Tag Archives: Self-sacrifice

2 Ix (13th October 2024)

12th October 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

Today is a day to make a little self-sacrifice in gratitude to the Earth. Our mothers nourish us and attend to our needs, just as the Earth supports our very existence. Remember that today, and give something back.

We forget that everything around us, all material goods, were once part of the Earth. Sometimes we forget that this is a gift and we take it for granted. We may think about natural things, foodstuffs or wood, to begin with. However, even the screen on which you are reading this was made from materials which were the Earth. We took the base material and transformed it, from being part of the body of the Earth into something that fulfilled our temporary needs. Yet, we see these things as commodities, as our property. We detach them from what they were, make them shiny and stick a label on them. But they are not forever transformed, like us, they break, decay and once more return to the Earth over time.

One of the major lessons attached to the nawal Ix is gratitude. In the dazzling brilliance of our “magical” abilities to transform base materials, we forget to say thank you. Without her we have no home, without her we have no life. Today is a day to not just say thank you but to take action to show your gratitude. The gift of your energy and your time are the greatest sacrifices you can make to show your gratitude.

Take some time to show your gratitude to the Earth, and help to undo some of the damage humans have caused. Perhaps pick up some litter or help to restore some beauty to the natural world around you. While you do so, make a little prayer of gratitude for all that sustains your life.

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 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

2 Q’anil (17th September 2024)

16th September 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This day may bring up the duality of the growth process. Coming to ripeness requires an input of energy, and this involves a degree of self-sacrifice.

Q’anil days are generally known for their pleasant energy, and this should certainly be one of them. It is a day of abundance, a day of illumination and the associated number 2 highlights relationships.

Q’anil is also known for its love of intoxication. This is perhaps the only downside of the energy of today. This could be a day where sensuality can carry you away, you might get lost with your lover. Whilst this might not be a bad thing, it may be a distraction from a more pressing issue.

In general, today is a day when it is possible for you to gain abundance through your self sacrifice. Spend some time tending your seeds, whether they are physical or metaphorical, and you will reap the benefits. Equally spending time and energy tending your relationship may lead to you and your partner having the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful golden energy of Q’anil.

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, Q’anil people 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 Two

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2 Ajmak (27th July 2024)

26th July 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

The day 2 Ajmak empowers the ability to forgive and be forgiven, particularly in connection with lovers or relationships. It is our choice to heal wounds and ask forgiveness.

We get these wounds by falling over, and Ajmak days sometimes provide an opportunity for us to make mistakes. What seemed like a good idea at the time can often look very different with hindsight. The way we choose to deal with our mistakes is highlighted today. Sometimes we hide things. We protest our innocence. We try to get away with things and then we get caught. This can often cause a greater grievance than the initial error created. The number 2 also represents self-sacrifice. This suggests that today we can acknowledge our errors and ask for forgiveness. By choosing to act voluntarily we initiate the forgiveness process. This in itself can bring goodwill.

The polarity of the number 2 can bring things out in sharp contrast. It is our decision, and it may be very obvious where our choice can be made. Do we wish to hold on to a burden of guilt, blame or shame, or do we wish to free ourselves. Today, the choice is yours and is ready to be made.

I’m sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

On day 2 Ajmak we can ask forgiveness for our conduct within relationships should we need to. This may include forgiveness for not just current, but previous partners. It is a day to free yourself from the burden of past events and move forward. Whether you have something to ask forgiveness for or not, it is an excellent day to give flowers (or chocolate) to your lover and bring the sweetness of humanity into your relationship.

Nawal Ajmak

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

The Number Two

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

2 B’atz (23rd May 2024)

22nd May 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

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

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2 Kan (27th April 2024)

26th April 2024 Mark Elmy Leave a comment

This could be a day on which selflessly giving our life force may bring wisdom. Possibly the highest aspect which could be seen on this day is self-sacrifice to empower ourselves and others.

The number 2 can represent duality, so today we might see both faces of the nawal Kan. One face is wise and noble, the other dark and manipulative. It is our choice which to embrace. However, each is equally available, but the consequences will be ours to deal with.

The energy of 2 Kan gives us the chance to gain wisdom from the duality of the world. It may be that the dark side of serpent energy has been employed to manipulate and seduce. Its hypnotic ability pulls the unwary into its illusion. The number 2 makes it possible to see both sides, the truth and the falsehood, dispelling the illusion. It is time to see them for what they are and learn from them.

The nawal Kan highlights the life force energy that flows through us. Here we see it in combination with the number of relationships. It suggests that the energy of today may help to bring our a deeper wisdom through sharing our life force energy with our partner. From the perspective of the K’at trecena, the newly planted seed is endowed with the dualistic spark of life. Draw today on both the Heart of the Earth and the Heart of the Sky to energise your new seeding.

The Nawal Kan

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

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

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

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

The Number Two

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days