As has happened many times before, this trecena is being blown in by strong winds that brought freezing rain and an ice storm to Ontario just as this trecena was coming in, as well as bringing thunderstorms, heavy rains, and the possibility of tornadoes to many regions in the U.S., which could impact more than 100 million Americans. While there are no weather-based hurricanes at this time, a herculean effort is currently underway to find and rescue possible survivors of the 7.7 mag. earthquake that struck Myanmar, Thailand, and neighbouring regions just before the end of the last trecena. In addition, with so many “hurricanes” relating to change and protest taking place in the U.S. and globally, the emphasis during this period will definitely be on “breath and spirit” – as the battle for human rights and freedoms continues to rage in many parts of the world.

This trecena opens during another weekend of intense protests against the purging of federal agencies and services in the U.S. by means of executive order and Elon Musk’s “Doge” attacks. As these vile attacks from within, perpetuated by the government, appear to be reaching into all aspects of society – from the widescale dismantling of human services to attacks on the judiciary to the unravelling of foreign relations – the pushback is strengthening through the intensification of calls to hold elected representatives to account, and through a multitude of court rulings that are blocking executive orders. Internationally, former allies of the U.S. are withdrawing from involvement with that country and are regrouping to strengthen their own alliances, as the entire world order seems to be undergoing a major realignment. Questions relating to integrity, civility, competence vs. incompetence, trust, morality, honour, and accountability are being woven through every action and reaction as people struggle to deal with the rapidly shifting millieu.

With regard to the energies involved at this time, 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  (Quetzalcóatl), 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 during this time frame is symbolized by Chantico, the Goddess of Terrestrial Fire, associated with the warmth and nourishment of the hearth fire, and protection of the “home fires”, who serves as patron of this time frame. 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. Hopefully some of those miracles will take place as rescue efforts proceed in Thailand and Myanmar. Certainly, in many regions at this time she will be busy helping people to find ways to bring some sense of stability back into their lives after so many horrific upheavals. Hopefully this patron energy wll help people to muster the kind of spirit that will be needed to hold back the onslaught of repression and exact accountability.

As it happens, not only is this the first full trecena of spring this year, but the first day of this period is marking the “seating” of the Classical Maya New Year, and is coinciding with the Hindu Saka New Year, when families perform rituals to ask forgiveness for past wrongdoings, to start the new year with a clean slate. In some parts of India a similar festival, known as Gudi Padwa, associated with the trumph of good over evil, will be celebrated at this time.

Understandably, it may not feel like there is much to celebrate with so much destruction taking place, but that kind of evil (anti-life) is not sustainable, and the tide IS starting to turn. Note, for instance, that the energy sequences that are now coming into place are exactly the same Calendar Round (Maya day + month) energies as were in place in 1973 as the Nixon White House was scrambling to hide evidence relating to the Watergate scandal. It took awhile to work through that investigation, but eventually most of the people involved were prosecuted, and many served jail time. Note as well, that this trecena is coming into place exactly one cycle after that presumed assassination attempt on a One Ik’ (Wind) day last July at an open air rally in Pennsylvania.

Again, it appears that Brazil is helping to shed light on possibilities for the future as their supreme court has just ruled that Brazil’s former president Bolsonaro should stand trial on various counts, including attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage characterized by violence and a serious threat against the state’s assets, and deterioration of listed heritage. Hmmm – doesn’t all that sound familiar? As the ruling about the trial was announced near the end of the last trecena, supreme court justice Cármen Lúcia Antunes Rocha stated bluntly that not only is authoritarianism repressive, but

Dictatorship kills. Dictatorship lives off death – not just the death of society and of democracy, but of human beings made of flesh and bone who are tortured, mutilated and murdered.

Millions in Brazil are celebrating the fact that justice in that country is finally gaining the upper hand. It’s long past time for Lady Justice to do the same in the Middle East, in Ukraine, in the U.S., and in so many other parts of the world.

In the meantime, the attempts to dismantle will likely continue for some unknown duration in the US, as the White House proceeds with its campaign of destabilization and destruction, requiring people to continue their counter-measures through court proceedings, protests, and congressional actions. But despite the enormous challenges, the common cause of ridding the nation of the fascist forces that are trying to gain a stranglehold on people’s lives will go far in helping the courts and the populace to “hold the fort”. People are aggrieved, appalled, angry, and fueled by a widespread determination to bring some sense of order, rationality, and compassion back to the leadership of their country, and they will be doing a great deal during this trecena to communicate that intent.

Certainly, in Ukraine, it has been the very “strong spirit” of their president, and of those who are defending their country, that has enabled Ukrainians to hold back Russian aggression, despite enormous losses. And with the support of strong European alliances, that defensive position has been strengthened. Similarly, in Gaza, despite staggering losses and enormous suffering, the people under seize are now staging protests against both the Israeli forces that have almost ceaselessly been attacking them, and their own Hamas leaders, as they call for an end to the brutal war.

So overall, as this Ik’ trecena comes into play once again, it’s going to be another period of high intensity and high activity for millions of people. Many forces aligned with breath, spirit, communication, healing, alchemy, and perhaps even the traditional “magical arts” will be activated. Certainly the winds of change and protest will be blowing strong. Here are the energies that are coming into play:

One Ik’ 0 Pop (Mar. 30th) – the “initiation of wind/breath/spirit”, at the time of the “seating” of the Classical Maya New Year. In ancient Mesoamerica this was seen as a day when offerings were made to the great Feathered Serpent deity Quetzalcóatl, representative of the winds, whirlwinds, and life itself.

Over the past 13 years many severe weather events have taken place under this influence, including many tornado warnings, two Cat. 5 hurricanes, and other forms of damaging winds. And the start of this current trecena is no exception as complex storm systems, that include the risk of tornadoes and hailstorms in many areas, are impacting much of the central and eastern US, and part of the northwest, with supercell thunderstorms predicted particularly for this day and the next.

In addition to bringing forth strong wind events, there are often strong “communication storms” during this period, which will certainly be taking place at this time, as protesters across the U.S. make their voices heard in anti-Musk, anti-Doge rallies, and rallies in support of Social Security, Education, Veterans’ services, many other social support agencies. In addition, hundreds are protesting in Gaza against Hamas, which is being blamed (along with Israel) for the extensive suffering and misery in Gaza, and tens of thousands of outraged people are protesting in Turkey after the arrest and jailing of a political rival of President Erdoğan, as they see the country sliding from an authoritarian democracy to outright autocracy.

In line with the classical view of this trecena’s association with “high magic”, there are a number of events of high symbolic importance taking place at this time, which tie in well with this New Year day in the Classical Maya Calendar – as in Bali, which is marking the Hindu Saka New Year, called Ngembak Geni, the day after Nyepi, a day to visit with families and perform religious rituals, to ask forgiveness for past wrongdoings, to start the new year with a clean slate.

In the Hindu lunar calendar this is celebrated as the New Year’s festival of Yugadi (aka Ugadi or Samvatsaradi), meaning “beginning of the year”. In some parts of India a similar festival, known as Gudi Padwa, associated with the trumph of good over evil, will be celebrated at this time. Floral patterned “rangolis” are created to decorate entrances, and special flags are hoisted to celebrate this victory. Wouldn’t it be something to be able to”banish evil” and celebrate such a triumph in the U.S.? Sadly – there is a very, very wide gap between these ways of looking at, and engaging with, the world.

However, as this is National Doctors’ Day in the U.S., in recognition of the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities, it would be something to celebrate if, at the very least, doctors were given the recognition and support that they deserve in that country. In the UK, this day is celebrated as Mother’s Day.

In addition, this is the full day of Eid al-Fitr (the festival of “the feast that breaks the fast”), the final full day of Islamic holy month of Ramadan (which began on Feb. 28th).

2 Ak’b’al (Mar. 31st) – a “dynamic” type of energy associated with the temple or “house” of deep esoteric mysteries, which has sometimes manifested as “darkness” – as in power outages (often from a strong wind event the day before) or even in the revealing of “deep, dark secrets” or actions. Indeed, it is likey that widespread power outages could develop at this time, depending on the ferocity of the storms, as seen in Ontario with the ice storm.

When this was in place two cycles ago, some 2.3 million people in Gaza were in darkness after most electricity was cut off and fuel for generators ran out. The loss of communication dealt a further blow to the aid system that was already on the brink of collapse under Israel’s then-three-week siege – and that was 520 days ago! Since then it has been darkness every day for people who are trying to stay alive there, as seen one cycle ago when Israel attacked five schools in Gaza.

Currently this energy is coinciding with the International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day for raising awareness about the lives and contributions of trans people, and the issues they face, particularly under the present political regime in the U.S.

This is also National Indigenous Languages Day in Canada, which acknowledges and celebrates the 70 indigenous languages still spoken in Canada, and brings attention to the important work of reclaiming and strengthening languages that are in danger of being lost.

In addition, this is the day of China’s Double Third (or Shangsi) Festival, aka “The Washing Festival”, that involves the invocation of cleansing rituals to prevent disease and get rid of bad luck, in association with spring. This festival also known as The Banquet of Peaches of Immortality.

3 K’an (April 1st) – an “activation” type of energy associated with both germination and opulence, on the day when EU tariffs begin targetting US goods worth €26bn (£22bn) (due to be fully in place by April 13th) .

This is the day when special elections will be held in Florida, to replace two seats in the US House of Representatives. If these are won by Democrats, it will narrow the voting margin in the House considerably. A Supreme Court election is also being held in Wisconsin on this day, where Elon Musk has been trying to buy votes. However, as this is a class-1 felony in that state, Wisconsin’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against him, to block his payment offers. The results of this election will determine whether Wisconsin’s highest court will retain its liberal majority or flip to conservative.

This is the start of National Poetry Month in Canada and the US – perhaps a great time to engage in some expressive wordsmithing around this year’s theme of “Family in its Many Forms” – or to come up with more poetic and even more expressive slogans for those protest rally signs!

4 Chikchan (April 2nd) – the “defining” of Lifeforce, a Burner Day associated with “running with the fire”, in conjunction with Quetzalcóatl connection with Liberation and Higher Consciousness, now marking eleven cycles since June 2017 when thousands of protestors took part in March for Truth rallies in more than 150 cities across the US and around the world, calling for a fair and impartial investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Two cycles ago this energy was in place when an unprecedented trial began in Colorado to examine the “pivotal” legal question of the investigation and enforcement of the 14th Amendment’s disqualification clause, which bars anyone from office who took an oath to support the U.S. Constitution but then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or [has] given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” This lawsuit was filed by Republican and unaffiliated voters, represented by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who wanted to protect the rights of voters “to fully participate in the upcoming primary election by ensuring that votes cast will be for those constitutionally qualified to hold office.” Several weeks later the judge rejected this as an attempt to bar the orange felon from being a candidate in Colorado’s 2024 presidential election. Similar challenges failed in 3 other states. If integrity and honour had prevailed, and that clause had been upheld, the U.S. (and the world) likely would be in a MUCH different state than it is today.

Currently this is the day when the dumpster’s 25% tariffs on vehicle imports is due to come into effect.

This was the Maya energy in place in 2011 when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the U.N. to recognize a state for the Palestinians and submitted an official request to the U.N. for full membership. As of last month, the State of Palestine has been recognized as a sovereign state by 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations, or just over 75% of all UN members. However, the United States has consistently blocked Palestine from becoming a full member.

Currently this is Sizdah Be-dar, or “Nature Day”, 13 days after Nowruz, marking the end of the Persian New Year festivities. This is often a day for picnicking and spending the day outdoors. It is also World Autism Awareness Day, National Caregiver Day, and International Fact-Checking Day, oriented around combatting the spread of false information online.

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 (April 3rd) – a “precision” type of energy associated with “absolute foundations”, an energy that 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. Currently this is coinciding with the 52nd anniversary of the first cell-phone call made (by inventor Martin Cooper). It is also the 57th
Gregorian anniversary of the day in 1968 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his memorable “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, his final address.

Three cycles ago this energy was in place as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Israel, to protest against Netanyahu’s proposed legal changes. Many saw this as the beginning of constitutional and social collapse – which certainly seems to be what happened. Questions might be asked about the connections between all this and Netanyahu’s relentless attack on Gaza.

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. The last time this was in place, last July, there was a debate taking place about President Biden’s relative fitness to remain as the Democratic candidate. However, an even bigger question could certainly be asked about the current president’s fitness to even be in office.

During the summer of 1973 this was the energy in place when the New York Daily News ran the headline: “Nixon Blasts ‘False’ Charges”, and newspapers across the US all ran a variation of the same.

6 Manik’ (April 4th) – 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), now marking the 57th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While it’s is always good to keep in mind something that he once said about universal law – that “. . . the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” – he, most certainly, would be
appalled to see how much wanton lawlessness is being carried out by the U.S. government these days, by someone who, exactly two years ago, was charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with 34 felony counts of “Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree”, and concealing crimes in violation of election laws.

Note that, in 2019, this was the energy in place when the “notorious” phone conversation between the dumpster and then-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.

Two cycles ago this was in place when the world’s first global artificial intelligence safety summit was held in the UK, to examine the existential threat that many felt is posed by AI. Whatever became of that?

Currently this is the day of China’s Qingming (“pure brightness”) Festival, aka Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestor’s Day, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, an important day for remembering ancestors.  It is also World Stray Animals Day, a day to remember that there are many homeless animals who could greatly benefit from human kindness and assistance, including in war-torn regions.

7 Lamat (April 5th) – “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 were climbing.

And currently there is a disaster of another kind unfolding, which also has global repercussions. It was heralded by many two cycles ago, as seen when Judge Michael Luttig, a former circuit judge in the US Court of Appeals and strong defender of the constitution, sounded the alarm when he bluntly stated that efforts to overturn the election were “grave crimes” against the US and the constitution, and that anyone involved should be disqualified from ever running again. He is one of many who have been calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision, which he has referred to as a “supreme betrayal”. And it seems that millions feel the same way, as they will be demonstrating on this day as they participate in global “Hands Off” protest demonstrations. A “Solidarity with Canada Rally” will also take place on this day at Peace Arch Historical State Park in Blaine, WA.

This might also be a good day to revisit anything Star Trek related, as April 5th is thought of as First Contact Day in the future history of Star Trek, supposedly when Vulcans first made their presence known to humans in the year 2063. A recent rerun had a storyline that involved two aliens with half black/half white faces who were enemies, the only two left on their planet after it had destroyed itself through civil wars. Spock made mention that Vulcan had once been like that, but “Logic” eventually saved them.

8 Muluk (April 6th) – the “resurrection” of water; strongly aligned with rebirth and “purification”, as was in place last July as President Biden was making his decision about whether or not to step aside in favour of Kamala Harris.

9 Ok (April 7th) – 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”. Historically this was seen as the birth energy of Chantico, the Aztec Goddess of Terrestrial Fire, associated with the warmth and nourishment of the hearth fire, and protection of the “home fires”, who serves as patron of this time frame. The last time this energy was in place President Biden did, indeed, step aside as he endorsed Kamala to replace him as the Democratic candidate for the election. There was much debate over whether or not this was the right decision.

Currently this is World Health Day, with this year’s theme being “Healthy beginnnings, hopeful futures”, as the World Health Organization celebrates its 77th anniversary.

It has now been four cycles since the start of that special four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend in the UK in 2022 to mark Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday, one of the last big events of her reign.

10 Chuwen (April 8th) – “foundational play”; a creative time-weaving type of force, on the day when practitioners of Buddhism in Japan celebrate the birth of Buddha.
When this was in place one cycle ago (last July) the global temperature reached the hottest levels ever measured, beating the record that was set just one day before.

11 Eb’ (April 9th) – inspirational “animating vitality”, aligned with change and new possibilities, marking two cycles since Special counsel Jack Smith’s team filed a lengthy response to the dumpster’s motions to dismiss his federal election interference case on statutory and constitutional grounds. In this response, Smith argued that his indictment rightfully charged Trump with “perpetrating an unprecedented campaign of deceit to attack the very functioning of the federal government” and accused Trump of “attempts to rewrite the indictment” by claiming it “charges him with wholly innocuous, perhaps even admirable conduct.” In the filing the special counsel wrote that “No other president has engaged in conspiracy and obstruction to overturn valid election results and illegitimately retain power.” And, like so many other things, the dumpster managed to make that go away as well.

Currently this is Vimy Ridge Day, which commemorates the deaths and casualties of members of the Canadian corps in the Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I.
It is also the 160th anniversary of the day in 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate army to General Grant, precipitating the conclusion of the U.S. civil war (during which 620,000 soldiers had been killed).

12 B’en (April 10th) – a double-Quetzalcóatl, lifeforce-oriented type of force aligned with personal authority, marking four cycles since a new forward to political reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s landmark 1974 book All the President’s Men was released. In it, the writers summarized the Watergate scandal and compared the corruption and deceit employed by Nixon to Trump’s first term, particularly his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Ultimately, the reporters surmised that Trump’s corruption “exceeded even Nixon’s imagination”, as they pointed out that the actions of the dumpster and his allies leading up to the Capitol riot were “clearly seditious”, making him “the first seditious president in our history”. And after that . . . he went on to become the First Convicted Felon in that same office.

The last time this was in place Israeli prime minister Netanyahu delivered a scathing speech to the U.S. Congress as he defended Israel’s war in Gaza and condemned American protesters. He vowed to press on with the war until “total victory,” disappointing hopes by some that his visit to the U.S. could bring some breakthrough in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release. Jerry Nadler, a senior Democratic House member issued a withering denunciation of the speech, calling Netanyahu “the worst leader in Jewish history since the Maccabean king who invited the Romans into Jerusalem over 2100 years ago”.

Currently this is the opening day for the 4-day Niagara Falls Elvis Festival.

13 Ix (April 11th) – “transformational Jaguar” – a double transformation type of energy associated with the Jaguar and earth mysteries. When this was last in place, last July, an eight-page letter, written by dozens of US doctors and nurses who worked in Gaza, was delivered to the White House. In the letter they claimed that the true death toll from Israel’s assault on Gaza was much higher than the previous report of close to 40,000 people killed. “It is likely that the death toll from this conflict is already greater than 92,000, an astonishing 4.2% of Gaza’s population,” they wrote, with “the majority being women and children”. In the letter they demanded that the US withdraw diplomatic and military support for Israel until there is a ceasefire. That was one cycle (260 days ago) and since then at least 10,000 more have been killed. And now there is another administration in Washington, but the attacks on innocent people continue.

As of the beginning of this trecena over 920 people have been killed and 140,000 people had been displaced in Gaza over the previous three weeks, and no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza during that period – the longest that Gaza had been without any supplies since the war began – and Israeli forces were continuing to shut vital border crossings. The Israeli military was again launching strikes on Lebanon, targeting Beirut for the first time since last November’s ceasefire, and were raiding towns in occupied West Bank. When, when, when will this horror end????

Given all this, it might be helpful to hold onto the fact that there are places in the world where justice is grabbing hold. As Brazil’s supreme court justice Rocha stated: “Dictatorship kills – dictatorship lives off death” and far too many have died because of the avarice and flagitiousness of those who want the world to bend to their own depraved whims. This “double transformation” day would be a great time to ramp up the pushback.

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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.]