Tag Archives: Beginnings

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 E’ (30th April 2021) – Solar Zenith

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1 E'We have cleared the trecena of Kawok, and emerged as our new selves, fresh and vital, ready for the next journey. Here is the start, the beginning of the road which leads us forward

The last time we experienced E’, it was as a finishing point, 7 E’, the end of the road. Of course we never stop walking, we keep moving forward and today brings the beginning of our new adventure. We might think of it as sleeping and waking. This is what the trecenas of Kame and Kawok have brought to us. Now we have awoken, revitalised and ready to start our new journey.

This is a day of new beginnings, in some ways more so than other days carrying the 1 energy. It is the day of new experiences, new direction. We might imagine ourselves just opening our eyes for the first time and being inspired to explore this world  that we have been reborn into.

The energy of this day certainly lends itself to taking the first step in a new journey or adventure, trying something new or exploring a new direction in life. The day itself might not actually have much movement involved, these are the first teetering steps of the new born, you may need some encouragement to move forward. It is the day to initiate your travel, perhaps buying tickets for a journey you have been planning.

Solar Zenith

Here in Guatemala, at 15 degrees north of the equator, we experience this phenomenon two time per year. The Solar Zenith is when the Sun crosses the hypothetical North – South line (the Meridian) at 90 degrees. If you live outside of the tropics, you will be accustomed to the Sun being at its greatest height in the sky on the solstice (whether that’s in June in the Northern hemisphere or December in the Southern Hemisphere.) Here at 15 degrees North, we can add the Zenith into the mix. On April 30th and August 13th, the Sun will be directly overhead at solar noon, and we will experience what seems to be no shadow! Why is this so exciting? Well, between 30th April and 13th August is 105 days, and between 13th August and 30th April is 260 days! Yes, the last time we experienced the solar zenith on 13th August 2020, was the day 1 E’. Some people have theorised the the sacred calendar may have been developed at this latitude due to this phenomenon. Many Maya sites have structures that mark the zenith transit, often zenith tubes. Here we could see why it might be so important as the April 30th zenith transit marks the beginning of the rains, so it it would be the time to plant the corn. If the corn is planted on the solar zenith, it should have enough time to grow and ripen before being harvested in the first week of August. The ground can then be prepared for a second crop which must be planted before the second zenith transit if it is to ripen before the end of rainy season.

Nawal E’ represents the journey of discovery, the life path in both its physical and spiritual aspects. E’ is the explorer, it craves novelty. It inspires travel to understand different cultures and ways of life, it is a seeker of experience. It can be a thrill seeker, and sometimes will take risks to understand what it is examining. Whilst it gains experience and understanding through physical travel, E’ also drives us to explore our inner world, helping us to understand our own minds and hearts, and those of others. E’ sometimes creates a restlessness, the desire to find new things within the world means that E’ finds it difficult to sit still.

E’ can sometimes cause us to explore simply for the sake of exploration, we seek the new experience because it is there. This can give rise to a lack of direction, aimless wandering. However, even in its wanderings E’ is discovering. It may not know exactly where it is going, but it will when it gets there. In it’s best aspect, E’ seeks out knowledge and experience in order to form an understanding which brings wisdom. E’ enjoys sharing the wisdom gained with its peers, for the enrichment of the community.

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

The 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 just needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop, just as sometimes we need encouragement to develop our ideas.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Ajpu (9th March 2021)

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1 AjpuWhether you use the name Ajpu or Junajpu for this nawal, this combination gives the name Junajpu or Jun Junajpu, one of the legendary hero twins, or their father. This day could see the divine begin to return.

There is a huge amount of symbolism within this day, and the majority of it could be considered to be favourable. With the number 1 representing the new emergence, the birth and Ajpu representing divinity, we can understand that there is an opportunity to bring something new and meaningful into the world today. The “child” which emerges today was delivered by 13 Kawok, the spirit midwife. Ajpu is art, it is beauty, it is the re-emergence of the sun after the storm. It is the resurrection of the maize, the new life and light in the world.

Of course, the number 1 represents potential, and this is what we see today, this is the seed which is planted. It is the beginning of the process, the first light of the fire. The ceremonial midpoint of this trecena is 8 Kej, the alternative initiation day of the Aj Q’ij, and the destination is 13 E’ – the spiritual path. With these days falling in the next two weeks, if is no surprise that it might be a time of powerful changes. Today the fire needs kindling, it needs tending gently in order to grow into the great light it could become. You have the potential to bring out the divine in your world, to see the holiness in everything around you. You might just need to put in a little more energy to bring out the true light. It is there, waiting for you to notice.

Itzamna emerges from the mouth of the serpent, from the Dresden Codex

Itzamna, patron of the day Ajpu, emerges from the mouth of the serpent, from the Dresden CodexNawal 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 in turn variously translated into English as lord, hunter, blow gunner, flower and sun. Each one of the translations has it’s 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 Heart of the Earth and the Heart of the Sky. This wisdom enriched both the ruling dynasty and their people, as they would be working in harmony with the gods. Thus the ruler of the city was also the physical embodiment of the divine, and it is to this that Ajpu is so closely related. 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 that moment when you look closely at a flower to see the beautiful detail, the moment when you see the magnificence of the landscape you live within, the beauty in your child’s eyes or in the face of your partner. It is the random act of kindness that restores our faith in humanity. It is the search for the underlying meaning in all situations, 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. Our every action, and every action of others gives us the opportunity to explore ourselves and our reaction, whether we are attracted or repelled by the action of others. However, sometimes 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 Heart of the Earth as we reach to the Heart of the Sky.

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 just needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop, just as sometimes we need encouragement to develop our ideas.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 E’ (13th August 2020)

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1 E'We have cleared the trecena of Kawok, and emerged as our new selves, fresh and vital, ready for the next journey. Here is the start, the beginning of the road which leads us forward

The last time we experienced E’, it was as a finishing point, 7 E’, the end of the road. Of course we never stop walking, we keep moving forward and today brings the beginning of our new adventure. We might think of it as sleeping and waking. This is what the trecenas of Kame and Kawok have brought to us. Now we have awoken, revitalised and ready to start our new journey.

This is a day of new beginnings, in some ways more so than other days carrying the 1 energy. It is the day of new experiences, new direction. We might imagine ourselves just opening our eyes for the first time and being inspired to explore this world  that we have been reborn into.

The energy of this day certainly lends itself to taking the first step in a new journey or adventure, trying something new or exploring a new direction in life. The day itself might not actually have much movement involved, these are the first teetering steps of the newborn, you may need some encouragement to move forward. It is the day to initiate your travel, perhaps buying tickets for a journey you have been planning.

Footprints
Footprints mark the road, from the Dresden Codex

In this moment of new directions and journeys, it seems appropriate to mention once again our planned retreat in Peten in March 2021, the JunAjpu Retreat. Of course with the current world situation, none of us knows what will or will not be possible in this future, but we felt it good to at least set the intention and plan for the best in the future.

The Junajpu retreat is a 13 day journey of discovery, both internal and external as we guide you through connection with your essence, the hero within you. This will be through ceremony, through site visits, and through the six days of jungle hiking, reaching the incredible destination of El Mirador.

If you would like to know more, please visit the dedicated page for The Four Pillars Retreats

 

Nawal E’ represents the journey of discovery, the life path in both its physical and spiritual aspects. E’ is the explorer, it craves novelty. It inspires travel to understand different cultures and ways of life, it is a seeker of experience. It can be a thrill seeker, and sometimes will take risks to understand what it is examining. Whilst it gains experience and understanding through physical travel, E’ also drives us to explore our inner world, helping us to understand our own minds and hearts, and those of others. E’ sometimes creates a restlessness, the desire to find new things within the world means that E’ finds it difficult to sit still.

E’ can sometimes cause us to explore simply for the sake of exploration, we seek the new experience because it is there. This can give rise to a lack of direction, aimless wandering. However, even in its wanderings E’ is discovering. It may not know exactly where it is going, but it will when it gets there. In it’s best aspect, E’ seeks out knowledge and experience in order to form an understanding which brings wisdom. E’ enjoys sharing the wisdom gained with its peers, for the enrichment of the community.

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

The 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 just needs the correct nutrients and conditions to germinate and develop, just as sometimes we need encouragement to develop our ideas.