Category Archives: Chol Q’ij – The Energies of the Days

The day 2 Ajmak empowers the ability to forgive and be forgiven, particularly in connection with lovers or relationships. It is our choice to heal wounds and ask forgiveness.

We get these wounds by falling over, and Ajmak days sometimes provide an opportunity for us to make mistakes. What seemed like a good idea at the time can often look very different with hindsight. The way we choose to deal with our mistakes is highlighted today. Sometimes we hide things. We protest our innocence. We try to get away with things and then we get caught. This can often cause a greater grievance than the initial error created. The number 2 also represents self-sacrifice. This suggests that today we can acknowledge our errors and ask for forgiveness. By choosing to act voluntarily we initiate the forgiveness process. This in itself can bring goodwill.

The polarity of the number 2 can bring things out in sharp contrast. It is our decision, and it may be very obvious where our choice can be made. Do we wish to hold on to a burden of guilt, blame or shame, or do we wish to free ourselves. Today, the choice is yours and is ready to be made.

I’m sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

On day 2 Ajmak we can ask forgiveness for our conduct within relationships should we need to. This may include forgiveness for not just current, but previous partners. It is a day to free yourself from the burden of past events and move forward. Whether you have something to ask forgiveness for or not, it is an excellent day to give flowers (or chocolate) to your lover and bring the sweetness of humanity into your relationship.

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 Two

The number 2 is representative of duality, of polarity. Although it is a low number it has surprising strength as 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.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Tz’ikin (26th July 2024)

25th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This can be seen as a day of inspiration, a day that brings a new vision. The nawal of the visionary combines with the number of novelty and birth to bring an auspicious day and new trecena.

The nawal Tz’ikin is also a nawal of manifestation, and one way it does this is through the voice. The relatively low power of 1 Tz’ikin suggests that while this manifestation is possible, it needs a little encouragement. You may need a nudge to speak up for what you wish to bring into your life. Once you do so, the manifestation potential is strong.

If you are looking to start a new business venture, in particular, this is the day. However, you might find that it is not yet fully formed. Input from your friends or advisers may help to define it further. Perhaps you are guided to start something new. Perhaps today is the day on which to ask for a vision of how to proceed. Tz’ikin energy is seen as lively and sociable. Occasionally this may be too much so for its own good. Today this may be slightly muted and may be very useful. It is a perfect day to ask your associates to help you to clarify your vision. It may also be a time to bring several ideas together into one, clear unified image.

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 good 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 and to be more constructive within your community. That is not to say that your input will not be necessary, just that your hard work will pay off.

Tz’ikin can give visions, it helps people to see the bigger picture in 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 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

New Video – The Trecena of Tz’ikin (26th July – 7th August 2024)

25th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

The Trecena of Tz’ikin brings the opportunity to bring forward a new vision for ourselves, our family or our community. It brings a time of re-envisioning how we choose our world to be, and how to create a new time of sustainable prosperity.

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 make a donation 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 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.popoljay.org.gt/donaciones

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 here https://thefourpillars.net/google-calendar-plugin/

Calendar Workshop

If you would like to dive deeper into the sacred calendar, I will be running a workshop via Zoom from 1 pm to 5 pm (ET, UTC -4) from 2nd – 6th September 2024. There are currently some spaces available. For more information, please go to https://thefourpillars.net/?page_id=1120

Please use this link to see the Tz’ikin Trecena video:

https://youtu.be/MaHBe-R0hr4

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

13 Ix (25th July 2024)

24th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

If there was ever a day to expect magic to happen, it would be 13 Ix. It is a day when the energy of the spirit world is close by. Prayers and offerings made at natural shrines and altars may prove very fruitful.

The nawal Ix is particularly associated with shrines and altars, and the energy of the number 13 associated with it suggests ancestral places. This suggests a focus on the ancient sacred places, and words spoken at these places may likely have very strong effects. This day also finishes off the Iq’ trecena, this time of change and possible upheaval. However, Iq’ is also the nawal of communication. We see here, on the final day of the Iq’ trecena, the divine breath put into practice at the ancestral shrines as Ix, the prayer giver, makes the flower words. This is a day to call on the spirits of the ancestors to help us better understand our relationship with the Earth.

It is a day to ask the spirit of the Earth for that which you require in your life path. Of course, when she gives you exactly what you need, it is important to thank her. This day is an excellent day for demonstrating your gratitude to the Earth. This may be through some act of caring for your local area. The manifestation energy today is very strong. While we may expect magical things to happen it should be noted that the phrase “be careful what you wish for” is also applicable.

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

Ix is possibly the most feminine of the nawales. It represents the spirit of the Heart of the Earth. We could see this as 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 13

The number 13 is the final number. It represents the spirit world. It is said that on Samhain, the veil between the worlds is the thinnest. However within the sacred calendar, this thinning happens every 13 days. This connection with the spirit world creates a powerful day, where both the positive and negative aspects of the day come through strongly. It is a very good day for activities such as divinations. Ceremonies on 13 days are best left to experienced Aj Q’ijab who understand how to work with that strength of energy.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

12 Aj (24th July 2024)

23rd July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

An experienced pillar of the community could be represented by this day which suggests leadership through life experience.

The nawal Aj is a solid and dependable energy, helpful and supportive. As a representation of the spinal column, Aj is the one which holds everything in its rightful place. It holds us erect and connects us with the energies from above and below. We also use the word “backbone” to represent honour, integrity and courage. All of these qualities can be seen in the energy of Aj.

12 Aj is a day to draw on your life experience to nourish your community, family and home. Your past experiences can bring you strength and courage. They help you to stand up for what is right should you need to. They also provide examples that you can pass on to others within your community to help them to grow. This is a day when your life experience clearly shows you how to do the right thing. It brings courage to support those around you, bringing harmony into both home and community. It is certainly a day to stand up as an experienced pillar of the community.

The Nawal Aj

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, which allows us to stand tall, proud and brave. As the cornstalk, it has its 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 its people, that keeps everything in its rightful place. It is a day when we ask for the courage and bravery to stand up straight and tall, to do the right thing.

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

New Calendar Page – August 2024

23rd July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This quick link takes you to the August 2024 calendar page. As usual, you can see the days of the Chol Q’ij plotted onto the Gregorian month and the major astronomical events of the month! Click here to navigate to the page.

My whole 2024 / 12 No’j 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 2025. It also includes astronomical events and my brief interpretation of the energy of each day. 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/2024-calendar-is-now-available/

If you are in the USA and would like a physical copy of the 2024 /12 No’j Calendar, you can also find them for sale with Soul Lift Cacao. Follow this link https://soulliftcacao.com/products/mayan-calendar-english-2024

If you are the more technically minded I have created a plugin for Google Calendar which will enable you to track the days of the sacred calendar on your smartphone. It will also give a summary of the energy of the day. This way you can ensure that your activities are aligned to the most conducive energies! It is available for purchase here https://thefourpillars.net/google-calendar-plugin/

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

11 E’ (23rd July 2024)

22nd July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

The energy of today could be easily summed up with one phrase – the wanderer. It might feel both restless and directionless. It is a day where energy and drive to explore are strong, as are the distractions along the path.

The strength of the number 11 may lead to some very impulsive urges on normal occasions, and when combined with the nawal E’ this could result in some rather unusual journeys. You may have a strong desire to make a turn down a path, the one that you have always wondered where it goes, but never travelled it. You could end up lost or delayed, although this is of little importance, you have to find out what is there. This may be in both the physical and metaphorical sense.

Whilst this energy does not give a great deal of focus, you may find that this random exploration gives rise to experiences or discoveries you had not considered before. In the cross of numbers, the number 11 leads to the number 6, and so it is possible that something that you find through your wanderings today helps to stabilise a greater plan in the future.

Planning your journey down to the last detail may prove a frustrating exercise as the plans may change as soon as they are made. This is the day on which “going with the flow” may be the only reasonable option.

The Nawal E’

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 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 B’atz (22nd July 2024)

21st July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This could be seen as a day of community creativity. It is a day on which innovation and creation with other members of your group help to strengthen the fabric that holds your community together.

There are many types of days, each with different attributes. Some are weak, some are strong, some are challenging, and some are beneficial. Some are truly sweet, allowing the memorable to happen.

Whether it is a social event or a community project, the creative juices should be flowing for everyone today. A collective which gathers to create something beautiful should be particularly successful. This will, in turn, strengthen the bonds within the collective. If you are creating something on your own, be aware of its power to bring you closer to your community through the quality of your work.

We could see the warp and the weft, masculine and feminine, within society coming together today to create a greater whole. It is a day of creation through cooperation and agreement when the polarities are brought together as one new masterpiece. It’s time to get weaving!

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 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 himself. 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 10

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. It is a number of community and the laws of society, of people acting in harmony with each other.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

9 Tz’i (21st July 2024)

20th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

The day 9 Tz’i can be seen as a day about having faith in life. Sometimes to strengthen our faith in life, it may be tested.

Whilst the nawal Tz’i may have a colourful reputation, it also encompasses some of the most desirable traits we can exhibit. It is an energy of faith, loyalty, justice and guidance. Today all of those traits are brought into focus with the energy of the number 9, the energy of life and particularly the feminine aspects of it. As we move through this trecena of Iq’, highlighting changes and communication, this is a day to seek out guidance for your life path, which may come especially from women.

The day 9 Tz’i is a day of loyalty to the women in your life and a day to show your unconditional love for them. It may also be a day to seek justice, particularly for women or issues affecting them.

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 can 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, 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 troublemaker, it also represents the law. It is the nawal of police, lawyers and judges. Tz’i is unwavering faith and 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 its 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 some of the greatest displays of friendship. However, be aware that your loyalty may be tested by temptation.

The Number Nine

The number nine is very special indeed. It is the number of lunations in the human gestation period and 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 Toj (20th July 2024)

19th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This is a day to make your payments to sustain life and good health. It is a day to make an offering for future goodwill, by acting in service to our community.

8 Toj is one of the most important days of ceremony, as the nawal Toj represents the fire ceremony itself. Today, debts of whatever form can be resolved. It’s a perfect day to ceremonially make offerings to the fire on behalf of ourselves and our families.

Life proceeds through energetic interactions. We consume energy in one form or another. Even with the air we breathe or the water we drink, there is some form of exchange going on. To come to a state of harmony within the world in which we live, balance must be achieved. In this modern world, sometimes we defer these debts, whether they are financial or not. We take something, often intending to resolve the imbalance as soon as we can. However, sometimes we then end up forgetting these debts, especially the small ones. Individually this is not always too much of a problem, we can proceed with a small imbalance. But too many small items eventually cause us to fall out of harmony. This in turn may lead to a state of disease.

Toj days remind us to keep our promises and to make our payments in whatever form they take. They might be physical or financial, or they might be words of gratitude. These simple acts help to keep us healthy. It is in our interests to make these exchanges, to return what we have used. If there was ever a day to do a good deed, it is today, without expectation of recognition. The reward will come in its own time.