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

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

6 Kej (4th April 2025)

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6 KejStrength with stability could be seen as the key messages of today. It brings an excellent opportunity to harness the lively and vital energy of the wilderness.

 

It is an interesting experience to observe the qualities of each trecena through its individual components. The trecena of Iq’ proves to live up to its unpredictable nature once again today. We might have experienced challenging days on 3 K’at and 5 Kame. These are favourable days with challenging numbers. However, the high-energy nawales of Kan and Kej combine with very favourable numbers to bring them stability. Just as 4 Kan brings the wisdom down to Earth, 6 Kej stabilises strength.

Kej may often be referred to as “deer”, but in the K’ichean dictionary I have it is translated as horse. The energy of Kej certainly has similarities with that of the horse. It has a great capacity to carry with its strength. However, it can also be stubborn. It has a noble freedom about it and may be difficult to control, giving those who try to do so a wild ride. However, today is different. Today it is possible to bring that strength and determination into clear focus. That energy can be used to lead if necessary, especially in matters of family. Of course, the place where this is felt the most is in the wilderness, where this energy is the greatest.

The day 6 Kej is a day to draw on the power of the natural world to bring stability to your life and vitality to your family. As such it could be a great day to take a walk in the woods with your loved ones. You should all feel the benefit. 

The Nawal Kej

Xbalamkiej, patron of the day Kej one of the hero twins from the Popol Vuh. From the Dresden Codex
Xbalamkiej, patron of the day Kej one of the hero twins from the Popol Vuh. From the Dresden Codex

Kej is possibly the strongest of the nawales, it is powerful, but in a different way to Kan. Kej is energetic, lively and determined. It is the nawal of nature, of the wilderness and it is this power that it draws on. The animal totem of Kej is the deer, but if you have fragile, new-born Bambi in mind, think again. This is the majestic stag, standing on the mountain surveying his domain. Whilst most nawales are not necessarily engendered, Kej is most definitely masculine. Both men and women that carry Kej as their nawal have great strength, although the men tend to hide their strength more. Kej women are particularly driven, resourceful and brave, sometimes to the point of being rather dominant. All radiate an aura of nobility, people tend to look to them to lead.

Kej is the nawal of the Mayan “religion”, a day of spiritual leaders, of shaman and of priests. It is these leaders who understand how to read the messages from the natural world, who help to keep our existence in balance with nature. It is a day to connect with the wilderness and draw the power of the natural world into you, to harmonise and replenish.

The Number Six

The number six is said to be the number of ultimate stability. It is the first of the three middle numbers of the cycle, the balance point. Thus, ceremonies are often made on six days thanks to their conducive energy.

The number 6 carries the qualities of the number 4, but has an extra axis. If we think of the number four representing the cardinal points, the number six adds a vertical axis to these. It brings in the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth. The number six has the stability of the number four embellished by the masculine and feminine principals. If the number four represents the physical world and the number 6 represents the physical world animated by the life force energy.

Thus, it also represents family, relating to the six qualities which hold families together – health, understanding, property, employment, friendship and actions.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

5 Kame (3rd April 2025)

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5 KameThis could be an excellent day to engage with, or carry on, ancestral work. The nawal of transformation blends with the number of work. This can give a good impression of the sort of things today may hold in store.

Kame days can be days on which we face challenges, with an opportunity to overcome them and grow. These may be the things that we fear the most, the things that really frighten us. Kame brings us the strength to overcome our greatest fears should we choose to.  However, for this to happen, they have to present themselves to us. When they do, we are faced with a decision – do we tackle the issue or turn away from it? If we turn away, we just stay where we are, waiting for the next opportunity to grow. After all, the number 5 bringing the energy of hard work may mean that the next occurrence of Kame may be a more conducive day for it.

However, hard work does bring benefits, and putting work into stepping up to your challenges should bring results. The energy of the number 5 is also connected to rushing into things. This is possibly because in the Maya cross configuration for the number 5, we see 13 in the future, drawing it strongly forward. It gives an energy that is so focused on the future that it doesn’t always see what is around it.

The energy of today may lead you into your challenges not quite fully prepared. They might then require more work to overcome. Take a breath rather than rushing headlong into things. Some changes are more beneficial when they are clearly thought through.

Nawal Kame

Kame relates to death, which often makes people nervous. However, this nawal is seen as an extremely positive day. Birth is the gateway into the mortal life, death the gateway into the eternal. In many shamanistic traditions, the initiate goes through several death experiences during training. This can be through the use of particular herbs, or sometimes through accident or illness. In these experiences the density of the mortal realm falls away and the greater understanding emerges. It can often be described as a spiritual transformation. In the Popul Vuh, the Mayan book of creation, the Hero Twins descend to the underworld, Xibalba, to confront the Lords of Death. They pass the many challenges set for them, but eventually end up being tricked by the Lord of Death. Instead of giving in, the Hero Twins choose to sacrifice themselves.

They give instructions to a pair of seers to convince the Lords of Death to grind the Twins’ bones to dust and throw the dust in the river. Everything went according to plan and five days later the twins appeared as catfish in the river. They then transformed into vagabond “magicians”. In this way we see a literal transformation from the crusader (Tijax) through death (Kame) to the higher self (Ix). This is the potential of the Kame day, to face ones fears and attain a higher perspective, to advance the journey of your soul. This is also a day to remember your ancestors and friends that have passed into the other realm, to remember what they taught you, and to thank them for their wisdom that helped you to grow.

The Number Five

The Sacred Mayan calendar is said to be a calendar of human life. It can be seen as a microcosm of the human body. The number five is one of these parts. It is representative of the hand with its five digits. It is with our hands that we work, and with what we earn we pay our debts. Five is also a number that relates to the sacred fire where we pay our debts with offerings and prayers. Five might be so busy working that it fails to remember what it is working for. It can also signify that what it is attached to becomes work, or is “hard work”.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

4 Kan (2nd April 2025)

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4 KanToday can be one of the most favourable Kan days with an extremely useful energy. It could be seen as common sense, a day to put our wisdom into practice.

Sometimes Kan days are difficult to negotiate. The power of this nawal can lead to occasional misjudgements of its application. Sometimes more energy than required is used to resolve a situation, which may cause further problems. However, today that is unlikely to be the case. The number 4 is considered to be on the calmer side of the trecena. However, it has very material properties. Thus, the earthly wisdom of Kan enters the everyday realm, bringing the body lightning very much into the body. This could be seen as an Earth magic day, using primal energy to create physical stability. It can relate to the four sky serpents bringing the energy from the sky to the Earth.

Due to these favourable and stable qualities the use of either power or wisdom to resolve an issue may work out well on this day.  It is important to remember the strength of this nawal. A little goes a long way – don’t overdo it. If in doubt, choose wisdom over power.

The energy of Kan can manipulate through the illusions it creates. However, it is also the energy of Kan that helps us to see through the illusions created by others. Today stable, down-to-Earth wisdom may identify areas when we are being subjected to the illusions or manipulation of others, particularly those in power, or trying to have power over us. This common sense can be used to break through these illusions in order to bring empowerment to the many rather than the few.

The Nawal Kan

Lady Xoc demonstrates the correct direction of energy
Lady Xoc pierces her tongue and receives wisdom for her people from her ancestor emerging from the mouth of the vision serpent. From http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/maya-lintels.htm

Kan is one of the more powerful nawales and it represents just that – power. It is connected to serpents, and serpent symbolism is very strong in Maya mythology. In the past, lightning was referred to as sky serpents, and what is seen in the outer world is reflected by the inner world. The power of Kan comes from something which is referred to as itz or coyopa, the lightning in the blood. This is the power which may also be known as Ki, Chi, Prana, kundalini or “the force”. It is life force energy. Kundalini is a sanskrit word actually meaning coiled, like a snake.

Training must be undertaken when working with any of these energies, in order to understand how to use them. In its most positive aspect, the energy of Kan brings great wisdom; in its negative aspect, great destruction. A lack of understanding or control of this power can lead to undesirable consequences. The dark side of Kan can seduce with its power, holding its prey in an almost hypnotic grip with its allure. therefore, it can become the ultimate ego trap.

However, it is also said that the feathered serpent Q’uq’umatz  brought wisdom, through the sciences of astronomy and agriculture, to the ancient Maya. Here we see the positive aspect of Kan, where the ability to work with the body lightning brings great wisdom. People born on a Kan day can become some of the greatest healers or psychics. However, they can also become the darkest sorcerers and manipulators.

The Number Four

The number 4 is very important within Mayan mythology. Four represents the cardinal points, the four colours of maize, the four carriers of the year, the two equinoxes and two solstices, as well as midnight, sunrise, midday and sunset. The number four is representative of the four first men. It was said to be they who raised the sky from the sea to create the world we live on. In Mayan myth it is four pillars that support the sky from the Earth. As you can imagine, four is a number which represents stability, a good, down-to-Earth number.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

3 K’at (1st April 2025)

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3 K'atThis is an excellent day to declutter your home and your heart. What do you hold dear? Sometimes what you try to catch slips through your net, especially if you grasp too strongly.

The day 3 K’at might be a rather difficult day on which to get things together, in whatever form. It could be seen as a day on which your burdens may really slow you down. The number 3 can represent obstructions and blockages in the outer world. When combined with the challenging side of the nawal K’at, could lead to some potential stumbling blocks in life. This may be seen particularly when it comes to collecting things together. The harvest is not yet ready, and you may find that your effort reaps little reward.

Perhaps a better use of energy would be to focus on what is holding you back internally. This could be an excellent day for an introspective analysis of the beliefs and concepts which no longer serve a purpose. It is a day to look inside for the bounty, for the true abundance which resides within you. Allow your net to gently release that which no longer serves you, so that changes, new life and new creation may emerge.

As the number 3 can also represent the house and home, this could be an excellent day for decluttering. How often do we assess what we have collected in our storage spaces. It takes up space, both physically and energetically. Today, focus your energy on what you wish to hold onto in your living space.

The Nawal K’at

Blood Moon, mother of the Hero Twins being sent away from Xibalba after becoming pregnant. <yoastmark class=

K’at signifies a net and represents gathering together or bundling. In the Western Highlands of Guatemala, to this day many crops are harvested and carried in nets – oranges, lemons, avocados to name but a few. Through this we see one of the positive meanings of this nawal, that of abundance and harvest. K’at is a great day to draw things together. This could mean gathering your harvest, collecting ideas for your projects, or inviting people to a social event. It is a day of prosperity and the bounty which comes from the Earth, a day of gardeners and merchants.

However, K’at also has its more challenging side. An abundant crop will fill the net, but it will also slow you down. K’at is also the nawal of prisons and burdens, as the net which gathers, can also ensnare us. When candles are purchased for the fire ceremonies, they come in bundles held together by little strings. When the nawal K’at is addressed during the fire ceremony, these strings are put in to the fire,  with offerings, to ask K’at to help us release ourselves from our burdens, from the ties which bind us.  These ties can also be seen as excessive attachment to material things.

The Number Three

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 lacks stability and can represent challenges and obstructions. The number three brings up internal/external dilemmas. 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 yourself.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2 Aq’ab’al (31st March 2025)

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2 Aq'ab'alThis could be a highly contrasted day, a day of extremes. It may show us the lightest light and the darkest dark. Sometimes we must reach these places to find new concepts.

The day 2 Aq’ab’al can show you the positive and negative aspects of a potential new endeavour, its strengths and weaknesses. It is a day to bring your dreams closer to reality, particularly if they relate to a relationship. 

Aq’ab’al days are said to be representative of relationships and marriage. Perhaps this is because they are the bridge between the polarities, the night and the day. They are the conception days, days of new life when new ideas are conceived. These ideas, like children from our marriages, become our legacy, our immortality. Aq’ab’al acts as a bridge between polarities, including the logical and artistic, which can give rise to great creativity. As we see in the Maya cross, Aq’ab’al evolves into B’atz, the creative genius.

Today this natural tendency is amplified by the energy of the number 2, which also relates to polarities. This could give rise to a day when polarities are emphasised. Differences are particularly highlighted and become as clear as night or day. This may lead to some rather stark truths becoming very obvious. Yet possibly the Aq’ab’al energy is the one which helps us to understand how to join two polarities. Thus, we can marry them together to create a bright future. Another quality of the number 2 is that of self sacrifice, which suggests that in order to create this union, a little sacrifice may be required on each side.

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 Two

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

New Video – The Trecena of Iq’ (30th March – 11th April 2025)

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The trecena of Iq’ is a time to breathe life into something new. It may be a time of turbulence as the old pattern or path makes way for the new arrival. Hold on to your hats, this could be a bit of a wild ride!

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/

Calendar Workshop

If you would like to dive deeper into the sacred calendar, I will be running a workshop via Zoom from 12 pm to 4 pm (Guatemala time, UTC -6) from 21st – 25th April 2025. There are currently spaces available. For more information, please go to https://thefourpillars.net/?page_id=1120. 

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 find the Iq’ trecena video here:

https://youtu.be/CVxnkv-3As0?si=M-MJxncTKxFQrH-V

[https://youtu.be/CVxnkv-3As0?si=M-MJxncTKxFQrH-V]

 

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Iq’ (30th March 2025)

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1 Iq'Like a breath of fresh air, new communication begin today. Inspiring words can be like seeds which may take some time to take root. It is a day to plant the ideas of changes, but actual effects may take some time.

This is a day for potential of movement. Make a new start today as the cleansing energy of the nawal Iq’ blows away the dust and cobwebs. The energy behind this movement may need nurturing, some encouragement and support, possibly through inspiring words. Likewise, maybe the angry words associated with Iq’ are tempered today, a little more gentle. 

Today is the beginning of the trecena of Iq’, which may have several properties all tied together with quality of movement. This can include inspiration and communication through the movement of breath and change of state through movement. We could also view qualities of the trecena of Iq’ as a microcosm of the year lord of Iq’. Iq’ years are known for the sudden changes that may occur. This may bring anger or upset to those who are unready or unwilling to change. The strength of Iq’ is such that the changes cannot be avoided. They can embraced or resisted, but will go ahead regardless. Of course, embracing them is really the way to proceed. This trecena may require a degree of flexibility in order to get the most out of it. Now is the time for inspired movement and change.

Another phrase that could be very applicable today is “a breath of fresh air”. The new breath which invigorates and inspires us is present today. It may also bring new words to your lips. Today is a great day for the first words of new conversations.

The Nawal Iq’

Wind God 1

Nawal Iq’ is another strong nawal. It represents communication and particularly divine inspiration. It is the wind, the breath of life, that which brings the change in seasons.

The communication brought by Iq’ can be enlightening and inspiring. It is the breath of the divine which flows through us all, in fact the word for soul is Saq Iq’ – white breath. When our breath stops, our divine essence leaves our physical body. When we engage ourselves with the divine breath we are able to create, to manifest with our words, to inspire those around us. However, Iq’ also has a destructive side. It has the ability to blow like a hurricane and may level everything before it. It is the angry words which cut down everything in their path.

Hurricane is one of the few English words which is actually derived from a Mayan word- Junrakan, meaning “one footed”. Junrakan is another name for the Heart of the Sky, one of the creator deities. Once again it seems that certain patterns follow through the sequence of the nawales which are interrelated. Imox, the female creative principle, or egg, is fertilised be Iq’, the male principle. Their combination results in Aq’ab’al, the conception and a change in the state, bringing the dream into reality.

Iq’ is a day of communication, a day of inspiration. It can be a great day to express yourself through written or particularly verbal means. It is also a day on which changes happen. You can either embrace those changes or resist them. However, be aware that the wind blows forcefully and resistance of change requires a great deal of energy. Embracing change helps you to learn to dance like a leaf in the wind.

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

13 Imox (29th March 2025) – Solar Eclipse

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13 ImoxThe dreams of spirit and our connection with them may dominate today.  This combination leads to a closeness to the unseen world. As a day of divination, readings or dreams, it may be the most outstanding.

Sometimes Imox can be rather a passive energy, one to be experienced rather than pushing the experience onto you.  I often think of the connection with Imox being rather like all the hairs on our bodies acting like little psychic antennae. Those antennae pick up everything around us, the feelings of others, creating empathy. However, today this is connected not just with our world, but also with the unseen. This can include our ancestors in the spirit world, and possibly other realms within nature, the devas. Consequently, the information coming through may be rather overwhelming, it can be like everything is “turned up to 11.”

When filtered and ordered, some truly remarkable information may come through. But, if it is unfiltered it may be just an unintelligible mess, a jumbled dream. This is certainly a day to apply your discernment to whatever comes to you. You may find that exposure to the mass media is counterproductive, today would be a better day for a retreat.

It may be a day where individuality could be lost.  You may find yourself sucked into a crowd that you might not normally associate with. It is a day to be aware of your psychic connection with the collective consciousness, and use it appropriately. It’s a great day to disconnect from the media, from social media and the influences of that collective, and perhaps instead connect with the collective of the ancestors, of spirit.

Solar Eclipse

The maximum point of eclipse will occur at 10.47 UTC, and will be visible over northwest Europe and northeast Canada and USA . Eclipses were very significant to the Maya. The picture below is from the eclipse tables of the Dresden codex, where calculations show when eclipses (both lunar and solar) will take place. In general, most references to eclipses, either lunar or solar, tend to be rather negative in nature. They are seen as a war in the heavens. There is some evidence that wars between different classic era city states occurred directly after solar eclipses.

During solar eclipses, the moon is so angry with the sun that she bites him. It is also seen as  either an ant or a jaguar who is said to have bitten the eclipsed celestial object. This can be particularly apparent with partial eclipses, the bite mark on the sun being very much how leaf-cutter ants make circular holes on leaves. The people sometimes make a great deal of noise (usually by banging on pots and pans) to drive away the animals attacking the sun or moon.

Of course, the covering of the face of the sun, darkness occurring in the middle of the day is a hugely dramatic experience both then and now. The cutting off of the energy source for our planet would have very serious consequences if it went on for longer.

Bringing Water stability to Families

As I write about water bringing stability to families, it reminds me to mention another worth local project, Water4Life Global. Founders  Jenna MacEwan and Nikki Appleton and their team have been making a difference to peoples’ lives since 2018. They provide water filters to local families throughout Guatemala, giving direct access to clean drinking water. Additionally they are involved in action which helps to clean up the local sources of water. This is achieved through grey water treatment projects, reforestation and education. To learn more or donate, please visit: https://water4lifeglobal.org/

The Nawal Imox

Nawal Imox represents the collective consciousness, the great ocean. It is the moment before the “big bang”, when all that existed was the dream of the creator. It is everything and nothing in one place, the ovum from which reality was conceived. Imox is still very much in the other world, requiring another component to physically manifest the dream into reality.

Imox is considered to be a feminine nawal. Sometimes called water lily, sometimes crocodile, it is an embodiment of the primordial. It was from the great ocean that the four first men raised sky to create the world which we inhabit. Imox can also be seen as the Darwinian swamp from which all life emerged. It is fertile and creative, the mother that gave birth to our entire reality.

Imox is our common origin, and as such links us all together. It is the place of dreams, the collective conscious we delve into on our nightly voyages. It may also relate to the place that certain plant medicines take us to in order to bring us wisdom. However, as the font of all of creation, Imox harbours the dark as well as the light.

Imox is a day to celebrate the spirit of the times, to understand the collective mind. It is a day to dream your creations, your art, your music. Imox helps us all feel connected, when the psychic field between us may be particularly strong. Discernment may be called for, to understand when to dissociate from the collective. It is important to remember your individuality.

The Number Thirteen

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. 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 energy.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

12 Ajpu (28th March 2025)

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12 AjpuThe day 12 Ajpu is a day to recognise divinity within our life experience. Today we might feel the spirit which has come to create this moment which we are in now. 

There are particular moments in life where a destination is reached. Upon arrival, you realise how many other points in life have contributed to your current moment. Of course, this can be said of any moment, as it is preceded by all others. However, today is rather special. Today you may truly recognise the blessings you have brought into your life through previous experiences. You are where you are today because of the choices you have made. Possibly, even sometimes experiences you may not have consciously chosen. Today is a day to recognise the beauty around you right now. Appreciate that which you have arrived at as a result of your life experiences.

It is the legacy of our ancestors and what they have created for us in the now. It is a day to savour that which brings you joy in life, that which you consider to be your blessings.

The Nawal Ajpu

journey to your highest potential

Nawal Ajpu is once again a nawal with a multitude of meanings and translations. In the Yucatec language it is known as Ahau, in Kiche is is also known as Junajpu. These are variously translated as lord, hunter, blow gunner, flower and sun. Each one of the translations has its merits, and represents an aspect of this auspicious nawal.

Within the ancient Mayan society, the royals were not just political leaders of their particular city-states, they were priest-kings and priest-queens. They served as the conduit to the divine, deriving their wisdom for guiding their people through their connection with the Hearts of the Earth and the Sky. This wisdom enriched both the ruling dynasty and their people, as they would be working in harmony with the gods. The ruler of the city was also the physical embodiment of the divine, and Ajpu is closely related to this. Likewise it represents our potential, the state of divinity to which we may aspire.

Ajpu represents the holiness in life, the divinity in the physical world, and our search for it. It is the search for underlying meaning, understanding that each person is a part of the whole. Whether we like it or not, and however we judge it, we are all a part of creation.

Every action of ourselves and others gives an opportunity to explore ourselves and our reaction. Sometimes we are attracted, sometimes repelled by the action of others. Occasionally Ajpu can lead us to become immersed in the other world, to lose sight of reality. It is important to remember to stay in touch with the Earth as we reach to the Sky.

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

The Heliacal Rise of Venus, 12 Ajpu (28th March 2025)

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Today Venus returns to the morning sky. If you go out before sunrise today, you may be rewarded with a fleeting glimpse of Venus. Venus will briefly appear on the eastern horizon, just before disappearing into the Sun’s glare.

Heliacal Rise of Venus
Venus rising just before sunrise on 28th March 2025 in Solola, Guatemala

The cycle of Venus was of great importance to the ancient Maya, and often used to time ritual activities including warfare and sacrifices. This depended on whether it happened in the dry season or rainy season. Venus was generally seen to have an unsettling influence, particularly during the time of the heliacal rising of Venus.

Today we enter that period of potential turbulence, the first rising of Venus as the Morning Star. This is said to be the time when the influence of Venus “spears” certain victims. Although these victims are often leaders, this turmoil is affecting all of us on the planet. That said, whoever holds “high position” would do well to avoid rushing into impassioned decisions  or judgement during the first few days of the Morning Star.

The Dresden Codex

Heliacal Rise of Venus on Ajpu Day

Here is the particular page in the Dresden Codex which refers to the heliacal rise of Venus on an Ajpu day. In the top left hand portion of the page, you can see the glyphs E’, Iq’, E’ and then Ajpu. These positions relate to superior conjunction, rise as evening “star”, inferior conjunction and then rise as morning “star”.

 

 

In the page pertaining to this Venus event, the top panel (above) shows the Corn god standing before the Death god (Kisin or Ah Puch). These are the Lords of the Heliacal rise. The Venus warrior in the second panel  spears the victim in the lower panel. The victim in this panel is said to be Tzul, a foreigner.

It is interesting to note that the panels are arranged so that the final date is the heliacal rise. If the figures on the left are seen as presiding over a period, does that period begin with the disappearance of the morning star? For example, this fifth page began on 2 E’ (14th April 2024) with beginning of the superior conjunction phase. It continues for 584 days until the beginning of the next superior conjunction on 1 Ajmak (19th November 2025). Could it be seen that the Maize lord and Kisin have been governing this time from April 2024 through to November 2025? Perhaps the time as the evening star could be seen as the gestation for what is birthed as the morning star. When the morning star rises, that which has been hidden in the darkness emerges?

The last time that Venus would have gone through the heliacal rise in the spring would have been 2017. Perhaps we can get an insight into possible events by looking at the events between 16th April 2016 through to 21st November of 2017.