Tag Archives: Tzolkin

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

11 Kej (3rd February 2025) – Imbolc

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11 KejThis 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
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.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

10 Kame (2nd February 2025)

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10 KameThis could be a day of profound changes in society, especially when fears are faced. The nawal Kame represents transformation, particularly spiritual transformation, and today it is coupled with the number representing community.

The energy of Kame assists transformation from one state of being to another. If these changes are embraced they can be moved through at a determined rate. However, one way or another they will happen. If they are constantly resisted, they may become enforced changes. They become transformations which happen suddenly and at a rate we have no control over. The end result may be the same, but the process may seem harsher.

The number 10 is seen as representing community and the laws of society. Today could be a day of profound, possibly spiritual, change within society in general. This could also represent the support of your community to help you through your own transformation and growth. It is representative of our ability to work together to assist each other through our changes, whether they are enforced or voluntary.

Nawal Kame

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. They 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 Ten

The number 10 is another number which demonstrates the connection between the sacred calendar and the human body. As five represents one hand, ten represents two hands coming together. This can be seen as the shaking of hands creating agreement between people. Ten is seen as a good number, a number of community and the laws of society, of acting in harmony.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

9 Kan (1st February 2025)

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9 KanThe power of Kan has the ability to bring true wisdom, and enlighten those around it. Today, its combination with the number 9 highlights feminine wisdom in particular, and the wisdom which comes through life. This is a day to ask for wisdom from the women around you. Their words may bring illumination and empowerment.

The nawal Kan is associated with the body energy, the lightning in the blood. This energy empowers us physically and spiritually, enabling us to carry out our work and advance ourselves  as we do so. We all carry it, and some actively engage with it to one degree or another. Whilst this energy can be useful, it can also be addictive. The ability to direct it at will, and the results it may bring, may mean that the power which is exercised becomes personalised. The desire for greater power ensues and the serpent’s hypnotic power draws the unwitting into manipulative illusions.

Whilst the nawal Kan has the power to seduce and create illusions, it also gives the ability to see through them. It is on Kan days that we ask for this ability. Today that is strongly linked with life through the number 9. This is a day to use both your power and your wisdom to see through the illusion of the world. You may find that the energy of women around you helps you to do this.

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 Nine

The number nine is the number of lunations in the human gestation period and in the sacred calendar. The sacred calendar is known as a calendar of life, and it is women that give life. As such the number nine is seen as the number of life and the number of the divine feminine. It gives all that it is attached to a strong feminine presence. It is a day on which women may wish to give thanks for their gifts.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

8 K’at (31st January 2025)

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8 K'atEvery day is a good day to be grateful for the abundance you receive in life, but today is of greater importance. It is also a day to give thanks for your freedom and to release anything which is holding you back. Wholly embrace it or set it free.

The eighth day of the trecena is the most common for ceremony.  Today it is combined with the net that gathers the harvest. It is a day to be grateful for your abundance and your liberty. Make ceremonies to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks for the full bellies of our families. It is a day of gathering, of seeds, of people, of ideas. Celebrate the abundance that these things bring to your life.

The nawal K’at also represents capture. Whilst the positive aspect represents harvest and abundance, the darker side represents entanglement and prisons. This is not just those outside of ourselves, but our ability to get caught in our own nets. This is a representation of our own attachment to the physical things which sustain us within our physical body. Whilst this abundance might serve us well, over attachment to physical goods may distract us from our true life path. The same may be true for situations or people. It does not just have to be physical objects that create the net which holds us back. K’at days give us an excellent opportunity to understand what is stopping us from achieving our dreams, and setting ourselves free of it.

The Nawal K’at

Blood Moon, mother of the Hero Twins being sent away from Xibalba after becoming pregnant. <yoastmark class=

K’at signifies a net and represents gathering together or bundling. In the Western Highlands of Guatemala, to this day many crops are harvested and carried in nets – oranges, lemons, avocados to name but a few. Through this we see one of the positive meanings of this nawal, that of abundance and harvest. K’at is a great day to draw things together. This could mean gathering your harvest, collecting ideas for your projects, or inviting people to a social event. It is a day of prosperity and the bounty which comes from the Earth, a day of gardeners and merchants.

However, K’at also has its more challenging side. An abundant crop will fill the net, but it will also slow you down. K’at is also the nawal of prisons and burdens, as the net which gathers, can also ensnare us. When candles are purchased for the fire ceremonies, they come in bundles held together by little strings. When the nawal K’at is addressed during the fire ceremony, these strings are put in to the fire,  with offerings, to ask K’at to help us release ourselves from our burdens, from the ties which bind us.  These ties can also be seen as excessive attachment to material things.

The Number Eight

The number 8 is considered to be several wholeness. It can be seen as birth (1) and death (7) combined to represent the whole cycle of the soul. Also, it can be seen as the point where the four first men who raised the sky from the sea were joined by their wives and the world became whole. The eighth day of the trecena is the most common day for ceremonies to be made. Therefore, it is still in the balanced range of numbers and is an even number, which is also considered fortunate. This wholeness represents every aspect of the energy of the day with which it is coupled. It is the wholeness of the nawal that is addressed in the ceremony.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

7 Aq’ab’al (30th January 2025)

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7 Aq'ab'alAq’ab’al, the nawal of the new conception is joined by the number representing completion to suggest that the dawning has been completed, and the Sun has risen.

The sacred calendar can be seen as a representation of life, the development of the world and of both small and large periods. It can represent points within a day or points within the growth period of a human being. The nawal Aq’ab’al represents the new things that come into this world. As the dawn, it represents the new day, the basic unit of time used in the sacred calendar. As conception, it represents new human life.

Today, Aq’ab’al, is combined with the number 7, representing endings. This is quite a strange combination, seeing the new beginning and the end in the same place. However, perhaps it needs to be observed over a longer period of time. 240 days ago was the day 1 Aq’ab’al, the day of the beginning of the new concepts, the new projects. Today we see the final 20 days of the count before the next day 1 Aq’ab’al arrives. 7 Aq’ab’al can be seen as finishing off the new project, particularly over the next 20 days.

Hence, today can be seen as the completion of the foundation, the beginning of the last 20-day period before the next level is started. If you have been laying the groundwork for a plan, today is the day to finish it off. It can also be seen as a testing day, proving your concept can take root before you take it further. There may be some hesitance over where you are going and what you are creating. However, today is a day to make decisions. Finish what you have started or move on to something new.

The Nawal Aq’ab’al

The word aq’ab is translated as dark. The suffix -al changes the meaning slightly, alluding transtition and the dawning of the day. It is the time between darkness and light, night and day. Probably our best way to translate it would be as twilight. Birth is the beginning of the mortal journey. Aq’ab’al is just the beginning of the day and of things which are not yet fully formed.

In Santiago Atitlan one day, a friend explained to me the different parts of a weaving on a backstrap loom. Aq’ab’al is the warp (the vertical threads), B’atz is the weft (the horizontal threads) which creates the whole cloth. The newly woven cloth is Kawok. In order for the weaver to create, first she has an idea in her head or a dream. She sets out the dream on her loom by setting up the warp. The design has passed from being just an idea, to the beginnings of a woven reality. Thus, concept requires creative input before it becomes whole. Aq’ab’al can also represent conception. The fertilised egg is far from ready to be born, but has passed from the dream or spirit world into the physical.

Aq’ab’al days are great days for the start of new things, particularly new relationships – Aq’ab’al has a strong affinity with marriage. Also it is a perfect day for starting new projects. It is the time to bring them into the world of light from the world of dreams and ideas.

The Number 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.

7 the final step

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.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

5 Imox (28th January 2025)

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5 Imox Embrace your individuality and put your energy into your dreams. Spending some time by water may enhance this process, today is an ideal day for introspection.

The combination of the number of hard work and Imox, the nawal of the collective consciousness, may give rise to more difficulty than usual in connecting with the collective consciousness of society today.

Sometimes the dreamworld may be difficult to navigate. Illusions turn our perception upside down, time seems to run differently and events occur very differently to our expectations. For these reasons, Imox is sometimes seen as the nawal of craziness. This world is the one which joins us all together, the collective, where all inspiration and nurture comes from. It is the unseen feeling between all of us, the unspoken words that we hear. It is the pool to which we are all connected.

The number 5 can represent obstructions and blockages. When this is applied to our connection to the group consciousness, it could result in isolation. More effort than usual may be required to understand what is going on around you, where events may seem more alien than usual. You may have a feeling that you have moved into a alternate reality, where events in society do not seem to make sense.

The Nawal Imox

Nawal Imox represents the collective consciousness, the great ocean. It is the moment before the “big bang”, when all that existed was the dream of the creator. It is everything and nothing in one place, the ovum from which reality was conceived. Imox is still very much in the other world, requiring another component to physically manifest the dream into reality.

Imox is considered to be a feminine nawal. Sometimes called water lily, sometimes crocodile, it is an embodiment of the primordial. It was from the great ocean that the four first men raised sky to create the world which we inhabit. Imox can also be seen as the Darwinian swamp from which all life emerged. It is fertile and creative, the mother that gave birth to our entire reality.

Imox is our common origin, and as such links us all together. It is the place of dreams, the collective conscious we delve into on our nightly voyages. It may also relate to the place that certain plant medicines take us to in order to bring us wisdom. However, as the font of all of creation, Imox harbours the dark as well as the light.

Imox is a day to celebrate the spirit of the times, to understand the collective mind. It is a day to dream your creations, your art, your music. Imox helps us all feel connected, when the psychic field between us may be particularly strong. Discernment may be called for, to understand when to dissociate from the collective. It is important to remember your individuality.

The Number Five

The Sacred Mayan calendar is said to be a calendar of human life. It can be seen as a microcosm of the human body. The number five is one of these parts. It is representative of the hand with its five digits. It is with our hands that we work, and with what we earn we pay our debts. Five is also a number that relates to the sacred fire where we pay our debts with offerings and prayers. Five might be so busy working that it fails to remember what it is working for. It can also signify that what it is attached to becomes work, or is “hard work”.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

4 Ajpu (27th January 2025)

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4 AjpuThe world may have been turning for many millions of years, but our cycles of creation and destruction happen repeatedly throughout time. Yesterday one era was swept away, today a new era is stabilised.

The Maya calendars work in cycles which range from short to very long. The short cycles may be 1, 13 or 20 days. The longer ones are 260 days, 52 years or much longer. Each small cycle is a fractal of the larger ones. Over the 20 days of the sacred calendar, we can see the whole story of creation and the evolution of human consciousness.

new era is stabilised
Stela C at Quirigua which shows a creation date of 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ajpu 8 Kumku. Photo by Mark Elmy

One of the longer cycles is the 13 Baktun era. The start of one of these is recorded at Quirigua on Stella C, as 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ajpu 8 Cumku. This is thought to equate to August 12th 3114 BCE. It is said to be a creation day for our era. Each 4 Ajpu day marks a day when we re-create.

new era is stabilised
This is how a stela carved for today’s date would look. It shows the date 0.0.12.5.0 4 Ajpu 3 Pax Created using Bob Makransky’s Mayan Astrology program

Today leadership may be stabilised into the physical world after a period of destruction or loss. It is what was conceived through the ancestors on the day 13 Aq’ab’al. We may start to see the beginning of a new era. Perhaps we need to look with new eyes and look for the signs of goodness within it. When we can see it around us, we become able to see it within us.

The Nawal Ajpu

journey to your highest potential

Nawal Ajpu is once again a nawal with a multitude of meanings and translations. In the Yucatec language it is known as Ahau, in Kiche is is also known as Junajpu. These are variously translated as lord, hunter, blow gunner, flower and sun. Each one of the translations has its merits, and represents an aspect of this auspicious nawal.

Within the ancient Mayan society, the royals were not just political leaders of their particular city-states, they were priest-kings and priest-queens. They served as the conduit to the divine, deriving their wisdom for guiding their people through their connection with the Hearts of the Earth and the Sky. This wisdom enriched both the ruling dynasty and their people, as they would be working in harmony with the gods. The ruler of the city was also the physical embodiment of the divine, and Ajpu is closely related to this. Likewise it represents our potential, the state of divinity to which we may aspire.

Ajpu represents the holiness in life, the divinity in the physical world, and our search for it. It is the search for underlying meaning, understanding that each person is a part of the whole. Whether we like it or not, and however we judge it, we are all a part of creation.

Every action of ourselves and others gives an opportunity to explore ourselves and our reaction. Sometimes we are attracted, sometimes repelled by the action of others. Occasionally Ajpu can lead us to become immersed in the other world, to lose sight of reality. It is important to remember to stay in touch with the Earth as we reach to the Sky.

The Number Four

The number 4 is very important within Mayan mythology. Four represents the cardinal points, the four colours of maize, the four carriers of the year, the two equinoxes and two solstices, as well as midnight, sunrise, midday and sunset. The number four is representative of the four first men. It was said to be they who raised the sky from the sea to create the world we live on. In Mayan myth it is four pillars that support the sky from the Earth. As you can imagine, four is a number which represents stability, a good, down-to-Earth number.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

3 Kawok (26th January 2025)

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3 KawokWithin the Maya calendars we see a microcosm reflection of life and creation cycles. The day 3 Kawok can represent the birth of a new era, which may involve both pain and joy.

Within the Maya cross, the day 3 Kawok represents the future of the day Wajxakib (8) B’atz. Kawok represents the midwife’s energy and the birth process. Today is particularly strong as what it is birthing is the day 4 Ajpu. This is the day of the creation of a new world, and 3 Kawok is the midwife who brings it forth.

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 seen in many Maya homes supporting the tortilla griddle. The stones are the stars Alnitak, Saiph and Rigel in the constellation we call Orion. The Smoky Fireplace is the Great Orion Nebula (M42)

M42, The Orion Nebula. Photo by Mark Elmy

Another creation story is that the goddess Ixchel tipped over the water jar and caused a great flood which washed away the old world. If the new era comes into being on 4 Ajpu, 3 Kawok represents that great flood, washing away the old society. Here we see the storm aspect of the day Kawok strongly highlighted. This may not be the easiest of days to negotiate, especially if you are trying to hold on to what is being washed away. Perhaps it is time to let go and ride the wave instead.

The energy of the number 3 also represents the internal process. This is a day to call on the energy of the nawal Kawok to wash away your internal obstacles to the emergence of new growth in your life.

The Nawal Kawok

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

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

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

The Number 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.

Chol Q'ij - The Energies of the Days

2 Tijax (25th January 2024)

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2 TijaxToday would seem to be an ideal day to seek peace through mediation. The energy of today brings an interesting combination of the number which represents duality with the nawal which resolves it.

However, Tijax does have its warlike reputation. It can be argumentative, although this is usually with good reason. In its quest for truth,  the obsidian blade skillfully cuts away the dishonest, illegitimate and deceitful. It is preparing the way for the arrival of Ajpu, clearing the unholy to bring the divine into the world. Although the outcome of this brings about a more harmonious world, the process may be harsh.

Tijax can be seen as a precision instrument. It cuts with the skill of a surgeon, seeing precisely what to remove. When coupled with the number 2, this can make things very clear. The day 2 Tijax may bring things into stark contrast. There is a clarity of what is to be kept and what is to be cut away. It is a day when we may have to choose our side, to draw our line in the sand. There is no middle ground on a 2 day.

The number 2 can also represent self-sacrifice and relationships. Today we might ask ourselves what we can cut away from ourselves in order to strengthen our relationships. Tijax can represent the purification that comes through sacrifice. Today would be a good day to cut yourself free of something which may be causing an imbalance in your relationship. It could also suggest that the resolution of conflict, that Tijax drives towards, comes through seeing both viewpoints. Whilst this may be rather obvious, today it is something to really keep in mind as it is strongly empowered. This is a day to bring decisive healing through love and understanding.

The Nawal Tijax

Sacrificial Death God 1

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

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

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

The Number 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

1 No’j (24th January 2025)

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1 N'ojNew worlds need new solutions. This is very much the essence of both today and the thirteen-day period (trecena) that we move into today. It is a time of inspiration, which may come from sudden events.

Today we are starting a new trecena. However, we are still within the influential period of the Maya cross of 8 B’atz. In two days, we move into its future sign of 3 Kawok, and the next day of 4 Ajpu can represent the beginning of a new world. It was seen as the creation day, noted on Stela C at Quirigua. This re-creation brings great opportunity for reinvention and resetting, it can also bring challenges to our accepted worldview. Sometimes this may be precipitated by an event, and here No’j acts in both its aspects.

No’j is sometimes associated with earthquakes, also sometimes with lightning. Both of these are energetic events which arrive without warning. They are sudden and sometimes decisive. They might call for quick action, a swift resolution to the effects of the event. This also comes through No’j, the nawal of the brain and the problem solver, bringing us the inspiration to solve problems and think on our feet.

We see it here connected with the number 1, representing birth, the seed of something new. The energy of this combination may bring the new solutions to the issues we face in the world. It may also bring about a whole new way of thinking. A new and sudden revelation may bring clarity to begin seeing a situation from a different perspective. This is just the first formation of an idea. Although it is possibly more than a concept, it will need time and careful nurturing to develop. We begin to see a clear solution to the problem through new inspiration.

Veintena Uchum

In February 2024 we started the Mayan solar year on the day 12 No’j. It has been 340 days since the start of the year 12 No’j. We are entering the eighteenth, and final, full 20 day period of the solar year, or Macewal Q’ij, on the day 1 No’j. Today is the first day of Uchum known as the season of second sowing. The seeds which are planted receive the final blessings of the old Mam 12 No’j in his last breath before his final appearance as 8 No’j, the herald of the Tz’ipin Q’ij, the five directionless days at the end of the solar year.

The Nawal No’j

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

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

The Number 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.