Expect miracles. Anticipate magic. This is the Wind, Breath, Spirit trecena, and it’s going to be a period of high intensity and high excitement for millions of people, just like it was in the UK last year, at the time of Queen Elizabeth’s Grand Platinum Jubilee. But at this particular time there are many stark contrasts.

Firstly, there are the multiple tragedies unfolding in Europe – the tragedy of Russia’s continuing bombardment of Ukraine, which has been going on for nearly a year, with still no sign of abatement, and the unfathomable tragedy of thousands of lives lost in Turkey and Syria at the end of the last trecena due to devastating earthquakes. As this trecena opens humanitarian teams from around the world are rushing into the area to help with search and rescue efforts, bringing in special equipment and specialist skills, and even rescue dogs to help with the effort.

As Ukraine has shown over the past year, and as President Zelenskyy exemplifies, it is “strong spirit” that is helping people to survive, despite enormous losses. Those who survived the terrifying earthquakes, but have suffered the loss of family members, friends, and homes, will now have to summon the courage and strength to carry on, to rebuild their lives. Under such circumstances the challenge to “just breathe” will be enormous. And that re-grouping and re-building process, of course, will take a long time. But in terms of this particular trecena the emphasis will be placed on assessment and rescue – which is where miracles are likely to occur, as has happened in other regions even days after events such as this have occurred. So at this time hope, prayers, and determined action will be channelling spirit in the direction of rescue for those still missing, and in the direction of providing shelter and comfort for those left injured, homeless, and bereaved.

Symbolically, this is the trecena traditionally associated with Ehécatl, the “Wind/Breath/Spirit” form of the great Feathered Serpent that was often seen in ancient Mesoamerica as a portal to the heavens. One of the most prominent symbols associated with Ehécatl was a duck-billed mask, representative of the wind that blows in all directions. The fact that Ehécatl is a variant of the great Feathered Serpent, known as Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl), is also significant since serpentine energy has long been associated with medicine, alchemy, and the healing arts. As shown in the trecena image, the duck-billed Ehécatl represents the first day of this period, which is thought to influence all the rest.

Another overarching influence was seen, symbolically, as that of Chantico, the Goddess of Terrestrial Fire, associated with the warmth and nourishment of the hearth fire – protecting the “home fires”.

As the patron of this time frame, she will be busy during this trecena helping people to find shelter and warmth, and comfort, particularly under the harsh winter conditions that are adding to the rescue challenges in the hard-hit regions. Associated with “high magic”, earthly treasures, and domesticity, Chantico provides the reminder that this would be an opportune time to look towards things that can inspire and uplift, to watch for the miracles that will unfold even within the worst possible contexts. With Mexico sending at least 16 of its beloved search and rescue dogs to that region they will be, without doubt, the bearers of much comfort, and guides to the miraculous.

Another very important facet of this period is communication – and how information is transmitted. With more than 65 countries offering assistance to Turkey and Syria at this time, the importance of coordination in these efforts cannot be overstated.

The current meeting of the European Council in Brussels is scheduled to take place over the first two days of this period, and President Zelenskyy has been invited to attend, where he is expected to urge EU leaders to speed up deliveries of weapons and equipment to Ukraine to help stave off an anticipated new assault by Russia. His effectiveness as a communicator is a major factor in persuading other countries to provide assistance in this battle against oppression and tyranny. As before, decisions made during this meeting will be critically important.

Now, on the other end of the spectrum, we find a completely different form of wind, breath, and spirit literally “coming into play” at this time. Here the emphasis will be on high excitement since this is prime time for Carnival season. During this trecena some of the biggest festivals in the world will be underway – in some cases, for the first time since the pandemic, which will add to the excitement and likely bring forth a high level of engagement. These major events include Québec’s Winter Carnival, the Nice Carnival, the main events for the Carnevale Di Venezia, Carnival in Rio, Mardi Gras in New Orleans and several other cities, Winterlude and the Festival du Voyageur in Canada, Maslenitsa in Ukraine, WorldPride Sydney 2023, China’s Blue Dragon Festival, and Superbowl in the US. And let’s not forget Valentine’s Day!

So as this Ik’ trecena comes into play once again, many forces aligned with breath, spirit, communication, healing, alchemy, and even the magical arts are being activated. During this time communication will be important, as well as anything of an inspirational and contributing nature that will help and support those who are so gravely in need. Here are the energies that are coming into play:

1 Ik’ (Feb. 9th) – the “initiation of wind/breath/spirit”, at a time when humanitarian teams from around the world are rushing to Turkey and Syria to help with the massive humanitarian crisis that is underway after two massive earthquakes hit that region at the end of the last trecena. With devastation for nearly 100 km, including the collapse of some 6,000 buildings, the situation is dire, with thousands of survivors in need of assistance on almost every level.

Strong wind events, including tornadoes, have often been associated with this energy, which could be seen again at this time, as severe weather has been predicted for the southern US, in the lower Mississippi area.

This is the first day of a two-day European Council meeting in Brussels, which President Zelenskyy has been invited to attend. This is also the final day of the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress, which has been working for the past week on defining a “roadmap for achieving ocean conservation targets to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030”. There will likely be an announcement relating to this effort at this time.

This marks three cycles since December 2020 when the US Congress voted to pass the new $900 billion pandemic aid relief bill to help US citizens and business to cope with the pandemic. At the time that bill was passed the global number of coronavirus cases was approaching 222 million, almost triple the number from one cycle earlier. Currently the global total is approx. 675 million cases, not including the tallies from China.

2 Ak’b’al (Feb. 10th) – a “dynamic” type of energy associated with the temple or “house” of deep esoteric mysteries, at the opening of the Québec Winter Carnival, seen as “the largest and oldest winter carnival in the world”, postponed from the day before due to extreme cold in Québec.

This is also the opening day for the Nice Carnival, referred to as the premier international carnival in France, one of the largest in the world. This year’s theme is “Nice Carnival, King of the World’s Treasures”. With the covid numbers in France finally down, this should be a particularly festive celebration – continuing throughout this trecena.

In addition this is the opening day for the special Vermeer exhibition in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam – the largest retrospective exhibition of Johannes Vermeer paintings ever, with 28 of the known 35 Vermeer paintings on display.

3 K’an (Feb. 11th) – an “activation” type of energy associated with both germination and opulence, the day when the main events for the Carnevale Di Venezia begin, including the opulent and magnificent Carnival Costumes’ Show in St. Mark Square, the first of several days of “parading your magnificence”. This is Queen Elizabeth II’s Maya birth energy.

4 Chikchan (Feb. 12th) – the “defining” of Lifeforce, a Burner Day associated with “running with the fire”, in conjunction with Quetzalcoatl’s connection with Liberation and Higher Consciousness, coinciding at this time with Superbowl Sunday in the U.S. It is expected that this event will bring a $1Bn boost to the Phoenix economy. For those more interested in the canine version, the Puppy Bowl is also taking place at that time, to raise awareness about pet adoptions.

It is anticipated that Cyclone Gabrielle will be careening through New Zealand’s North Island by this time.

This was the energy in place when the 13th Amendment (the abolition of slavery) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in January of 1865.

5 Kimi (Feb. 13th) – a “precision” type of energy associated with “absolute foundations”, coinciding with Wear Red Canada day, in support of heart health.

This 5 Kimi energy can sometimes be seen as a “game changing” force, as it can bring things right down to the barest of essentials, prior to regeneration. But that can also mean bringing things down to “pure spirit”, which can be that “game changing” turning point.

In 2018 the energy of 5 Kimi was in place when Democrats won back the US House of
Representatives in the midterm elections and made history with a record number of women winning seats in Congress.

6 Manik’ (Feb. 14th) – 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). This energy is coinciding at this time with Valentine’s Day and National Have a Heart Day, an annual event organized by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.

This is day for the 32nd annual Women’s Memorial March in Vancouver, in memory of missing and murdered indigenous women, a march that also draws attention to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual issues that many vulnerable women still face today.

In 2019 this was the energy in place when the “notorious” phone conversation between the dumpster and new Ukraine president Zelenskyy took place in which Zelenskyy was pressured to investigate Hunter Biden’s involvement in Ukraine. This became a focal point for the first impeachment trial against the dumpster, on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

7 Lamat (Feb. 15th) – “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 tornadoes and hurricanes), and other forms of severe weather.

In April of 2020 this was in place when, for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus, all 50 US states were under disaster declaration as the number of cases in the US climbed to over 530,000, with the death toll over 20,000. Currently by this time the US tally will be over 105 million cases, a number that could not even have been imagined three years ago.

This is one of two days associated with the Buddhist Parinirvana or Nirvana Day, celebrating the day when Buddha was said to have achieved Nirvana or full enlightenment (the other day was Feb. 8th). This is also National Flag Day in Canada.

8 Muluk (Feb. 16th) – the “resurrection” of water; strongly aligned with rebirth and “purification”, coinciding with an important public holiday in North Korea called The Day of the Shining Star, an anniversary of the birthday of Kim Jong-il, Korea’s second leader and the father of Kim Jong-un.

9 Ok (Feb. 17th) – 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”, coinciding at this time with the return of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, “the biggest show on earth” in “all its pagentry and glory”, after a two year hiatus.

Given that former president Bolsonaro (and his distain for culture and the arts) is finally gone, the mayor of Rio has declared this year’s festival to be a “carnival of democracy”. In Winnipeg, this is the opening day for the 10-day Festival du Voyageur, Western Canada’s largest winter festival, which runs to Feb. 26th.

And down south, where it is summer in Australia, this is the start of WorldPride Sydney 2023 which runs through to March 5th and coincides with Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. The centrepiece will be a three-day LGBTQI Human Rights and Health Conference focusing on LGBTQI people’s experiences of abuse, discrimination and persecution.

It has now been one cycle since the start of a special four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend in the UK last year to mark Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday.

As of this day it has been 100 years since archaeologist Howard Carter first entered the burial chamber of King Tutankhamen in Egypt (as noted in his own words in 1923). As it happens this is also Howard Carter’s Maya birth energy.

10 Chuwen (Feb. 18th) – “foundational play”; a creative time-weaving type of force, coinciding with the third Gregorian anniversary of the discovery of Italy’s first case of Covid-19. Shortly thereafter dozens of towns began locking down to prevent the spread.

11 Eb’ (Feb. 19th) – inspirational “animating vitality”, aligned with change and new possibilities, coinciding at this time with the New Moon and the 83rd Gregorian birthday of the great Smokey Robinson, commonly referred to as “The Soul of Motown”. A show called “Motown: The Musical” has earned four Tony Award nominations. The awards ceremony will be in June.

In 1917 this was the energy in place when, reportedly, the Virgin Mary made her sixth and final appearance to three children at Fatima, supposedly in front of 70,000 people. This event included the “Miracle of the Sun” during which many people saw the sun go through an unusual zigzag movement, at which time (so the story goes) many were cured of afflications.

12 B’en (Feb. 20th) – a “dedicated” type of force aligned with personal authority, a double-Quetzalcoatl, lifeforce-oriented type of force, coinciding at this time with President’s Day in the US, Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, Family Day in several Canadian provinces (B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan), and the final day of Winterlude, Canada’s popular winter Festival. In Ukraine this marks the beginning of Maslenitsa Week, an Easter Slavic religious and folk holiday similar to Mardi Gras.

13 Ix (Feb. 21st) – “transformational Jaguar” – a double transformation type of energy associated with the Jaguar and earth mysteries, coinciding with the final day of the spectacular Carnevale in Venice, and also “Fat Tuesday”, the last day of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with Jupiter and Venus close to crescent moon. This is the day when President Biden will meet with world leaders and deliver a speech from the Gardens at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, ahead of the one-year mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This is China’s Blue Dragon Festival (aka the Zhonghe or Longtaitou Festival, or “Dragon Raising its Head” Day), a traditional holiday related to welcoming in the first warming signs of Spring. The dragon was seen as the deity in charge of rain, with this rain festival involving ceremonies that invoke dragons to dispense “just the right quantity” of rain for spring planting. Traditionally this was the day to “wake up” the Dragon King after his long winter sleep. It is thought that cutting your hair on the Blue Dragon festival will get rid of bad luck and align you with the dragon’s dignity and power.

This is also the UN’s International Mother Language Day, a worldwide observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity.

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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.]