As we come to the close of the Classical Maya year the strong Quetzalcóatl-related forces associated with the Chikchan trecena are now coming into play. Traditionally oriented around the theme of Emergence and Liberation, the Chikchan trecena is generally quite vigorous and inspirational. Indeed, it was the image of the great Feathered Serpent that adorned thousands of books, carvings, and Read the full article…

Stripped down to the bare bones – that is how much is looking these days after so much dreadful weather . . . and the tense and demanding events of the past trecena that saw enormous anti-government protests in the Ukraine, Bosnia, Venezuela, and Thailand; the rescue of hundreds of people from Homs in Syria; and millions of people struggling Read the full article…

It could be a tense start to 2014’s Winter Olympics, as there have already been grumblings about Sochi’s relative readiness for these games (as described in Sam Laird’s article – click here). And then there are the concerns about terrorist threats (even such things as toothpaste bombs) and about issues such as gay rights in Russia. Thrown into this mix Read the full article…

Dancers, singers, song-writers, drummers, storytellers, artists, orators, feast makers, gift-givers, banner-bearers, flower-bedecked revelers,. . . . all these and many more would have been ready to fully engage in the festive time frame that began with One Ajaw, representative of the initiation of “Full Sun” or “Full Enlightenment”. Known as One Flower to the Aztecs, the first day of this Read the full article…

It seems that on this 9 Kab’an “Day of Lights”, the first in a series of light-related days celebrated worldwide for Diwali, the sun itself decided to put on a rare show. Today’s solar eclipse was a rare hybrid, during which an annular solar eclipse changed into a total solar eclipse. An explanation of this phenomenon can be found here, Read the full article…

At times it seemed like it might be fisticuffs or “pistols at dawn” as lawmakers in the upper chambers of both the Canadian and U.S. governments grappled with scandals and vastly opposing ideologies during the past two trecenas. While some “restoration of order” took place in the U.S. during the Kib’ trecena, it appears that a major “cleansing” is needed Read the full article…

As fog creeps in and spooky adornments slink out to spread themselves over pillar and post in those parts of the world that partake of Hallowe’en, preparations for other festivals are underway in other regions. One of these is Galungan in Bali, a celebration that takes place every 210 days, in accordance with the Balinese calendar. It is intriguing to Read the full article…