Given the varying kinds of storms that have spanned the entire 13 days of the last trecena, from the lightning storm at the very beginning on the coast of B.C., to Hurricane Isaias on the Atlantic coast, to the monsoons in Kerala, to the severe thunderstorms in Scotland at the end of the trecena, the question of whether or not this would continue into this Eb’ trecena was starting to loom large. The Eb’ trecena is often an energy frame that brings some sort of relief or change in direction and, just before this began, there it was. Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris to be his running mate and the world took a collective sigh of relief . . . after four long years of rampage and devastation perpetuated by the “unhinged moron” (as many have commented) in the White House, finally a glimmer of hope. So now this Eb’ trecena will provide opportunities to see the opening up of a whole new set of possibilities (a key word used by Joe yesterday), with opportunities to begin the process of collective healing.

Click here for the Podcast to accompany this post.

As this trecena opens it marks five cycles (1300 days or 5 x 260 days) since the historic Women’s March that took place in hundreds of cities across the U.S. and in some 673 cities around the world, on all seven continents, when millions of people raised their voices to make known their objections to the results of the 2016 U.S. election, as they stood in solidarity to support equal rights and humanitarian principles worldwide. With “1300” being a key fractal within the Maya Calendar the formation of this Biden/Harris team at this critical time seems to be not only an important historical moment (given that Kamala is the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major political party in the US), but a true pivotal point in terms of the workings of these energies.

As it happens, when this Eb’ trecena was in place last year it was the last full trecena before Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. A great deal of information about the atrocities being perpetuated at the highest levels of government was being scrutinized by Congress, and the nature of the divide was becoming crystal clear. At the same time, the very first day of this trecena brought a warning from environmental scientists that the world may already have crossed a series of climate tipping points, posing a risk that they called “an existential threat to civilisation”. As it turned out it was close to the end of this trecena when one of the very first cases of coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China.

One might ask whether or not Covid-19 came in because people (particularly those in the Trump administration) were not taking the earlier warnings from environmental scientists seriously. Fortunately, however, the EU parliament DID declare a global “climate and environmental emergency” at that time as it urged all EU countries to commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But this still needs to be a worldwide commitment.

And that it what this trecena tends to do – energy often tends to push its way through to open up new pathways in one form or another. Symbolically the Eb’ hieroglyph is representative of a jawbone with grass growing out of it, referencing the idea that even though something might look “dead as a doornail” there is still a chance that “new life” can spring forth. The core idea is that deep within there may still be a vital essence that, given the right conditions, would have the capacity to bring forth new growth. Given the right conditions that essence will do everything it can to find the “path” to “renewed vitality”. For this reason both “Road” and “Grass” are often used as representations of this energy.

Aligned with these ideas, the Eb’ trecena often has a tendency to highlight new opportunities, inspire people towards action, and even push towards healing. In 2005 this was the trecena that was in place during the first two weeks of the massive disaster relief effort that was undertaken to assist the areas stricken by Hurricane Katrina.

In terms of the impeachment hearings last December, a great opportunity was presented during the Eb’ trecena at that time to do something to stop the spread of the highly destructive “virus” that was emanating from the White House. Many from outside Congress lent their voices to this cause, such as the more than 500 legal scholars who signed an open letter to Congress declaring (among other things) that Trump “engaged in impeachable conduct” and betrayed his oath of office by seeking foreign interference in US elections for his personal, political benefit “at the direct expense of national security interests as determined by Congress”. In the letter they stated clearly that whether Trump’s conduct was “classified as bribery, as a high crime or misdemeanor, or as both, it [was] clearly impeachable” under the US Constitution. But regardless of all the evidence presented to support the impeachment effort, that opportunity was squelched by White House enablers in the Senate.

Similarly, with the early signs of Covid presenting themselves at that time there was ample opportunity to stop it in its tracks at that time, IF people had acted quickly. But that was not the case and so it opened up its own pathways and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives because of it.

Three cycles ago (in June of 2018) a massive “Families Belong Together” protest rally against the Trump administration’s child separation immigration policy and the treatment of children was held in Washington D.C. on the fourth day of this time frame, during which nearly 600 women were arrested. It was just one of some 750 such rallies that took place across the U.S. at that time to protest against this cruel policy. But has anything really been done about it?

Two cycles ago (in early 2019) this trecena brought forth the Global Climate Strike, known as Youth Strike 4 Climate, which was a coordinated global school walkout involving an estimated 1.4 million young people in 2233 cities in 128 countries, in a massive effort to call for political action regarding climate change. That opened up a pathway for action that continued on for most of the year, picking up steam throughout the entire cycle as hundreds of thousands of students and their allies continued the fight for climate change action. By the time this trecena came in for the second time last year (last Fall) more than 500,000 young people were rallying in Madrid to protest against the lack of speed and lack of progress being taken by world governments in tackling the climate emergency. And then Covid happened . . .

And now, at this critical point, a number of significant events are set to take place, with both the Democratic National Convention and the start of the GOP National Convention scheduled for this time frame, in greatly-pared down formats.

So what might we expect during this period? As always the first day of this time period is associated with the “initiation” of a “road opening” or “pathfinding” force that can usher in a new sense of hope or inspiration. This is often a healing and “refreshment” type of energy, the type of force that represents new life springing forth. Traditionally this was accompanied by celebration and feasting, making it a “heady” kind of time often aligned with both expectation and abundance.

Intriguingly there are many signs of hope at this time, beginning with Obon, the Japanese Buddhist Festival of Souls, which takes place over the first three days of this trecena. This is a particularly interesting sign of hope since just a few days ago Japan commemorated the 75th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, when up to 226,000 people (mostly civilians) were killed, and Obon is a festival during which rituals and celebrations are performed to honour the spirits of ancestors.

So this trecena will open with those special healing-oriented rituals taking place. The third day coincides with the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, the great celebration of Victory at the end of World War II after the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan. That will also be National Liberation Day in Korea, and Independence Day in India.

The sixth day brings the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the US, granting women the right to vote. The tenth day brings the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular Hindu festival in honour of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and giver of good fortune. And the trecena ends with China’s Double Seventh Festival, aka “Young Girls’ Festival” or “Chinese Valentine’s Day” based on an ancient love legend. This day is also the 76th anniversary of the completion of the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

So it looks like this Eb’ trecena, at this time, will be ramping up the strong generative powers that have traditionally been associated with this time frame, and presenting opportunities for many new avenues of possibility to open up. While there is always unpredictably during this period, with the traditional patrons of this trecena sometimes warning of discord that can be brought about through “excess”, this energy period can still offer a lot of hope through this resurgence of vitality. Here are the energies that will come into play:

1 Eb’ (Aug. 13th) – 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. At this time this coincides with the first day (of three) of Obon, the Japanese Buddhist Festival of Souls during which rituals and celebrations are performed 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.

As of this day it has now been five cycles (1300 days or 5 x 260 days) since the massive Women’s March in Washington D.C. and in hundreds of other cities in the U.S. and around the world, in January of 2017. This marks one cycle exactly since environmental scientists warned that the world may already have crossed a series of climate tipping points, posing a risk that is “an existential threat to civilisation”. It has been 80 days now since the death of George Floyd, as Black Lives Matter protest demonstrations continue across the US.

2 B’en (Aug. 14th) – a dynamic type of energy aligned with the “generation” of personal authority, coinciding at this time with the second day of Obon in Japan. Referred to as Bon Odori, this is a day dedicated to dance and performances related to the ancestors. Click here for five different Obon festivals; click here for more information on the Bon festival.
This is also the 73rd Gregorian anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

This day marks three cycles since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made history when she defeated a high-ranking congressman in the New York primary before going on to become the youngest member ever to serve in the U.S. Congress. Two cycles since Paul Manafort’s Washington D.C. sentencing, the first time for a presidential campaign manager to be sent to prison.

One cycle exactly since the EU parliament declared a global “climate and environmental emergency” as it urged all EU countries to commit to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

3 Ix (Aug. 15th) –the “activation” of transformation, as the Moon and Venus make a close approach in the predawn/dawn sky and Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky) begins its heliacal rise (on some latitudes) on this 75th 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. Significantly this is coinciding with the final day of Japan’s Obon Festival, with the lighting of bonfires and the floating of lanterns to bid spirits farewell.

In addition to the 75th anniversary commemorations that will take place in many countries on this day this is also the National Liberation Day of Korea, the only Korean public holiday celebrated by both North and South Korea, to celebrate the ending of the decades-long Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula. While all this is going on a great National Festival will be taking place across India as that country celebrates its 74th Independence Day – hopefully with safety measures in place as there are now well over three million cases of Covid-19 in that country.

At this point it has been five cycles since the US National Day of Climate Action during which students from over 50 universities participated in nationwide demonstrations to demand that their institutions resist and reject Trump’s climate denial by divesting from the fossil fuel industry and reinvesting in solutions to the climate crisis. And one cycle since hundreds of thousands of young people took to the streets in 2300 cities in 143 countries last November for the #FridaysforFuture climate action demonsrations three days before the opening of the COP25 summit.

It has been two cycles since the US House voted unanimously (420-0) to demand that the Justice Department publicly release the full findings of the Mueller report, on the same day as a landmark ruling in New York stated that a sitting president CAN be sued in state court, which cleared the path for the NY Attorney-General to proceed with the case against the Trump Foundation relating to violations of New York state law and campaign finance law. That case is still on-going. At this point 80 days remain until the 2020 election.

This is also International Homeless Animals Day, a good time to transform a homeless animal’s life for the better by giving them a home.

4 Men (Aug. 16th)– 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”, on the 43rd Gregorian anniversary of the sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977.  This is the Maya birth energy of former US president John F. Kennedy – and it’s interesting to see it in place on the day before the start of the Democratic National Convention.

It has been two cycles exactly since 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, a coordinated global effort to call for political action regarding climate change, in March of 2019. Note that this was the precursor to the massive #FridaysforFuture demonstrations that took place almost exactly one cycle later (see 3 Ix, above).

5 Kib’ (Aug. 17th) – a “blessing” or “precision” type of energy associated with the “Vulture’s” high-flying ability to survey and its ability to “clean things up”, coinciding with the start of the Democratic National Convention (primarily virtual), under the same energy influence as was in place at the time of the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln. It has been one cycle since Ursula von der Leyen took over as head of the European Commission, the EU’s top position.  Discovery Day in the Yukon.

6 Kab’an (Aug. 18th) – a “movement (or earth movement, even “evolutionary movement”) type of energy combined with the “all directions” force of the number six, on this New Moon day on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the US, women’s right to vote. The Global Giving organization was founded under this energy influence in 2002.

Release day for “You’ve Been Trumped Too” on digital platforms.

Three cycles since the massive 2018 “Families Belong Together” protest rallies across in the US against the Trump administration’s abominable child separation immigration policy and its treatment of children and women, with thousands braving extreme heat in many areas. One cycle since the opening of COP25, the 25th session of the Climate Change Conference in Madrid last Nov.

7 Etz’nab’ (Aug. 19th) –“self-generating flint” – a “knife-edge” type of energy associated with the power of discrimination, coinciding at this time with the 76th anniversary of the beginning of the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

Currently this is the UN’s World Humanitarian Day and the beginning of Ghost month in China, with this day being the Ghost Gate Opens day. In the evening- the beginning of Islamic New Year, at the first sighting of the waxing crescent moon.

This is the energy that was in place in 2018 when Lopez Obrador (a “progressive reformist”) won a landslide victory in Mexico’s presidential election. In 2014 this was the energy influence in place when 53 international delegates met in the Hague to discuss the reduction and security of nuclear supplies (particularly against terrorism).

Historically this has been a particularly potent mid-trecena marker point, as could be seen five cycles ago (in early 2017) when the new Trump administration imposed a travel ban against seven Muslim nations that not only started a backlash across the U.S. but also triggered lawsuits and protests around the world, at the same time as George Papadopoulos lied to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials, a key event in the overall Russia scandal.

One cycle ago (early last December) this was the energy in place when the US House Intelligence Committee released (and voted to pass) the 300-pg. Trump impeachment report, with its conclusion that there is “overwhelming evidence” that Trump abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress, and that Trump officals and associates knew of the Ukraine scheme. That was the day when Kamala Harris dropped out the presidential race, but (as of 9 days ago) she’s back as Joe Biden’s running mate.

8 Kawak (Aug. 20th) – “resurrecting storm”, sometimes associated with strong weather or some strong “push” towards enlightenment, on the final day of the Democratic National Convention. It has been one cycle exactly since the start of the US House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment hearings last Dec. This is the full day of the Islamic New Year, also known as the Arabic New Year or the Hijri New Year, the beginning of the first month in the Islamic calendar which is used to calculate significant Islamic events for the year.

This is the Maya birth energy of Manitoba founder and Métis leader Louis Riel. Also the Maya birth energy of the renowned Indian musician and composer of Hindustani classical music Ravi Shankar, who is credited for introducing this type of music to Western audiences, particularly through his association with musicians such as George Harrison and John Coltrane. Ravi would have turned 100 this past April.

9 Ajaw (Aug. 21st) – an “outwardly projecting”, double-fire type of force associated with the full sun and “enlightenment”, exactly one cycle since former EU president Donald Tusk called Brexit “one of the most spectacular mistakes” in the history of the EU, on the day of Nancy Pelosi’s formal announcement (last December) that the House Judiciary Committee would be proceeding to draw up articles of impeachment based on Trump’s abuse of power that was shown to undermine US national security and jeopardize the integrity of US elections.

As of this day it has been four cycles since the start of the Me Too Movement.

10 Imix (Aug. 22nd) – a “source” based energy aligned with birth, coinciding at this time with the start of the highly anticipated Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular Hindu festival in honour of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, giver of good fortune, patron of the arts, letters, and knowledge, and Lord of New Beginnings, that spans 11 days. This is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism.

This day also marks the beginning of the colourful 10-day Onam harvest festival in Kerala, India where the ground in front of homes would be decorated with wonderful floral carpets called pookkalams, and people celebrate with feasting, new clothes, games, and snake boat races. However, this may be pared down considerably this year due to the pandemic and the severe flooding in that area during the last trecena.

This is Earth Overshoot Day 2020 – the day that marks the point within the year where humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can generate in that year.

11 Ik’ (Aug. 23rd) – “inspirational” wind/breath/spirit; the energy that was in place on January 1, 2000 when millions of people celebrated the coming new millennium.

As of this day it has been five cycles (1300 days) since Jan. 2017 when John Dean, former White House counsel under President Nixon, warned that Trump is “just getting started” on “trashing the presidency”. Dean then predicted that Trump’s presidency “will end in calamity. Even Republicans know this.” Dean also tweeted that Trump is “Nixon without the intelligence or the government and foreign policy experience”. Note that the GOP convention starts tomorrow.

It has been two cycles since March of last year when Special Counsel Robert Mueller completed his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and submitted his report to the DoJ. During this investigation 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.

Currently this marks the 15th Gregorian anniversary of the day when evacuation orders were given and states of emergency declared as Hurricane Katrina began its rampage on Louisiana and other southern states in 2005. Currently there are two hurricanes heading towards the U.S. Gulf coast.

12 Ak’b’al (Aug. 24th) a “grouping together” type of energy associated with darkness and deep mysteries, as was in place at the time of the 2004 Sumatra tsunami and again in 2011 when the ash cloud from the Grimsvötn volcano grounded about 500 flights in the U.K.

This is the opening day for what was to be a dramatically scaled-down Republican National Convention – we shall see. One cycle (260 grueling days) exactly since 12 Ak’b’al on Dec. 8 last year when one of the first cases of coronavirus were detected in Wuhan, China.

13 K’an (Aug. 25th) – transformational “generative vitality”; a powerfully exuberant force that can instigate a great deal of action on many fronts, coinciding at this time with the 76th Gregorian anniversary of the liberation of Paris in 1944. This is the day of China’s Double Seventh Festival (aka the Qixi or Qiqiao festival), also seen as “Young Girls’ Festival” or “Chinese Valentine’s Day” based on an ancient love legend. It has been one cycle exactly since the release 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 was not a “hoax” or a “witch hunt”.

Second day of the Republican convention, and keep an eye on those two hurricanes, likely due to hit about this time.

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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.]