It’s cold; it’s dreary; it’s mid-winter, and in many places it’s even blizzardy, and much has been spiraling into a tailspin as the government shutdown in the U.S. goes into its 29th day as this trecena begins, with no sign of abating, and the U.K. faces a whole lot of fog as the Brexit situation gets murkier and murkier. The Canada-China tensions over the arrest of a Huawei executive and China’s detainment of Canadians is also very unsettling. With quagmires such as these creating havoc and uncertainty for so many people, it is clear that a lot of so-called leaders desperately need to “give themselves a shake” in order to generate positive forward motion. Or – as Old Coyote, the God of Dance who is the patron of this trecena, might advise – they need to “loosen up” and become MUCH more creative!

In the realm of the Classic Maya, this trecena was traditionally welcomed as a time for celebration. The very first day, One Ajaw, was observed as a celebrational “day of flowers”, during which dancers, singers, song-writers, drummers, storytellers, artists, orators, feast makers, gift-givers, banner-bearers, and flower-bedecked revelers would have been fully engaged in welcoming in the auspicious and joyful One Ajaw (or “One Flower”), representative of the initiation of “Full Sun” or “Full Enlightenment”. It was seen as a day to extol the virtues of creativity in all its diverse forms.

But what can we expect at this time, in the midst of so much darkness? Instant resolutions? Highly doubtful. Revelry, dancing, and merriment in acknowledgement of ancient traditions? In one’s dreams! But what we will see on the very first day of this period is a reboot of the Women’s March, even though there is some schism within the ranks. Specifically this is the day of the 2019 Women’s March on Washington and in many other cities. Given that a “dangerous blizzard” and one of “winter’s worst yet” snowstorms is forecast for the U.S. Midwest and Northeast during the first few days of this trecena it certainly won’t be the lightest and sunniest One Ajaw, but at least an attempt at “enlightenment” will be made.

At the time of the last opening of this trecena, last May, it was reported that California will become the first state to mandate the use of solar energy on every new home. One cycle before that, in the summer of 2017, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (Ligo) system detected simultaneously for the first time both light and the ripple of gravitational waves, thought to be from the collision of two neutron stars, which touched off “the greatest show in astronomy” as hundreds of astronomers on all seven continents began focusing their instruments on data collection about this distant event (in both space and time). As this was seen as “a new Rosetta Stone for Astronomy” this event signalled “a new era of astronomy”. On that same day hundreds of thousands of people were gathering in strategic places to witness the “Eclipse of the Century”, the first total solar eclipse to span the entire continental United States in 99 years.

While such markers were certainly solar oriented, it remains to be seen whether or not the sun makes an appearance (or any kind of “statement”) at this present time. (Although the sun is definitely being strongly felt in Australia, which is currently sweltering through some of the warmest days on record.) Nevertheless, very early in the trecena, North America will be treated to a stunning celestial event – a Super Blood Wolf Moon along with a Total Lunar Eclipse. If that becomes a signal that this darkness is receding that will certainly be a start. At this point even a ripple of light and hope would be helpful!

In the past many events of great significance have occurred on One Ajaw such as the defeat of Napoléon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Major events that have occurred during the Ajaw trecena include the establishment of a camp at Veracruz by Hernán Cortés and his armed brigands in 1519 as they were embarking on their conquest of the Aztec Empire; the adoption of the U.S. constitution in 1787; Abraham Lincoln’s delivery of the Gettysburg address in 1863; the discovery of gold in the Klondike, in 1896; the opening of Sun Records, that gave birth to Rock ‘n’ Roll, in 1950; the putting into operation of the first computer produced for commercial use, in 1951; the stoppage of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; and President Obama’s visit to Cuba in 2016, the first visit to Cuba by a sitting president in nearly nine decades.

In keeping with the nature of this solar energy, this trecena has often been associated with intense heat – seen traditionally as the heat from the Sun God – and certainly many extreme high temperatures have been recorded in many areas under this influence. At the moment, however, the heat will likely manifest in the form of pressure placed on government officials from the people who are suffering from the ineptitude of leaders, as they call for change and accountability.

Fortunately this is a trecena that has often pushed significant change forward, often through the introduction of new ideas or through the taking of some form of positive action. The intensity of the energies within this time frame often build up quite quickly. As always, this is a good time to call upon the assistance of “Lord Ajaw”, to bring forth light and warmth and creativity, and even “apply heat” where necessary to foment change. As this current trecena unfolds, these are the energies that can assist:

1 Ajaw (Jan. 19th) – the “initiation of Full Sun/Enlightenment”, the traditional Maya celebrational “day of flowers”; through this association with Venus as the Morning Star, One Ajaw was referred to as the Sacred Day of Venus, an important “marker” day in the Classical Long Count calendar.

Currently this is the day of the 2019 Women’s March on Washington, and other cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, marking “two years of resistance to the Trump presidency, two years of training new activists, amd two years of building power”.

2 Imix (Jan. 20th) – a dynamic type of energy often aligned with “world-making”, in place on the second anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. It seems significant that this was also the energy in place 500 years ago when Hernán Cortés and his Spanish conquistadors began establishing a camp at Veracruz as they embarked on their conquest of the Aztec Empire. As if to reflect this idea a Total Lunar Eclipse starts late this evening.

3 Ik’ (Jan. 21st) – the “activation of Wind/Breath/Spirit”, coming into place at the time of a Super Blood Wolf Moon along with the Total Lunar Eclipse (depending on where you are the eclipse could be the evening of Jan. 20th or at a later hour, transitioning into Jan. 21st). The Old Farmer’s Almanac provides a good viewing guide.

This “activation of spirit” energy coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with its invitation to March for the Dream.

This is the 100th anniversary of the day in 1919 when the Irish Republican Party formed a breakaway government and declared independence from Britain. It is also the energy that was in place in 1917 when the U.S. entered World War I.

4 Ak’b’al (Jan. 22nd) – a “defining” day associated with night, darkness, dreaming, and the subconscious. Sometimes referred to as “house”, this is also associated with earth-oriented mystery, secrecy, abundance, and even sorcery. Trump’s Maya birthday, precisely one cycle after Jeff Sessions announced that the U.S. gov’t would separate undocumented parents and children who cross into the U.S., which triggered the separation of more than 2600 children from their families. At this point, even though that order was overturned, 130 children still have not been reunited with their parents (although a recent report suggests that that figure is significantly higher). A gripping animation regarding this situation can be seen here: “Inside the office of missing migrant children”.

On the last appearance of this energy Vladimir Putin took the oath of office for the 4th term as Russia’s president, in an elaborate ceremony staged in a gilded Kremlin hall once reserved to crown czars, depite the protests by thousands leading up to this event.

Currently this is the opening of World Youth Day (in Panama at this time ) and the opening day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is seen as the “the world’s most important watering hole“, the foremost creative arena that enables world leaders to collaborate in addressing pressing global issues and work together to shape global, regional, and industry agendas for the year. Not only will Trump not be going, but neither will any U.S. officials.

Just before sunrise on this day there will be a fairly close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.

5 K’an (Jan. 23rd) – a “blessing” type of energy associated with youthful vitality and prosperity, but can also involve “recklessness”, coinciding at this time with Indivisible National Call Day to End the Shutdown in the U.S., where people are urged to call their government representatives to press for a vote to end the shutdown.  Maya birth energy of Benito Juárez, who assumed the office of the 26th President of Mexico in 1858, and is now regarded as a national hero and preeminent symbol of Mexican nationalism.

6 Chikchan (Jan. 24th) – “Lifeforce Everywhere” – a structuring type of energy associated with Lifeforce, the Arts, and Higher Knowledge, coinciding at this time with the opening of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Maya Calendar energy that was in place at the time of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. Four cycles since President Obama began his historic trip to Cuba.

7 Kimi (Jan. 25th) – “self-generating death” or “self-generating foundations” – a “return to Source” type of force that can draw attention to “absolute foundations”, on the closing day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is also Robbie Burns’ Day, the 260th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns.

8 Manik’ (Jan. 26th) – the Day of the Lord Deer in Maya tradition, a “resurrection” type of energy aligned with sacrifice and reciprocity. While this could be seen as a “doubly harmonious” type of influence, representative of a doubling of solar energy, there is a strong “fire/heat” aspect to it. This ties in with the mythological link to the ancestral lineage of the Quiché Maya, as this day in the Tzolk’in was seen as the day when one of the ancestral forefathers left the people a “bundle of flames” as a reminder of his continuing presence.

This is the eighth anniversary (Gregorian) of the start of the Egyptian Revolution and the start of anti-government protests in Syria (in 2011). Maya Calendar birthday of Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India.

9 Lamat (Jan. 27th) – an “outwardly projecting” type of energy associated with Venus and the idea of leadership.  In 2012 that was the energy in place when the sun sent forth a magnificent X1.7 solar flare – a long whip-like solar filament extending half a million miles in a long arc above the sun’s surface which triggered many spectacular aurora borealis displays on Earth over the following few days. It is not unusual for severe hurricanes or tornadoes to occur under this energy influence.

10 Muluk (Jan. 28th) – “foundational water”, often a powerful “shape-shifting” force, as could be seen in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey was assailing the Texas coast with torrential downpours and widespread flooding. Currently this is the UN’s International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, with the theme of “Holocaust Remembrance: Demand and Defend your Human Rights“. It is also the eighth anniversary of the historic “Day of Rage” in Cairo and many other cities in Egypt, at the time of an intense “meltdown” and nationwide revolt as tens of thousands of anti-government protestors took to the streets.

This is also Little New Year (The Kitchen God Festival) in China and three cycles since the CIA revealed their conclusion that Russia had intervened to help Trump win the election – and yet the carnage continues.

11 Ok (Jan. 29th) – “inspirational love (or guidance)” – an “extinguishing” Burner Day
representative of heart, love, fire, and passion. One cycle since some 40,000 Palestinians staged protest demonstrations along the Gaza Strip’s security fence, when at least 58 Palestinians were killed and 2700 wounded on the deadliest day of violence since the 2014 Gaza war, on the same day as the US opened a controversial embassy in Jerusalem.

While this was the originally scheduled day for the State of the Union address in the U.S. that has now been postponed until after the current government shutdown is over. However, a coalition of several activist groups (including MoveOn, United We Dream, and Indivisible) are calling for this to be a “Shut Down the Wall/Open the Government” National Day of Action.

12 Chuwen (Jan. 30th) – “dedicated” play; a “timeweaver” type of energy than can have a kind of “anything is possible” aspect to it, coinciding at this time with the opening of the 70th Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan. This is also the 50th anniversary of the Beatles last concert (the Rooftop concert) in 1969.

13 Eb’ (Jan. 31st) – “transformational vitality”; a powerful stream-of-consciousness type of energy reflective of the intense vitality at the end of this “sun-oriented” time frame, a vitality that can sometimes “let loose” at this time, as it did on its last appearance as thousands of papers related to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigations of Trump were released.

This is the Maya birth energy of Karl Marx, the German philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary socialist who wrote the highly influential “Communist Manifesto”, and whose ideas have had a profound impact on world politics and intellectual thought.

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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.]