For the past five weeks it has been one right after another, hurricane after hurricane, flood after flood, earthquake after earthquake, disaster after disaster. In the wake of all of this millions of people have been left without homes, without livelihoods, without power, without direction, and – for many – without hope. In some cases, such as Barbuda, Dominica, and Puerto Rico, whole nations have been decimated. With so much in shambles and so many needing aid, the call for assistance and compassion is enormous.

So now we come to the Kawak (Storm) trecena. Oh no! How can that be???  This is the trecena that brought the likes of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Supertyphoon Soudelor in 2015; the trecena that ignited the Okanogan fires in Washington state in 2015, which became the largest in that state’s history; the trecena that brought forth the massive Fort McMurray wildfire last year. And . . .  how could we ever forget the storm of disbelief, anger, and intense protest that lead up to the US presidential inauguration on the final day of this trecena last January?

Given all this, this does not necessarily sound like good news. And yet – the nature of the “storm” that characterizes this energy frame is not always bad, nor is it always weather related. At times it is fueled by passion and compassion, which will surely be the case at the current time. Indeed, this is a time frame that can foment tidal waves of action oriented around significant causes, as happened in the summer of 1963 when it triggered the first national integrated civil rights march in the U.S., the largest civil rights rally in U.S. history.

The mid point of this trecena can be particularly intense, with its Seven Chikchan (“self-generating lifeforce”) influence, as was seen last January at the time of the massive We Shall Not Be Moved march and rally on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C., which was led by civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, just prior to the inauguration. And certainly those were not the only voices of defiance at that time, as the frenzy of protest and objections to what was unfolding in Washington continued to intensify. Indeed it is not surprising to see that as Seven Chikchan returns this time it will accompany the massive anti-Brexit rallies in the UK as protestors attempt to stop action on that country’s proposed EU Withdrawal bill.

So what is the nature of this energy that can uncork so much feeling and trigger so much change? As seen so often in the past this is a strong water-oriented time frame, a period under the auspices of Tláloc, the Aztec god of rain (known as Chac to the Maya). This is a deity who often announces his presence in dramatic, sometimes highly tempestuous ways. It is generally a highly catalytic energy traditionally associated with clouds, lightning, thunder, and heavy rainfall that has the potential to create either a “water blessing” that can purify and transform, or some sort of complete disaster. Could it be that he showed up a few days early this time?

In any case, the catalyzation process triggered by Chac can take many forms, with much of it being water oriented, with many significant floods having been triggered during past cycles. But it can sometimes also trigger floods of tears, the kinds of tears that accompany unspeakable grief, as happened five cycles ago when that Mayasian Boeing 777 with 239 people aboard suddenly blipped off the radar, leaving a monumental mystery still unsolved.

But Kawak is not always associated with disasters. It can often manifest in passionate calls to action, as could be seen four cycles ago, in November 2014, when massive protest rallies took place throughout the trecena, in places such as Hong Kong, Mexico City, Missouri, Cairo, and Eastern Canada. During the last appearance of this trecena, last January, the intensity of protest seemed to reach unprecedented levels as resistance groups made their objections to the new U.S. president and the GOP agenda known on almost a daily basis.

Considerable fuel was added to that call to action when U.S. intelligence agencies revealed their conclusion that Russia had conducted a sophisticated influence campaign to “undermine faith in the US democratic process”, bringing into question the legitimacy of the election results.

So, here we are once again, 260 days later, with those same energies in play as the U.S. continues its struggle to deal with the fall-out of the last election and federal investigations into the current administration’s connection with Russia intensify. Adding an additional chilling layer of concern is the verbal sabre-rattling and shows of force between the current administration and North Korea.

And then, of course, there are the relief efforts that will have to pick up steam as people come to terms with the devastation spewn forth from the hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires. If ever there was a time for compassion it is NOW. If ever there was a time for bullies, billionaires, and self-serving bigots to get over themselves and learn to serve humanity it is the PRESENT.

The needs are enormous, the suffering unthinkable. Let’s hope that, this time through, Chac will be benevolent and trigger the kind of catalyzation that will eventually lead to a cleansing and clearing of the dark forces that have held sway for too long so that rays of light and hope can filter through. During this time frame these are the energies that will come into play:

1 Kawak (Sept. 25th) – the “initiation” of a “catalytic storm”, at a time when millions of people in various locations in several different countries are assessing the damage inflicted by massive hurricane onslaughts, devastating flooding, and horrific earthquakes, as they begin the painstaking process of clean-up. Opening day of the 68th International Astronautical Congress, this time in Adelaide, Australia, and the day of the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum. Maya birth energy of Princess Diana, the “people’s princess” who was well known for her compassion.

2 Ajaw (Sept. 26th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with the full sun, full power, and the idea of “enlightenment”. Maya birth energy of Alvin Toffler, the author of many global bestsellers such as “Future Shock” and “The Third Wave”.

3 Imix (Sept. 27th) – the “activation” of “birth” or the realm of all potential; one terrifying, off-the-charts cycle since President Obama’s farewell address to the nation

4 Ik’ (Sept. 28th) – the “defining” of wind/breath/spirit; an important energy associated with the connection between the sun and Quetzalcoatl, and one of the five energies at the centre of the Aztec Sun Stone. Currently this energy is in place in conjunction with Remember Me Thursday, a day that is the focal point for a global campaign to increase awareness of pet adoption organizations around the world, a campaign to help orphaned pets to find forever homes.  Given how many animals would have been caught in the midst of the weather related and earthquake tragedies, the need in this area is enormous.

In many areas this also coincides with celebrations of Confucius’s birthday – sometimes called “Teacher’s Day” as Confucius is known as China’s “First Teacher”. Precisely five cycles since the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.

5 Ak’b’al (Sept. 29th) – the “pinpointing” of deep esoteric mysteries, coinciding at this time with Michelmas, the Feast of St. Michael and all the angels, and with World Heart Day. This is also the final day of the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide and, beginning in the evening, the start of Yom Kippur – the Jewish Day of Atonement. Under this influence in 2009 CERN’s Large Hadron Collider accelerated to the highest level ever achieved (up to that point) as part of a test to “unlock the secrets of the origins of the universe”.

6 K’an (Sept. 30th) – a “six directions” type of energy aligned with “youthful vitality”, the energy that turned Katrina into a Tropical Storm (pre-hurricane) in 2005 at the same time as it triggered an extreme solar geomagnetic storm. At this time this energy coincides with Astronomy Day, the final day of the Invictus Games, and the end of Yom Kippur – Jewish Day of Atonement. End of the U.S. fiscal year, by which time the federal government needs to approve a new spending bill before it runs out of money, possibly by raising the debt ceiling in order to deal with the humungous rebuilding required as a result of hurricane and flood destruction in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and other areas.

And on an entirely different note – the opening of the “Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire” exhibit in San Francisco – a spectacular tribute to the ancient “First City of the Americas”.

7 Chikchan (Oct. 1st) – a self-generating Liberation/Lifeforce type of energy that was seen traditionally as the daysign of Chicomecóatl, the Aztec Goddess of agriculture (especially maize) which was representative of the more positive aspects of this time frame, with its potential for providing conditions that are favorable for bringing forth nourishment. In 1944 the greatest amphibious assault in history, known as D-Day, took place under this influence, marking the beginning of European liberation. Currently this energy coincides with China’s National Day holiday (beginning of a “golden week”, a national seven day holiday that can often foment massive traffic jams due to the humungous movement of people).

This day marks the beginning of the 15th International Human Rights Colloquium in Sao Paulo Brazil (to Oct. 6th) and the beginning of the new U.S. fiscal year. This is also the day of Catalonia’s controversial referendum on independence from Spain and the day of a huge anti-Brexit rally planned for outside the Tory party conference in Manchester, as that meeting opens on this day.

8 Kimi (Oct. 2nd) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with “death” or “absolute spiritual foundations” as when Hurricane Katrina was rapidly approaching Louisiana in 2005. On its last appearance this energy coincided with a nationwide pre-inauguration protest in the U.S., dubbed a Day of Resistance, at which time Sen. Bernie Sanders and his allies led a nationwide rally against the Republicans’ new agenda. Maya birth energy of both Stephen Colbert and America Ferrara, both high profile critics of the current administration. Currently this is the day when former Canadian astronaut Julie Payette becomes Canada’s new Governor-General.

9 Manik’ (Oct. 3rd) – an “outwardly projecting” type of energy associated with reciprocity, an important Maya calendar anniversary of the day when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech at the first national integrated civil rights march in the U.S. during the summer of 1963, the largest civil rights rally in U.S. history. In 1983 Prince recorded Purple Rain live under the same energy influence.

10 Lamat (Oct. 4th) “foundational bright star” – a foundational “signalling” type of energy, as seen in August of 2010 when the 33 miners trapped in the Chilean mining cave-in signalled that they were alive. Currently this energy coincides with the start of the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival (aka Moon Cake Day), with World Animal Day, and with the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, a time for many Blessing of the Animals events.

World Animal Day was initiated in 1931 at a convention of ecologists to highlight the plight of endangered species, and since then has been observed annually as a tribute day for all animals.

11 Muluk (Oct. 5th) – the “change” in conjunction with “water” energy that has accompanied many very intense water related events, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and even 2016’s ferocious Fort McMurray wildfire. Currently this energy coincides with the Harvest Moon (Full Moon), with World Teachers’ Day, and with the Judeo/Christian Feast of the Tabernacles (to Oct. 6). In many parts of the world this day will be celebrated as the Monkey God/Monkey King Festival.

12 Ok (Oct. 6th) – a “grouping together” energy often associated with love, warmth, and guidance  – and even high energy fire, as demonstrated on its last appearance when hundreds of defiant anti-Trump protestors jeered and screamed at “Trumpites” who were attending the “Deploraball” at the National Press Building, prior to the inauguration.

13 Chuwen (Oct. 7th) – “transformational monkey” or “transformational play”, an intense and highly creative “time weaving” type of energy, sometimes referred to as “Thirteen Threads”; a powerfully innovative type of force traditionally aligned with play, creativity, “time-weaving”, and even intense “trickery”, which was amusingly (or not) in place at the time of the swearing in of the 45th U.S. president last January. At that time a major “Festival of Resistance: March Aginst Trump” rally took place in Washington, DC as some 60 protest groups marched in solidarity to reject racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression. As violent clashes with police broke out and more than 200 were arrested, many viewed it as “one of the darkest days in the history of the U.S” . The “trickery” associated with this day and this energy has taken its place in the history of “national jokes” as the perceived number of people who attended the inauguration (as interpreted by the president-elect) stands in stark contrast to the visual evidence of the sparse crowds.

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[Please note that the brief descriptions of the days provided above are only “thumbnail sketches”. Much greater detail can be found in Manual for the Soul: A Guide to the Energies of Life.]