It has now been one full 260-day cycle since the world was reeling from the shock waves of early November last year, and asking the question of “where to go from here?” It was a time of great uncertainty and people were frantically searching for ways to move forward. Tragically, thousands of lives have been disrupted since then, as forces of darkness have swept through countless areas. So where are we now, as the search to break out of the quagmire continues? Are any opportunities or workable paths appearing that can help to turn the tide?

Fortunately, the Eb’ trecena is generally a favourable time to explore new directions or open up new pathways, as Eb’ is a path-finding force generally aligned with the idea of revitalization. Even the ancient symbol for Eb’ hints at this as it is often shown as grass (ie. “new life”) springing forth from a skeletal jawbone – a metaphor for the idea of something that may have been thought of as “dead” containing within itself the potential to bring forth life once again.

As we return to this energy sequence, and look back at the past 260 days, the nature of the destruction, and the very dark, malicious intent behind it, have become clearer than ever before, and people are waking up. Indeed, not only are people waking up, but global pushback is becoming stronger day by day. It has now become crystal clear that “the democratic dream” has been under attack for some time, and while there have been far too many capitulations, millions are now drawing lines in the sand and saying “No – We are mad as hell and not going to take it any more”. Millions are participating in widescale protest demonstrations, with protests taking place on a daily basis. Thousands are attending town halls and holding their representatives to account. Millions are using social media to speak out against the barrage of lies being told by so many in power. The patterns and tactics of staggering amounts of corruption are being seen for what they are, and countermeasures are starting to shape up.

During this Eb’ trecena, with its metaphor of “new life” finding ways to break through, it is not unusual to see “sparks of light” appear, or evidence of hardy “new life”, often in the form of small miracles or through the formation of new possibilities that push through and provide refreshment for the spirit, even in the midst of what may appear to be “impossible darkness”.

From the perspective of Mesoamerican mythology, it is the Aztec Goddess Mayahuel, associated with healing, who was seen, traditionally, as the deity who oversaw this time frame, which often brings some kind of rejuvenating change in direction. Often this is when people start to really address issues in ways that can help new options to open up just when it may have seemed like all has been lost.

Mayahuel, the goddess of maguey, is often shown sitting in the middle of a maguey plant, one of the most sacred plants in ancient Mexico. The sap from this plant was not only made into a drink that was used for important ritual purposes, but it also had strong medicinal qualities. It can be fermented and made into an alcoholic aphrodisiac called pulque, which ties in with the idea of “intoxification and excess” that is sometimes associated with this time frame.

Sometimes the sense of new directions or possibilities that are often presented within this time frame can be so “intoxicating” that things can get a little “heady”. While the generative, and often celebratory, nature of these energies in place near the beginning of the trecena often foment “feasting, dancing, and pleasure-seeking” (as noted in ancient observations), a certain amount of caution may be needed to avoid issues that could be created through excess, particularly towards the intense final days of this time frame.

When this trecena came into place last November, those who had “won” the election were reveling in their victories, intoxified by the opportunities that they were given to put their vile ideas into action and wreak havoc in every direction. Authoritarianism was their vision and they were ready to start implementing their unspeakable plans. But even in those early days there were signs that this type of takeover would not be as easy as they thought.

Indeed, as past events have shown, this trecena as a whole has NOT been favourable to the dumpster. As far back as 2019, during his first term, this was the trecena during which the first 300-pg. impeachment report was released, with its conclusion that there was “overwhelming evidence” that the dumpster abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress. He was impeached (the first time) by the House of Representatives shortly thereafter.

The following year, during the summer of 2020, this was the trecena in place when Joe Biden accepted the nomination as the DNC’s candidate for the 46th president, with Kamala Harris joining him as his vice-presidential running mate, and glimmers of hope began to be seen. Once Biden was elected action began to be taken to address both the pandemic and the climate crisis. In addition, many important economic and humanitarian programs were set in motion once he took office, including the passage of the highly consequential infrastructure bill that will result in the building of many greatly needed projects such as roads and bridges over the next few years.

It was four cycles ago when the first round of presidential elections in Brazil took place on the first day of this time frame. That was when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva topped the first round of voting, and then went on to become Brazil’s 39th president. In 1960, this was the trecena that was in place during the final days of John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, with his election win taking place on the final day, confirming him to become the 35th President of the US.

Currently more and more people are “telling it like it is”, such as Representative Jasmine Crockett who is one of the dumpster’s fiercest opponents. Just before the start of this trecena Jasmine pointed out the blatant hypocrisy that can be seen in the dumpster’s targeting of people of colour as being those that he refers to as having “low IQs”, those he is rounding up and throwing out of the country. She pushed back hard at such comments and actions by providing the strong reminder that his cabinet “has to be the most incompetent cabinet” in the history of the US. As she said, it includes “people who can order that bombs be dropped” but “don’t know how to get the Signal chat”. . . . “if they work for a certain news network, that’s the only qualification that’s necessary”. So even on political fronts, this trecena has often had a way of bringing forth signs of hope.

From a global perspective, a great deal of effort is now being put into the creation of a workable multinational treaty that can help to bring about global reductions in plastic production and the phasing out of harmful chemicals and single-use plastics. The summit to address this issue continues through the first half of this time frame. There are also several important special days and special events coming up during this period, such as the UN’s International Youth Day and its International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Global days relating to raising awareness concerning lions, elephants, wolves, and homeless animals are also coming up during this period. Providing help for four-leggeds such as these is always a good thing – and always healing for everyone involved.

As always, no one can predict what the next turn of events will be, or where healing or new directions will be needed, but the forces in play at this time do hold the potential to bring forth a resurgence of vitality that can help with regrouping, assuaging issues, and the creating the kinds of paths that are needed in order to move forward. Here are the energies that are coming into play:

1 Eb’ (Aug. 7th) – the “initiation” of “animating vitality”, a refreshing stream-of-consciousness, “find your own path” type of force, which often signals the start of promising new directions, now in place as efforts are underway in Geneva to finalize a global agreement to tackle the enormous problem of plastic waste that is plaguing our planet. Representatives from almost 180 countries, alongside more than 1,900 other participants from 618 observer organizations including scientists, environmentalists and industry representatives, are meeting at this time to work out how to bring about global reductions in plastic production and the phasing out of certain chemicals and single-use plastic products.

Only humans can make waste that nature can’t digest. Captain Charles J. Moore, the oceanographer who first brought the world’s atention to the Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific 

The UN reported that the importance of finding workable solutions to this grave problem was highlighted recently by the respected medical journal The Lancet, that published a warning that the materials used in plastics cause extensive disease “at every stage of the plastics life cycle and at every stage of human life”. Let’s all hope that they find a workable path forward.

This is also the opening day for the two-day Global Leadership Summit, which will reach hundreds of thousands of people across more than 100 countries.

Currently this coincides with the 60th anniversary of the coming into effect of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was a landmark U.S. federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

This is the energy that was in place in 1789 when George Washington was unanimously elected as the first US president. In 2022 this was in place when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the first round in the voting that led to him becoming Brazil’s 39th president when he assumed office on Jan. 1st, 2023. President Lula is now becoming a global leader in pushing back against the dumpster and his outrageous, vengeful tariffs.

2 B’en (Aug. 8th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with the “generation” of personal authority, coinciding with one of the shifting deadline dates set by the dumpster for Russia to “make progress” towards a ceasefire with Ukraine. Or what?

The last time this was in place (last November) former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and some of his closest allies were among dozens of people formally accused by federal police of being part of a criminal conspiracy designed to obliterate Brazil’s democratic system through a rightwing coup d’état. He has recently been put under house arrest for violating court orders, ahead of the outcome of his trial, despite the dumpster’s attempt to interfere with Brazil’s justice system.

On that 2 B’en day last November the international criminal court (ICJ) issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu, the country’s former defence minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war. It was the first time that leaders of a democracy and western-aligned state had been charged by that court, seen as the most momentous decision of its 22-year history.

This marks 8 cycles exactly since the day in 2019 when the EU parliament declared a global “climate and environmental emergency” in response to the warning given the day before by climate change scientists about the “threats to civilization” that are being caused by climate change. That was when the EU parliament urged all EU countries to commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is also marking the second anniversary of the start of the huge wildfire that devastated the resort town of Lahaina in Maui, with this anniversary coming in just four days after another large brushfire was burning just north of that town.

3 Ix (Aug. 9th) –the “activation” of earth-based transformation, coinciding with the Full Sturgeon Moon, and marking the 80th anniversary of the day in 1945 when the US   dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. A ceremony of remembrance will be held at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial on this day.

Currently this is National Peacekeepers’ Day in Canada, in honour of more than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces peacekeepers and over 4,500 police officers who have served in dozens of international efforts over more than six decades. On this day a major Palestine Action protest is scheduled to take place in London.

In addition, this is the UN’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (aka World Indigenous Day), with this year’s theme being: “Indigenous People and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”. Click here for an interesting article that provides perspective on the inherent dangers of AI with regard to Indigenous Peoples and culture.

4 Men (Aug. 10th) – a “defining” energy related to the “high vision” of the Eagle; a double solar “Burner Day” associated with “running with the fire”, an energy that can sometimes bring a great deal of “firepower”.

This is now marking three cycles since the start of the trial of Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro before the Supreme Electoral Court in Brasilia, in 2023. He is accused of abuse of power and the spreading of false information about the electoral system. He was also under investigation in a number of separate criminal cases. Hundreds of others have also been jailed for taking part in the destruction of government buildings in Brasilia on Jan. 8th, 2023, during the coup attempt.

It has now been two cycles ago since the dumpster posted a $91mill bond when he appealed the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case. He eventually lost that appeal and was required to pay Ms. Carroll.

In March of 2019 this was in place on the day of the Youth Strike 4 Climate, a coordinated global school walkout that involved an estimated 1.4 million young people in 2233 cities in 128 countries, in a coordinated global effort to call for political action regarding climate change. That was the precursor to the massive #FridaysforFuture demonstrations that took place almost exactly one cycle later.

Currently this is World Lion Day, a day to raise awareness about lions and to garner support for their conservation.

5 Kib’ (Aug. 11th) – a “blessing” or “precision” type of energy associated, metaphorically, with the “Vulture’s” ability to fly high, survey, and then “swoop down” to “clean things up”, coinciding with the opening of the trial relating to the unprecedented deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles in early June.

This is also the opening day for the 4-day Waves 2025: Global Indigenous Languages Summit, with its focus on “celebrating and championing Indigenous languages, and supporting Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the globe in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining, and strengthening their languages.” This summit is in support of the objectives of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

In 1972 this was the energy in place when NASA astronauts Eugene “Gene” Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt released the “Earth as a Blue Marble” photo that was taken on from Apollo 17.

This is the energy influence that was in place at the time of the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. It has now been eight cycles since 2019 when Ursula von der Leyen took over as head of the European Commission, the EU’s top position.

6 Kab’an (Aug. 12th) – a “movement (or earth movement, even “evolutionary movement”) type of energy combined with the “all directions” force of the number six, coinciding at this time with the peak of Perseids Meteor Shower, the most anticipated one of the year.

This is the UN’s International Youth Day, which is commemorated annually August 12th to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people around the world. According to the UN, it “serves as a platform to promote youth engagement and celebrate their contributions to society, development, and peace.” This year’s theme for International Youth Day is “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, to emphasize the role of young people in helping to implement global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into local realities.

This is also World Elephant Day – a good time to remember these amazing beings that are in need of help in many places on this planet. The World Elephant Day website lists many ways in which people can help. A list of specific things that can be done are shown on their “How to Help Elephants” page. The theme this year is “Matriarchs and Memories”. A good overview of the importance of this day can be found here. A wonderful story about an elephant whisperer can also be found in a recent Guardian article – click here.

It has now been one cycle since the judge overseeing the dumpster’s criminal trial over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election dismissed the case. This can now be seen as one of many, many actions that appear to be part of the shattering of the US justice system.

This day marks six cycles since May of 2021 when WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended the Biden administration for supporting global vaccine equity and prioritizing the expansion of vaccine manufacturing and distribution at a critical time in the evolution of the pandemic. That was when U.S. Republican Representative Liz Cheney warned that her party was “at a turning point”, and that Republicans were going to have to decide whether they would choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution or join the dumpster’s crusade to delegitimize and attempt to undo the legal outcome of the 2020 election. Their choice has become blazingly clear.

7 Etz’nab’ (Aug. 13th) –“self-generating flint” – a “knife-edge” type of energy associated with the power of decisiveness and discrimination, marking one cycle since a ceasefire agreement was made between Israel and Hezbollah with regard to Lebanon. However, in the hours before Israeli ministers approved the deal, the Israeli military launched one of the heaviest barages of airstrikes since the war began, hitting the heart of Beirut and neighbourhoods south of the city.

That was the day when the dumpster’s team began their takeover after the 2024 election, getting ready to return to the White House. Pressure was also being placed on New York Attorney General Letitia James to drop her civil fraud case against the dumpster. However, she stood her ground!

This energy is marking eight cycles exactly since early December of 2019 when the US House Intelligence Committee released (and voted to pass) the 300-pg. impeachment report, with its conclusion that there was “overwhelming evidence” that the dumpster abused the power of the presidency (during 1.0) and obstructed Congress, and that his White House officals and associates knew of the Ukraine scheme. He was impeached by the House of Representatives shortly thereafter.

One cycle after that, during the 2020 DNC, President Obama delivered a scathing rebuke of the dumpster, referring to him as the “reality show president” as he highlighted the dumpster’s monumental failures. Obama’s speech was seen by many as a “dire warning”, and the “declaration of a national emergency” since that was when the dumpster was “on the cusp of destroying democracy itself”. At this point in 2025, it is long past that cusp point and the ashes of that destruction can be seen everywhere, as the rampage continues.

By “coincidence” (or not) this is the Maya birth energy of the acclaimed Irish poet William Butler Yeats, author of the poem “The Second Coming”, which is frighteningly evocative of what continues to happen in the US. On this day Indivisible is holding another One Million Rising virtual event, focusing on strategic planning to fight authoritarianism.

It has now been five cycles since January of 2022, when a massive cyber attack against Ukrainian government websites sounded the alarm about the increased possibility of a Russian military offensive against Ukraine, not long before the actual attack took place.

Currently this is International Wolf Day and the start of Japan’s Obon Festival, the first of four days of Obon, the Japanese Buddhist Festival of Souls during which rituals are performed and celebrations held to honour the spirits of ancestors.

On this first day fires and lanterns are lit to guide spirits home and altars of fruit, incense, and flowers are set up. Ancestral tombs are cleaned and decorated, prayer services are held at temples, and special meals are prepared.

8 Kawak (Aug. 14th) – “resurrecting storm”, sometimes associated with strong weather systems or some strong “push” towards enlightenment, marking the final day of the INC-5.2 summit in Geneva that began on Aug. 5th, to tackle the global issue of plastics pollution. Hopefully there will be some important announcements made at this time, as a result of this summit.

This is the second day of Obon, referred to as Bon Odori, in Japan, a day dedicated to dance and performances related to the ancestors. This is also marking the 78th Gregorian anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

This is the start day for the 44th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, which goes to Aug. 24th, which is billed as North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival, featuring artists from around the world.

This was the energy in place on the final day of the Democratic National Convention in 2020, when Joe Biden accepted the nomination as the DNC’s candidate for president, as he vowed to protect the US. At that time more than 70 former national security officials from multiple Republican administrations, along with former Republican members of Congress, announced that they would support Joe Biden. Currently this is the 90th Gregorian anniversary of the day in 1935 when President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.

This marks 11 cycles since the massive rally in 2017 that brought forth the start of the Me Too Movement in the U.S.

9 Ajaw (Aug. 15th) – an “outwardly projecting”, double-fire type of force associated with the full sun and “enlightenment”, coinciding with the 80th Gregorian anniversary of VJ Day, the great celebration of Victory at the end of World War II after the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan in 1945. In the UK hundreds of buildings will be lit up to mark VJ80 as part of commemoration events planned throughout the country.

This is the day when the dumpster will be meeting with Putin in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. It seems that Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy will not be involved in this particular meeting.

This is also India’s 78th Independence Day (also referred to as the 79th Independence Day, factoring in the first day of independence in 1947). In Korea, this is National Liberation Day, the only Korean public holiday celebrated by both North and South Korea.

10 Imix (Aug. 16th) – a “source” based energy aligned with birth and new possibilities, coinciding at this time with the final day of Japan’s Obon Festival, with the lighting of bonfires and the floating of lanterns to bid spirits farewell.

This is International Homeless Animals Day (IHAD), a good thing to remember as so many animals have been affected by global tragedies, including climate change. A good time to transform a homeless animal’s life for the better by giving them a furever home. In the US this is National Airborne Day, celebrating the accomplishments of American paratroopers. It’s also the 48th Gregorian anniversary of the sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977, which came as a great shock to a whole generation of his admirers.

And speaking of music – the is the start date for The Who’s “The Song is Over” North American farewell tour, at the end of a six-decade touring career. Their “The song is over. It’s all behind me.” lyrics are definitely suited to this tour.

11 Ik’ (Aug. 17th) – “inspirational” wind/breath/spirit, now marking one cycle since the signing of the historic Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty which recognized the Manitoba Métis Federation as the Government of the Red River Métis, with an inherent right to self-government and law-making powers over its own citizenship, elections and other operations. It was an official recognition that the Red River Métis shaped the West and played a pivotal role in the foundation of Canada.

As seen with the signing of that treaty, this tends to be a point within this trecena when some major announcement or proclamation is made which needs to be heeded. It has now been one Calendar Round (52 year period) since the US was in the thick of the Watergate investigations. When this energy was in place in August of 1973, President Nixon lost his first court battle when Judge Sirica ordered him to hand over, for private review, nine of the tapes that he had been secretly recording.

But not everyone dragged the Watergate corruption forward. Indeed, in January of 2017, John Dean, former White House counsel under President Nixon, warned that the dumpster was “just getting started” on “trashing the presidency”. He should know, as Dean was in the thick of things during Nixon’s attempted cover-ups. But in 2017 John Dean predicted that it would all “end in calamity” with regard to the dumpster, as he emphasized that “even Republicans know this.” How profoundly correct he was!

It has now been ten cycles since May of 2019, when Special Counsel Robert Mueller completed his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and submitted his report to the DoJ. And as result of that report there were 37 indictments in 22 months (including 13 Russian nationals, 3 Russian companies, and 12 Russian intelligence officers), with a number of convictions, guilty pleas and sentences. And that was just the beginning . . . . . but even now the dumpster, despicably, is still trying to deny all of that.

12 Ak’b’al (Aug. 18th) a “grouping together” type of energy associated with darkness and deep mysteries.

Four cycles ago (October of 2022) the final public Jan. 6th committee hearings before the midterm elections were taking place. That was when evidence was presented to show that the dumpster had privately conceded that he had lost the election, but he “didn’t want people to know”.

When this was last in place (last December) the dumpster picked Kash Patel, a “deep state” conspiracy theorist and virulent critic of the FBI, who had threatened to fire its top echelons and shut down the agency’s headquarters, as his choice to be the FBI Director – and the darkness and the intentional corruption of the US justice system continued . . . . .

Currently this day marks the 105th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, giving women the right to vote. It has now been eight cycles exactly since 12 Ak’b’al on Dec. 8, 2019 when one of the first cases of coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China.

13 K’an (Aug. 19th) – transformational “generative vitality”; a powerfully exuberant force that can foment a great deal of action on many fronts, coinciding at this time with the UN’s World Humanitarian Day (with this year’s theme being #Act for Humanity).

This is also National Aviation Day in the U.S. on Orville Wright’s Gregorian birthday,
celebrating the development of aviation, at the start of National Aviation week (Aug. 19-25). This would have been Gene Roddenberry’s 104th birthday.

In 1960 this was the energy in place when John F. Kennedy won the election to become the 35th President of the US.

It has been eight cycles exactly since the release (in December of 2019) of the US Inspector-General’s report that validated that the FBI’s investigation relating to the origins of the Russia investigation was sound, “in compliance with Department and FBI policies”, and that it was not a “hoax” or a “witch hunt”.

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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.]