Over the last few days Star Wars fans have joyfully embraced the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the final film in the nine-part “Skywalker saga”. As with the other films in this series, this movie is filled with dazzle, with battles, duels, flashing lightsabres, rapid-fire explosions, and hyper-zinging spaceships – the kind of flash and dazzle that is quite in keeping with the energy of Etz’nab’, the calendrical force associated with such things as flint, sparks, lightning, and knife-edged duality. And now, with Christmas and New Year’s coming up within the context of this current Etz’nab’ trecena, that kind of brilliance will tie in well with the holiday season.

Traditionally aligned with the theme of “sacrifice and separation”, this is a trecena during which duality often comes into play, with Etz’nab’ (Flint) serving as the “knife-edge” between two opposing forces. During this period there are many different forces in play as flint, the essence of Etz’nab’, was used to make weapons and other objects that can cut, spark, and astonish with their brilliance. But there is also a protective aspect to this energy as well, as flint is also associated with lightning which can go hand-in-hand with life-giving rain, and ritual objects made from materials such as chert or obsidian (both associated with flint) were often used to protect sacred spaces.

But it’s that dramatic “bright flare” part of flint that often makes its presence overtly known during this trecena, as it did in so many ways during the last appearance of this energy last April. It began when the U.S. pulled troops out of Libya on the very first day of the trecena after 21 people had been killed and 27 injured in fighting near Tripoli between pro- government forces and rebel fighters during the previous few days. Massive protests involving hundreds of thousands of people were taking place in Sudan at that time, leading to a military coup on the fifth day that brought an end to the regime of Omar Hassan al-Bashir, after 30 years in power. During that time elections were taking place in India, and Israel was trying to sort out how to deal with election results that were so close that a second election had to be called several months later (and now a third, early in 2020).

In London this trecena brought the start of the International Rebellion protests as thousands of people blocked well-known landmarks such as Parliament Square and Picadilly Circus, as they demanded that the UK government come up with a plan to reduce carbon emissions and establish a citizens’ assembly to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. This was the beginning of “climate rebellion” actions worldwide last spring. At the same time as this was “igniting” in London, the terrifying images of Paris’s famed Notre Dame cathedral filled the world’s news channels, as its roof and spire were consumed by a horrific fire. This was the trecena that saw the arrest of Julian Assange in London, after being holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy there for seven years, and the release of the long awaited Mueller report in the US on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election (with Assange and Wikileaks being a key part of the overall scandal).

Other things of a “shocking” nature that have taken place during this trecena in years past have included the devastating 7.0 earthquake that flattened Haiti in 2010, Superstorm Sandy on the east coast of the US that caused $70 billion in damage in 2012, the horrific terrorist attack on journalists and cartoonists that took place at the headquarters of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015, and the massive anti-Trump strikes early in 2017, including the “National Day of Action to Push Back Against Assaults on Democratic Principles”, the nationwide “Not My President’s Day” protest marches, and the huge “Day Without Latinos, Immigrants, and Refugees” demonstrations. During this trecena’s second appearance later that year it brought the Refuse Fascism protests to cities across the U.S., as part of an agenda to “unleash a process of continuous protest” towards the unseating of the Trump administration.

Just over 200 years ago this was the trecena in place at the time of Napoléon Bonaparte’s downfall in 1814. After he and his army had been driven back to France the Etz’nab’ trecena became a key time frame for his abdication and exile, beginning with One Etz’nab, with the French Senate passing a resolution to depose him. Towards the end of the trecena Napoléon was required to sign The Treaty of Fontainebleau that ended his rule as Emperor.

Currently it is Emmanuel Macron who is feeling the heat as the rail strike and other massive protest actions go into their third week in France as people demand action over pension changes. Just before the opening of this trecena Macron became the first president in over 50 years to give up his own automatic pension as a gesture towards reconciliation. Parallels might also be drawn between this and the impeachment dynamic in the US that has yet to be finalized.

During the time that this current trecena is in place the US Congress will be in Christmas recess, but there will be much reflection and much discussion going on about how to proceed with the new phase of the impeachment process in early January. Details pertaining to the forthcoming Senate impeachment trial were left undecided prior to the holiday shutdown, but the question of “what next?” will weigh heavily on many and no doubt many opinions will surface. Indeed, this could be seen the day after the House impeachment vote when Christianity Today, founded by evangelist Billy Graham, published an editorial calling for Trump to be removed from the White House.

In 2014 the Ukrainian government began mobilizing its military for “large scale anti- terrorist operations” during this period after a day of violence in eastern Ukraine when government buildings in several cities were seized by heavily armed, masked pro-Russian activists. And now, as 2019 draws to a close (on the ninth day of this time frame), a “full and comprehensive” ceasefire between Russia and eastern Ukraine is due to take effect, echoing other instances in world history where particular trecenas have seen the beginnings and endings of specific conflicts.

Given that this particular trecena is an energy zone that can bring into sharp focus things that may be pressing for attention, including issues that may require important decisions to be made, this is a good time to weigh options, and to attend to matters that might involve the separation of “right” from “wrong”, “good” from “bad”, “sick” from “healthy”, and other such opposites. This is an opportune time to work with the “knife-edge” energies pushing through the Etz’nab’ trecena to cut away whatever no longer “works” or make adjustments that could lead to new forms of thought or action. It is a great time to “clean house” (both physically and metaphorically) in preparation for the “creation” energies that will flow through the trecena that will follow. As usual during this period, this will be a “be prepared for anything” kind of time frame that has the potential to trigger sudden shifts and foment situations that could involve sparks, “shock and awe”, and highly consequential decision-making.

As this trecena is also serving as a bridge between the old year and the new, Etz’nab’s association with mirrors might come into play at this time, as the same materials that were used as “separation” devices (ie. blades) were also used to make mirrors in ancient Mesoamerica. These were often divinatory aids that took the form of highly polished obsidian, which were often used as scrying devices and conduits for supernatural forces. Given all the uncertainties in the world at the moment, a bit of “clearly focused divination” at this time might prove useful, particularly if it is “solution” oriented. Here are the energies that will be in play:

1 Etz’nab’ (Dec. 23rd) – the “initiation” of Flint, a sparkling, attention-getting “shock and awe” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate, coinciding at this time with the first full day of Hanukkah.

Four cycles ago (in early 2017) this energy coincided with the massive “Day Without Immigrants” strike by foreign-born residents of the U.S., at which time hundreds of businesses and services were shut down as protestors took to the streets in a widespread strike that highlighted the contributions of immigrants. On that same day Trump held a press conference that was seen by many as an unhinged “marathon rant” – something that has become commonplace during his presidency. In 1814 this was the energy in place on the day when the French Senate passed a resolution to depose Napoléon. Currently this is the 16th day of the rail strike and other protest actions as chaos continues in France in the midst of holiday travel.

2 Kawak (Dec. 24th) – “dynamic storm, catalyzation”, often manifested as the “generation of a storm of compassion” – a highly cause-oriented energy often fueled by strong emotion or great passion.

It was under this influence five cycles ago (in June of 2016) that Hillary Clinton launched a
scathing attack on Trump, saying that he would be an historic mistake as “he cannot do the job”. Referring to his bizarre rants and outright lies, she called him “dangerously incoherent’ and warned against what he might trigger. Precisely one cycle later (in Feb. 2017) a nationwide General Strike/National Day of Action was held in the U.S. at the same time as The Washington Post unveiled their new slogan: “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, a phrase often used by Washington Post editor Bob Woodward, after Trump called mainstream media outlets the “enemies of the people”. Then, three cycles ago (November 2017) the Refuse Fascism activist group promoted a number of anti-Trump events in cities across the U.S., as part of their “continuous protest” agenda, aimed at unseating the Trump administration. Two cycles ago this energy brought a warning from the head of the IMF to G20 leaders meeting in South America that the tariffs that Trump was imposing on various countries would harm the global economy.

3 Ajaw (Dec. 25th) – the “Activation of Enlightenment” – an important Burner Day oriented around the idea of “announcing the fire”, coinciding at this time with Christmas Day. Traditionally this is a point where clarity can suddenly break through on important issues, with Ajaw’s “full sun” illuminating things that previously may have been hidden.

Four cycles since an email was sent to Trump Jr. that revealed that “The Crown prosecutor of Russia . . . offered to provide the Trump campaign with some offical documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to Trump.” In 1814 this was the energy in place when Napoléon abdicated the throne.

4 Imix (Dec. 26th) – 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”), coinciding at this time with the New Moon and an annular Solar Eclipse conjunct Jupiter. This would have been the 86th Gregorian birthday of Caroll Spinney, the actor and puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street for over five decades. However, he made his transition just under three weeks ago, on Dec. 8th.

5 Ik’ (Dec. 27th) – 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. One cycle ago (earlier this year) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested by British police in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after asylum was withdrawn, after taking refuge there for 7 years. He was charged with conspiracy to hack into a Pentagon computer, with his arrest triggered by a US extradition request. This was seen as a “huge moment” in the Russia investigation as Assange was at the Nexus of much of the action related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. Currently Assange’s lawyers are arguing that a UK-US treaty bans Assange’s extradition to the US to face spying charges.

This marks four cycles since the nationwide “Not My President’s Day” protest marches across the U.S. in 2017 just after the inauguration.

6 Ak’b’al (Dec. 28th) – a “structuring” type of energy sometimes associated with “home and/or sanctuary”, but also “the darkness before dawn”, at a time when Venus is close to the waxing crescent Moon . Bernie Sanders’ Maya birthday.

7 K’an (Dec. 29th) – “self-generating germination”, situated at the pivotal middle point in this “knife edged” trecena. Five cycles since Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, a day referred to as an historic milestone for women. By “coincidence” this is also Chelsea Manning’s Maya birth energy (Chelsea was a co-conspirator working with Assage; she was charged and imprisoned for stealing government documents). One cycle since the historic first flight of the Stratolaunch – the world’s largest plane. However, after the recent death of Paul Allen, one of the co-founders of Stratolaunch Systems, its future is uncertain.

8 Chikchan (Dec. 30th) – the “resurrection of Lifeforce” coinciding with the last day of Hanukkah

9 Kimi (Dec. 31st) – the “outward projection of death/new foundations”, this time coinciding with New Year’s Eve, the ending of the year, on the day when a “full and comprehensive” ceasefire between Russia and eastern Ukraine is due to take effect.

One cycle since the horrifying outbreak on the Notre-Dame de Paris fire that destroyed the spire and much of the roof of this historic cathedral. This is the Maya birth energy of Freddie Mercury, the rock group Queen’s iconic front man, whose story was told in the multiple award-winning movie Bohemian Rhapsody, released in 2018.

10 Manik’ (Jan. 1st, 2020) – the bare-bones/ foundational energy of “source” combined with that of the sun-carrying Deer, symbolic of reciprocity but also sacrifice, coinciding at this time with New Year’s Day.

This is the 50th Gregorian anniversary of the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act in the US. This was also the energy in place in 2015 at the time of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris on what was called “the darkest day in the history of the French press”.

In 1814 this was the day when officials from the Austrian Empire, Russia, and Prussia got together to sign The Treaty of Fontainebleau that stripped Napoléon of his powers as ruler of the French Empire. All things considered this question might be asked at this important point of transition: “Will we see more reciprocity this year – or more sacrifice?”

11 Lamat (Jan. 2nd) – a “bright light” kind of energy that often heralds something new, this is a force that can sometimes bring a sudden shift as when Napoléon was getting ready to abdicate after signing The Treaty of Fontainebleau just prior to his exile, and when women received the right to vote and hold elected office in Manitoba in 1916.

Three cycles since Trump Jr. was exposed for having secret contacts with Wikileaks during the 2016 presidential campaign. Two cycles since the start of the Paul Manafort trial in Virginia in 2018 on charges of tax fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.

As this year begins this day marks six cycles since the launch of the UN’s sustainable development agenda called “The 2030 Agenda” which was seen as “the new universal agenda for humanity” aimed at bringing an end to world poverty and biodiversity loss. But that was in 2015 and millions are concerned that far too little has been done since then to address these issues.

12 Muluk (Jan. 3rd) – a “pulling together” or “grouping together” type of energy associated with water, a good time for people to find ways to be adaptable and to “put heads together” to search for new pathways or find new solutions to problems; generally a very intense energy that can create situations where people have no choice but to work together to find solutions.

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s 17th Gregorian birthday, at a time when the Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks between this evening and the next. In 1814 Napoléon tried to end his own life under this influence, after his abdication.

13 Ok (Jan. 4th) – associated with “transformational love” or “transformational fire”, this is an energy that holds the potential to be a real “scorcher”. This energy can manifest as the final big push away from “sacrifice and separation” towards greater freedom, creativity, and integration, as seen in the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution in 1783.  In the summer of 2018 Apple hit a record high under this influence, becoming the world’s first public company to be worth $1 trillion. Currently this is World Braille Day.

 

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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.]