Prior experience may facilitate your journey

3 E’ (21st December 2022) – Solstice

3 E'The nawal E’ governs exploration and discovery, and this happens on the journey, on the road it represents. However, today, the number 3 may bring challenges to physical journeys.

The nawal E’ gives a restlessness which is cured through taking voyages of discovery. E’ drives us to understand how our world, different people and different societies work. This usually happens through travel as we enrich both our knowledge and experience of the world around us. However, E’ also governs our own life journey, our internal process that we move through as we travel through our life. It is as much about our life path as it is the physical journeys we undertake.

Today we see it combined with the number 3, a number which can be seen to bring instability and challenge to what it is attached to, especially in the external world. This is perhaps one of the least ideal days on which to make a physical journey, the possibility obstruction and delays may be high. This is a day to be looking inwards, to focus on understanding yourself through your inner journey. It may prove more fruitful than a journey on the road today.

The solstices are very important points of the year energetically and it is always my pleasure to make ceremonies on these days. What we call Winter solstice here in the northern hemisphere is perhaps my favourite, with the midwinter sun rising over the lake. It is a beautiful event, and reminds us of the return of the light to the world as our days begin to get longer.

This year, the solstice falls on the day 3 E’ within the Chol Q’ij. E’ days are days of exploration and journey, representing our path. In combination with the number 3, this highlights the inner path and on this day, representing the return of the light, could be an excellent day to ask for the illumination of our inner path.

This year I have felt a desire to share this ceremony, to include those friends from around the world who have participated in ceremony here in my garden in San Pablo. Those who are here at the lake are welcome to attend in person. I will do what I can to make this happen, but please be patient as internet connections here are not always as reliable as you may be accustomed to. I will do my best to position the camera and microphone so that you can fully connect with the sounds and sights of the ceremony and the fire. Perhaps you can even make your own fire at home and make your offerings to your fire as we journey through the nawales. There is no fee for this, all are welcome, although if you wish to make a donation towards the costs of the materials, please feel free to do so. You can make a donation through this link: https://paypal.me/MarkElmy

The ceremony will start at 6am and will take around 2-3 hours, as I call in the directions, my teachers, ceremonial sites and the essences of the 20 nawales. I will petition each of the nawales for assistance in this time. If you would like to attend, you can find the Zoom details below, or come along in person if you are here at the lake.

Meeting ID: 880 7431 8268
Passcode: 237265

 

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, the 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.

E’ is another of the classic  carriers of the year, or year lords. It is said that E’ years tend to be some of the more gentle and favourable years. E’  is seen as a good natured nawal. E’ days are considered to be good days on which to travel and explore, whether that be externally or internally. It is a day to find or remember your path, a day to ask for your path to be cleared of obstructions, and a day to ask for guidance and protection on your path.

The Orion Nebula (M42). Photo by Mark Elmy

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)

A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is "El Tigre" at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage by Mark Elmy
A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is “El Tigre” at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage by Mark Elmy

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.

4 thoughts on “3 E’ (21st December 2022) – Solstice”

  1. Hi Mark,

    Maybe a sily question, but will it be 6am or 6pm the fire ceremony. I am at the lake so considering joining in person.

    Love,

    Irene

  2. Hello I missed the ceremony and time, could I repeat a symbolic ceremony tomorrow at Sunrise?
    Will there be a replay of the ceremony?
    Thank you!

  3. Hi Camila. For me these are very specific points of the year when it comes to solstices and equinoxes, however every day is a good day to give thanks through ceremony. Although it won’t be energetically the same, you could make a ceremony at sunrise tomorrow, or at sunset today, another powerful time. I did not record the ceremony, so there will not be a replay.
    Solstice blessings to you and may the newborn sun light your inner path

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