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

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

6 K’at (12th November 2024)

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6 K'atThis is an inspired day to gather that which creates stability in our lives and those of our families. Knowing what to hold on to and what to release is an important part of that.

It is said that the nawal K’at multiplies all it comes into contact with. This is probably a reference to its association with Ixk’ik who magically filled her net with corn from the barren milpa of Ixmucane. The corn was planted by Jun Junajpu, the son of Ixmucane, which proved Ixk’ik was carrying his children. She was then accepted as part of the family. This day, 6 K’at, particularly emphasises that sort of experience. Not just an abundance that appears from nowhere, but its ability to stabilise your family.

Of course, we don’t all plant food, but we do receive sustenance from the seeds of ideas or plans we plant. Today, check the progress of your plans. How are they coming along? Are they coming to fruition or do they need a stabilising influence? It is possible that if you are not taking the harvest today, the energy put in today may bring stability to the abundance you gather at a later date. Will one of the properties of the four directions – strength, wisdom, spirit or healing – help to stabilise your plan? Perhaps it will take inspiration from the Heart of the Sky or compassion from the Heart of the Earth instead? All are available to assist you and today you can gather all six qualities together and reap the benefits.

Today is the day to gather your abundance in preparation for the new journey ahead. If you are planning a trip, this is an ideal day to ensure you have what you need, and to gather your travelling companions.

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 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 Aq’ab’al (11th November 2024)

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5 Aq'ab'alThe energy of today suggests working on a new concept will pay off. However, it might be more effort than you expected. A little hard work gets things moving.

When you dream of a new idea or a solution, you might dream of the result rather than the steps towards it. You wake up with a general idea of the direction to move in, but then you have to work out the details of the preliminary moves. This is where Aq´ab´al comes in, helping to turn the dream into a concept that you can ground into reality. You know from the twilight, that the new light is coming, you just have to figure out your way to get to it. Today, the light is not coming to you. If you want to experience it you have to put in the work to get to it.

The energy of this day is the energy of the project initiator. It pulls together all the essential elements into the right place, at the right time, to move towards the goal. It provides the drive and determination to achieve the dream. However, sometimes the work put in may be to the detriment of other relationships. Sometimes the concept looks straightforward, but when you start work you realise it will take more effort than you originally envisaged. You might find yourself so absorbed into a new project that you forget what else is going on around you, or end up working later than usual. That is not to say that the work will not be rewarding, just that imbalance may occur.

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 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 Iq’ (10th November 2024)

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Today could be a day of plainly communicating your ideas. Even if they are are rather esoteric, they can be grounded and expressed easily.

 

The beneficial properties of the number 4 bring stability and a touch of gentleness to the strong and unpredictable energy of the nawal  Iq´. Today might prove to be very suitable for implementing inspired changes.

Iq´ days can be difficult. Sudden changes challenge us, and blustery words can cause arguments. When we have high winds here, many people in the village get sick shortly afterwards, usually due to the extra dust in the atmosphere around them, so the wind is blamed as a bringer of sickness too. In general Iq´ days tend to have a bad reputation, although the without the wind there would be no change in seasons and therefore no life.

However, the energy of Iq’ today can really be rather different. When channelled correctly, the energy of the wind can be dynamic and productive, and the energy of the number 4 brings the degree of stability required to tame its erratic nature. Inspiration comes through on the divine breath supported by the qualities of the four directions – vitality, wisdom, spirit and healing.

If you have been waiting for inspiration to voice some ideas, today could be the day to express them. The stability of the 4 gives the ability to bring this inspiration into the physical world. It allows us to manifest our words into a solid reality. It is also a day to make changes, particularly in your physical world. The changing energy of the wind fills your sails. It helps you move forward as the calm predictability of the number 4 puts you in control of your direction.

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 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 Imox (9th November 2024)

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3 ImoxToday is a day to celebrate your individuality. It is a day to look inside yourself and identify your dreams by detaching from society’s images.

The fertile nature of the energy of the nawal Imox gives rise to creation if it can separate from the inspirational dreams. Today the energy of the number 3 may assist with that separation, creating an internal focus.

Nawal Imox represents the visionary world and without it, there would be no creation. However, it also has some very challenging aspects. Sometimes we connect too strongly with the collective consciousness, bringing out the herd mentality. Today the introverted energy of the number 3 may dampen the connection to the collective consciousness. This in turn helps the visionary energy of Imox to become more focused than usual.

We like to be a part of a tribe, we like to belong. We understand the “rules” of what we grew up with. Whilst we might rebel against these norms, there is sometimes a nostalgia around them for us. They fed us as a child and then we moved away from them. Sometimes we yearn for that nurture again. The energy today may highlight your separation from birth culture. In our birth process, as we progress through the trecena of Kawok, we can see this as separation from the collective consciousness, or separation from our mother culture. It allows our individuality to emerge.

The energy of the day 3 Imox has the potential to allow us to become independent. It allows us to dream for ourselves, our own thoughts rather than cultural biases guiding us.

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 Three

There are various myths about the creation which link with the number 3. One is that at the time of creation, three stones 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)

The Orion Nebula
The Orion Nebula 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 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 Ajpu (8th November 2024)

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2 AjpuToday may show some stark contrasts between the light and the dark sides of our path. The hero may have to draw on both sides to overcome the challenges.

The number 2 represents duality. As humans, we judge what is around us and discern between what we consider to be “right” and “wrong”. However, all of creation came from unity and oneness. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the divine plan in all things. The energy of the combination 2 Ajpu helps us to understand the bigger plan. In turn, we see that behind our judgments, there is a longer-term plan in motion.

For instance, certain situations may seem “wrong” in many people’s eyes. However, this can push people to make a choice when they wouldn’t have otherwise. In this way, duality helps to evolve our higher aspect by bringing out our inner hero to confront the shadow.

It’s also a day to find the divine within your relationship and remember what you love about your partner. The energy of the nawal Ajpu sends us on a quest for the divine in the physical world and helps us see the love put into the world.

The trecena of Kawok is birthing us into our new world. Here we see with the wonder of a newborn, marvelling at the beauty of the world around us. This beauty may be enhanced by the choice of another soul to share that journey with us. We are choosing to see the divinity in duality, to embrace and celebrate our differences as part of the one.

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 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 Kawok (7th – 19th November 2024)

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The trecena of Kawok brings the opportunity to birth something new or to be reborn ourselves.

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. 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. They are also now available in the USA through Soul Lift Cacao. See this link ‎for details on how to get your pdf.

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

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

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 10 am to 2 pm (Guatemala time, UTC -6) from 2nd to 6th December 2024. There are currently spaces available. For more information, please go to https://thefourpillars.net/?page_id=1120. 

Trecena Video

You can see the Kawok Trecena video here:

https://youtu.be/OMGwR61H

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Kawok (7th November 2024) – Samhain 22.12 UTC

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1 KawokToday marks the beginning of our rebirth process. Kame has transformed us, with Tijax finally cutting away all that was holding us back. Now, Kawok is here to soothe us and wash away any debris.

Chak sends the fire serpent (lightning) from the sky, from the Dresden Codex
Chak sends the fire serpent (lightning) from the sky, from the Dresden Codex

We have gone through the inner alchemy and transformation of the Kame trecena and are now emerging as fresh and newborn. The trecena of Kawok acts as a midwife, assisting us in our birth into a new phase of life.

The energy of the nawal Kawok gently guides us through our rebirth process and into the world. This healing feminine energy brings compassion to our experience of rebirth, creating a graceful and beautiful transition.

Both Kawok and the number 1 have strong connections with birth and new life. As a representation of potential, the number 1 may require some assistance in realizing our opportunities. Kawok is there for us, ready to hold our hand and guide us firmly as we take our first steps into our new world. She represents the healing woman and the wisdom of the grandmothers.

Today, we may seek out the women who support us through our process of rebirth or reinvention. The compassion and wisdom shown to us by the women around us help us move forward into new areas. This day marks the very beginning of a new life or a new direction, with all the potential to be whatever we choose it to be.

Samhain

Today marks the astronomical cross quarter day of Samhain. This point of the year is exactly midway between the Equinox and the Solstice. Samhain was considered the first day of winter in the Celtic calendar. It is seen as the death of the Sun god, the sun descending into the underworld, where it will remain until Imbolc (Feb 3rd 2025).

Many people celebrate Samhain on 31st October. However, it is important to remember that Gregorian calendar dates did not exist for the ancients. To me, it is far more important to connect to solar and celestial events rather than a certain day of a Catholic calendar.

It is well known that the Maya were expert astronomers.  Much of their timekeeping was based on archaeoastronomical alignments. It would be unsurprising to find this day marked by their structures too. In Guatemala this day corresponds with the acronychal rising of the Pleiades, this important star cluster rising on the eastern horizon at sunset. It is possible that this event was taken as an important indicator of the beginning of the dry season by ancient Maya astronomers.

Regardless of the hemisphere and whether it is seen as the beginning of winter or the beginning of summer, there is a particular alignment which is happening, which is said to be an opening of portals to the otherworld. Perhaps rather than just seeing it as where the sun shines on the Earth, we could think of it as how the sun interacts with our magnetosphere. This in turn could be the reason as to why the veil is seen as being so thin at this time.

Today we see Samhain in combination with the day 1 Kawok. It could be seen as both a day for remembrance of our ancestors and to celebrate our descendants.

The Nawal Kawok

Ixchel empties the water jar, washing away the old world in order to bring in the new. From the Dresden Codex
Ixchel empties the water jar, washing away the old world in order to bring in the new. From the Dresden Codex

While most healing roles do not seem to be gender specific, one is. Both women and men may be healers, prayer makers, herbalists and diviners, only women will become midwives. Kawok is the energy of the midwife. It helps to clear the obstructions from the birth process, in some ways it actually represents the birth process. Kawok brings the new into the world. In the Mayan cross, Kawok, the birth process finishes the sequence which starts with Aq’ab’al (conception) and moves through B’atz (gestation.) In the sequence of the calendar, Kawok precedes Ajpu. Ajpu represents the resurrection of the maize lord, also the creation of the world. Kawok creates the conditions for that to happen, the rain which brings forth the sprouting of the maize.

In its storm aspect, Kawok can be destructive, although it is a destruction which allows a new creation to happen. Kawok energy can give rise to some tempestuous situations, it can be a day which can give people a rough ride, although this may be for the eventual good. It is a day to ask for the gentle rain to bless your crops, and for the harsh rain to stop. It is a day which washes away the old and outworn in life, so that the new growth, life and divinity may emerge.

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 Tijax (6th November 2024)

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Today is a favourable day for ancestral healing. If you have the opportunity to schedule an appointment for any form of healing, you may find it especially effective today.

The ancestors are guiding your hands as you wield the obsidian blade. Trust in them, but be cautious with your cuts. The energy of the day is strong and may cut deeper than you intended.

Tijax aims to resolve duality, and it is relentless in its pursuit. Whether in healing or warfare, Tijax won’t give up until it has achieved its goals. When combined with the strength of the number 13, it becomes a potent combination. Tijax can be argumentative, and today tempers may flare. It is essential to be mindful of your words. Today they may carry more power than you realise and can inflict deep wounds, even if that is not your intention. While you may be speaking the truth, there are ways to convey your message. Causing confrontation may negate your message.

Alternatively, people may not have complete control over themselves today. Listen for the truth, but do not take things too seriously. Act calmly and think carefully before reacting. On this final day of the Kame trecena, the obsidian blade of Tijax is connected to the spirit world. It frees us from dense energy and transforms us into our higher selves, preparing us for the rebirth of the Kawok trecena.

Today is an opportunity to call upon your ancestors, to give you the strength and determination to remove anything that may hinder you on your life path. However, please be mindful that taking such action may lead to decisive action, not just burning bridges but vaporizing them.

The Nawal Tijax

Sacrificial Death God 1

The nawal Tijax represents an obsidian (or flint) blade. How the blade is used depends on the intention of the person wielding it, a warrior or a surgeon. These would seem like opposite ends of the spectrum. However, where Tijax is concerned the aim is the same – healing and purification.

Tijax is the nawal of the holy warrior. In the Mayan book of creation , the Popol Vuh, the first act of the hero twins was a mission given to them by the Heart of the Sky to rid the world of the false gods Seven Macaw, Zipacna and Earthquake. By destroying the false gods, the twins brought balance to the world, and helped mankind, they brought healing to the world. They cut out that which caused disease, exactly as a surgeon would do.

Tijax is celebrated as a day of healers, particularly what could be seen as the masculine aspect of healing. It is a day of crusading, of standing up for what is right, the healer who refuses to give up on finding a cure. Tijax gives powers of discernment and refinement. Just as the surgeons scalpel cuts away disease and the warriors blade dispatches the evil, the sculptors chisel creates beauty by remodelling the base material. This is a day of alchemy, both internal and external, turning the ordinary into the divine.

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 No’j (5th November 2024)

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12 N'ojIntellect with experience solves problems. On this day of the return of the Mam, past experiences pairs with knowledge, possibly bringing new relevance to old ideas.

No’j, is the nawal of the brain, the problem solver is a bringer of inspiration and solutions. Every day we learn something new in general our level of experience rises as we travel our life path. Some of this is of immediate use and some of it seems irrelevant at the time, but it all seems to get filed away somewhere. Sometimes those concepts or ideas become relevant with the perspective we gain as we move further along our life path.

As we come towards the end of our journey through the Kame trecena, the time of our spiritual transformation, we might ask ourselves what we choose to transform into. What is our grand plan and how can we make it happen?

The combination of the energy of the nawal No’j with the energy of the number 12 gathers our past thoughts and ideas together, as our life experience joins them into one unified plan. The intellect and problem solving abilities No’j bestows could give the opportunity to put together parts of our personal jigsaw that we couldn’t recognise as relevant before.

Veintena Takaxepual – Return of the Mam

Within the solar calendar, today marks the beginning of a new month as we travel through the solar year. Today is the first day of Takaxepual known as the season of first sowing. It is 260 days since the Mam 12 No’j took his seat, you can read more abour that here. This should mark the point in the year where the rain ceases to fall and we move into the dry months before the new Mam, 13 Iq’, takes his seat in 105 days time.

It is particularly interesting that this takes place just before astronomical cross quarter day of Samhain (November 7th). This point of the year is exactly midway (45 days) between the Equinox and the Solstice. It was considered the first day of winter in the Celtic calendar. It is seen as the death of the Sun god. The sun descends into the underworld where it will remain until Imbolc (Feb 3rd 2025). Regardless of the hemisphere there is a particular alignment which is happening. It is said to be an opening of portals to the otherworld.

This could suggest that the power of the Mam 12 No’j will go through a change at this point of the year, the original strength diminished after being used throughout the growing season. The year lord could be seen as having done his work and now enters a period of retirement, so perhaps the intensity this year lord has been demonstrating may be softened.

The Nawal No’j

A depiction of the Earth Lord, the patron of the day Caban (N'oj). <yoastmark class=

The nawal No’j is the nawal of thought, of intelligence and intellect. Within the count of days, there are two geniuses. B’atz is the creative genius, and No’j is the intellectual one. No’j is an energy of masculine, logical thought. As the problem solver, it gives ideas and solutions which work in the real world. No’j gives a different way of understanding situations, and through this ability comes innovation. It is thought, but also understanding and, indeed, knowing. As such, No’j is also a day associated with divination.

This energy is not necessarily social, it can lead to becoming absorbed into one’s work, lost in one’s thoughts. The influence of No’j can create ideas which may be very much ahead of their time. Do not be surprised if ideas you have on this day take a little time to catch on. The people you express the ideas to may need a little time to process, to see the genius within the idea. No’j is also one of the classic year-bearers or year lords. As a year bearer, it is thought to be one of the more beneficial and benign energies.

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

11 Ajmak (4th November 2024)

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11 AjmakAre you ready to forgive and transform? Today, we may find ourselves facing things from our past that we may have wanted to forget rather than forgive. If we want to move on to our future, we have to be at peace with our past.

We are here on Earth to embrace and enjoy our humanity, all aspects of life. Of course, we aspire to great things and to be “good” people. However, even when we try to do the right thing, sometimes it ends up causing problems for ourselves or others. Sometimes we also do sneaky things. They are not in our best interests or those of the people around us. We hope that we won’t get found out. We get seduced by the sensual and fall off our path.

This is all a part of our humanity. It is our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. If we make the journey without ever making a mistake, we miss out on the experiences for which we started the journey. These experiences help us to grow, but we also need to know when the experience is done. We need to understand how to keep the lesson and release the emotional attachment to the experience. Guilt, shame, and blame can act as signposts, reminding us of the consequences of our actions. They were markers along the way, pointing out the direction of our journey and how we move towards our destination. The signpost is a useful guide, but if we choose to carry it on our back, it will burden us and slow us down.

As we move through this trecena of Kame, this period of spiritual transformation, we have to rid ourselves of the excess baggage of guilt or blame. We can do this through the practice of forgiveness.

Nawal Ajmak

Raw honey, fresh from San Juan la Laguna by Mark Elmy

Ajmak is the nawal of pardon and forgiveness, the nawal of redemption. It is the energy of being human, of falling 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 its 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 fail to fulfil its true potential, although due to its lovable nature it is easy to forgive. One of the lessons with regard to the Ajmak energy is learning to forgive oneself.

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.