical point of view, the stones are the stars Alnitak, Saiph and Rigel in the constellation we call Orion, and the Smoky Fireplace is the Great Orion Nebula (M42)

The number 3 is still in the low end of the range of numbers. It does not have much energy yet, and it is also an odd number. It can represent the home, relating to the three hearthstones laid by the creators, and this is probably a good focus for a 3 day. However, it is possibly the most troublesome of the numbers to deal with, it lacks stability and represents challenges and obstructions. The number three brings up internal/external dilemma. The lack of stability in the physical, external world that it brings suggests that the more appropriate action is to look to the internal world, both of the home and of yourself.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

New Calendar Page – December 2023

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Here’s a quick link to direct you through to the page for the December 2023 calendar page. As usual, you can see the days of the Chol Q’ij plotted onto the Gregorian month of December 2023, and the major astronomical events of the month! Click here to get to the page.

Chol Q'ij December 2023

12 No’j / 2024 Calendar

My 12 No’j (2024) 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 available locally here in Guatemala, from Palo Santo and Lava Love Cacao in San Marcos. It is also available at the candle shop of Nana Maria Feliciana, opposite Banrural in San Juan la Laguna. See this link for details on how to get your pdf.

 

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2 Toj (23rd November 2023)

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service through self-sacrifice This day could be seen as a day of service through self-sacrifice or ceremony. If in doubt, give freely and unconditionally, even if the recipient is unaware of your actions.

The nawal Toj can act as a barometer of our energy. If we fall out of harmony the nawal Toj brings us a message, sometimes through sickness, to remind us that we have debts to pay. These debts may be a stagnation of energy, where we have taken something without exchange. They may be resolved through simple acts within our community which keep us healthy and keep the cycle of energy moving. In this way, Toj can be seen as one kind of healing day. Healing may come through our selfless actions, or through our offerings within ceremony.

The number two highlights polarities. It can represent relationships, but in another way, also the polarised qualities of the nawal it is attached to. This generally makes the days carrying the number 2 stronger than would be expected. The polarities of Toj may be both paying back and collecting debts. Collection of debts may not be the most pleasant of activities, but it allows others a channel to bring themselves back into balance. This could be a day to remind others of what may be owed, as well as paying our own debts. We keep the wheel of energy turning and as a result keep ourselves and others healthy.

On the most pleasant side of this energy, it could be a great day to do something special on behalf of someone you love, especially to restore balance in a relationship. That said, especially today, random acts of kindness towards your family, community or even complete strangers may go a long way to paying off karmic debts you might have incurred.

Konojel

When I mention programs, it is because I personally know the people involved and can vouch that your donations will actually go towards helping the people for which they are intended. I would like to mention the Konojel program and their work in San Marcos la Laguna. They have turned from a basic, “let’s make sure bellies are full” program to one of much more social development. You can check out their programs and make a donation here https://konojel.org/

Odim

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 http://www.odimguatemala.org/donate

Popol Jay

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. They were all 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://www.gofundme.com/f/popoljay-zentrum-fr-mayawissen

The Nawal Toj

The nawal Toj represents offerings and payment. It is part of the name Tojil, a Mayan god who gave fire to the people, although this was not a free gift. Tojil asked in return for sacrifice to be made. This is a day of payment and sacrifice, a day to resolve debts, both in the physical and spiritual realms. Toj is the nawal of the sacred fire where we make offerings to burn away karmic debts. In this way we restore balance, we bring our accounts back to zero.

Toj carries with it a form of divine protection, which is enhanced through selfless acts. These acts might involve a sacrifice of our time or energy in order to strengthen our community. We can choose to act or we can choose to ignore. However, ignoring an opportunity to make a payment on a Toj day might bring a ill fortune, the removal of the protection. Payment should be made with an open heart, thanks might not be quickly forthcoming, and may not come at all. Your sacrifice could be  something as simple as picking up litter in your neighbourhood, it doesn’t have to be something elaborate.

The Number Two

The number 2 is representative of duality, of polarity. Although a low number, it has surprising strength. It is said to be able to call upon both aspects or polarities of what it is attached to. It is said to be the number of lovers, it signifies relationships and self-sacrifice. Whilst it can lend itself to mediation, seeing both sides of the story, it also can be indecisive.