Anticipation is high in the astrological world about the cosmic lineup during mid April.  And when we add the Maya Calendar overlay the relationships among the energies suggest that this time period could be particularly eventful and perhaps quite memorable.

For the most part, we have been blessed with something of a reprieve during the Lifeforce-related trecena that brought in April, as warmer weather began to return to the many parts of the northern hemisphere that have been buried for so long under snow. While we hope for a continuance of solar blessings, the Etz’nab’ trecena has the potential to be quite challenging.

Traditionally seen as a period associated with “sacrifice and separation”, this thirteen day period was thought of as being under the patronage of two deities who seem to have opposing agendas. One of these is the Sun God (known as Tonatiuh to the Aztec) who represents the life-giving, restorative warmth of the sun; while the other is Mictlantecuhtli, who represents the coldness of the Underworld. The tug-of-war between these forces comes into play at this time, with the Sun God wanting to bring forth that spark of life and warmth at the same time as the “Death” God wants to hold things at bay, to keep things static or frozen in his icy grip.

Added to this dynamic are a number of strong celestial influences and alignments at this time, including a close visit from Mars, a Blood Moon Eclipse (the first of four total lunar eclipses in a row between now and 2015), a meteor shower, and the exacting of a planetary Grand Cardinal Cross right in the middle of the trecena. As if that wasn’t enough we will also have a Calendar Round return of the exact energy that was in place in 1910 when Halley’s comet paid us a visit. During that year the comet reached its greatest brilliance, with its tail spread across the sky, on the second day of this time frame. The tenth day of this trecena will bring us the Calendar Round return of the exact energy that was in place when Earth passed through the tail of the comet.

Historically this trecena has had a tendency to bring issues in many arenas into sharp focus, requiring people to face their dilemmas and make important decisions. Indeed, this was the situation in 2012 when tens of thousands of people on the U.S. east coast faced the daunting task of rebuilding homes, lives, and communities after the onslaught of Superstorm Sandy.

Even if one is not having to deal with a natural disaster this trecena can encourage the kind of reflection that can help people to gain greater clarity in their lives, as it can exert the kind of pressure that can force people to review their options and perhaps make significant adjustments to their thoughts and/or actions. Given the various influences in play the stakes appear to be unusually high at this time, particularly in “powder-keg” places such as Ukraine. Given the huge Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s eastern border, the pro-Russian activism in many cities, and the forthcoming meeting of top diplomats from these countries, the EU, and the US, it will be interesting to see how these energies play out.

This all begins on One Etz’nab’ (April 13th), with the initiation of the knife-edged energy that can begin the separation process, to physically or metaphorically “cut away” what is no longer working or needed, or “spark” ideas that can shed light on dazzling new possibilities. The key is to be vigilant – very, very vigilant!

There have been many times in the past when the knife-edged energy associated with Etz’nab’ has had a particularly sharp, even world-rattling sting, as when the French royal family was arrested on One Etz’nab’in 1791, at the beginning of the bloody French revolution, and when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on One Etz’nab’ in 1948. In September of 2010 it was a One Etz’nab’ day when Hurricane Igor, seen as the worst storm to hit Newfoundland in 75 years, pummelled that region, precipitating over $65 million in damage. On that same day the “Great Firewall” internet controls in China broke down for several hours, allowing brief access to banned websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

In June of 2011 One Etz’nab’ brought a record breaking heat wave to Toronto, sudden severe thunderstorms to Ontario (accompanied by hail, lightning strikes, torrential rain, tornadoes, and massive power outages) and distortions to the Earth’s magnetic field from a massive solar flare. And as this trecena begins on April 13th yet another Cat. 5 cyclone will be on the rampage, this time terrorizing the north coast of Queensland.

Last summer this trecena was particularly difficult for the people of Lac-Mégantic in Quebec, as the Memorial Service for the 47 victims of the train disaster in that town was held on One Etz’nab’, followed by funerals throughout the remaining days.

However, let us not despair, as this trecena has also been known to spark important advancements and other significant events. Indeed, twenty years ago, on the second day of this trecena, Nelson Mandela was elected by parliament as the first president of a democratic South Africa, with his inauguration taking place on the 3 Ajaw (activation of enlightenment) day that followed. So there can be a lot of “sparkle” at this time, as there was in China in 2008 during this trecena at the time of the Beijing Olympics.

And this present time, in Thailand, the beginning of this trecena will bring in the Thai New Year festival known as Songkran, with its generally joyous cleansing and rejuvenating water related events.

All in all, with so many influences in the works, it is likely that there will be much speculation concerning this time period, and possibly even a certain amount of fear-mongering. Perhaps we would do well to keep in mind something that happened in 1938 when Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” was first broadcast on the second day of this period, when many were led to believe that Earth was being invaded by Martians. With that in mind, let’s try not to panic and do our best to enjoy the show!

As we go through this period these are the energies that will come into play:

1 Etz’nab’ (April 13th) – the “initiation” of Flint – a sparkling “shock and awe” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate; first day of Songkran in Thailand

2 Kawak (April 14th) – “dynamic storm”, often manifested as the “generation of a storm of compassion”. Often triggering strong emotions, as things are brought up, examined, and released, this aspect might be particularly prominent at this time due to Mars’ current close proximity to Earth, on its closest approach since January 2008. This is also the Calendar Round return of the exact energy (2 Kawak 12 Pop) that was in place in 1910 when Halley’s comet reached its greatest brilliance, with its tail spread across the sky, on its visit to Earth.

3 Ajaw (April 15th) – the “activation of Enlightenment” – an important Burner Day oriented around the idea of “announcing the fire” (as in Nelson Mandela’s inauguration 20 years ago), this time in conjunction with a strong Mars-Earth-Mercury alignment, the Full Moon, and a Total Lunar Eclipse (on 13 Pop, two weeks into the Maya new year).  The fact that the eclipse falls in line with the 13 Pop month position is intriguing as many key planets will be sitting at approx. 13 degrees of the four cardinal signs at this time. Last day of Songkran in Thailand.

4 Imix (April 16th) – representative of the sun working with the waters of creation to bring something new into being, this is a “defining” type of energy associated with “birth” (ie. a “whole new world” or a “whole new way of thinking”), still in conjunction with the strong Mars-Earth-Mercury alignment. The moon will appear to make a close by-pass of the planet Saturn. Birth energy of Orson Welles, director of that “War of the Worlds” broadcast.

5 Ik’ (April 17th) – the “blessing” of wind/breath, and spirit –an energy that could enhance communication and perhaps even assist with bringing clarity or the idea of “hope” with regard to critical issues or events

6 Ak’b’al (April 18th) – a “structuring” type of energy associated with “home and/or sanctuary”, this time coinciding with Good Friday. Occasionally this energy has manifested as “darkness everywhere”, when Etz’nab’s powerful influence has cut off power, as when the Eastern Interconnect Power Grid suffered a massive power blackout under this influence in 2003

7 K’an (April 19th) – “self-generating germination” or even “self generating opulence”, situated at the pivotal middle point in this “knife edged” trecena – this is an energy that can really put one “to the test”, particularly since this is so close to the exacting of the planetary Grand Cardinal Cross. The key question here might be: “germination of what?” Seven K’an on its own is an energy that can manifest or be associated with VAST amounts of opulence, as seen during the opening of China’s $43 billion Olympics in 2008, and then again in 2012 when BP was fined $4.5 billion with regard to the Gulf oil spill.

8 Chikchan (April 20th) – the “resurrection of Lifeforce”, this time in conjunction with Easter Sunday and the Grand Cardinal Cross. In 1980 Eight Chikchan was the energy that brought Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in the U.S. presidential elections

9 Kimi (April 21st) – the “outward projection of death/new foundations”, this time in conjunction with Easter Monday, Queen Elizabeth’s 88th birthday, the Boston Marathon, and the Grand Cross that includes a strong Mars-Earth-Uranus alignment. Many Western astrologers see this as the most intense and volatile phase of the planetary alignment, and as 9 Kimi itself has triggered many significant events in the past (such as the Haiti earthquake in 2010) this is a good time for special caution.

10 Manik’ (April 22nd) – the bare-bones/foundational energy of “source” combined with that of the sun-carrying Deer; an energy often aligned with reciprocity; this time in conjunction with Earth Day, the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower, the Grand Cross alignment, and the Calendar Round return of the exact energy (10 Manik’ 0 Wo) that was in place in 1910 when Earth passed through the tail of Halley’s comet

11 Lamat (April 23rd) – a “bright light” kind of energy that often heralds something new, this time in conjunction with the apex of the Grand Cardinal Cross, at the same time as St. George’s Day (England’s national day) and UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day. 11 Lamat’s “inspirational star” force can sometimes bring a sudden shift, as when Napoléon renounced his throne two hundred years ago and tried to poison himself, or when women received the right to vote and hold elected office in Manitoba in 1916.

12 Muluk (April 24th) – a “pulling together” or “grouping together” type of energy associated with water; a good time for people to find ways to be adaptable, to “put heads together” to search for new pathways or find new solutions to problems; this time in conjunction with Fashion Revolution Day – in honour of the fatal factory collapse in Bangladesh (the world’s worst), one year ago

13 Ok (April 25th) – associated with “transformational love” or “transformational fire”, this is an energy that holds the potential to be a real “scorcher”, as seen in last year’s California wildfires, and in wildfires in many other places in the past; massive solar flares have also coincided with this intense energy. As this day arrives, Venus appears with the waxing Crescent Moon.

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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.]