Now we come to the final full trecena of 2024, with an energy sequence that is making its second appearance of the year. During its first time through, last April, it brought a spectacular Total Solar Eclipse that ran from Mexico, through Texas, up through the Eastern US, and on through Canada’s Eastern provinces, with some 32 million people in the path of totality. This time it is bringing the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and the completion of the first half-cycle (the first 130 days) of the 260-day Tzolk’in cycle.

During that last appearance it seemed as if the US judicial system was finally getting down to brass tacks with its prosecutions in various cases involving the dumpster, who was being referred to at that time as “Defendant Number One”, leading up to the opening of the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president (as an individual, not a company). Further delays were being denied, progress was being made in courts, and there was considerable pushback against the immunity issue. Even in Gaza thousands of Palestinians were being allowed to return to their homes as Israel pulled ground forces out of southern Gaza. In many ways it seemed as though lines were being drawn in the sand that said “the buck stops here”!

This was a refreshing change as three cycles earlier (February of 2022) it seemed as though a tipping point was being reached as considerable havoc was being wrought in the US. by right-wing conspiracy theorists. At that time Russia was poised to invade Ukraine. Then one cycle later, in November of 2022, the midterm elections in the U.S. brought forth a change in the balance of power in Congress, about the same time as world leaders were acknowledging that the climate crisis had reached a “really bleak moment”, with the need for global collective action becoming acute. Indeed, by July of 2023 (2 cycles ago) the Northern hemisphere was sweltering under a “supercharged” heat wave that brought record-breaking temperatures. Sparks were flying at that time, with severe weather events, entertainment industry strikes, and high level legal actions underway, including in Georgia. At that time there was a sense that the war in Gaza would soon be over and that aid for the starving people would soon be allowed to be delivered. It was a sense of “enough is enough”.

As has been so evident in the past, this is a time frame that can highlight sharp contrasts, with Etz’nab’ (Flint) serving as a kind of “knife-edge” between two opposing forces. Events that unfold during this period can often result in the cutting away of whatever no longer “works” in order to foment change, and even promote healing. There is often a sense of dualities being brought into stark contrast so that whatever is no longer needed can be easily identified and neutralized. This is even reflected in the nature of the patron energies of this time period, with one representing the warmth of the sun and the other representing the coldness of the Underworld.

During this period it is not unusual for events of a dramatic, and even “shocking”, nature to take place, as opposing forces vie for dominance. It is also possible that events can become so compelling, or issues so urgent, that they can provide the “spark” that can initiate new forms of thought or action. And as this year comes to an end, with the Russia-Ukraine war still raging, Gaza still in great peril, and Washington DC in extreme turmoil, there is no shortage of issues that call for “decisive, definitive, substantial” action.

Looking at the deeper past it is not difficult to find many events that have taken place during this period that have determined the fate of nations, as seen in 1814 when Napoléon Bonaparte was knocked off his self-styled lofty perch and exiled in disgrace to a small island during this time frame, bringing the grandiose Napoléonic era to an ignominious end.

In 1933 this was the trecena that was in place when Herr Hitler and other Nazis stepped in to consolidate their authoritarian power after the Reichstag fire in Berlin, a pivotal event in the establishment of the Nazi regime. In 1948 Mahatma Ghandi was killed on the first day of this trecena, and in 2019 General Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top military commander, was assassinated by a US drone strike. On the first day of this trecena in 2022 the Prime Minister of Libya’s car was struck with bullets (but he managed to escape), and one cycle later, also on the first day, came the severe attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband.

This was also the trecena that was in place at the time of the devastating 7.0 earthquake that flattened Haiti in 2010, at the time of Superstorm Sandy on the east coast of the US in 2012, at the time of the terrifying attack on Charlie Hebdo journalists and cartoonists in Paris in 2015, and at the time of the horrific fire that consumed the roof and spire of the famed Notre Dame de Paris cathedral in 2019.

In 2014 this was the trecena in place when the Ukrainian government began mobilizing its military for “large scale anti-terrorist operations” after a day of violence in eastern Ukraine when government buildings in several cities were seized by heavily armed, masked pro-Russian activists. Five years later, as 2019 drew to a close, a “full and comprehensive” ceasefire between Russia and eastern Ukraine came into effect, echoing other instances in world history where particular trecenas have seen the beginnings and endings of specific conflicts. Unfortunately, four cycles ago it was frighteningly evident that a massive buildup of Russian forces was taking place on Ukraine’s border once again, and by the end of the trecena it was clear that Putin had issued a “go” order in his attempt to seize control of Ukraine. While NATO allies have fully pledged their support to help Ukraine in this brutal conflict, the world is now teetering on that knife-edge again, wondering what will happen when an out-for-revenge madman and convicted felon, who favours Russia and authoritarianism, returns to power in the U.S., henchmen in tow.

At this point one of the biggest questions hanging “out there” is “what happened during the last 260 days that brought us to this highly precarious point on planet Earth”? Prior to that it seemed that progress was being made on many fronts, albeit slowly, but then things began to go dramatically off track. So now we are left wondering what went wrong. As we embark on this trecena at this time, during this traditional “festive” season, do we wildly speculate on what got us here? Do we blame it on that solar eclipse – or on the eclipse and the Etz’nab’ trecena together? Did they jointly “jolt something” in the ether that caused so many to lose their senses and their humanity? What now? Do we just “cave in” to the darkness or take a cue from the sparkle of the season and find ways to bring in as much light and sanity as possible? Perhaps we will find that this trecena will do something to jolt things once again, to get things back on track.

Speculation aside, there is no doubt that stark contrasts between opposing forces will be dramatically illuminated once again during this period. Sparks will continue to fly, and issues associated with “justice vs. injustice”, “sanity vs. insanity”, and “order vs. anarchy” will be in sharp contrast, as this IS the decisive Etz’nab’ (“the buck stops here”) trecena that often brings an end to specific forms of “reality”, prior to the creation of something new.

However, on a more personal level, this is always an opportune time for personal reassessment, a great time to cut away whatever no longer “works” in order to make adjustments that could lead to new forms of thought or action. It is a favorable time to “clean house” (both physically and metaphorically), not only in preparation for the holidays and the forthcoming new year, but also in preparation for the “creation” energies that will follow in the next trecena.

During this period it is a good rule of thumb to be alert, vigilant, and to proceed with caution, as this tends to be one of the most intense and consequential 13-day periods in the entire 260-day cycle – definitely a time to “tread carefully”. In addition, please note that the numerical forces associated with the days, once again, are being echoed by the numbers related to the month. And at this time all thirteen numerical forces associated with the Maya month known as K’ank’in (which translates as “precious sun”) are precisely mirroring the day-aligned numerical forces. This suggests a strong intensification of those qualities as we go through this period, concluding with a vigorous 13/13 on the final day, on Dec. 28th. Again, this is a key trecena within the 260-day cycle as a whole, the final 13-day period in the first half of the cycle, leading up to the “creation sequence” which will begin on Dec. 29th. Here are the energies that will be in play:

1 Etz’nab’ 1 K’ank’in (Dec. 16th) – the “initiation” of Flint, a sparkling, attention-getting “shock and awe” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate. In 2021, this energy coincided with the Total Eclipse of a Supermoon, and earlier this year it heralded a rare Total Solar Eclipse, that came in on the 9th day of this time frame. In Aztec mythology this was the birth energy of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec solar deity who was also associated with war. Solar events often coincide with this force, but earthly flareups are not unusual under this influence. Note that eagles and hummingbirds were seen by the Aztec as being representative of that fierce solar entity.

This is the 67th Gregorian anniversary of the opening of the first NATO meeting, in 1957, involving 15 countries. Currently there are now 31 countries in the NATO alliance. This marks exactly four Tzolk’in cycles since Russia and Belarus undertook joint military exercises in 2022, just two weeks before Russia began attacking Ukraine.

As we go through this trecena, with the month-related numbers mirroring the numbers associated with the daysigns, this trecena’s first Calendar Round date will be 1 Etz’nab’ 1 K’ank’in, followed by 2 Kawak 2 K’ank’in, and so on. With this paralleling of the numerical forces with these strong energies being propelled by Etz’nab’s decisiveness and tendency to highlight sharp contrasts, these forces could make this a particularly intense and consequential period.

2 Kawak 2 K’ank’in (Dec. 17th) – a dynamic storm, catalyzation type of force that often manifests as the “generation of a storm, or a storm of compassion”, coinciding at this time with Pope Francis’s 88th Gregorian birthday.

This tends to be a highly cause-oriented energy often fueled by strong emotion or great passion, as was in place in June of 2016, when Hillary Clinton emphatically warned that electing the “dangerously incoherent” dumpster would be an historic mistake, as she highlighted what that might trigger. Precisely one cycle later, on 2 Kawak in February of 2017, people were already acknowledging the truth of her warning through a nationwide General Strike/National Day of Action in the U.S.

The last time this was in place (last April) Trump posted a $175m bond in the New York fraud case, staving off asset seizures by the state, after a deal was made with a billionaire financer, who assisted with that payment. However, if/when he loses his appeal he will still have to pay the $464m. One might ask, under the current conditions, when is that likely to happen, given that despite all of his alleged, proven, and observable crimes, he was STILL re-elected?

3 Ajaw 3 K’ank’in (Dec. 18th) – the Activation of Enlightenment – an important Burner Day traditionally oriented around the idea of “announcing the fire”, marking the 45th anniversary of the U.N. General Assembly’s adoption, in 1979, of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. It is also the 32nd Gregorian anniversary of the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and the UN’s International Migrants Day.

This is the first of four Ajaw-related “Burner Days” that run from here until mid-February, so whatever is “in the works” would be “announced” around this time. Traditionally this is a point where clarity can suddenly break through on important issues, with Ajaw’s “full sun” illuminating things that previously may have been hidden. (There are 20 days between each of these Burner “stations” – the next one will be on Jan. 7th).

It has now been three cycles since Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the highly consequential run-off presidential election in Brazil, bringing forth a monumental change in power in that country.

Currently this is day when the oldest inscribed stone tablet depicting the Ten Commandments, dated to the late Roman-Byzantine era, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s. This is also legendary rock star Keith Richards’ 81st Gregorian birthday.

In 1814 this was the energy in place when Napoléon Bonaparte abdicated the throne, and in 1944 this was one of the days when an attempt was made to assassinate Hitler. In 1983 this was the energy in place when the Soviets shot down a Korean airliner, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.

4 Imix 4 K’ank’in (Dec. 19th) – representative of the sun working with the waters of creation to bring something new into being, this is a defining type of energy associated with birth (ie. a “whole new world” or a “whole new way of thinking”). This is the Maya birth energy of Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei’s “fearless” wife, who has stepped into Alexei’s former position as leader of the opposition against Putin.

This marks nine cycles since the night in 2018 when Michael Cohen “went to war with Trump”, when Cohen’s secret recording of a 2016 conversation between him and the dumpster was aired on CNN. Since then Michael Cohen has been a major ally for those pursuing criminal investigations associated with the dumpster’s business dealings. Cohen once described his job as a lawyer in that organization as “lying for Mr. Trump”. Since 2018 Cohen has been a key witness in the investigations and trials associated with those business dealings, with the opening statements in the Trump Organization’s tax fraud trial taking place, in 2022, exactly six cycles after that 2018 airing of that recording. That was the trial that culminated in Trump’s CFO Allen Weisselberg being sentenced to prison for grand larceny tax fraud and falsifying business records. And that was well before the New York fraud case that culminated with the ruling earlier this year that the dumpster is required to pay $454 million in compensation to New York.

Currently this is the 51st Gregorian anniversary of the overwhelming approval by Congress of the Endangered Species Act, in 1973. It was signed into law by President Nixon on Dec. 28th, 1973.

5 Ik’ 5 K’ank’in (Dec. 20th) – the “blessing” of wind/breath, and spirit – an energy that could enhance communication and perhaps even assist with bringing clarity or the idea of “hope” with regard to critical issues or events, coinciding at this time with the UN’s International Human Solidarity Day and a National Day of Mourning (and remembrance) in Panama to commemorate the hundreds of Panamanians who died during the 1989 U.S. invasion of that country. This is the day when the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival in China opens informally prior to its official opening in January.

This marks one cycle since the dumpster was required to put up a $175 million bond in the New York fraud case, in order to file an appeal.

6 Ak’b’al 6 K’ank’in (Dec. 21st) – a “structuring” type of energy sometimes associated with “home and/or sanctuary”, but also “the darkness before dawn”, three cycles exactly since Ethiopia’s warring sides formally agreed to a permanent cessation of hostilities, bringing an end to a two-year war that displaced millions and threatened to destabilise a swath of the continent. The agreement was for an “orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament”.

Currently this is coinciding with the Ursids Meteor Shower and with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year for sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere, with the lowest noonday sun, at the start of the winter season. On this day many will be journeying to special places to participate in Solstice ceremonies and events. One such event is the Burning the Clocks community event in Brighton.

This is the 12th Gregorian anniversary of the highly auspicious Maya Calendar Period Ending and the start of whole new “great cycle” era in December, 2012 (remember when so many people were mistakenly thinking that the world was going to end since they really didn’t understand the cyclical nature of the calendar?). This also marks five Gregorian years since the first cluster of patients with “pneumonia of an unknown cause” was first identified (later labelled as COVID-19). This is also Jane Fonda’s 87th birthday. Happy Birthday Jane!

This was in place two cycles ago when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, in an effort to bring more standards and greater accountability to the actions of members of the US Supreme Court. However, it is clear that much more needs to be done to restore credibility in that regard.

7 K’an 7 K’ank’in (Dec. 22nd) – self-generating germination, situated at the pivotal middle point in this “knife edged” trecena, marking 12 cycles since Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, in 2016, on a day seen as an historic milestone for women. Had she not been thwarted by reckless accusations (and Russian election interference) at that time the last few years would have been completely different. And as for the next few years . . . . .

This was the energy in place in 1814 when the Treaty of Ghent was signed, bringing an end to the War of 1812 between Britain and the U.S. Currently this marks the peak of the Ursids meteor shower.

8 Chikchan 8 K’ank’in (Dec. 23rd) – the resurrection of Lifeforce, often associated with “strong energy” events such as hurricanes. SpaceX was founded under this influence in 2002.

This can be a kind of “rallying” energy as well, as seen five cycles ago (in 2021) when this energy brought forth a coaltion agreement in Israel, that paved the way to unseat Netanyahu. Unfortunately things later turned around, and, once again, he resumed the role of prime minister . . . and then came the Gaza crisis.

In 1945, near the end of World War II, 8 Chikchan was the energy in place at the beginning of the push by Canadian Forces to liberate the Western Netherlands.

Currently this is Kisan Diwas, National Farmer’s Day in India, in celebration of the birth of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the “Champion of Indian Peasants” who became the fifth prime minister of India, the establisher of farmer-friendly policies and welfare programs.

9 Kimi 9 K’ank’in (Dec. 24th) – the outward projection of death/new foundations, as was in place last April at the time of the spectacular Total Solar Eclipse, echoing an earlier Total Solar Eclipse that came in on 9 Kimi in the summer of 1991 over Mexico City and other parts of the country. Although such an event was often seen by various traditional cultures as a sign of realignment and renewal, it may be that this year’s eclipse triggered something else – something darker and more sinister, as many things started going significantly off-kilter not long after that.

Do we need another one to get things back on course towards the light? In any case, we will have to wait until next spring before even a partial solar eclipse comes back into place. And then we can look forward to a Total Lunar Eclipse when this trecena returns once again, in early September.

It has now been eight cycles since the devastating April 15, 2019 Notre-Dame de Paris fire in Paris. Amazingly, just 5 ½ years later, it has officially reopened, just in time for Christmas.

In Vatican City on this day Pope Francis will open the bronze “holy door” in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the beginning of Jubilee 2025, a year of celebration for Catholics worldwide, around the theme of “pilgrims of hope”. Much of Rome has been gearing up for this event, through the restoration of monuments and upgrades on infrastructure. In Italy this is the day known as La Vigilia, the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and, of course, it is also Christmas Eve.

This marks exactly 7 cycles after the first official Covid 19 alert by China, on Dec. 31, 2019. One cycle later the global number of cases had reached over 30 million. Currently this is the 84th birthday of Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was so instrumental in the U.S. in helping the government to deal with the pandemic.

Four cycles ago (early in 2022) this was the energy in place when federal judge Amit Mehta ruled that Trump could be culpable for the Jan. 6th insurrection, and lawsuits against him could proceed. In his scathing 112-page ruling, Judge Mehta wrote that the dumpster’s statements before the Jan. 6th riot were “the essence of civil conspiracy”, and that the speech he gave on Jan. 6th “can reasonably be viewed as a call for collective action”. Mehta ruled that three lawsuits (two brought by Democratic House members and one filed by Capitol Police offices) could move to the evidence-gathering phase and on toward a trial – one of the dumpster’s major losses in court. This 9 Kimi energy came into place just one week before the start of the hush money trial in April of this year – the first criminal trial against a former U.S. president (as an individual, not a company), and the defendant did everything he could to delay or create havoc with it.

When 9 Kimi was in place in November of 2012 (also on a “double 9” day), Israel was
intensifying its assault against Gaza by launching hundreds of airstrikes against Hamas locations, with Hamas firing back. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in protest demonstrations against the Israel-Gaza conflict in over 50 major cities around the world. That was 12 years ago and the airstrikes are still going on!!

This was also the energy in place in 1918 when British and American forces crossed the border into Germany, in two different places, during WWI, beginning the allied forces’ occupation of the Rhineland. By this time the French had already occupied all of Alsace-Lorraine. It was also in place in April of 1940 when Germany invaded Denmark + Norway and began their occupation of those countries.

10 Manik’ 10 K’ank’in (Dec. 25th) – the “bare-bones”/foundational energy of “source” combined with that of the sun-carrying Deer, symbolic of reciprocity but also sacrifice, coinciding at this time with Christmas Day, including in Ukraine, after it moved its offical Christmas Day state holiday from Jan. 7th to Dec. 25th.

This year this is also the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish “festival of lights”, which begins in the evening, featuring the lighting of menorahs over eight consecutive nights. With ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza-Israel, and even the current Israeli attacks on Syria, there is much to focus on at this time as menorah candles are lit and prayers for enlightenment are sent.

It has now been 11 Calendar Rounds since the issuing of the Inter Caetera bull on 10 Manik’ 10 K’ank’in in 1453, by Pope Alexander VI, with the express purpose of validating Spain’s ownership rights of lands in the Americas – an edit that let to centuries worth of suffering. It is also the 33rd anniversary of the official declaration of the dissolution of the U.S.S.R., when leaders of the USSR signed an agreement to end the USSR in Dec. 1991, and the third anniversary of the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which has been providing stunning images of deep space.

In 1814 this was the energy in place at the time of the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau that stripped Napoléon Bonaparte of his powers as ruler of the French Empire.

11 Lamat 11 K’ank’in (Dec. 26th) – a bright light kind of energy that often heralds something new, in conjunction with the change related energy of the number 11 (doubled), coinciding at this time with Boxing Day in many British Commonwealth countries.

This is often a significant “heralding” type of energy, as could be seen on a similar “double 11” (11 Lamat 11 Ch’en ) day in 2020 at the time of the death of the legendary US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the most admired, respected, and influential women in the US. This quickly turned into “the crisis of the Supreme Court” as politicians wrangled over who would replace her. Since then it has been one disastrous decision after another, along with scandal after scandal. Currently this is marking one Calendar Round (52 years) since Judge John Sirica began the trial of the Watergate burglars on 11 Lamat 11 K’ank’in in 1973.

Last April a meeting between President Biden and Japan’s prime minister Kishida took place on 11 Lamat, in what was seen as an “historic turning point” as Japan sought to reinforce its defense capabilities. The meeting also reinforced Biden’s commitment to bolstering vital partnerships in the Indo-Pacific amid a militarily and economically resurgent China. One cycle before that Israel Today published a blacked-out front page, with a comment on the “darkness” associated with Netanyahu’s pushing through of a highly controversial judicial overhaul bill the day before. That was seen as the beginning of a major fight over Israel’s future and identity. After multiple delays, Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed just a few days ago, on Dec. 9th.

Back in 1933 this was the energy in place on that flashpoint day in Berlin when a fire broke out at the Reichstag (assembly location of the German government). That was when Herr Hitler and other Nazis stepped in to consolidate their authoritarian power – a “pivotal” event in the establishment of the Nazi regime.

Back in 2015 this was in place at the launch of the UN’s sustainable development agenda called “The 2030 Agenda” which was seen as “the new universal agenda for humanity” aimed at bringing an end to world poverty and biodiversity loss. But that was in 2015 and, shamefully, world poverty and starvation is still rampant in many parts of the world.

12 Muluk 12 K’ank’in (Dec. 27th) – a “pulling together” or grouping together type of energy associated with water, a good time for people to find ways to be adaptable and to “put heads together” to search for new pathways or find new solutions to problems. This is generally a very intense energy that can create situations where people have no choice but to work together to find solutions.

Significant events that have taken place in the past under this influence include:

• midterm election day in the U.S. three cycles ago
• Napoléon’s attempt to end his own life in 1814, after his abdication, rather than face a life in exile
• The Reichstag Fire Decree in 1933 that enabled Hitler’s regime to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charges, dissolve political organizations, and suppress publications. That was also a “double 12” day (12 Muluk 12 Pax).
• the start of Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”), in 1938, when Nazis destroyed 7500 businesses, burned 267 synagogues, killed at least 91 Jews, and arrested over 25,000 Jewish men
• the massive protest demonstrations in Moscow against election fraud, in 2012, the day after Russia’s presidential elections

 

13 Ok 13 K’ank’in (Dec. 28th) associated with “transformational love”, transformational guidance, or “transformational fire”, this is an energy that holds the potential to be a real “scorcher”, marking 18 cycles since a massive solar flare erupted from the sun in 2012, one of the strongest ever recorded, and 15 cycles since the peak of a powerful X1.3-class solar flare in 2014 (that erupted the night before), which triggered temporary communications blackouts at the time of a Mercury Superior Conjunction. As solar activity continues ramping up towards this solar maximum period, it is possible that there could be more strong solar activity at this time. Indeed, scientists are now warning about the possibility of a “superflare”.

This energy can manifest as the final big push away from “sacrifice and separation” towards greater freedom, creativity, and integration, as seen in the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution in 1783. In 1814 this was the energy in place when the Treaty of Fontainebleau was ratified, when Napoléon Bonaparte abdicated his powers unconditionally. The former Emperor of the French “renounced for himself, his successors and descendants, all rights of sovereignty and domination in France and in Europe” and agreed to retreat into exile on the island of Elba.

Currently this is the 51st anniversary of the signing into law of the Endangered Species Act in the U.S.   This would have been Dame Maggie Smith’s 90th Gregorian birthday, but sadly she passed on Sept. 27th. Her obituary noted that Dame Maggie was one of Britain’s most recognisable actresses. She received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for six Laurence Olivier Awards. She was one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.

This day completes the first half-cycle within the current 260-day period, and is an important marker point in the Maya calendar. The following day a new trecena will begin, associated with “creation” energies, marking the start of the Tzolk’in’s second half-cycle .

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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.]