Tz’apin Q’ij is seen as a time of introspection, to take stock of what has happened over the previous year. In some communities, it is seen as a time when public ceremony is avoided. It is a time when the energies of the days are unsupported and misfortune may occur.
The posts that I write every day concern the Chol Q’ij. This is the Maya sacred calendar, which consists of 260 days. However, this is not the only calendar used by the Maya people. One of the other calendars is known as the Macewal Q’ij. This has been called a civil or agricultural calendar, it is the solar calendar. There are ceremonies associated with certain days of the Macewal Q’ij, particularly the arrival of the new Mam or Year Bearer. This is the first day of the new Solar year.
However, the new year is not here just yet. We first pass through the Tz’apin Q’ij, the closing days. These are the five days at the end of the 365-day count. They are thought of as an unpredictable time when the energy is directionless. The final five days of the solar year are overseen by the previous Mam of the same nawal. 8 No’j was the Mam for 2020. If we imagine time as a ship and the Mam as the captain, it is as if the captain has died and been replaced by the ghost of the previous captain. Maybe this is why this period of time is thought of as being so unpredictable.
In this video I will suggest how we might get the best out of these closing days, our time of introspection.
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/
13 Iq’ / 2025 Calendar
My 2025 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/2025-calendar/
Printed versions, in English, are available locally in Guatemala in San Marcos at Lava Love Cacao and Palo Santo. They are also now available in the USA through Soul Lift Cacao through this link https://bit.ly/4etcGZl
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
You can see the Tz’apin Q’ij video here
[https://youtu.be/rO2AKeR5VhE]
Again, Mark, 0 Pop occurs on March 30th, not today. This can be easily proved by running the count of days back to 0 0 0 0 0 4 Ajpu 8 Kumju from March 30th 2025; the way you’re doing it ends up 2 Ajpu Something else (I forget now and am too lazy to look it up).
Barbara Tedlock got this wrong also; many of the Mayan groups in the altiplano mess it up too. Somewhere along the line they lost 40 days.
Hi Bob, many thanks for pointing this out. You are absolutely correct, 0 Pop will occur on March 30th.
However, as you can see, I have been very careful to avoid using the names Wayeb or Pop. They are months of the Ha’ab calendar and what is observed here in the Highlands is sometimes referred to as Macehual Q’ij. It has different month names, for example Tz’apin Q’ij and Nabe’ Mam. It has a different new year date, currently February 18th. This is as I stated a few times the new solar year observed by the highland Maya
Where it gets confused is when people start using (as many do) the word Wayeb to describe the 5 days at the end of the Highland solar calendar. That’s why I choose to emphasise the difference
Thanks Mark for this super interesting video about the five days of introspection. Loved it. Looking forward to hear about the new Mam. Kind regards Margot
Thankyou…as always…
What a year it has been! And with 13 Iq – what a year it will be! Every day has significance with the calendars that can be seen on reflection…and useful for guidance….
Bless you for your interpretations 🙏