Represented by robust growing corn, symbolic of strong self determination, this trecena begins with One B’en, an energy that marks the start of the second 52-day period within the 260 day Tzolk’in cycle.

This is a force 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 in 2014 it was a One B’en day that brought the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics, the most expensive Olympics ever, with athletes from 88 countries.

At the opening of this trecena two cycles ago 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 that very sombre One B’en day many veterans (and others) stood guard at war memorials across the country.

As always, that strong “personal authority” force continues its influence throughout the 13 day period, working in conjunction with the remaining days. Two cycles ago that “push” coincided with midterm elections in the U.S., bringing a shift in the balance of power. It also coincided with the parliamentary election in the Ukraine that involved the participation of 29 political parties, with a multitude of independent candidates winning seats in various constituencies. At that time a major shift also took place in the city of Toronto with the election of its new mayor.

It was during this B’en trecena in October of 2014, on the day before that shift in power in the U.S., that another historic turning point took place, the “opening for business” of One World Trade Center in New York, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, at 104 stories and 1776 ft., as the Conde Nast magazine empire moved into their new offices. That was on the day 10 Ik’ (“foundational wind/breath/ spirit”), a day associated with many significant events in the past, such as the completion of first nonstop transatlantic flight (in 1919) and the opening of the Vancouver Airport, with the first hard-surface runway in Canada (in 1931), and the escape (in 2005) of all 309 passengers after the crash of an Air France Airbus as it attempted to land at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

Two years after that Nancy Pelosi made history on a 10 Ik’ day when she became the first woman Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the highest ranking female lawmaker in American politics, and third in line to the Presidency. During her speech she said that on that day “the sky is the limit”. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress, was also sworn in on this day.

During the last appearance of this B’en trecena the 3 Men Burner Day got our attention with the close flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons space probe after its nine-year journey to that planet. A few days later, on 9 Imix, NASA released the first image of Earth from its Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite, showing Earth from one million miles away. That was also the launch day for the Breakthrough Initiatives endeavour, the $100 Million 10-year search project designed to accelerate the search for life beyond Earth by harnessing the world’s largest telescopes to mine galactic data.

As we embark on this trecena at this time, the first four days will bring us through the Wayeb’, those transitional days at the end of the Maya year, where there are mixed opinions about their nature. Some people see them as days requiring special vigilance and others see them as transitional “days of rest”. In this case One Ben’ combines with One Wayeb’ on March 28th, so there is a doubling of the “initiation” force at that time, with each of the following three days incorporating a doubling of their respective numerical forces. These are the days leading up to the “seating” of the Classical Maya New Year, which comes in on April 1st.

Intriguingly there are two memorial concerts for David Bowie scheduled for this early part of the trecena, one on March 31st, the last day of the Maya year, and one on April 1st, the Maya New Year.

Overall this trecena can be seen as an opportune time to “take stock” of one’s self, particularly during the lead-up to the new Maya year, to examine one’s values, interests, and desires in the interest of making adjustments that can better lead towards the attainment of personal goals. To assist in this endeavor these are the energies that will come into play:

1 B’en 1 Wayeb’ (Mar. 28th) – the “initiation” of personal authority, this time in conjunction with the “initiation” of the Way’eb, the transitional period leading up to the Maya New Year. A good day to make important personal decisions.

2 Ix 2 Wayeb’ (Mar. 29th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with “jaguar” earth mysteries and transformation

3 Men 3 Wayeb’ (Mar. 30th) – the “activation of Higher Vision”; a Burner Day oriented around “announcing the fire” at the beginning of the “Eagle” burner day sequence, an energy that sometimes heralds the nature of some forthcoming event or challenge. On the last appearance of this energy NASA’s New Horizons probe flew past Pluto.

4 Kib’ 4 Wayeb’ (Mar. 31st) – a “defining” day associated with the restoration of order; often a “getting down to business” type of force, in place at this time at the time of the International Summit on nuclear safety in Washington D.C. and the memorial concert for David Bowie at Carnegie Hall in New York. Birth energy of Raymonde de Laroche (the “Baroness of Flight”), the first woman in history to receive a pilot’s licence.

5 Kab’an 0 Pop (April 1st) – a “blessing” type of energy associated with evolutionary movement, this time in conjunction with the seating of the Maya New Year, on the day of the memorial concert for David Bowie at Radio City Music Hall. The day of the opening of the spectacular solar powered Field of Light installation at Ayers Rock in Australia.

6 Etz’nab’ (April 2nd) – a “six directions” type of energy that can often be an attention-getting “flash-point”. The Day of the Cherry Blossom Kite Festival in Washington D.C.

7 Kawak (April 3rd) – “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 (April 4th) – “resurrection” of the sun and “enlightenment”, on the New Fire anniversary of the introduction of the wildly popular Mustang car. Also Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s New Fire birthday

9 Imix (April 5th) – the “outward projection” of birth/the realm of all potential – a force that could have a far reaching influence, on the day of the Wisconsin primary

10 Ik’ (April 6th) – “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, this time in conjunction with the 130th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Vancouver. Two cycles ago this was the day that saw the “opening for business” of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, at 104 stories and 1776 ft.

11 Ak’b’al (April 7th) – “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 both U.S. Pres. Abraham Lincoln as well as Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress, whose New Fire birthday was last summer.

12 K’an (April 8th) – a “grouping together” type of energy often associated with youthful vitality and the joyful celebration of life’s bounties

13 Chikchan (April 9th) – “transformational lifeforce”; an intense energy that has brought forth strong weather systems and impassioned protest demonstrations in the past. Exactly two cycles ago, in November 2014, some 100,000 workers marched across Brussels and clashed with police in a massive protest against government austerity measures.

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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.]