Monthly Archives: May 2025

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

12 Kawok (6th May 2025)

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12 KawokUse your life experience to heal anything standing between you and your renewal today. The energy is conducive to clearing the obstructions and inducing new growth. It can be easy if we allow it to be, or painful if we resist.

The number of life experience, combined with Kawok, gives the opportunity to finally wash away “stubborn stains” from the past. Should you allow the process to happen it can lead to rebirth.

I have an image of the nawal Kawok as a wise and loving, but firm, midwife. She has seen many new children brought into this world and knows what she is talking about. She is here to assist with the birth process. At this point there is no going back, there is only one way and that is to move past the pain to allow the new life to emerge. She is here to comfort and encourage, and occasionally to push you forwards when the process feels too hard. The flow that she brings cannot be stopped, if resistance is encountered the storm intensifies until her waters wash away the obstruction. It is, therefore, better to heed her advice, grit your teeth, and move through the process before the full power of the storm is unleashed.

This is the penultimate day of the trecena of ripening, and some would say the penultimate day of a cycle of 260 days. As 13 Ajpu is such an important day that is being birthed, it is the most experienced of midwives which is called upon in 12 Kawok. Here the analogy is that of bringing together all of your life experience in order to birth into being your own true ripeness.

The Nawal Kawok

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

While most healing roles do not seem to be gender specific, 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. It 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 12

The number 12 is the penultimate number. In some ways it can be seen as the last Earthly number, the number 13 representing the spirit world. We travelled through the mortal world with 1 through 6, then the other world with 7 through 12. In this way 12 can be seen as a point of bringing all of the experiences into one bundle for presentation to the spirit world as we step into 13. As such, the number 12 brings a wealth of experience into one place, it is rather like writing an autobiography. It is totality, all that is, brought together.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

11 Tijax (5th May 2025) – Bealtaine 05:58 UTC

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11 TijaxMeasure twice and cut once. Take a breath before acting, especially before making the final cut. You might find that you unintentionally burn some important bridges if you act too rashly.

Tijax is a sharp energy, which can be used to heal, create great beauty and rid the world of the mundane or unholy. However, in order to be used effectively it needs to be directed. Here we begin to understand a potential issue on this day 11 Tijax. The number 11 works intuitively and this can give rise to unpredictability. When a message comes, 11 hears it loud and clear and changes direction. When this is factored into a combination with the properties of Tijax, this can become a problem. In its most dramatic expression, the energy of 11 Tijax lash out at those nearby, but with an obsidian blade.

Even in the healing expression of Tijax, the strength and lack of predictability of the number 11 may create unintended consequences. Tijax is tenacious and 11 can be directionless, it may lead to a situation where you don’t know why you are taking a course of action, but you will not be dissuaded from the idea. Of course, you may be correct, but the energy of Tijax can be so cutting that you may end up causing injury where it was not intended.

When working with a sharp object, it is always best to know how and what to use it for. This is especially the case today. Don’t run with the scissors in your hand!

Bealtaine

Additionally, this year 11 Tijax falls on an archaeoastronomical cross quarter day which many would know as Bealtaine. We may be familiar with the four major stations of the sun, the equinoxes and solstices, but there are four more which are celebrated. These mark the midpoints between the solstices and equinoxes.

In the Celtic calendar, they are celebrated as the beginning of each season; Imbolc as the beginning of spring. Bealtaine as the beginning of summer. Lughnasagh as the beginning of autumn. Samhain as the beginning of winter. While convention might assign these days to 1st February, 1st May, 1st August and 1st November, aligning them with the Gregorian calendar, the actual days are really dependent on where the sun is in our sky. This page gives the exact date and time of each of the major stations. It has often been my thought, that if we wish to tap into the true energy of something, we need to be there at the correct time and date.

Bealtaine translates (more or less) as bright fire. It is a time of great growth, when we see the natural world in her abundant radiance. The energy stored by the plant kingdom is fresh and vital, the flowers adorn the trees, the newborn birds and animals are everywhere and life is in full swing. It is a time of handfastings, of marriages, and often marked by fire ceremony in the Celtic lands. The exact point of Bealtaine is at 05:58 UTC on May 5th.

If you would like to know more about the history of Bealtaine and Beltane, particularly with regards to why it was moved to 1st May, check out this link. If we really are trying to live in harmony with the seasons, it is essential we get the timing correct!

The Nawal Tijax

Sacrificial Death God 1

The nawal Tijax represents an obsidian (or flint) blade. How the blade is used depends on the intention of the person wielding it, a warrior or a surgeon. These would seem like opposite ends of the spectrum, but where Tijax is concerned the aim is the same – healing and purification.

Tijax is the nawal of the holy warrior. In the Mayan book of creation , the Popol Vuh, the first act of the hero twins was a mission given to them by the Heart of the Sky to rid the world of the false gods Seven Macaw, Zipacna and Earthquake. By destroying the false gods, the twins brought balance to the world, and helped mankind, they brought healing to the world. They cut out that which caused disease, exactly as a surgeon would do.

Tijax is celebrated as a day of healers, particularly what could be seen as the masculine aspect of healing. It is a day of crusading, of standing up for what is right, the healer who refuses to give up on finding a cure. Tijax gives powers of discernment and refinement. Just as the surgeons scalpel cuts away disease and the warriors blade dispatches the evil, the sculptors chisel creates beauty by remodelling the base material. This is a day of alchemy, both internal and external, turning the ordinary into the divine.

The Number 11

The number 11 is a high and odd number. This gives it some rather challenging properties, although it can come good in the end. Imagine you visit Ireland and are transfixed by the green of the hills. Then you go to Morocco and are awed by the red of the buildings. Then you go to the Caribbean and are moved by the turquoise sea. You return home and paint a beautiful picture using those colours. When you were in Ireland you didn’t know you were going to paint that masterpiece. You may not have even known why you were there.  This is how 11 works. You are sure you need to be doing something, but unsure why. You are collecting experience through many wanderings.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

10 No’j (4th May 2025)

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10 N'ojToday is a day to resolve community issues. It is a day when the saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” is extremely applicable.

Some days should work out well, with a strong and positive effect coming from both the nawal and the number. Today, the clear thinking, and analytical energy of No’j is combined with the socially helpful 10. Therefore, join minds with your friends, colleagues and neighbours to intuit unique and novel solutions to problems. New communal ideas may solve issues that have perplexed 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. However, this could even result in the ideas themselves becoming muddled. Lines of thought may be 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 (3rd May 2025)

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9 AjmakToday is a day to come to terms with your life.  It combines the spirit of forgiveness with the number of the feminine and life. This is a potent 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 an 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 (2nd May 2025)

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8 Tz'ikinToday the whole picture may be revealed to the world. This is the day when the new vision combines with the old to bring prosperity. Feed the birds to give thanks for the inspiration, a satisfied bird won’t eat your corn.

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 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 prosperity. This is a day of bringing together existing ideas with new energy to sustain those around us.

If you have a 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.