With this beginning of a brand new 260-day Maya Calendar cycle, the shift in energy is palpable. It is late summer, preparations are beginning to be made for forthcoming seasonal transitions, and change is in the wind. Unlike one cycle ago, when things were looking bleak on many fronts, there is a distinctly “lighter” feel at this point, even though much still needs to be done. In the U.S., a strong joy-related movement is escalating rapidly as the Harris-Walz campaign clicks into high gear. In Ukraine there is a new sense of optimism, “a reason to hope”, as Ukraine had pushed into Russian territory for an estimated 1000 square kilometers, in their effort to create a “buffer zone” to curtail Russian attacks. New military equipment provided by allies has helped greatly in this regard.

Still immensely problematic is the situation in the Middle East. Although intense efforts are being made to bring forth a ceasefire in Gaza, there is still considerable waffling as Israel continues its attacks. To compound matters, Lebanon is now in the mix, also seeking retaliation for Israeli aggression. To date, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, more than 92,000 have been injured, at least 10,000 are missing, and some 110 hostages still have not been released. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. Worldwide protests calling for an end to the war have continued through the entire last cycle, and mediators in several countries are now working feverishily in efforts to bring an end to atrocities in this region, so hopefully this will be the cycle that enables that to happen.

As always, the first trecena of this new cycle is associated with birth, symbolized by the nourishing waterlily. And although this “realm of all potential”, or birth-oriented “generative nucleus”, can be quite chaotic at times, it also contains within itself myriad possibilities. The emphasis tends to be on “world-making”, in the sense of setting the stage for new initiatives or opportunities.

As always, the first day of this cycle is symbolized by the Moon Goddess (aligned with the “initiating” energy of the Number One and the power of birth) working in tandem with Imix, the birth-oriented “generative nucleus” that begins and carries forward this initiatory 13-day period. The Maya Maize god is also associated with the same number, and with the power of “resurrection” and cyclical regeneration. The patron of this time frame was known to the Aztecs as Ometeotl, a dualistic “creator” deity who was often depicted as a male and female pair, a “Lord and Lady of Our Sustenance” also known as Tonacatecuhtli and Tonacacihuatl. This is a rare binary deity that was seen as the ultimate progenitor, a generative kind of force that suggests that “anything is possible”.

During this trecena there is often a focus on the cosmos (the “cosmic abyss” – the realm from which everything is created) and, indeed, many pioneering space-related events have occurred during this period, as when the astronomer Edwin Hubble chose this trecena in 1925 to announce the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way, which greatly expanded our awareness of the universe. In 1931 the first human ascent into the stratosphere took place during this period. And then in 1957 the launch of Sputnik I (on the final day of this trecena) kicked off the space race. In 2013 this was the trecena that saw the launch of the European Space Agency’s Gaia probe on a 5.5 year observational campaign to map this Milky Way galaxy. In early 2016 we saw the historic beginning of gravitational wave astronomy during this time frame. Then, three cycles ago (in the summer of 2022) the new James Webb Space Telescope literally opened the doors to the universe, as it gave us our first glimpses into the extraordinary wonders of deep, deep space. It is also not unusual to see “epic” solar flares during that period, that can spawn fantastic auroras here on Earth.

And on the earthly plane, we often see new beginnings or shifts in direction during this period, as happened five cycles ago, in late January of 2021, when the newly minted Biden/Harris administration in the US began launching widescale administrative reforms, putting into action a comprehensive plan to tackle the raging coronavirus pandemic. Other major initiatives at that time included a sweeping economic rescue plan, measures related to environmental protection and climate change (which were later quashed by Republicans), and measures to address ethical issues, human rights issues, and the deep divisions in that country. It was a well-thought-out agenda at the time, which also included plans for stabilizing relationships with the rest of the world, after four years of severe erosion. But it did not foresee Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine, or how the pandemic would play out, or the relentless sycophantic machinations of those desperately trying to cling to the Big Lie – at the expense of democracy, human rights, humanitarian programs, and foreign relations. And it certainly couldn’t have foreseen Israel’s vicious assault on two million civilians, or the global foot dragging with regard to climate change amelioration.

One cycle ago, last December, this trecena began with the release of the Global Tipping Point report, produced by an international team of 200 researchers, wherein scientists warned that Earth is on the verge of five catastrophic climate tipping points, as humanity faces the possibility that global warming could trigger devastating domino effects, including the loss of whole ecosystems and their capacity to grow staple crops. The tipping points at risk included the collapse of big ice sheets in Greenland and the West Antarctic, the widespread thawing of permafrost, the death of coral reefs in warm waters, and the collapse of atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic. Certainly this report, and the subsequent climate change events that have been playing out have brought much greater awareness to the issues that need to be addressed in this regard.

Similarly, there has been a considerable increase in awareness relating to the impact of new technologies. It has now been two cycles since 1,400 tech leaders and academics (including Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp) signed an open letter calling on Artificial Intelligence developers to pause the training of some of their more sophisticated AI experiments, citing risks they claimed could result in “loss of control of our civilization.” One cycle later (last December), the world’s first comprehensive laws to regulate artificial intelligence were agreed upon in a landmark deal after a marathon 37-hour negotiation between the European Parliament and EU member states.

On the political front, this trecena has played a prominent role in the past in terms of “course corrections”, often along the lines of “new starts” or changing the course of action – as in 1974 when the impeachment process against President Nixon was formally initiated on the second day of this trecena, and in early Feb. of 2021 when the dumpster’s second impeachment trial was initiated.

One cycle ago this trecena signalled the start of a whole slew of actions associated with “course corrections” related to the dumpster as hearings and trials associated with his widespread wrongdoings, both civil and political, began to play out. Similarly there have been multiple actions relating to his cronies and sychophants, as seen, near the end of the trecena, when Rudy Giuliani was ordered to pay more than $148m to two election workers over his false claims that they tampered with votes in 2020.

While there has been much legal two-stepping going on to delay prosecutions over this past cycle, it is likely that the legal system will click into higher gear once the election season has passed, so look for more of that as this current 260-day cycle unfolds. Note, however, the warning given on the first day of this time frame last December, on the release of Liz Cheney’s scathing new book titled “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning”, where she provided a five-star heads-up call to be aware that if Trump were to be re-elected he would “dismantle the Republic”. Given the extraordinary anti-dumpster momentum that has clicked into gear recently, it is clear that people have had enough of the lies and chicanery. The battle is on to make sure that he never, ever, sees the inside of the White House again.

As we move through this time frame, keep in mind that this Imix trecena represents the “realm of all potential”, so anything is possible. There is much work to be done, on many fronts. This cycle is going to require “all hands on deck” in terms of finding viable (and ethical) ways to deal with the conflicts and sort out how to assist the millions on this planet who are suffering so greatly during these terrifyingly uncharted times. Here are the energies that will be in play:

1 Imix (Aug. 21st) – the initiation of the “realm of all potential” as a new 260-day cycle begins.

Imix is often “cosmos” oriented, related to the “birth” of new possibilities, so combined with the energy of “One” this can be seen as “initiating” (or giving birth to) new directions.

With this trecena opening on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in the US, with 76 days remaining until the U.S. presidential elections, it is easy to see a “birthing of new possibilities” at this time, as Democrats are enthusiastially endorsing the new Harris Walz ticket, after President Biden passed the baton over to Vice-President Harris. This is the day when former President Bill Clinton, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be giving speeches, and when vice presidential nominee Tim Walz delivers his acceptance speech.

It has now been five cycles since this energy initiated Joe Biden’s first full trecena as the new U.S. president, in 2021, after his inauguration 9 days earlier. By that time he had already signed 42 Executive Orders, reversing many of those made by the “former guy”. By then more than 270 Congressional staffers had signed onto a letter asking US Senators to convict the dumpster in the then-forthcoming impeachment trial to try to prevent him from ever running again. (Those signatures soon grew to over 550, but his full impeachment was blocked by his sychophants.)

As of this day it has been one cycle since the release of the Global Tipping Point report, produced by an international team of 200 researchers, as scientists warned that Earth is on the verge of five catastrophic climate tipping points. That was the release day for Liz Cheney’s book titled “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning”, in which she provides an unflinching account of what she called the GOP’s cowardice and complicity in their willingness to support Trump, who she calls “the most dangerous man ever to inhabit the Oval Office.”

Currently this day is marking Day 909 since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and 319 days since the start of the current war in Gaza. In both situations there are signs of change and even “hope”, as Ukraine has recently pushed into an estimated 1000 square kilometers along one part of Russia’s border, in its effort to create a “buffer zone” to curtail Russian attacks. A “bridging proposal” is being presented to both sides in the Gaza war through mediators, and intense pressure is being placed on the various factions involved to finally bring about a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. Often this energy is an indicator that “anything is possible”, so there is a strong potential for some sort of positive change to occur with regard to both of these areas of conflict.

Back in 2021, as President Biden was beginning his presidency, this was the energy in place when President Putin signed the extension to the New Start nuclear arms control treaty into law – a treaty that limits the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads each – a preposterous notion from every perspective. Unfortunately, Russia announced a suspension of that treaty last year. To boot, Putin is now seen internationally as an alleged war criminal, with a warrant out from the ICC for his arrest for war crimes related to Ukraine.

Back in the summer of 1503, prior to the arrival of the Spanish in Mesoamerica, this was the energy in place when Montezuma II (Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin) took the throne of the Aztec Empire. Little did the Aztecs know at that time that their world would soon be turned upside down.

2 Ik’ (Aug. 22nd) – a “dynamically balancing” energy associated with “wind, breath, and spirit”. This dynamic wind/breath-related force is coinciding with the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention, when U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris will speak and formally accept the convention’s nomination for president.

In 1974 this was the energy in place when the impeachment process against President Nixon was formally initiated. Currently this is National Flag Day in Russia.

3 Ak’b’al (Aug. 23rd) – the “activation of darkness”, associated with deep mysteries and sometimes the unexpected, as happened one cycle ago when West London’s underground tube system unexpectedly broke down, trapping hundreds of tube passengers in cold, dark trains for up to four hours due to damaged overhead electrical cables. That was the same day as Israel inflicted such an enormous amount of damage on buildings in Gaza that leading international legal experts were referring to it as “domicide”.

Currently this is coinciding with UNESCO’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, in remembrance of the uprising in Haiti in 1791 that played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

It has now been seven cycles exactly since climate change activist Greta Thunberg and about 1000 young protestors staged a climate change rally outside the UN headquarters in New York, in 2019, in what was seen as a galvanizing moment for America’s climate movement.

4 K’an (Aug. 24th) – a “defining” energy associated with the resurrection of youthful vitality, marking the 33rd Gregorian anniversary of Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence (from the USSR).

This is the day for the official unveiling of a 12 foot bronze statue of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, created by sculptor Basil Watson, outside the DeKalb County Courthouse in Georgia, replacing a Confederate monument that stood there for 112 years. A passionate long-term leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Lewis was one of the most prominent members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the longest-serving member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He represented the Atlanta area in the House from the time he was first elected in 1986, and was a dedicated advocate for voting rights. He died in July 2020 at age 80.

5 Chikchan (Aug. 25th) – associated with the “blessing of lifeforce”, coinciding at this time with the opening of the Burning Man festival in Nevada, with this year’s theme being “Curiouser & Curiouser”, which “celebrates puzzles without answers, embraces the irrational and the absurd, and invites the unknown over for tea”. However, after the enormous challenges posed by flooding at the site last year, after Storm Hilary hit, this year ticket sales have been slower. This is the first time since 2011 that tickets haven’t sold out long before opening day. Last year some 70,000 attendees had to find their way out of the muddy quagmire that stranded them after the festival was flooded out with rainstorms that turned Nevada’s Black Rock desert into a large mudhole. The first day of the two-day Notting Hill Carnival, in London, known as one of the biggest street parties in the world, is also taking place at this time.

This is the Day of Songun, a national holiday in North Korea. The Songun (meaning ‘military-first’) system was devised by Kim Jong-il to assign a classification to every citizen based on socioeconomic background at the time of liberation in 1945. Songun, officially ‘Songun Politics’, prioritises the military in all aspects of North Korean society and has boosted the importance of the Korean People’s Army in politics, society and culture.

This is the Maya birth energy of ground-breaking astronomer Harlow Shapley who is credited with being the discoverer of the dimensions of our Milky Way galaxy, and of finding the location of its centre.

6 Kimi (Aug. 26th) a “foundational” type of energy that can often manifest as a kind of “equalization everywhere” type of force, which can often bring a sense of “release”; sometimes oriented around the setting of foundations for restructuring or for “regeneration” – coinciding at this time with Women’s Equality Day, celebrating the 104th Gregorian anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. 19th amendment, which granted all citizens, including women, the constitutional right to vote. With voting rights STILL under severe threat in the US, this will be an important Day of Action, with this year’s theme being “Inspire Inclusion” . Check out The National Women’s History Alliance for a list of ideas for celebrating this day.

This is the 54th Gregorian anniversary of the Women’s Strike for Peace and Equality in 1970 when massive Women’s Liberation demonstrations and marches took place in New York and in other cities across the U.S. This is also International Dog Day.

When this energy was in place in May of 2020 more cases (106,000) were reported to the World Health Organization than at any time since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the most in a single day. However, that was well before cases skyrocketed to hundreds of thousands per day in several countries.

In 2018 this was in place at the time of the private funeral service held for famed cosmologist Stephen Hawking, at Great St. Mary’s, the University Church in Cambridge, UK. His ashes were later interred near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton at Westminster Abbey.

7 Manik’ (Aug. 27th) – a “self-generating” type of energy generally associated with the idea of reciprocity, symbolized by the Deer – often a good energy for “generating sustenance”, for being involved in humanitarian activities, or for working through negotiations or joint ventures.

Traditionally it was recognized that there could be a strong sacrificial aspect to 7 Manik’ as well, as happened under this influence in October of 2016, when FBI Director James Comey sent a letter to Congress indicating that he was “reopening” the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, an action that had catastrophic consequences for the US and the world.

8 Lamat (Aug. 28th) – a “resurrection” type of force associated with Venus as a “heralding” energy, aligned with leadership; traditionally a Maya “Celebration of Abundance” day, this energy was known as “Rabbit” in some ancient Mesoamerican regions, and was seen as a symbol of prosperity and proliferation. When this was in place five cycles ago (January, 2021) the US Senate passed a budget resolution that allowed for the passage of President Biden’s $1.9tn Covid-19 relief package in the coming weeks without Republican support – one of the few important bills they were able to get through without being blocked by Republicans. The last time it was in place the UN General Assembly voted to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. (But where was the follow-through or consequence of that?)

Currently this is the day when the European Union begins a three-day meeting of foreign and defence ministers over its stance on the war in Ukraine, to be held in Brussels, after foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, stripped Hungary of the right to host this meeting in Budapest, over its stance on Ukraine. It is also the day for the planned SpaceX launch of Polaris Dawn, the first mission in the Polaris program, which will include the first civilian spacewalk.

This is the 61st Gregorian anniversary of the day when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 250,000 people on an historic “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”, when he delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. This is also the opening day for the Paralympic Games in Paris.

9 Muluk (Aug. 29th) – representative of “the outward projection of water”, this is a path-finding and often “shape-shifting” type of force, coinciding with the UN’s International Day Against Nuclear Tests (aka Anti-Nuclear Day). It is also marking five cycles since it was reported that the world had turned “upside down” due to Covid-19. This is also the 19th Gregorian anniversary of the day when Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Louisiana coast in 2005, triggering severe flooding that brought devastation from New Orleans to Biloxi, Mississippi.

Four cycles ago Rolling Stone published an exclusive article that detailed how multiple people associated with the Jan. 6th coup attempt had communicated with Republican members of Congress throughout that process. That was the first extensive account detailing the purported involvement of members of Congress in that coup attempt, showing that this was “a well coordinated effort to overturn the will of the people and the results of the 2020 election”. Not only have many of them not yet been held accountable, but the government’s case against the dumpster for his involvement in the coup attempt has not yet been brought to its conclusion. Rather, this day is marking one cycle precisely since the US Supreme Court took up a challenge to a law used to charge hundreds of people in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and which also has been levied against Trump in his federal election obstruction case. By dragging their feet on the ruling the Supreme Court managed to delay the proceedings, which may not continue until after the election.

Currently this is the day when Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will be interviewed on CNN, as the joint Democratic ticket in the forthcoming election.

10 Ok (Aug. 30th) – a Burner Day representative of “foundational” fire (or “heart fire”), often associated with love, protection, guidance, and justice.

Traditionally 10 Ok would have been seen as an energy that “takes the fire”, as in the sense of setting something up for action. This energy can also provide a “correction” if some significant “course of action” adjustments are needed.

In 1968 this is the energy that was in place when Senator and prominent civil rights activist Robert F. Kennedy was mortally wounded (shortly around midnight) during the California Primary convention. He died some 26 hours later.

In addition, this is the Maya birth energy of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Queen Victoria’s beloved husband and consort, who introduced the Christmas Tree to England. Prince Albert was also highly instrumental in educational reform and the abolition of slavery, and led reforms in areas such as architecture, finance, and the applied sciences. He was notably associated with the Great Exhibition of 1851.

11 Chuwen (Aug. 31st) – a “change” oriented, “timeweaver” type of energy, an energy that can prompt us to have fun, but can also remind us to “be on our toes”. This is currently coinciding with International Overdose Awareness Day, when candlelight vigils will be held in many areas to bring attention to the opioid crisis and to Overdose Prevention.

Note that it has now been two cycles exactly since a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict Trump, for his role in the hush money/falsification of documents case, the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges (but many more felony charges against him followed over subsequent months).

In 1920 this was the energy in place when the Treaty of Versailles came into force after the first world war, formalizing the end of war between Germany and the Allied Powers.

In 1984 this energy brought forth the first untethered space walk. This is also the Maya birth energy of Stanley Kubrick, the filmmaker whose 2001: A Space Odyssey has been seen as one of the world’s most influential motion pictures. It is also the Maya birth energy of the beguiling super sleuth Mata Hari.

Currently this marks the 27th Gregorian anniversary of Princess Diana’s shocking death in 1997.

12 Eb’ (Sept. 1st) – a “gathering together”, “stream-of-consciousness” type of energy that can be quite intense, often containing within it a “spark” or “essence of revitalization” that hints at refreshing new possibilities. This is marking one cycle since a rooster weathervane was fitted to the new spire of Notre-Dame in Paris as work continued to restore the cathedral, which is scheduled to reopen this December.

In 1962 this was the energy in place at the time of the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”, which documented the environmental harm being caused by pesticides. It is seen as a book that sparked the environmental movement, and is seen as “one of the 25 greatest science books of all time”.

Currently this is the start of National Service Dog Month. Founded in 2008, the related organization was established to raise awareness and support for guide dog and service dog schools that do so much to provide assistance for people in need and for the amazing animals that help them.

It has now been five cycles since the start of the dumpster’s second Senate impeachment trial, associated with his “incitement of insurrection”, and three cycles exactly since the release of a 72-page report categorically rebutting each of the claims made in court by the dumpster and his supporters over the 2020 election results. The report, put together by a group of conservatives, including prominent lawyers and retired federal judges, titled “LOST, NOT STOLEN: The Conservative Case that Trump Lost and Biden Won the 2020 Presidential Election,” looked at more than 60 court cases Trump and his supporters filed and lost in six key battleground states. It reached the “unequivocal” conclusion that all the claims were unsupportable. And yet he and his supporters have kept telling those same tired old toxic lies again and again and again, and the gullible have carried on swallowing it. Fortunately many have also come to their senses and have finally extracted themselves from that sticky web of deception.

This is currently marking the 85th Gregorian anniversary of the outbreak of WWII. It is also the 101st anniversary of the “Great Kanto Earthquake” and fire, a 7.9 earthquake that was one of the worst in history. It devastated Tokyo, Yokohama, and the surrounding region, killing an estimated 105,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed.

13 B’en (Sept. 2nd) – “transformational personal authority”, an energy under which many strongly transformative events have taken place in the past, as in the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, the inception of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the launch of Sputnik I by the USSR (signalling the beginning of the Space Age) in 1957, the toppling of the monarchy in Iran in 1979, the election of Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, and the arrival of China’s Tianwen-1 mission at Mars in early 2021.

Currently this is coinciding with Labour Day in the US and Canada, with the final day of Ghost month in China, and with the final day of Burning Man 2024. This is also the 34th anniversary of the coming into force of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, after being adopted the previous November, and the 79th Gregorian anniversary of the formal signing of the articles of surrender by Imperial Japan at the end of WWII. This is celebrated in the US as V-J Day even though other countries observe this on Aug. 15th.

Six cycles ago (in May of 2020) this energy was in place when the U.S. erupted with widespread protests and rioting after the horrific death of George Floyd the evening before during his arrest by a police officer. This marked a major turning point that rapidly escalated the Black Lives Matter protest movement for racial equality and justice. One cycle before that, in 2019, this was the energy in place when the House Judiciary committee laid out its procedures for their first impeachment investigation of the dumpster. Two cycles after those BLM protests, in February of 2021, this same energy was in place at the time of his second impeachment trial, for “incitement of insurrection”.

As reflected by these events, this is an intense transformation-oriented energy, associated with self determination, so events at this time will likely be quite consequential.

**************************

[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.]