It’s Spring, and the natural realm is heeding the call to push forth new life everywhere it can. That reaching for the sun, that call to stretch upwards and grow, that “self determined drive” to expand and fulfill one’s potential, is very much aligned with the nature of this time frame.

This trecena begins with One B’en, representative of the “initiation” of “self determination”, which kicks off the second 52-day period within the 260 day Tzolk’in. This is a force that often presents itself in bold ways, picking up the banner of authority, so to speak, and pointing towards new kinds of action that will play out over the next 52 day period (4 trecenas).

Generally represented by robust growing corn, symbolic of that sense of “vigorous energy pushing through”, is highly representative of both the B’en daysign and this period as a whole. Many “pillar-like” symbols tie in with this idea, as could be seen in 2020 during this trecena when the symbolic nature of statues became the focus of attention during Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

Traditionally the patrons of this B’en trecena were seen as being highly oriented around the idea of cleansing and “purification”, which often involves a shifting of energies to clear out stagnation. Indeed the principal patron of this time period was seen as Chalchiuhtlicue, the Goddess of Running Water, associated with the cleansing waters of the earth. She is sometimes accompanied by Tlazoltéotl, the “Great Mother” goddess who not only represents fertility, but also forgiveness and healing. Often some sense of “renewed vitality” can be felt during this time frame.

The “self determination” aspect associated with this time frame often shows up quite vividly during this period, with individuals often stepping forth to “claim” authority. Often this can be seen from the perspective of leadership, associated with the idea of “standing up for justice and equality” – an idea which has often manifested through the “stepping forward” of individuals who reveal themselves to be very much aligned with justice and human rights. Indeed, it was the first day of this trecena in early January of 1960 when John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy and initiated his campaign for the US presidency. This was also the energy in place in 2011 when President Obama announced that he would be running for a second term as U.S. president. Abraham Lincoln was not only born during this trecena, but the final phase of his funeral events, followed by his interment, also took place during this time period.

Historically many huge shifts in the balance of power have taken place during this time frame, as when Hernán Cortés and his conquistadores began pushing into the interior of Mexico just over 500 years ago during this period, fomenting the devastating events that dramatically changed the whole of Mesoamerica. Several centuries later this same trecena saw the start of the Mexican revolution when the revolutionary Francisco Madero led strikes to denounce the dictator Porfirio Diaz. In 2007 this trecena was in place when Nancy Pelosi made history by becoming the first woman Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the highest ranking female lawmaker in American politics. She went on to spearhead the passage of hundreds of legislative bills.

In early 2014 some 70,000 pro-Western Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv’s Independence Square during this period in a major push to oust President Viktor Yanukovych over his alliance with Russia. Two cycles ago (in December of 2021) the reins of power in Germany were handed over to Olaf Scholz who replaced Germany’s long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel. That was when Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy was warning that his country’s intelligence service had discovered that Russia, again, was planning some sort of coup or attack against Ukraine. As the world has seen, he was correct, and one cycle later (last August), as Putin was ordering a boost in Russian troops, President Zelenskyy was calling for Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag to be raised everywhere, including in occupied regions, in a strong show of defiance. Indeed, as part of the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence from the USSR, a large display of destroyed Russian tanks and other captured vehicles and weapons were set up on Kyiv’s main street. And currently there are indications that Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive in an effort to push Russia back further, possibly retaking some of their lost territory.

During this current period there is a strong possibity that an historic shift will take place in Turkey, as people choose between Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for more than 20 years, and democracy-aligned Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has broad backing. Although Turkey is part of NATO, it is felt that a win for Kilicdaroglu will help to strengthen Turkey’s support in this regard.

In the US the issue of raising the debt ceiling will be a major focus of attention during this trecena, as politicians “dig in” to their opposing positions. This is the last full trecena for negotiations before an impending default.

During this period it is not unusual to see strong statements from Mother Earth as well, as in volcanic eruptions such as that of the Fuego Volcano in Guatemala in 2012, of Mount Kelud in Indonesia in 2014, and of Mount Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2018. And with Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano erupting with a dramatic show of lava and a cloud of ash and rocks that reached 3,000m (9,800ft) into the sky just hours before this current trecena began, the likeliness of seeing more of this kind of activity during this period is high. Popocatépetl is just 70km south-east of Mexico City. Its name means “smokey mountain” in the indigenous Náhuatl language. Tornadoes and typhoons also have a tendency to appear during this period.

As we go through this trecena at this time please note that the numerical forces associated with the days, once again, are being echoed by the numbers related to the month. At this time that Maya month is known as “Sip”, which is associated with deer, and with the hunt (and thus sacrifice). Traditionally this is a month where divinities of the hunt were revered. But Sip was also seen as the protector of animals, and with the idea of shapeshifting. While we don’t yet know exactly what this might mean in terms of forthcoming events, the numerical pairing of the day and month components suggests a strong intensification of those qualities as we go through this period, concluding with a vigorous 13/13 on the final day. At this time there is even an echo in the Gregorian notation – as in 1 B’en 1 Sip on May 11th, all of which suggests that events could be “more than usually” aligned with the nature of these numerical forces as this period unfolds. Here are the energies that will come into play:

1 B’en 1 Sip (May 11th) – the “initiation” of personal authority, an important 52-day Shift-point within the 260-day cycle, at the beginning of a time frame that is often associated with some significant form of social or political adjustment, or some important announcement.

The last time One B’en was in place (last August) it coincided with Ukraine’s 31st
Independence Day, six months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at which time President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine had to fight for its freedom, rather than simply voting for it at the ballot box. On that day President Biden announced that the U.S. would give Ukraine an additional $3bn in military aid, bringing the total up to $10.6bn at that point, and other world leaders pledged their continuing support.

There was major concern, at that time, about the shelling of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, despite warnings from the G7 and the UN that this could provoke the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Unfortunately the situation has worsened as thousands of residents in that area are now in the process of being rapidly evacuated by Russian forces that control that region, amid fears of “deteriorating conditions” and the anticipated counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces. Back in 1942 this One B’en force was in place at the time of the first self-sustained chain reaction which initiated the controlled release of nuclear energy.

In the southern US the emphasis is not on evacuations, but rather on immigration, as this marks the end of the emergency immigration restriction known as Title 42 which has blocked migrants from requesting asylum for over three years. The southern border is bracing for a migrant surge as thousands of people are already waiting to be processed. New processing centers are being set up at key points within Latin America to screen migrants to determine whether they qualify to enter the U.S. legally.

Back in early 1960 the energy of One B’en was in place when John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy and initiated his campaign for the U.S. presidency. It was also in place in 2011 when President Obama announced that he would be running for his second term as president.

2 Ix 2 Sip (May 12th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with “jaguar” earth mysteries and transformation, coinciding with International Nurses Day, marking Florence Nightingale’s 203rd Gregorian birthday. This would have been famed composer Burt Bacharach’s 95th birthday. (His passing was on Feb. 8th.)

This marks two cycles since the swearing-in of Germany’s new chancellor Olaf Scholz, who replaced that country’s long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel. This is also the Maya birth energy of António Guterres, the current Secretary-General of the U.N.

3 Men 3 Sip (May 13th) – 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 important forthcoming event or challenge. This is World Fair Trade Day and World Migratory Bird Day, the first of two this year, with the theme this year being: “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”.

For Catholics, this is the Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, at which time thousands of pilgrims from around the world will gather in Fatima, Portugal.

In Liverpool there will be great excitement at this time as that city hosts the final events for the Eurovision competition – the world’s biggest international song contest, with 26 countries competing in the grand spectacle finale.

Five cycles ago, in 2019, the energy of 3 Men was in place at the time of the enthronement ceremony for Emperor Naruhito, the 126th Emperor of Japan, which was seen as a supreme act of “personal authority” as he officially proclaimed his own enthronement, with dignitaries from over 190 countries and international organizations in attendance for the elaborate event. His brother, the Crown Prince of Japan, attended the coronation of King Charles III last weekend.

This marks nine cycles since US intelligence agencies announced that they had overwhelming evidence that Russian hackers linked to the Kremlin were behind the hacking of the 2016 US presidential election, with Putin orchestrating it in an effort to help the dumpster. Four cycles before that (in early 2014) some 70,000 pro-Western Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv’s Independence Square in a major push to oust President Viktor Yanukovych over his alliance with Russia.

4 Kib’ 4 Sip (May 14th) – a “defining” day associated with the restoration of order; often a “getting down to business” type of force, coinciding with International Mother’s Day, on the last day of the Canadian Nursing Association’s National Nursing Week.

This is the 75th anniversary of the day in 1948 when the British Mandate expired in Israel and the new Jewish state was established.

This is also the day of Turkey’s critical general election, which could be an historic turning point for that country, as people choose between Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for more than 20 years, and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has broad backing. As Kilicdaroglu wants to scrap the all-powerful presidential system and steer this country back towards a more pro-Western, more democratic, more parliamentary, position, which would involve reviving independent courts and a free press, this will be a highly significant election.

In 1922 this 4 Kib’ energy was in place when the treaty was signed for the formation of the USSR, aka the Soviet Union. In 1989 this was in place when the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act was signed into law, which required the return of Native American human remains and cultural objects by museums and universities.

5 Kab’an 5 Sip (May 15th) – a “pivotal” type of energy associated with evolutionary movement, coinciding at this time with the 75th Gregorian anniversary of Nakba (“Catastrophe”) Day, marking the explusion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes when their land was expropriated by the Israeli government after the declaration of the state of Israel in Palestine in 1948. Many fled to Gaza where they continue to live in fear of raids and bombardments from Israel. Last Nov. 30th the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution to commemorate this day and the “historical injustice that befell the Palestinian people”. At that time Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the UN’s 193 member countries that Palestinians “deserve recognition of their plight, justice for the victims, reparation for their loss and fulfilment of their rights.”

In 2008 this was the energy in place when the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in Canada. Much remains to be done to fully implement the recommendations that came out of those investigations.

Currently, on Day 446 of the Russia-Ukraine war, this is International Conscientious Objector Day, marked around the world, associated with raising awareness of those who refuse to participate in armed conflict for moral or religious reasons.

In Japan this is Kyoto’s “Imperial” Aoi Matsuri (“Hollyhock” Festival), one of the biggest festivals in Japan. It is also marks the official start of the eastern Pacific Ocean’s hurricane season.

6 Etz’nab’ 6 Sip (May 16th) – a “six directions”, “knife edge” type of energy often associated with “separation” that can often be quite “sparkly” and attention-getting, as seen in the recent past when volcanic eruptions have occurred under this influence. Some of that sparkle will be seen in Cannes at this time, as the Cannes Film Festival opens with Jeanne Du Barry, Johnny Depp’s first film in three years.

Currently this is the UN’s International Day of Living Together in Peace, a special day that the UN designates as a means of “mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity” with the aim of upholding the desire “to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony”. Many special events in support of Ukraine will likely be held at this time.

This is also UNESCO’s International Day of Light, “a global initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy”, on the 63rd anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman who developed the world’s first functioning laser.

7 Kawak 7 Sip (May 17th) – “self-generating storm”, an energy that could bring intense weather or potentially manifest as a “storm of compassion” or a “storm of passion” oriented around a cause, coinciding at this time with the UN’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB): a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversities, with this year’s global focus being “Together always: united in diversity”. This event is celebrated in more than 130 countries.

In May of 1865 this was the energy in place when the Confederate government in the US was offically dissolved, prior to the final surrender of Confederate forces.

8 Ajaw 8 Sip (May 18th) – “resurrection” of the sun and “enlightenment”, eight cycles since the sun unleashed two powerful X-class solar flares, with the second being the most powerful in more than a decade, resulting in a “wide area of blackouts” over the sunlit side of Earth. As we are now in another active sunspot period it is possible that more flares might be seen at this time. Traditionally, this would have been a day for celebrating the zenith passage of the sun at the ancient city of Teotihuacan. In the Christian liturgical calendar, this is Ascension Day in observance of the “ascension of Jesus” 40 days after his resurrection.

This is also International Museum Day, with this year’s theme being “Museums, Sustainability
and Well-being”.

This is the Maya birth energy of Vincent van Gogh, who was a master of the use of sunlight in his paintings.

This marks 13 cycles since the eruption of Mount Kelud in Indonesia in 2014 that sent smoke and ash 10 miles into the air and across the island of Java, and forced 100,000 people to evacuate.
The blast could be heard 125 miles away.

This marks three cycles exactly since 24 world leaders called for a new global settlement to help the world prepare for future pandemics, as they emphasized that a treaty similar to that reached in the wake of World War II was needed to build cross-border cooperation. That was the day when work began on the National Covid Memorial Wall in London.

9 Imix 9 Sip (May 19th) – “immortal” birth/the realm of all potential – a force that could have a far reaching and long-lasting influence, coinciding at this time with the New Moon, on the opening day of the 3-day 49th G7 Summit in Hiroshima. Ukraine’s envoy to Japan had emphasized that, as part of this summit, the leaders of G7 nations must condemn any threat relating to the use of nuclear weapons and vow “decisive action” against such a move.

This is World Family Doctor Day and Global Accessibility Awareness Day, associated with spreading awareness about how to make technologies more available to people with disabilities. It is also the opening day for the three-day World Heart Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, when world leaders in cardiovascular health meet with the goal of strengthening the global response to cardiovascular disease to help people live longer, healthier lives.

In addition, this is the 18th annual Endangered Species Day, a global day of awareness raising and global action, this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.  Note that the Endangered Species Act became effective on the last day of this time frame in 1973.

Nine Imix was the energy in place in 2015 when NASA released the first image of Earth from its Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite, showing Earth from one million miles away. This is the Maya birth energy of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the newest US Supreme Court judge.

10 Ik’ 10 Sip (May 20th) – “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, marking the fourth Gregorian anniversary of the inauguration of President Zelenskyy in Ukraine.

This is the UN’s World Bee Day, oriented around raising awareness concerning the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, of the threats they face and of their contribution to sustainable development. The goal is to strengthen measures to protect bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food
supply and help to eliminate hunger in developing countries.

In China this day is like a second Valentine’s Day since the Mandarin pronounciation for 5.20 “five- two-zero”) sounds like “I Love You”. It is National Armed Forces Day in the U.S., and Cher’s 77th Gregorian birthday. Happy birthday Cher!

This marks three cycles since President Biden announced an historic $2.3tn infrastructure plan, originally known as the American Jobs Plan, that was seen as “a once in a generation spending plan” that included more than $600bn for such things as modernizing roads, repairing bridges, and tackling climate change. After much debate part of that plan was passed and signed into law in 2021.

11 Ak’b’al 11 Sip (May 21st) – “inspirational night” or “inspirational temple of mysteries”, a force often aligned with deep thought – or even “blackness”, but also a good day to enjoy the sanctuary of home or temple, or to give “deep thought” to something of an inspirational nature. As it happens this is World Meditation Day, and UNESCO’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development), a day designated by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony.

This is the final day of the G7 Summit, and the start of the UN’s 76th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, with this year’s theme being “WHO at 75: Saving Lives, Driving health for all”. This marks 1,260 days since Dec. 8, 2019 when one of the first Covid-19 cases was reported.

This is the Maya birth energy of AI “godfather” Geoffrey Hinton, who quit his job in early May. Acknowledging that he was now regretting his work, Hinton warned about the growing dangers from developments in this field. This warning was followed, on the last day of the last trecena, by public health professionals from the UK, US, Australia, Costa Rica and Malaysia, that AI could harm the health of millions and pose an existential threat to humanity, as they called for a halt to the development of artificial general intelligence until it is regulated.

This is also Abraham Lincoln’s Maya birth energy, which would have been in place in 1865 just 5 days after his interment.

12 K’an 12 Sip (May 22nd) – a “dedicated” type of energy often associated with youthful vitality and the joyful celebration of life’s bounties, coinciding with Victoria Day in Canada, and the UN’s International Day for Biological Diversity, with this year’s theme being “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”

This is the opening day for huge Chelsea Flower Show in London, seen as “the world’s greatest flower show”, created by world renowned garden designers, which runs to May 27th.

13 Chikchan 13 Sip (May 22nd) – “transformational lifeforce”; an intense and often impassioned energy, marking four cycles since the deaths of US Congressman John Lewis and the Rev. C.T. Vivian, both fierce warriors, both indefatigable icons of the civil rights movement. On that same day in the U.K., Captain Tom Moore was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for raising over £32 million for National Health Service charities.

On the first day of 1970 this was the energy in place when the National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law in the US, requiring federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

This is the Maya birth energy of the legendary Katherine Hepburn, who lived to be 96.

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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.]