Daily Archives: 5th November 2025

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

Pleiades Conjunct Moon – 6th November 2025

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Tonight a rather interesting alignment occurs as the Pleiades are in conjunction with the Moon, something depicted in ancient scientific art.

A few years ago I was introduced to a remarkable piece of bronze age science, the Nebra Sky Disk. It is thought to date to around 1600BCE and shows what could be seen as the crescent moon, the full moon and the Pleiades. I had the good fortune to visit both the museum in Halle, where the disk is on display, and Mittelberg where it was found.

The configuration shown on the disk points to two dates in the year. The crescent moon conjunction would occur in the western sky just after sunset, approximately 3 days after new moon in April. This is  the point where the Pleiades disappear into the Earth at sunset, which in some cultures is seen as the handful of seeds being planted into the ground.

The full moon conjunction will occur today! This is almost aligned with the achronycal rise of the Pleiades, something which may be seen as the timing behind the origins of the day of the dead. The Pleiades are related to the ancestors and this is the day on which they take their place amongst the stars. The Stellarium screenshot I used below shows the rise of the moon and the Pleiades at Halle in Germany, where the conjunction will be most pronounced.

One thing to note, however, is that this is not the same months with which the disk would have originally worked. The cycle of precession of the equinoxes has changed our skies in the last 3600 years. This would mean that the spring event would occur just before the March equinox and the autumn event would occur just after the autumn equinox. Perhaps these may have been even more connected with both the planting and harvest seasons.

 

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

New Video – The Aq’ab’al Trecena (6th – 18th November 2025)

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Somewhere in the darkness, light begins to make its presence known. This is the beginning of beginnings, it is the first spark of the fire. The first spark needs tending, and gentle use of breath and material to grow it into the fire it will become. The spark may represent a new idea that you have, but this is the first thought of this idea. It is something that comes in the waking moment, fresh from the dream world. It has started to emerge into this world but is still uncertain, hidden and yet to take form. This is the moment where it needs support and tending, just as the spark or the newborn needs care and attention. This is where the input and encouragement of family, friends and community can help that spark to become the fire, or that newborn to grow.

You’ll find the YouTube link at the bottom of this page. However, I am now making these recordings available as a podcast! You can find it on Spotify, Amazon Music, Castbox and iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts and Deezer too!

For those of you who prefer a short format daily video, you can also find the trecena video divided into 13 shorter versions on TikTok. You can find me here https://www.tiktok.com/@mark.elmy or as @mark.elmy on the app.

Readings

Update I have also added other readings that I do to the page. These include partnership readings, Tz’ite consultations and path of the plumed serpent readings.

If you would like to know what your nawal brings to your lifepath, please follow this link to get a reading with me.   https://thefourpillars.net/maya-lifepath-reading/

1 Kej / 2026 Calendar

My 2026 calendar is now available. The calendar shows the days of the Chol Q’ij, formatted onto the Gregorian calendar. Currently it is available electronically as a PDF in both English and Spanish. See this link ‎for details on how to get your pdf  https://thefourpillars.net/2026-calendar/

Printed versions, in English, are available locally in Guatemala in San Marcos La Laguna at Lava Love Cacao and Palo Santo and in San Juan la Laguna at the candle shop of Nana Maria Feliciana, opposite Banrural, across from the flete parking. . They will also soon be available in the USA through Soul Lift Cacao through this link https://soulliftcacao.com/

Google Calendar Plugin

For the more technically minded I have also created a plugin for Google Calendar. This enables you to track the days of the sacred calendar on your smartphone. In this way you can ensure that your activities are aligned to the most conducive energies! I have also added a description to every day, just click on the day name. It is available for purchase https://thefourpillars.net/google-calendar-plugin/

Worthwhile Recipients of Your Donations

When I mention programs within my videos, it is because I know the people involved and can vouch that your donations will go towards helping the people for which they are intended.

Bringing Water Stability to Families

A wonderful, highly active project to bring water stability to families is Water4Life Global. Jenna MacEwan and her team have been making a difference to peoples’ lives since 2018. They provide water filters to local families throughout Guatemala, thereby giving direct access to clean drinking water. Additionally, they are directly involved in action which helps to clean up the local sources of water. This is achieved through greywater treatment projects, reforestation and education. To learn more or donate, please visit: https://water4lifeglobal.org/donate/

The Midwife Project

In their words: “Our Mission is to offer safe, dignified and culturally appropriate health care to women in Guatemala by empowering indigenous midwives through education. We focus on revaluing the Mayan ancestral knowledge while integrating modern medical practices. With the creation of Holistic Clinic(s) & Birthing Center(s) as a meeting ground and model project. Our Vision is that every woman has access to humane, respected and safe birth care. The midwives and women are empowered to lead the creation of a thriving community where those who are most vulnerable have their needs met, and men support the women in creating this healthy and vibrant family and community structure.”

You can check out their site and donate here: https://www.midwifeproject.net/donate 

Konojel

I 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 donate here https://konojel.org/donate

ODIM

Within the village of San Pablo la Laguna, there is an organisation doing great work. They are called ODIM and specialise in medical and educational services. However, 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

Here’s the link for the Aq’ab’al trecena video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/NLdLD0gnd94

[https://youtu.be/NLdLD0gnd94]

 

 

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Aq’ab’al (6th November 2025)

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1 AqabalThe day 1 Aq’ab’al is an excellent day for starting new ventures, for getting your new concepts out into the world and for receiving the encouragement we need for new ideas.

When we consider the nawal Aq’ab’al as the dawning of the new day, the energy of 1 Aq’ab’al can be seen as the very first moment of realisation that a new day is coming. It is far from light it is only just distinguishable. Somewhere in the darkness, light begins to make its presence known. This is the beginning of beginnings, it is the first spark of the fire. The first spark needs tending, gentle use of breath and material in order to grow it into the fire it will become.

The spark may represent a new idea that you have, but this is the first thought of this idea. It is something that comes in the waking moment, fresh from the dream world. It has started to emerge into this world but is still uncertain, hidden and yet to take much form. This is the moment where it needs support and tending, just as the spark, or the newborn needs care and attention. This is where the input and encouragement of family, friends and community can help that spark to become the fire, or that newborn to grow.

Aq’ab’al can also represent relationships, so this day may be the first glimmer of something new, or the rekindling of an existing relationship in order to start a new “day.” Either way, this should be a rather joyful day of new possibilities.

New Cycles

Today again marks an interesting milestone for me, and for my site. It’s my 10 “year” anniversary. I began writing about the energies of the days with my very first post on 1 Aq’ab’al, 19th November 2015. I have now completed 14 cycles of the sacred calendar, 3640 days, posting pretty much every single day! Sometimes this has proved a challenge when I’m trekking to El Mirador or suchlike, but I do my best to be consistent. I guess this will be the case when I make the Mirador trek again in March (and possibly April) next year! Thank you for reading my work, thank you for the encouragement which you have given, the support and all your kind words.

The Nawal Aq’ab’al

The word aq’ab is translated as dark. The suffix -al changes the meaning slightly, alluding transtition and the dawning of the day. It is the time between darkness and light, night and day. Probably our best way to translate it would be as twilight. Birth is the beginning of the mortal journey. Aq’ab’al is just the beginning of the day and of things which are not yet fully formed.

In Santiago Atitlan one day, a friend explained to me the different parts of a weaving on a backstrap loom. Aq’ab’al is the warp (the vertical threads), B’atz is the weft (the horizontal threads) which creates the whole cloth. The newly woven cloth is Kawok. In order for the weaver to create, first she has an idea in her head or a dream. She sets out the dream on her loom by setting up the warp. The design has passed from being just an idea, to the beginnings of a woven reality. Thus, concept requires creative input before it becomes whole. Aq’ab’al can also represent conception. The fertilised egg is far from ready to be born, but has passed from the dream or spirit world into the physical.

Aq’ab’al days are great days for the start of new things, particularly new relationships – Aq’ab’al has a strong affinity with marriage. Also it is a perfect day for starting new projects. It is the time to bring them into the world of light from the world of dreams and ideas.

The Number One

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 needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop its potential. We also may need encouragement to develop our ideas.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2026 / 1 Kej Wall Calendar PDF

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My 2026 / 1 Kej wall calendar is now available. Once again I have decided to keep the format in alignment with the Maya solar year by creating a calendar of 14 Gregorian months. The issue is that the Maya Solar calendar celebrates its “new year” in February. Of course, most people want their calendars in December ready for the new Gregorian year. My 2026 calendar includes the months of January and February 2027. In this way, I cover the whole of the year 1 Kej (and the whole of 2026).

As an example of what you will receive, here is an electronic copy of my calendar from 2023. Please click the image below to take to the document which you can view.

Once again I have decided to share 20% of the profit from the calendar. I have been very fortunate to meet some incredible people through my work. This year I will be supporting just one project, one which is very close to my heart.

Reclaim the Altars

I am choosing the work of my teacher, Don Rigoberto Itzep Chanchavac and his organisation Misión Maya Wajxakib B’atz. In 2019 I attended a national conference of Aj Q’ijab, Mayan Spiritual guides, regarding the reclamation, renovation and maintenance of altars within Guatemala. Some have been forgotten, some have ended up on private land, and some have even been built over. The objective of this project is to identify these altars and either bring them back in to use or transfer the energy of the altar to a new altar if renovation is not possible. Even the meetings require funding, to get all of these elders together, and so I have chosen to use some of the profits from the calendar to support this mission.

How to get your 2026 calendar

Physical Copies

Printed versions, in English, are available locally in Guatemala in San Marcos at Lava Love Cacao and Palo Santo, and in San Juan la Laguna at the candle shop of Nana Maria Feliciana, opposite Banrural, across from the flete parking. They will also soon be available in the USA through Soul Lift Cacao.

Electronic PDF Version

My whole 2026 / 1 Kej calendar is also available as a pdf. The calendar shows the days of the Chol Q’ij, formatted onto the Gregorian calendar for the entire year through to February 2027. It also includes astronomical events and my brief interpretation of the energy of each day. It is currently only available electronically as a PDF in both English and Spanish.

Tambien, el calendario pdf 2026 está disponible en Castellano!

Use the contact form below to send me a message stating whether you want your calendar in English or Spanish. Also tell me the PayPal account name if it is different to the name you use in the contact form. Then use this link https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MarkElmy/12.50 to pay through PayPal and I will send you your pdf. As this is a manual process, please allow 24 hours for me to respond.