In many regions yesterday’s shift from intense heat to the transformational refreshment of light rain was classic 13 Eb’ at the end of the Sun trecena. Significantly this shift in weather arrived just before the start of this new trecena, which is another important shift-point within the Maya Calendar, marking the start of the second 52-day period within the 260 day cycle. This is the B’en trecena, associated with personal authority.

Fittingly, this is also Malala Day, the day designated by the United Nations as a day to stand up for the cause of world wide education. This coincides with Malala Yousafzai’s 18th birthday. Two years ago, on her 16th birthday, Malala addressed nearly 1000 young people from over 100 countries at the UN’s first Youth Assembly, as she called on world leaders to provide free education for every child. Her advocacy of education for girls in Pakistan made her the target of a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012. Not only did she survive after being shot in the head, but she has continued to thrive and to pursue this important cause. The long list of awards she has received since then include the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought, given by the 750-member European Union as its annual human rights prize.

Represented by robust growing corn, symbolic of strong self determination, the trecena begins with One B’en, an energy that has often been associated with huge shifts in the balance of power, as when Hernán Cortés and eleven Spanish galleons arrived on the east coast of Mexico in the early 16th century and kicked off the devastating events that so dramatically changed the whole of Mesoamerica. Several centuries later this same trecena brought forth the start of the Mexican revolution when the revolutionary Francisco Medero led strikes to denounce the dictator Porfirio Diaz.

In 2010 the first official Nelson Mandela International Day occurred on a One B’en day, on the day when he celebrated his 92nd birthday. Exactly one cycle after that, on One B’en in 2011, President Obama announced that he would be running for a second term as U.S. president. Early last year One B’en coincided with the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the most expensive Olympics ever, with athletes from 88 countries. And on its last occurrence this trecena coincided with the US midterm elections, bringing a shift in the balance of power. It also brought in a major shift in the city of Toronto, with the election of its new mayor.

At the opening of this trecena last October thousands of people across Canada gathered in various places to pay tribute to Nathan Cirillo, the guard who was on ceremonial sentry duty at the Canadian National War Memorial at Parliament Hill when he was shot three days earlier by a terrorist; on this day many veterans (and others) stood guard at war memorials across the country.

And now, at this particular time we have a rare alignment throughout the trecena as the numbers associated with the Maya month known as Xul exactly match the numbers associated with the days. So the qualities of the numerical forces are doubled at this time. This month (of 20 days) is symbolized by both a dog and a baby jaguar, but also traditionally associated with Kukulcan (aka Quetzalcoatl, the great Feathered Serpent who was thought to descend from the heavens to collect offerings at the end of the month).

During this sequence the “initiation” force of One B’en, for example, will be augmented by the “initiation” power of One Xul. Given that this is accompanying the authoritative B’en trecena it might be particularly important to pay attention at this time – especially during the last few days of this trecena which will be exactly paralleling the “double number” days in 1859 (three Calendar Rounds ago) when extreme solar flares caught the world’s attention, leading up to the Carrington event at the beginning of the following trecena (more about that next time). Overall this trecena can be seen as an opportune time to “take stock” of one’s self, to examine one’s values, interests, desires, and goals, and to work towards their attainment. To assist in this endeavor these are the energies that will come into play:

1 B’en 1 Xul (July 12th) – the “initiation” of “personal authority, at the same time as the United Nations celebrates Malala Day; a good day to make important personal decisions; closing of the Calgary stampede

2 Ix 2 Xul (July 13th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with “jaguar” earth mysteries and transformation; the 30th anniversary of the Live Aid rock concert that was watched by 1.5 billion people. The largest benefit concert in history, this concert earned $80 million U.S. for famine relief in Africa, and was seen as “the day when music changed the world”.

3 Men 3 Xul (July 14th) – the “activation of Higher Vision”; a Burner Day oriented around “announcing the fire” at the beginning of the “Eagle” burner sequence, an energy that sometimes heralds the nature of some forthcoming event or challenge. On this day NASA’s New Horizons probe is scheduled to fly past Pluto.

4 Kib’ 4 Xul (July 15th) – a “defining” day associated with the restoration of order; often a “getting down to business” type of force

5 Kab’an 5 Xul (July 16th) – a “blessing” type of energy associated with evolutionary movement, this time in conjunction with the New Moon. This is also the 70th Gregorian anniversary of the explosion of the first atomic bomb, called the Trinity test, by the U.S., near Alamogordo, New Mexico (an event which changed the course of history)

6 Etz’nab’ 6 Xul (July 17th) – a “six directions” type of energy that can often be an attention-getting “flash-point”

7 Kawak 7 Xul (July 18th) – “self-generating storm”, which can often bring a continuation of the weather pattern from the day before (if severe) or could manifest as a “storm of compassion”

8 Ajaw 8 Xul (July 19th) – “resurrection” of the sun and “enlightenment”, which could be strongly influential at this time, given the double 8. Maya birth energy of Rachel Notley, who became the premier of Alberta after a sweeping victory in that province’s elections last October. National Ice Cream Day in the U.S.

9 Imix 9 Xul (July 20th) – the “outward projection” of birth/the realm of all potential – a force that could have a far reaching influence; 46th anniversary of the first moon landing when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon

10 Ik’ 10 Xul (July 21st) – “foundational wind/breath/spirit” – an energy highly aligned with Source and with things pertaining to the air, to communication, and to things of a spiritual nature. It was the last appearance of 10 Ik’ (in November last year) that saw the “opening for business” of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, at 104 stories and 1776 ft., as the Conde Nast magazine empire moved in. Historically this “double 10” force has been highly consequential, as in the solar storms of 1859 (during solar cycle 10) that preceded the powerful Carrington event.

11 Ak’b’al 11 Xul (July 22nd) – “inspirational night” or “inspirational temple of mysteries”; this is a force often aligned with deep thought – or even “blackness” (as when Brazil was plunged into darkness under this influence in 2010), but also a good day to enjoy the sanctuary of home or temple. Maya birth energy of U.S. Pres. Abraham Lincoln. HRH Prince George’s second Gregorian birthday. This is also an anniversary of the Maya energy that was in place on the day in 1930 when astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto, and also in place in 1997 on the day he died. Some of his ashes are on board the New Horizons space probe that flew by Pluto 8 days ago.

12 K’an 12 Xul (July 23rd) – a “grouping together” type of energy often associated with youthful vitality and the joyful celebration of life’s bounties

13 Chikchan 13 Xul (July 24th) – “transformational lifeforce”; an intense energy that has brought forth strong weather systems and impassioned protest demonstrations in the past. Maya birth energy of the enchanting actor Omar Sharif, who passed over just before the end of the last trecena.

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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.]