It was a day when the whole world seemed to be riveted to their television sets – a day when what was happening on the moon seemed more important than what was happening on the planet – as hundreds of millions of people watched in awe as two NASA astronauts in a tiny spacecraft landed on the moon. That was in 1969 – and now it seems apropos for the 50th anniversary of that historic landing to coincide with the opening of this Ik’ trecena, associated with Ehécatl, the “Wind/Breath/ Spirit” form of the great Feathered Serpent that was often seen as a portal to the heavens.

Traditionally this was seen as an energy frame associated with “high magic”, inspiration, and communication, but often that “wind” aspect manifests quite directly as seen on One Ik’ last November when “one of the most complex meteorological situations of the past 50 to 60 years” left 160,000 customers without power in northern Italy as fierce winds and driving rains inundated towns and devastated thousands of hectares of forest. Similarly, in the fall of 2016, Super Typhoon Meranti, one of the most powerful ever recorded, strengthened from a Cat. 1 to a Cat. 5 in just 36 hours at the beginning of this period as it knocked out power to some 500,000 households in Taiwan, before wreaking havoc on mainland China. Four cycles before that, in 2013, under exactly the same “One Wind” influence, Cat. 5 Super Typhoon Haiyan (aka Yolanda) devastated the Philippines. This emphasis on “Wind” not only has a tendency to accompany the arrival of this trecena, but also seems to orient itself around particular days, such as 7 Lamat which has been associated with a number of record-breaking hurricanes.

But despite the “Wind” aspect, this trecena also tends to be aligned with important “energy pushes” as people rally behind particular causes, as happened last November when a national call to action accompanied this time frame, in an initiative to get people out to vote during the U.S. midterm elections. There were also many events during the last Ik’ trecena pertaining to the 100th anniversary of the 1918 armistice at the end of WWI.

Undoubtedly there will continue to be many more energy pushes at this time as well with so many pressing issues (such as the inhumane incarceration of migrants at southern US border camps) still unresolved. It has now been one cycle since the first immigrant “caravans” began arriving at that border – one cycle during which many people have died (including many children) and hundreds have suffered severely as a result of the cruel policies that have been in place. And still it goes on, despite hundreds of demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of people all calling for an end to the crisis. And although a $4.5bn border crisis spending bill was passed by the U.S. Congress a few weeks ago it is obvious to most that MUCH more needs to be done, including the formulation and implementation of stronger humanitarian policies in this regard. So it is likely that this trecena will help to bring much more attention to this issue, not the least of which will take place in conjunction with the second round of debates involving Democratic candidates for the presidency.

In the past this trecena has brought forth many “Wind” oriented events, such as the first flight of the twin-engine all-metal Lougheed Model 10A Electra (the type flown by Amelia Earhart on her ill-fated final trip) in 1934. The first day of this trecena (“the initiation of wind/breath/spirit”) is also the Maya birth energy of Charles Lindbergh, the aviator who made the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight, from New York to Ireland in the “Spirit of St. Louis”, in 1927. Little could he have imagined that a mere 71 years later the first module of the International Space Station would be transported into space (also during this trecena).

So if some major wind-related events were to take place during this time that would not be unusual as this is a period traditionally seen as being pushed forward by the Mesoamerican deity known as Ehécatl, the wind/breath/spirit form of the highly revered Quetzalcoatl. It is a time frame that can also be quite energizing, in the sense of highlighting new possibilities or “breathing new life” into things that might have seemed hopeless or problematic in the past. In essence this is an energy sequence that is not only oriented around communication, inspiration, and many other things of a spiritual nature, but also high magic – as happened four cycles ago, in 2016. At that time high magic was palpable when, on the second day of this period, the European Space Agency unveiled the most complete map of the Milky Way ever created, including over a billion stars, based on the first 14 months of the Gaia probe’s 5.5 year observational campaign, giving us a chance to see our place in the universe in a whole new way.

Now, as this trecena opens, there is much anticipation relating to the fact that Robert Mueller will finally be testifying before two committees in the US, on a day that tends to bring things back to absolute “fundamentals”. That day will be 5 Kimi, the same energy that was in place precisely four cycles ago when some 100,000 demonstrators, including prominent actors and politicians, and leaders of at least 50 organizations (such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, amd Stop the War Coalition), and 200 religious groups staged a “Refugees Welcome” march in London, to urge the government to take more action on the refugee crisis in that country. This is the kind of energy that often draws attention to the kinds of fundamental issues that can compel people to examine things deeply – and indeed, many are feeling that Mueller’s testimony will be a key “milestone” in the overall effort to inform the public about significant crimes that have taken place over the past three years.

Traditionally this is the trecena that was thought of as being under the patronage of Chantico, the Goddess of Terrestrial Fire. She can often help to provide balance through the warmth and nourishment of her hearth fire. However, she is also associated with “high magic”, through her association with this “Wind/Breath/Spirit” aspect of the great Feathered Serpent. So this is a good time to keep in mind that “anything” is possible during this period.

This is an opportune time to focus on those higher powers, a good time to turn towards things that can inspire and uplift. Communication is important during this period, particularly if it is “solution” oriented, inspirational in tone, and aligned with the light that is so greatly needed to overtake the darkness that has gripped so many in recent years. And if you want to completely forget about the darkness and just go and play for awhile there is always the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas that opens towards the end of this time frame. Here are this trecena’s energies:

1 Ik’ (July 20th) – the “initiation of wind/breath/spirit”, coinciding at this time with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing (which, in 1969, coincided with 4 Ajaw – the completion of an important cycle).

At this time there is an intense heat wave in place across the central and Northeast U.S., with close to 200 million people under an “excessive heat” warning, so that will be a lot of people looking for a “breath” of cooling wind. Opening day for the dazzling Surrey Fusion Festival.

Two cycles since the launch of the Never Again Movement in the US in February of 2018 to advocate for gun control, after the horrific Florida school shooting, and the beginning of nationwide rallies by students across the US in a call for stricter gun regulations. At that same time German artist Walter Kuhn installed his “Never Again” carpet of over 3000 giant red silk poppies in Munich, Germany on what used to be the main Nazi parade ground, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the WWI armistice, an anniversary that was marked towards the end of this same trecena.

Currently this day marks precisely six cycles since Hillary Clinton announced (in the spring of 2015) her campaign to become the Democratic candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

2 Ak’b’al (July 21st) – a “dynamic” type of energy associated with the temple or “house” of deep esoteric mysteries, on the opening day for the 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2019), the world’s largest open scientific conference on HIV and AIDS), which takes place over four days in Mexico City.

Second day of the Surrey Fusion festival.  Fiftieth anniversary of the day when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon (on 5 Imix in 1969).

On the last appearance of 2 Ak’b’al (last November) the “darkness” aspect of this energy was in play when funerals began for students who were killed two days before in Florida. This same energy left over 100,000 homes without power in the Maritimes when that region was hit by a severe windstorm that downed trees and “multiple, multiple” power lines. That was also the start of The Last Weekend – a national call to action initiative to get people out to vote during last November’s US midterm elections.

Currently it is now two cycles since Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russians for election interference (for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and for aggravated identify theft), with Mueller now set to testify before Congress in three days time.

3 K’an (July 22nd) – an “activation” type of energy associated with both germination and opulence, coinciding at this time with the launch of Chandrayaan-2, a robotic lunar orbiter/lander/rover which is expected to land in early September. (This launch was originally scheduled for last week, but seems that this Ik’ trecena is a more apropos time for this event.) The Chandrayaan-I, India’s first mission to the Moon (launched in 2008) has already completed its mission of charting the lunar surface. This is the Maya birth energy of Queen Elizabeth II.

4 Chikchan (July 23rd) – the “defining” of Lifeforce, a Burner Day associated with “running with the fire”, in conjunction with Quetzalcoatl’s connection with Liberation and Higher Consciousness, on the day when the new UK leader of the Conservative Party is announced. He will have only three months to negotiate Britain’s departure from the UK as that deadline rapidly approaches. Three cycles ago (in June 2017) this was in place when thousands of protestors took part in March for Truth rallies in more than 150 cities across the US and around the world.

5 Kimi (July 24th) – a “precision” type of energy associated with “absolute foundations” – often a “game changer, currently in place on the 50th anniversary of the day when the Apollo 11 crew returned to Earth in the Command Module in 1969 and the world celebrated the successful completion of an historic mission that “changed the world’s perception” of what is possible in terms of exploration. On the last appearance of 5 Kimi (last November) this energy coincided with the US midterm elections, which was also a game changer. Currently this is the day when Robert Mueller will testify before the House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees in the U.S. (postponed from the 17th), so it will be interesting to see what new revelations might be revealed related to White House obstruction of justice and Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. The intent is to “clear the fog” that has been generated by the White House related to these issues.

An interesting podcast related to the findings of Mueller’s Report, told in a dramatic, entertaining fashion (like an old fashioned radio show), can be found on Lawfare’s new audio series blog.

This energy will also accompany the appointment of the new Prime Minister by the Queen in the UK as Theresa May formally leaves.

6 Manik’ (July 25th) – the energy of the six directions in conjunction with the reciprocity-oriented (but sometimes “sacrificial”) energy of the deer (traditionally seen as a “carrier for the sun” on Earth).

7 Lamat (July 26th) – “self-generating star” or beacon; a strong “heralding” type of energy, as well as a force that has been historically associated with strong winds (often hurricanes) – correlating at this time with Mick Jagger’s 76th birthday and the opening of the Glastonbury Symposium, oriented around sacred myteries and “new frontiers”. This is also the Calendar Round (ie. “New Fire”) anniversary of the founding of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on Aug. 8, 1967.

On the last appearnce of this energy a three-judge panel on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals (based in San Francisco) rejected Trump’s bid to rescind the Obama era DACA or “Dreamers” program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.

8 Muluk (July 27th) – the “resurrection” of water; strongly aligned with rebirth and “purification”. The Maya birth energy of Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Betty White.

9 Ok (July 28th) –an “outwardly-projecting” type of energy associated with love, loyalty, and guidance that can have long lasting influence; a “double-fire” type of energy often aligned with “hearth-fire” or even “heart-fire”. Three cycles since former FBI director James Comey went before the US Senate intelligence committee to give testimony as to whether Trump tried to persuade him to stop the investigation into his connections with Russia. Two cycles since Manafort’s close associate Rick Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the US, at the end of a busy week during which Robert Mueller unsealed 89 felony charges against 17 different people with regard to the Russia investigations.

10 Chuwen (July 29th) – “foundational play”; a creative time-weaving type of force, coinciding at this time with Earth Overshoot Day – the day that marks the point within the year where humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can generate in that year. A graphic that highlights Country Overshoot days  provides an overview of the ecological footprint of different countries.

One cycle since commemorations worldwide marked the 100th anniversary of the 1918 armistice at the end of World War I, on the opening day of the first Paris Peace Forum.

11 Eb’ (July 30th) – inspirational “animating vitality”, aligned with change and new possibilities, coinciding at this time with the UN’s International Day of Friendship and the first of two Democractic candidate debates from Detroit. Maya birth energy of satirical illustrator Steve Brodner who does a brilliant job of depicting the lunacy of current U.S. politics.

12 B’en (July 31st) – a “dedicated” type of force aligned with personal authority, a double-Quetzalcoatl type of force, coinciding at this time with a rare black supermoon, the second  New Moon to occur in a calendar month. This is also the second day  of the Democratic debates and the opening day of the 2019 Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas.

Twelve cycles since the beginning of the revolutionary wave (in January 2011) that became known as the Arab Spring. Twenty years since the ashes of astrogeologist Eugene Shoemaker were deposited on the moon (on 13 Lamat in 1999).

13 Ix (August 1st) – “transformational Jaguar” – a double transformation type of energy associated with the Jaguar and earth mysteries, coinciding at this time with the beginning of Ghost month in China, with this day being the Ghost Gate Opens day.

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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.]