What a difference one cycle can make. Last August, as a new 260-day Maya Calendar cycle was set to begin, there was a renewed sense of optimism as the Harris-Walz campaign clicked into high gear in the U.S. and people had “a reason to hope” that rationality and justice would prevail and Trumpism would finally die down. New military equipment was being provided by allies to assist Ukraine in their effort to create a “buffer zone” to curtail Russian attacks, and intense efforts were being made to bring forth a ceasefire in Gaza. The sense of new “potential” was palpable at that time, but, lamentably, over the past 260 days much of that has devolved into chaos and uncertainty, and at this point there is no clear sense of direction on any front.

As this new cycle begins this time, debris from the fallout of re-electing the Orange Agent-of-Chaos last November is everywhere, and much is “on hold” as “government by whim”, underscored by ineptitude, bigotry, and “constitutional dementia” (as Lawrence O’Donnell puts it), ensures that instability is the order of the day. With regard to economics, Flexport founder Ryan Peterson, who has his finger on the pulse of global supply chain technology, is warning of mass bankruptcies and widespread job losses because of the Orange Grifter’s tariff war. In a WSJ article he warns that “an asteroid is coming to destroy America’s businesses” due to the 145% tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by the destroyer-in-chief in the White House. With prospects looking bleak on many levels, with so many things being incapacitated, or frozen-in-place, the question of “how to move forward?” becomes daunting.

From the perspective of the Maya Tzolk’in, the first trecena of a new cycle is associated with birth, and is often seen as a kind of “generative nucleus” that contains all possibilities. A very wide metaphor for this would be the cosmos itself – that cauldron of “everything happening at once” that gives birth to new worlds. While it can be very difficult to make sense of this seeming chaos, it still holds the sense of myriad possibilities. For the Aztec this “realm of all potential” was generally symbolized by a fierce alligator, but the Maya symbolized it as nourishing waterlily, the source for new life that can evolve from that swirling cauldron.

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, that 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 that “cosmic abyss” from which everything is created often presents itself in unusual ways. 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, four 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, new beginnings or shifts in direction are often seen during this period, as happened 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 (later quashed by Republicans), and measures to address ethical issues, human rights issues, and the deep divisions in that country. At the time it was a well-thought-out agenda, 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 over two million civilians in Gaza, or the global foot dragging with regard to climate change amelioration. Since then the devolution in those areas has greatly intensified.

Two cycles ago 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 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. But with climate change denialism running rampant within Agent Orange’s administration, the tipping continues.

Similarly, 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.” And although there has been agreement on comprehensive regulations pertaining to artificial intelligence since that early warning, there is a growing distrust of those who appear to be in charge of much of this.

As we begin this new 260-day cycle, the question of “who is in control of Mother Earth” looms large. However, history has shown that this trecena has played a prominent role in the past in terms of political “course corrections”, 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. Two cycles ago this trecena signalled the start of a whole slew of actions associated with “course corrections” related to the Orange Felon as hearings and trials associated with his widespread wrongdoings, both civil and political, began to play out. Similarly this trecena, in the past, has precipitated multiple legal actions relating to his cronies and sychophants.

At the moment, while many are playing the waiting-game, holding back on plans as they monitor daily catastrophies, hundreds of thousands are using this time to push back against the tyranny and gross ineptitude. And those pushbacks are not just occasional demonstrations. Rather, large scale rallies have become daily actions by many – protests against the tsunami of destructive orders that have exuded from the White House. After more than “100 Days of Destruction, 100 Days of Hell”, millions in the US have had enough of the lies and chicanery. The movement is ON, in the streets and in the courts, to rid the world of the influence of those who seek only to disrupt and destroy. With the world desperately in need of new, rational, SANE, leadership, it is time for “all hands on deck” as this new cycle begins.

As we move through this time frame, it is highly likely that the Vatican will announce the election of a new pope, and within a week of the papal election, the Vatican will hold an installation Mass, which will be attended by heads of state and all cardinals. At the funeral for Pope Francis there was a meeting between the dumpster and the president of Ukraine that resulted in renewed support for Ukraine and the reactivation of supplies. Can we hope that the installation of a new papal era, likely during this “realm of all potential” trecena, will also prompt a new era of global cooperation that can bring an end to wars and other major disagreements? It’s a tall task but then again, this Imix trecena does represent the “realm of all potential”, so anything is possible. Here are the energies that will be in play:

1 Imix (May 8th) – 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. One of the biggest questions at this time, as the world awaits the results of the voting in the conclave of cardinals at the Vatican is: Who will be the new pope?

On this day U.S. officials will be meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland in a first step towards negotiating an end to the trade war between these two countries. At the same time trade negotiations will be taking place in Washington D.C. between US and UK officials.

This is the 80th Gregorian anniversary of VE Day, when joyous celebrations marked the end of World War II, including the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, Canada’s longest military engagement. In his Victory speech on this day in 1945 (which was also an Imix day) British Prime Minster Sir Winston Churchill said to the British people:

My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole. We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny. After a while we were left all alone against the most tremendous military power that has been seen. We were all alone for a whole year. There we stood, alone. Did anyone want to give in? [Shouts of “No!”] Were we down-hearted? [“No!”] The lights went out and the bombs came down. But every man, woman and child in the country had no thought of quitting the struggle . . . . I say that in the long years to come not only will the people of this island but of the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to what we’ve done and they will say “do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straight forward and die if need be—unconquered.

On this anniversary of that key event, Ukraine will observe a Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World World II, and Germany will commemorate this 80th anniversary with a ceremony in the Bundestag lower house to mark the allies’ defeat of Nazi Germany. In a solemn ceremony in Paris, President Macron will rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a military parade (similar to the one held in London on May 5th) will mark the occasion. A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine begins at this time.

It has now been three cycles since the spring of 2023 when 18 countries signed the European Defence Agency (EDA)’s Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition project for the procurement of ammunition to supply Ukraine with artillery shells and replenish Member States’ national stockpiles. On that same day Presidents Xi and Putin had a meeting in Moscow – and currently President Xi is returning to Moscow for another meeting with Putin during this ceasefire period.

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 in 2023, and Putin is still officially an alleged war criminal, with a warrant out from the ICJ for his arrest for war crimes related to Ukraine.

It has now been six 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 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.)

It has now been two cycles 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. One cycle before that (in 2023) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), delivered a “final warning” on the climate crisis, as rising greenhouse gas emissions were pushing the world to the brink of irrevocable damage that only swift and drastic action could avert. This was a comprehensive review of the climate crisis, that took hundreds of scientists eight years to compile and ran to thousands of pages, but boiled down to one message: act now, or it will be too late. And then the dumpster regime re-emerged – and trashed all US climate related efforts related to environmental protections.

This is biologist and nature historian Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday. Born on an Imix day in 1926, he has spent eight decades exploring the natural world and presenting works (such as award-winning documentaries) in support of the natural world and environmental causes. Click here for “99 ways he has inspired us”.

2 Ik’ (May 9th) – a “dynamically balancing” energy associated with “wind, breath, and spirit”, now coinciding with Europe Day, the 75th Gregorian anniversary of the day in 1950 when French foreign minister Robert Schuman presented his proposal for the creation of an organized Europe. This was known as the “Schuman Declaration”, the precursor to the European Union.

In Russia this is when “Victory Day” parades commemorating the surrender of Nazi Germany after World War II take place in Moscow and many other parts of Russia, where Russia showcases its military forces. China’s President Xi and several other foreign leaders will attend the parade in Moscow. It will be the largest delegation of foreign leaders in attendance since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022.

It has now been one cycle since the Democratic National Convention when U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris formally accepted the convention’s nomination for president.

In 1974 this was the energy in place when the impeachment process against President Nixon was formally initiated.

In 1814 this was the energy in place when British troops set fire to the White House.

3 Ak’b’al (May 10th) – the “activation of darkness”, associated with deep mysteries and sometimes the unexpected, as happened two cycles 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 day when Israel inflicted such an enormous amount of damage on buildings in Gaza that leading international legal experts referred to it as “domicide”.

Currently this is coinciding with World Fair Trade Day. Europe Day celebrations are
continuing in many locations at this time as the Council of the European Union holds special events to highlight their work and showcase cultural traditions.

4 K’an (May 11th) – a “defining” energy associated with the resurrection of youthful vitality, coinciding with International Mother’s Day, and for Catholics, this is the Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, at which time thousands of pilgrims from around the world will gather in Fatima, Portugal. If the new pope has been selected by this time, there will be even more to celebrate at this time.

In Thailand this is Vesak Day – aka Visakha Bucha, Thailand’s most revered festival, which is following several days of observing Buddhist Precepts, pilgrimages to temples, and candlelit processions.

The last time this was in place a 12 foot bronze statue of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, created by sculptor Basil Watson, was unveiled 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 (May 12th) – associated with the “blessing of lifeforce”, coinciding at this time with the Full Flower Moon and with Vesak Day  (Buddha Day) in India, Tibet, Malaysia,  Indonesia, and many other south and southeast Asian regions – a major Buddhist festival oriented around the celebration not only of the birth and death of Gautama Buddha, but also of his attainment of enlightenment (nirvana). This is when Vesak Day is commemorated by the United Nations as well.

This is International Nurses Day, marking Florence Nightingale’s 205th Gregorian birthday, and the start of the Canadian Nursing Association’s National Nursing Week.

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 (May 13th) 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” this energy is now coinciding with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada.

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.

Currently this is the start day of the 69th Eurovision competition in Basel, Switzerland. It is also the opening day for the Cannes Film Festival, when veteran actor Robert De Niro receives the Palme d’Or award, one of the film industry’s most prestigious honours.

7 Manik’ (May 14th) – 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.

This is the 77th anniversary of the day in 1948 when the British Mandate expired in Israel and the new Jewish state was established. It is also National Student Nurses Day.

8 Lamat (May 15th) – 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 six 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.

Two cycles ago this was in place when the UN General Assembly voted to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. But where was the follow-through or consequence of that?

Note that this marks the 77th Gregorian anniversary of Nakba (“Catastrophe”) Day, marking the explusion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes when their land was expropriated by the Israeli government after the declaration of the state of Israel in Palestine in 1948. Many fled to Gaza where they continued to live in fear of raids and bombardments from Israel . . . and then came the full blown war, ignited by the October 2023 attack. Since that attack, over 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, and nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often repeatedly. And now, as Israel vows to destroy all of Gaza, the situation is being seen as a second Nakba, as so much of Gaza’s infrastructure and life support systems have been destroyed.

It has been over two years since the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution to commemorate Nakba Day and the “historical injustice that befell the Palestinian people”. At that time Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the UN’s 193 member countries that Palestinians “deserve recognition of their plight, justice for the victims, reparation for their loss and fulfilment of their rights.” While it is head-spinningly unconscionable that world leaders have not found a way to help these people, this would be an ideal time for crisis-resolving leadership to step up and take action.

Currently this is International Conscientious Objector Day, marked around the world, associated with the raising of awareness regarding the refusal to participate in armed conflict for moral or religious reasons.

In Japan this brings the start of Kyoto’s “Imperial” Aoi Matsuri (“Hollyhock” Festival), one of the biggest festivals in Japan.

This also marks the official start of the eastern Pacific Ocean’s hurricane season.

9 Muluk (May 16th) – 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 of Living Together in Peace, a special day that the UN designates as a means of “mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity” with the aim of upholding the desire “to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony”. Many special events and initiatives in support of Ukraine, Gaza, and other war-ravaged regions could potentially come forth at this time.

Similarly, this is UNESCO’s International Day of Light, “a global initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy”, on the 65th anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman, who developed the world’s first functioning laser. The theme this year is “Light, Innovation, Society”.

In addition, this is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, associated with spreading awareness about how to make technologies more available to people with disabilities, as well as the 20th annual Endangered Species Day, a global day of awareness raising and global action, this year celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which became effective in 1973.

10 Ok (May 17th) – a Burner Day representative of “foundational” fire (or “heart fire”), often associated with love, protection, guidance, and justice, coinciding with the UN’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB): a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversities, with this year’s global focus being “The Power of Communities”. This event is celebrated in more than 130 countries.

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. Currently this is National Armed Forces Day in the U.S, the final day of the Eurovision competition in Basel, Switzerland.

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.

This is the Maya birth energy of Ales Bialiatski, a Belarusian pro-democracy activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. It is also the Maya birth energy of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

11 Chuwen (May 18th) – a “change” oriented, “timeweaver” type of energy – a force that can prompt us to have fun, but can also remind us to “be on our toes”.

It has now been three cycles exactly since a Manhattan Grand Jury voted to indict the Orange Felon for his role in the hush money/falsification of documents, case – the first time in American history that a current or former president had 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.

Currently this is International Museum Day, with this year’s theme being “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities”, and the final day of the Canadian Nursing Association’s National Nursing Week.

This is also legendary singer Johnny Mathis’s final live concert, in Englewood, New jersey. Known as one of the best selling artists of the 20th century, Johnny’s career has spanned almost 7 decades since the start of his career back in 1956.

12 Eb’ (May 19th) – 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, coinciding at this time with Victoria Day in Canada, a public holiday in honour of Queen Victoria as the “Mother of Confederation”. This is the final day of Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada, World Family Doctor Day, and the start of the UN’s 78th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, with this year’s theme being “One World for Health”. This assembly is held in Geneva, Switzerland, where member states look at public health issues of global importance, including making amendments to international health regulations.

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”. This is also the Maya birth energy of Edith Cavell, the British nurse who saved so many lives during World War I.

It has now been six cycles since the start of the dumpster’s second Senate impeachment trial, associated with his “incitement of insurrection”, and four 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, looked at more than 60 court cases the dumpster and his supporters filed and lost in six key battleground states, and reached the “unequivocal” conclusion that all their claims were unsupportable – the election had been Lost, not “Stolen”. If people had been attentive to these events, and had followed through with rational actions, the current chaotic and destructive situation in the US could well have been averted. But the same old toxic lies continued to be repeated again and again and again, which the gullible continued to swallow, ultimately leading to the election that brought forth the totally inept administration that is currently causing great pain, uncertainty, instability, chaos, and destruction on multiple levels within the US, and in the world at large.

13 B’en (May 20th) – “transformational personal authority”, an energy under which many highly 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.

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. Then again, in February of 2021, this same energy was in place at the time of his second impeachment trial, for “incitement of insurrection”.

Currently this is the sixth Gregorian anniversary of the inauguration of President Zelenskyy in Ukraine.

This is the opening day for huge Chelsea Flower Show in London, seen as “the world’s greatest flower show”, created by world renowned garden designers, which runs to May 24th. Note that a special Dog Garden is featured this year.

In addition, this is the UN’s World Bee Day, oriented around raising awareness concerning the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators from all the threats they face, and raising awareness of their contributions to sustainable development. The goal is to strengthen measures to protect bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and help to eliminate hunger in developing countries.

This intensive, transformation-oriented, force is also associated with self determination, so events at this time can be quite consequential. This also happens to be Cher’s 79th Gregorian birthday. Happy birthday Cher!

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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.]