Tag Archives: Challenges

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

1 Kame (24th May 2023)

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1 KameThe energy of the nawal Kame brings us the opportunity to face our challenges. Its combination with the number 1 today suggests the beginning of fresh challenges which lead to our spiritual advancement.

Today may bring a theme for the next 13 days, or the next 247 when the day 7 Kame occurs and we are finally victorious over our challenge. Kame may bring the things which frighten us to our attention, but it also brings the strength to face these fears. Whether we choose to or not is up to us, but the rewards are great, the evolution of our soul. Kame may represent sacrifice, but it is also a purification, a refinement. This is the nawal of internal alchemy.

It is the beginning of a time of change, although today those changes may need a little encouragement, possibly from your ancestors. For now you may just be content with planning your process of transformation, sowing the seeds of change. There is no right or wrong way of approaching this. In the Popol Vuh, Jun Junajpu and Wucub Junajpu failed in their attempt to confront the Lords of Death. However, Jun Junajpu spawned Junajpu and Xbalamque who succeeded at the challenge. There is rarely one chance to succeed, if the challenge is important to your life path or the evolution of your soul, it will return until you overcome it.

If you follow the cycles of the days, either through your own literature, or by looking through the archives of this site, you should be able to see a pattern emerging. The numbers follow a pattern, and it almost looks like a piano keyboard if we arrange them to differentiate between what almost appear to be two sequences running concurrently. What we also see is that the sequence starts with 1 and finishes with 7. We see this in the Popol Vuh used to exemplify the entirety of a concept. For example, the first pair of heroes in the story are 1 and 7 Junajpu, representing the entirety of the creative principle, and their polar opposites are 1 and 7 Kame, the two chief lords of Xibalba. The victory over 7 Kame represents the end of the struggle, the day 1 Kame represents the beginning of the challenges.

Number Sequence.jpg

 

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, 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 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

3 Tz’ikin (13th May 2023)

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3 Tz'ikinSometimes a day which carries a usually fortunate nawal can be modified by a number to create a less conducive energy. The usual clarity of vision of Tz’ikin may be clouded by external circumstances, today you may need to rely on your inner vision.

Tz’ikin days are usually enjoyable. They are social, visionary and prosperous, but today it is possible that all of those qualities are obstructed as the influence of the number 3 comes into play. The energy of the number may 3 bring doubts, instability and challenges. Whilst its combination with the highly positive energy of the nawal Tz’ikin may be cause its effect to be softened, it is possible that this Tz’ikin day may not be as beneficial as other Tz’ikin days. It is implied that this could be a challenging day on which to do business, true prosperity being blocked by a lack of vision or an inability to focus. An even bigger problem could be believing that you have a true and clear vision, only to find that it has been distorted, leading you to make potentially costly mistakes. It would be better to leave any important business deals for another day.

The most positive aspect of the 3 relates to the home, and perhaps this will be a more fortunate place to focus Tz’ikin‘s visionary aspects today. This is a day to work on your inner vision for the future, possibly to meditate on what your options to bring prosperity to your home. It is a day for quietly working on your inner vision.

A noble bird representative of Tz’ikin, an American Bald Eagle. Picture by Mark Elmy

The nawal Tz’ikin is a nawal of good fortune, almost literally. Tz’ikin is another manifestation and abundance day, a day of prosperity which comes through vision. The word Tz’ikin means bird, although many like to relate it to the Quetzal bird or Eagle. Where the nawal Ix is connected with the Heart of the Earth, Tz’ikin is connected with the Heart of the Sky. In the foliated cross representation of Aj, we saw the bird deity sitting atop the cross representing the Heart of the Sky. Whilst all is one in the general overview, we could see Ix as representing the female principle (Earth energy / yin) and Tz’ikin as representing the male principle (Sky energy / yang).

A nawal of prosperity, sometimes seems odd to people seeking “higher knowledge”. It is not quite seen the same here. If your family is starving, you are more likely to fall off the good road, perhaps into dishonesty or criminal activity. By asking nawal Tz’ikin for prosperity in your life, you are more likely to be relaxed, to be able to help others and to be more constructive within your community. That is not to say that your own input of hard work will not be necessary, just that it is hard work that will pay off.

Tz’ikin has the ability to give visions, it helps people to see the bigger picture within life. It also helps people to focus on details. It has grand aspirations and helps people to rise to the top of their abilities, which of course brings them prosperity.

Just as Tz’ikin can focus, it’s broad vision can occasionally cause distraction. Sometimes, just when it is heading towards it’s goal it can be distracted by something “shiny.” This energy gives an ability to create great social networks, but sometimes spends too much time trying to maintain them.

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

A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is "El Tigre" at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage by Mark Elmy
A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is “El Tigre” at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage 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 is possibly the most troublesome of the numbers to deal with, it lacks stability and represents challenges and obstructions. The number three brings up internal/external dilemma. 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 of yourself.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

11 Kame (24th January 2023)

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11 KameThis could turn out to be a day of powerful spiritual transformations which may come through confronting great challenges. They may seem unrelated, but the eventual outcome may come clear after time.

The highly unpredictable energy of the number 11 combines with the nawal Kame today to throw some challenges into life. There are some things which are difficult to face, they may be lifelong challenges, phobias or frights. These are things which follow us through life, confronting us from time to time, to give us the opportunity to clear them from our lives. In doing so, we move into a higher aspect of ourselves as we let the old fear die and fall away.

Today these challenges may come from many directions, and they may come in quickly and with force. The ability to adapt and respond to these situations as they arrive can be gleaned from the nawal Kame. It brings us the bravery to undergo these challenges and grow from them. Today is the day to “feel the fear and do it anyway”, although you might find more than the usual number of challenges coming your way.

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, 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 11 is a high and odd number. This gives it some rather challenging properties, although it can come good in the end. Imagine you visit Ireland and are transfixed by the green of the hills, then you go to Morocco and are awed by the red of the buildings, then you go to the Caribbean and are moved by the turquoise sea. You return home and paint a beautiful picture using those colours. When you were in Ireland you didn’t know you were going to paint that masterpiece, you may not have even known why you were there.  This is how 11 works. You are sure you need to be doing something, but unsure why. You are collecting experience through many wanderings.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

4 Kame (4th January 2023)

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4 KameAfter the possibly turbulent energy of the previous two days, the day 4 Kame brings an opportunity to bring the transformations you have been through into a physical reality.

The power of the transformations afforded by the nawal Kame cannot be denied. These come about through facing up to experiences that often would rather be avoided, the moments we would rather dodge in life. We learn through all experiences, but often the most important turning points come about as a result of the most “unpleasant” situations we have to face. These are the ones which can cause great fear or fright, but they are the ones which polish the soul when we choose to face them. This energy brings us the strength to do this by understanding the value they bring to our journey. In addition to increasing our wisdom and understanding of life, they may also lead to the inspiration of great works of art, writing or poetry. Artistic talent is highly connected with the nawal Kame, and perhaps these transformative experiences are the reason why.

The energy of the number 4 brings these transformations into the physical and material realm. This can be seen as strong physical challenges to face, what we might euphemistically call learning experiences. It is only possible to learn how to come back to balance by being knocked off balance in the first place. However, with the stability afforded by the energy of the number 4, the end result looks rather positive. Spiritual transformation may seem like a rather high minded ideal, but the energy of the 4 helps to bring this ideal into practical, everyday use.

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 shamanic 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, 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 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, 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 solar number. Even though it is still low, it is thought of as a good number.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

5 Tz’i (10th September 2022)

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5 Tz'iBoth the nawal Tz’i and the number 5 have some pretty challenging aspects to them, so today might be a bit of a rough ride. However, of course, it might also give rise to some true understanding of unconditional love.

When the nawal which represents faith, loyalty and unconditional love is combined with the number which represents hard work, it is pretty obvious that this might prove to be  testing day. Yet again we see a day with a challenging energy appear in the trecena of Kame.

The energy of the number 5 can cause a drive to rush into things without thinking and the energy of the nawal Tz’i can be impulsive and hormonally driven. This can lead to the possibility of challenging situations arising, particularly within relationships. Sometimes those we love the dearest, those we would do anything for, do things that we just can’t understand. Sometimes they betray our trust and our faith in them. Tz’i gives us the understanding of how to continue to love unconditionally, no matter what. Today Tz’i is asking you, “can you really love unconditionally?”

This does not just apply to relationships, of course. Today may throw up some “development opportunities” within the areas of faith and loyalty in general. Remember, this trecena of Kame is all about a transformation of our spirit, and it is only through testing of our faith in our path and our lives that we can see if we are ready to embrace that transformation. Tz’i is here to guide us through the darkness, provided we are willing to put in the work required from us, this is a day where we have to work on trusting our guidance.

Nawal Tz’i is also the nawal of the law and justice. This is not just the federal or district law, these are the laws of society. It is true justice. Today it may feel like obtaining justice requires hard work and injustice in the world may be highlighted. While Tz’i days are normally good days for legal matters, today it might take extra effort to get the result you are looking for.

The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex
The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex

Tz’i is possibly the nawal with the most colourful reputation. Some describe it as the nawal of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and it has the possibility to live up to that label. One of the functions an Aj Q’ij (Mayan spiritual guide) performs is divination, usually using red seeds called Tz’ite. If a question is asked about a relationship and Tz’i comes up in the reading, it is seen as a sign of  infidelity. Tz’i is instinctual, and closes its ears to reason when it gets an idea, particularly when it is hormonally driven. This is the worst possible aspect of Tz’i and when it falls down, it does so spectacularly, which is why it tends to be remembered for those events.

However, what is sometimes forgotten is the other side of Tz’i, which is the side more frequently displayed. Just as Tz’i can represent infidelity, it also represents faith and loyalty, and just as it can be the trouble maker, it also represents law. It is the nawal of police, lawyers and judges. Tz’i is unwavering faith, unconditional loyalty. The totem animal of Tz’i is the dog, and through the actions of dogs we can understand both the loyalty aspect, and the instinctual. Tz’i is also the guide and protector on life’s path, ensuring that its charge travels safely. It is a day when your faith or loyalty may be tested,  where your instincts are stimulated. The positive traits of this day give rise to to some of the greatest displays of friendship, but be aware that your loyalty may be tested by temptation.

The Sacred Mayan calendar is often said to be a calendar of human life, and parts of 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 it’s five digits. It is with our hands that we work, and with what we earn for that work that 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

1 Kame (6th September 2022)

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1 KameThe energy of the nawal Kame brings us the opportunity to face our challenges. Its combination with the number 1 today suggests the beginning of fresh challenges which lead to our spiritual advancement.

Today may bring a theme for the next 13 days, or the next 247 when the day 7 Kame occurs and we are finally victorious over our challenge. Kame may bring the things which frighten us to our attention, but it also brings the strength to face these fears. Whether we choose to or not is up to us, but the rewards are great, the evolution of our soul. Kame may represent sacrifice, but it is also a purification, a refinement. This is the nawal of internal alchemy.

It is the beginning of a time of change, although today those changes may need a little encouragement, possibly from your ancestors. For now you may just be content with planning your process of transformation, sowing the seeds of change. There is no right or wrong way of approaching this. In the Popol Vuh, Jun Junajpu and Wucub Junajpu failed in their attempt to confront the Lords of Death. However, Jun Junajpu spawned Junajpu and Xbalamque who succeeded at the challenge. There is rarely one chance to succeed, if the challenge is important to your life path or the evolution of your soul, it will return until you overcome it.

If you follow the cycles of the days, either through your own literature, or by looking through the archives of this site, you should be able to see a pattern emerging. The numbers follow a pattern, and it almost looks like a piano keyboard if we arrange them to differentiate between what almost appear to be two sequences running concurrently. What we also see is that the sequence starts with 1 and finishes with 7. We see this in the Popol Vuh used to exemplify the entirety of a concept. For example, the first pair of heroes in the story are 1 and 7 Junajpu, representing the entirety of the creative principle, and their polar opposites are 1 and 7 Kame, the two chief lords of Xibalba. The victory over 7 Kame represents the end of the struggle, the day 1 Kame represents the beginning of the challenges.

Number Sequence.jpg

 

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, 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 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

3 Tz’ikin (26th August 2022)

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3 Tz'ikinSometimes a day which carries a usually fortunate nawal can be modified by a number to create a less conducive energy. The usual clarity of vision of Tz’ikin may be clouded by external circumstances, today you may need to rely on your inner vision.

Tz’ikin days are usually enjoyable. They are social, visionary and prosperous, but today it is possible that all of those qualities are obstructed as the influence of the number 3 comes into play. The energy of the number may 3 bring doubts, instability and challenges. Whilst its combination with the highly positive energy of the nawal Tz’ikin may be cause its effect to be softened, it is possible that this Tz’ikin day may not be as beneficial as other Tz’ikin days. It is implied that this could be a challenging day on which to do business, true prosperity being blocked by a lack of vision or an inability to focus. An even bigger problem could be believing that you have a true and clear vision, only to find that it has been distorted, leading you to make potentially costly mistakes. It would be better to leave any important business deals for another day.

The most positive aspect of the 3 relates to the home, and perhaps this will be a more fortunate place to focus Tz’ikin‘s visionary aspects today. This is a day to work on your inner vision for the future, possibly to meditate on what your options to bring prosperity to your home. It is a day for quietly working on your inner vision.

A noble bird representative of Tz’ikin, an American Bald Eagle. Picture by Mark Elmy

The nawal Tz’ikin is a nawal of good fortune, almost literally. Tz’ikin is another manifestation and abundance day, a day of prosperity which comes through vision. The word Tz’ikin means bird, although many like to relate it to the Quetzal bird or Eagle. Where the nawal Ix is connected with the Heart of the Earth, Tz’ikin is connected with the Heart of the Sky. In the foliated cross representation of Aj, we saw the bird deity sitting atop the cross representing the Heart of the Sky. Whilst all is one in the general overview, we could see Ix as representing the female principle (Earth energy / yin) and Tz’ikin as representing the male principle (Sky energy / yang).

A nawal of prosperity, sometimes seems odd to people seeking “higher knowledge”. It is not quite seen the same here. If your family is starving, you are more likely to fall off the good road, perhaps into dishonesty or criminal activity. By asking nawal Tz’ikin for prosperity in your life, you are more likely to be relaxed, to be able to help others and to be more constructive within your community. That is not to say that your own input of hard work will not be necessary, just that it is hard work that will pay off.

Tz’ikin has the ability to give visions, it helps people to see the bigger picture within life. It also helps people to focus on details. It has grand aspirations and helps people to rise to the top of their abilities, which of course brings them prosperity.

Just as Tz’ikin can focus, it’s broad vision can occasionally cause distraction. Sometimes, just when it is heading towards it’s goal it can be distracted by something “shiny.” This energy gives an ability to create great social networks, but sometimes spends too much time trying to maintain them.

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

A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is "El Tigre" at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage by Mark Elmy
A (slightly crude) montage showing a proposed correlation between the constellation of Orion and the triadic structure of Maya pyramids. This one is “El Tigre” at the El Mirador site. Photo and montage 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 is possibly the most troublesome of the numbers to deal with, it lacks stability and represents challenges and obstructions. The number three brings up internal/external dilemma. 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 of yourself.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

11 Kame (9th May 2022)

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11 KameThis could turn out to be a day of powerful spiritual transformations which may come through confronting great challenges. They may seem unrelated, but the eventual outcome may come clear after time.

The highly unpredictable energy of the number 11 combines with the nawal Kame today to throw some challenges into life. There are some things which are difficult to face, they may be lifelong challenges, phobias or frights. These are things which follow us through life, confronting us from time to time, to give us the opportunity to clear them from our lives. In doing so, we move into a higher aspect of ourselves as we let the old fear die and fall away.

Today these challenges may come from many directions, and they may come in quickly and with force. The ability to adapt and respond to these situations as they arrive can be gleaned from the nawal Kame. It brings us the bravery to undergo these challenges and grow from them. Today is the day to “feel the fear and do it anyway”, although you might find more than the usual number of challenges coming your way.

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, 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 11 is a high and odd number. This gives it some rather challenging properties, although it can come good in the end. Imagine you visit Ireland and are transfixed by the green of the hills, then you go to Morocco and are awed by the red of the buildings, then you go to the Caribbean and are moved by the turquoise sea. You return home and paint a beautiful picture using those colours. When you were in Ireland you didn’t know you were going to paint that masterpiece, you may not have even known why you were there.  This is how 11 works. You are sure you need to be doing something, but unsure why. You are collecting experience through many wanderings.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

4 Kame (19th April 2022)

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4 KameAfter the possibly turbulent energy of the previous two days, the day 4 Kame brings an opportunity to bring the transformations you have been through into a physical reality.

The power of the transformations afforded by the nawal Kame cannot be denied. These come about through facing up to experiences that often would rather be avoided, the moments we would rather dodge in life. We learn through all experiences, but often the most important turning points come about as a result of the most “unpleasant” situations we have to face. These are the ones which can cause great fear or fright, but they are the ones which polish the soul when we choose to face them. This energy brings us the strength to do this by understanding the value they bring to our journey. In addition to increasing our wisdom and understanding of life, they may also lead to the inspiration of great works of art, writing or poetry. Artistic talent is highly connected with the nawal Kame, and perhaps these transformative experiences are the reason why.

The energy of the number 4 brings these transformations into the physical and material realm. This can be seen as strong physical challenges to face, what we might euphemistically call learning experiences. It is only possible to learn how to come back to balance by being knocked off balance in the first place. However, with the stability afforded by the energy of the number 4, the end result looks rather positive. Spiritual transformation may seem like a rather high minded ideal, but the energy of the 4 helps to bring this ideal into practical, everyday use.

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 shamanic 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, 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 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, 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 solar number. Even though it is still low, it is thought of as a good number.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

5 Tz’i (24th December 2021)

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5 Tz'iBoth the nawal Tz’i and the number 5 have some pretty challenging aspects to them, so today might be a bit of a rough ride. However, of course, it might also give rise to some true understanding of unconditional love.

When the nawal which represents faith, loyalty and unconditional love is combined with the number which represents hard work, it is pretty obvious that this might prove to be  testing day. Yet again we see a day with a challenging energy appear in the trecena of Kame.

The energy of the number 5 can cause a drive to rush into things without thinking and the energy of the nawal Tz’i can be impulsive and hormonally driven. This can lead to the possibility of challenging situations arising, particularly within relationships. Sometimes those we love the dearest, those we would do anything for, do things that we just can’t understand. Sometimes they betray our trust and our faith in them. Tz’i gives us the understanding of how to continue to love unconditionally, no matter what. Today Tz’i is asking you, “can you really love unconditionally?”

This does not just apply to relationships, of course. Today may throw up some “development opportunities” within the areas of faith and loyalty in general. Remember, this trecena of Kame is all about a transformation of our spirit, and it is only through testing of our faith in our path and our lives that we can see if we are ready to embrace that transformation. Tz’i is here to guide us through the darkness, provided we are willing to put in the work required from us, this is a day where we have to work on trusting our guidance.

Nawal Tz’i is also the nawal of the law and justice. This is not just the federal or district law, these are the laws of society. It is true justice. Today it may feel like obtaining justice requires hard work and injustice in the world may be highlighted. While Tz’i days are normally good days for legal matters, today it might take extra effort to get the result you are looking for.

The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex
The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex

Tz’i is possibly the nawal with the most colourful reputation. Some describe it as the nawal of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and it has the possibility to live up to that label. One of the functions an Aj Q’ij (Mayan spiritual guide) performs is divination, usually using red seeds called Tz’ite. If a question is asked about a relationship and Tz’i comes up in the reading, it is seen as a sign of  infidelity. Tz’i is instinctual, and closes its ears to reason when it gets an idea, particularly when it is hormonally driven. This is the worst possible aspect of Tz’i and when it falls down, it does so spectacularly, which is why it tends to be remembered for those events.

However, what is sometimes forgotten is the other side of Tz’i, which is the side more frequently displayed. Just as Tz’i can represent infidelity, it also represents faith and loyalty, and just as it can be the trouble maker, it also represents law. It is the nawal of police, lawyers and judges. Tz’i is unwavering faith, unconditional loyalty. The totem animal of Tz’i is the dog, and through the actions of dogs we can understand both the loyalty aspect, and the instinctual. Tz’i is also the guide and protector on life’s path, ensuring that its charge travels safely. It is a day when your faith or loyalty may be tested,  where your instincts are stimulated. The positive traits of this day give rise to to some of the greatest displays of friendship, but be aware that your loyalty may be tested by temptation.

The Sacred Mayan calendar is often said to be a calendar of human life, and parts of 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 it’s five digits. It is with our hands that we work, and with what we earn for that work that 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”.