Today allows us to forgive once and for all both others and ourselves. Muster your energy, take a deep breath and release. It is the day to let any harmful feelings go and enjoy the sweetness that returns.
Today, the nawal Ajmak, signifying pardon and forgiveness combines with the number 7 representing finality and closure. This can be the day to draw a line under past issues.
There comes a time when we just have to “drop it.” We cannot continue walking our path if we are laden with burdens of guilt or blame. We are humans, we make mistakes, and some of us make more than others. These mistakes are how we learn, they are part of why we are here. We have to learn to accept ourselves and each other for who we are, in all our glorious (and messy) humanity. Ajmak highlights the power of redemption, the ability to be forgiven and to forgive. However, is it done in totality, or is it just lip service to an idea? Can you really reset to neutrality, or will there always be something hanging around?
This may not be easy, the number 7 is also said to represent the seven shames. When combined with Ajmak it may truly represent the greatest of affronts. After all we are within the trecena of Tz’i, the time to embrace the state of unconditional love and trust.
I’m sorry
Please forgive me
Thank You
I love you
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 Seven
If we imagine the numbers 1 through 13 as a pyramid, the number seven would be at the top. Seven is the number of balance, it gives the ability to weigh up situations and see all points of view. While this may be very noble, it may lead to indecision.
However, it is also known as a number of death and endings, which would seem strange as it is only half way through. It is another representation of the change of state of the soul, showing half of the journey (1-6) in the mortal world and half (8-13) in the otherworld. As such it can be a great number on which to finalise or end something.
The sequence of numbers as they appear with each appearance of a nawal. Here we see that the sequence begins with 1 and ends with 7, giving 7 as a number of finality.
If you have a vision for your family, today is the day to bring it to Earth and empower it with your words. It is a balanced energy, giving rise to stable and sustainable prosperity.
The energy of nawal representing the Heart of the Sky connects with the number joining Heaven and Earth. This can bring your vision into a stable and prosperous reality.
The nawal Tz’ikin can be seen as a messenger from the Heart of the Sky. It spends its time in the air and on the ground, and in this way, it brings messages from above. When it reaches a great height, it brings the vision, of what is around us and where to proceed. As such is seen as a visionary. These visions also lead us to potential prosperity. Tz’ikin is usually seen as a fortunate energy, although sometimes it can be rather easily distracted.
Today it combines with the number representing ultimate stability. The physical plane combines with the essence of the Heart of the Sky (masculine principle) and the Heart of the Earth (feminine principle.) It has all the supporting energies working together in one place to make things happen.
Tz’ikin can be another day of manifestation. It is particularly associated with the ability to do this through the use of the word. With the stability brought to it by the number 6, this can be seen as a day to visualise what you seek in life.
Nawal Tz’ikin
Bat Falcon sitting on top of Temple 216 at Yaxha. Photo by Mark Elmy
Nawal Tz’ikin is the nawal of prosperity, which sometimes seems odd to people seeking “higher knowledge”. However, this is not the same as the greed of capitalist consumerism. If your family is starving, you are more likely to fall off the road, perhaps into dishonesty or criminal activity. By asking nawal Tz’ikin for prosperity in your life, you are more likely to be able to help others. You can be more constructive within your community. That is not to say that your own input will not be necessary, just that your hard work 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.
Similarly, just as Tz’ikin can focus, its broad vision can occasionally cause distraction. Sometimes, just when it is heading towards its goal it can be distracted by something “shiny.” Thus, this energy gives an ability to create great social networks, but sometimes spends too much time trying to maintain them.
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.
This can be an excellent day for making a thanksgiving fire at a natural altar. It is a day to work on our gratitude in order to keep the flow of our sustenance steady.
We all can engage with the energy of the Earth. However, like any practice, work is required to reap the benefits. This can be seen as a day to engage with that training, to practise your abilities and to strengthen your connection to the Earth.
The energy of the nawal Ix reminds us that we are the children of the Earth. We are all connected to her energy whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Some of us live closer to her, some of us further away. Some show gratitude to her for what she provides, others do not even realise where their sustenance comes from. Yet still, she gives. When we enhance our connection with her, she rewards us. To strengthen our connection, we talk to her. We ask her for her help and we thank her for what she gives. Ix days are days of the altars and shrines, days to make our prayers. They are days when the Earth is waiting patiently to hear from her children.
Of course, if the flow is always one way, if we are always receiving and never giving, we may fall out of balance. We all live within her energetic field and if our energy is out of sync with hers, we may fall sick. This can be an important signpost that we need to realign our energy.
The energy of the number 5 represents work, it also represents the sacred fire. This is where we speak our words, where we ask for the Earth to help us and where we show our gratitude.
Nawal Ix
A dancing shaman transforms himself into a jaguar. From a late classic era vase found at Altar de Sacrificios. Source http://shortstreet.net/Maya/mayapaintedvases.htm
Ix is considered to be the most feminine of the nawales because it embodies the spirit of the Heart of the Earth. It can be seen as a representation of Mother Earth or the Maya version of Gaia. Ix is known for its nurturing energy, as it takes care of all things. However, this nurturing should not be mistaken for weakness, as Ix also embodies the power and stealth of the jaguar, which is its animal totem. The jaguar is a powerful jungle cat that moves stealthily through the darkness of the night with spots on its back representing the milky way. Ix carries the sun on its nightly journey through the underworld.
In industrialized societies, the Earth is often seen as an inanimate source of material wealth. However, non-industrialized societies view her as a living entity that we can interact with, and she carries the nawal Ix. Therefore, on Ix days, people offer prayers at her shrines and altars to ask for what they need in the world. To keep Ix healthy, it is important to approach her with a spirit of gratitude and humility. Ix is deeply connected with the natural world, where it finds its wisdom, power, and wealth. Therefore, it is a day to give thanks, remember gratitude, and engage with your magic.
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”.
This is a day to stabilise the physical requirements of your family and community. It is a day to focus on supporting people through real-world issues.
The combination of the noble authority of the nawal Aj and the stability of the number 4 should give rise to a dependable and solid day. This is a day of support and courage, particularly for those who take the lead.
There is possibly no greater steadying influence greater than that of the nawal Aj. Aj is the one who keeps order, the pillar which both supports and sustains. It keeps everything in its rightful place to bring harmony and growth to the community it supports. Aj brings leadership qualities of the most altruistic kind. It provides an energy which organises to ensure that the community is cared for.
Today it is combined with the number 4. This brings with it an essence of stability, particularly in the Earthly plane. This represents the most basic level of material existence. This could be seen as stability through leadership which will work to ensure that the most basic of material needs are fulfilled. It does not necessarily take into account any other planes of existence, the focus is purely in our world.
The Nawal Aj
The Temple of the Foliated Cross. This small temple houses one of the most remarkable and beautiful friezes, the Foliated Cross. Together with those of the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Cross, this forms an architectural version of a codex. It shows both mythic and historical accounts of the ruling dynasty. The three temples together form the cross group, the sacred heart of Palenque. Picture by Mark Elmy
The nawal Aj is related to many things which generally revolve around leadership on an earthly level. It is also known as the cornstalk, sometimes the staff of life. It represents the spinal column within the body, which allows us to stand tall, proud and brave. As the cornstalk, it has its roots in the Earth, and its head in the sky.
If we wish to lead in a just manner, we should cultivate our connection with the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth. Above all, Aj is an authority, it is gentle, yet noble. It works quietly for the community it leads. It does not seek the limelight. This is a day that seeks sustenance for its people, that keeps everything in its rightful place. It is a day when we ask for the courage and bravery to stand up straight and tall, to do the right thing.
The Number 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.
This is perhaps one of the least ideal days on which to make a physical journey. The possibility of obstruction and delays may be high. However, this could be a perfect day for looking inwards, to focus on understanding yourself through your inner journey.
The nawal E’ governs exploration and discovery, and this happens on the journey, on the road it represents. However, today, the number 3 may bring challenges to physical journeys.
The nawal E’ gives a restlessness which is cured through taking voyages of discovery. E’ drives us to understand how our world, different people and different societies work. This usually happens through travel as we enrich both our knowledge and experience of the world around us. However, E’ also governs our own life journey, our internal process that we move through as we travel through our life. It is as much about our life path as it is the physical journeys we undertake.
The Nawal E’
Footprints mark the road, from the Dresden Codex
Nawal E’ represents the journey of discovery, the life path in both its physical and spiritual aspects. E’ is the explorer, it craves novelty. It inspires travel to understand different cultures and ways of life, it is a seeker of experience. It can be a thrill seeker, and sometimes will take risks to understand what it is examining. Whilst it gains experience and understanding through physical travel, E’ also drives us to explore our inner world, helping us to understand our own minds and hearts, and those of others. E’ sometimes creates a restlessness. A desire to find new things within the world means that E’ finds it difficult to sit still.
E’ can sometimes cause us to explore simply for the sake of exploration. We seek the new experience because it is there. This can give rise to a lack of direction, aimless wandering. However, even in its wanderings E’ is discovering. It may not know exactly where it is going, but it will when it gets there. In it’s best aspect, E’ seeks out knowledge and experience in order to form an understanding which brings wisdom. E’ enjoys sharing the wisdom gained with its peers, for the enrichment of the community.
The Number Three
The number 3 is still in the low end of the range of numbers. It does not have much energy yet, and it is also an odd number. It can represent the home, relating to the three hearthstones laid by the creators, and this is probably a good focus for a 3 day. However, it lacks stability and can represent challenges and obstructions. The number three brings up internal/external dilemmas. The lack of stability in the physical, external world that it brings suggests that the more appropriate action is to look to the internal world, both of the home and yourself.
This could be seen as a day of weaving polarities to create beauty. The energy of the master artisan, the nawal B’atz, combines with the number of polarities and duality today.
If there is a nawal with the energy to inspire us to create beauty, it is the nawal B’atz. It brings the energy to create, and what it creates, it usually does so with great talent. It is the weaver, not just of the everyday material, but of reality itself. Today it is combined with the number 2, representing opposing principles. They may be male and female, light and dark, horizontal and vertical, fire and water, but today comes the opportunity to create something exquisite from them.
This could also be seen as the combination of the right brain and left brain working together, the artistic and the logical. This may take a little sacrifice, not all of the original inspiration fits into the structure, or the original structure has to change to accommodate the artistic. In whichever way it is put together, the result may truly be a marvel.
This could also be seen as a rather romantic day. B’atz is another marriage day, the weaving together of two people. Here we see it combined with the number which also represents lovers and relationships. It is an auspicious day to begin to weave something beautiful together with another person. After all, this is also the trecena of Tz’i, the nawal of unconditional love.
The Nawal B’atz
Images of weaving using a backstrap loom, from the Madrid Codex
There are two nawales which bestow genius talents, one of which is B’atz, the other being No’j. B’atz is the nawal of artisans and of weavers. This is not just creation and weaving on the Earthly level. It weaves the threads of time together to create reality. B’atz is the nawal of the sacred calendar. The calendar could be considered to be the fabric created from these individual threads of time.
If B’atz is clever enough to weave time into order, it is clever enough to create more down to Earth trinkets. B’atz is the master artisan, creating whatever it chooses, at will. It is just as comfortable painting, as it is playing music or writing. The arts come naturally to this nawal. However, this can lead to issues when B’atz has to deal with those less talented than itself. This can lead to a certain arrogance around those who fail to achieve their standard of excellence.
Their talent draws attention, which is something B’atz craves. It is the nawal of the born entertainer, who can sing, dance and play all at once. This nawal is the life and soul of the party, it also makes excellent teachers, who hold the attention of students through entertaining them. It is a particularly fun loving nawal that feeds on the adoration of the crowd that it pleases.
B’atz is a day to create, especially within the fields of the arts. It is also a day to weave your reality the way you see fit. Where Aq’ab’al was the conception, B’atz is the gestation.
The Number 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.
As we move into this new world, we sometimes need new guidance, and today the nawal Tz’i brings exactly this. A fresh guide arrives to possibly take us in a new direction.
Today begins a period which initiates an amplified state of love and trust. This new trecena (13-day period) may bring themes of faith, loyalty and justice.
Tz’i has our best interests at heart. It is a good idea to trust this new guide and to have faith in where we are being taken. This may involve some unconditional trust as much as unconditional love.
The other side of Tz’i could represent the beginning of a time when loyalty may be tested. Our faith in the world may have been shaken, but today we start to rebuild that faith as Tz’i encourages us to love each other unconditionally. This is likely to come about at the instigation of others, the combination with the number 1 suggesting that it needs a little encouragement to truly flourish.
This is a day to remember to show trust in others and encourage that faith to come out in them. With the help of the energy of the nawal Tz’i, we can guide each other.
The Nawal Tz’i
The dog sits by the cauldron, from the Madrid Codex
Tz’i is possibly the nawal with the most colourful reputation. Some describe it as the nawal of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and it 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 acts on instinct, disregarding reason when hormonally driven. This aspect of Tz’i is particularly bad, and when it fails, it does so dramatically, which is why it tends to be remembered for those events.
However, what is sometimes forgotten is the other side of Tz’i, which is the side more frequently displayed. Just as Tz’i can represent infidelity, it also represents faith and loyalty. Just as it can be the 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 we can understand both loyalty and instinct through their actions. Tz’i is also the guide and protector on life’s path, ensuring that it’s 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. However, be aware that your loyalty may be tested by temptation.
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.
This is a day to resolve any ancestral debt. The day of payment and sacrifice joins with the number which represents the ancestors and the spirit world.
The energy of the nawal Toj can feel rather challenging. Payment and sacrifice are things we might choose to avoid if we could. However, these are the actions that keep us in balance, the things which keep us healthy and harmonious. Life is a continuous cycle of receiving and giving. However, sometimes we inadvertently allow this to fall out of balance. We take and we forget to give back. Toj days remind us to redress that balance, sometimes through sickness.
Today, this energy is combined with the strongest number 13, representing the ancestors and the spirit world. Today we have an opportunity to resolve any outstanding debts with our ancestors. This applies not only in this world but in the distant past. Perhaps there is a recent physical debt that needs payment. However, this may also involve a debt to your more distant ancestors. This is a day to say thank you to your lineage for what they have provided for you.
Sometimes our ancestors acted in a manner we would not choose today. They may have incurred debts which have been passed to the next generations to repay. This is a day to resolve any of these types of debt. Make amends for what your ancestors may have taken without payment.
Days carrying the number 13 are said to be when the spirit world is close and are good days for divination. This could also be a very good day for a divination to ask what is outstanding, and how to pay it off. This could apply to both your own personal debts and ancestral debts.
Worthwhile Recipients of Your Donations
When I mention programs, 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.”
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
The Nawal Toj
The nawal Toj represents offerings and payment. It is part of the name Tojil, a Mayan god who gave fire to the people. However, this was not a gift. Tojil asked in return for a sacrifice to be made. This is a day of payment and sacrifice, a day to resolve debts, both in the physical and spiritual realms. Toj is the nawal of the sacred fire where we make offerings to burn away karmic debts. In this way we restore balance, and we bring our accounts back to zero.
It is through selfless acts that we can access the divine protection that Toj carries. Naturally, these acts might involve a sacrifice of our time or energy to strengthen our community. We can choose to act or we can choose to ignore. However, ignoring an opportunity to make a payment on a Toj day might bring the removal of the protection. We should always make our payments with an open heart. However, thanks might not be quickly forthcoming, and may not come at all. Your sacrifice could be something as simple as picking up litter in your neighbourhood. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate.
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.
The day 12 Q’anil may prove to be a day of great abundance. The “crop” you have been tending over time has finally ripened. The completed project bears fruit.
Q’anil days are nearly always favourable, they often carry a light and happy energy, and quite rightly so. They represent the ripening, the point where all the hard work comes to fruition. They are days of abundance, of light and eventually celebration too. Today Q’anil is combined with the number 12, the energy of bundling, of gathering things together. The energy of the 12 can represent the entirety of life, so it may not just be a recent project or one that has been happening in the last 260 days that is coming to ripeness. Today things which may almost have been long forgotten may finally come to light.
This is certainly a day to complete any outstanding business. Even if it has been waiting a long time, it should produce beneficial and abundant results. Perhaps it has been waiting for the sufficient life experience required to bring it to full fruition. Today could be the day when it finally arrives.
The Nawal Q’anil
Nawal Q’anil represents the ripening of the seed, the crop coming to maturity. The K’iché word Q’an means yellow, and the -il suffix is rather like the English -ing. Q’anil represents the golden head of maize at its perfection of ripeness, ready to be picked. In the Mayan creation story, humans were fashioned from maize dough, we are Ixim Achi, the people of the corn. Q’anil also represents human beings coming to their greatest point of perfection, their ripeness.
It is in the fields and gardens that Q’anil’s light shines particularly brightly. It is the nawal of farmers, gardeners and herbalists. But just as it is at home around plants, Q’anil has the possibility to shine anywhere. Q’anil has talent, its beautiful golden light illuminates that which it comes into contact with. People carrying Q’anil energy can light up the room with their presence. Q’anil is about achieving full potential, and this relates to all of our activities. It does have an affinity to the arts, but in general is a day of bounty for all life projects.
However, when an energy is so fertile and prosperous, life can become too easy. Q’anil also appreciates the rewards of its talent – sometimes a little too much. Q’anil is prone to overindulge in the sensual, in particular with regards to intoxication.
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.
This is a day to embrace nature within yourself and others. Wandering in the forest may provide strong experiences which you incorporate at a later time. Follow your instincts in the wilderness today, rather than a set path. You may find new strength in your discoveries.
The strength of the nawal Kej combines with the strong, spontaneous energy of the number 11. This is a day to be aware of the strength of actions and which direction they are heading towards.
The energy of the number 11 can give rise to strong and highly unpredictable days. On these days you might not know why you are doing something, but you do it with absolute certainty. Today it is combined with the determination from the nawal Kej. This may lead to an even higher degree of certainty that you are going in the correct direction. The nawal Kej is the nawal of strength itself, and it may be all too easy to apply too much.
From the idea of Kej representing either a deer or a horse (as it is translated in modern-day K’ichean) this could be seen as a stampede. Force and energy with no particular direction. This is a day where you may need to be more aware than usual of what is going on around you. Prepare to take evasive action if necessary. Trying to stop the stampede will not work. There is too much determination involved, but you can get out of its way. Of course, it is not only the actions of others which carry this energy. It is a day to be aware of your determination towards making something happen. Are you aware of the direction in which it is taking you?
Imbolc (3rd February 2025, 14:01 UTC)
It is now 45 days since the December solstice and we are at the exact midpoint between solstice and equinox. This is a archaeoastronomical cross quarter day, known as Imbolc in the Celtic lands. At this time in north-western europe the Earth shows signs of life returning. The first lambs are born and the snowdrops begin to show their flowers. After the period of darkness, it becomes obvious the light is returning. The winter season which began on Samhain finishes and spring begins on Imbolc.
Observing this first hand, it is very noticable that the days begin to draw out. This happens rather rapidly as we move towards the spring equinox. Since solstice, the position of sunrise here in Guatemala has only shifted by 7 degrees. At solstice the sun rose at 114 degrees, today it rises at 107 degrees. In 45 days’ time at equinox, it will rise at 90 degrees, covering 17 degrees. Its procession along the eastern horizon almost 2.5 times quicker and will continue to do so through to Beltaine on the 5th May.
Imbolc is very special to me as it was the first ceremony I ever participated in. It is a symbolic birthing and was certainly my birthing into a new world. It is a time of the essence of life bursting forth into the world. In association with 11 Kej today, perhaps it could be a good day make a journey into nature to see what is waking up.
The Nawal Kej
Xbalamkiej, patron of the day Kej one of the hero twins from the Popol Vuh. From the Dresden Codex
Kej is possibly the strongest of the nawales, it is powerful, but in a different way to Kan. Kej is energetic, lively and determined. It is the nawal of nature, of the wilderness and it is this power that it draws on. The animal totem of Kej is the deer, but if you have fragile, new-born Bambi in mind, think again. This is the majestic stag, standing on the mountain surveying his domain. Whilst most nawales are not necessarily engendered, Kej is most definitely masculine. Both men and women that carry Kej as their nawal have great strength, although the men tend to hide their strength more. Kej women are particularly driven, resourceful and brave, sometimes to the point of being rather dominant. All radiate an aura of nobility, people tend to look to them to lead.
Kej is the nawal of the Mayan “religion”, a day of spiritual leaders, of shaman and of priests. It is these leaders who understand how to read the messages from the natural world, who help to keep our existence in balance with nature. It is a day to connect with the wilderness and draw the power of the natural world into you, to harmonise and replenish.
The Number 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.
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Today allows us to forgive once and for all both others and ourselves. Muster your energy, take a deep breath and release. It is the day to let any harmful feelings go and enjoy the sweetness that returns.
