In a fast-moving world that seems to make less and less sense as the years roll by, it becomes increasingly clear there are certain “trigger points” within the Tzolk’in cycle that seem to intensify activities and propel action forward. The Kab’an trecena is one of the most critical as this was seen, historically, as a time of both completion and renewal, a period aligned with “evolutionary movement” and radical shifts in world order.

Indeed, this is the trecena that brought the departure of Christopher Columbus from Spain in 1492 en route to the “discovery” of the “New World”. It is the trecena that brought the beginning and ending of World War II, beginnings and endings of important space exploration events, the “powering up” and the shutting down (due to issues) of the atom-smashing Large Hadron Collider (in 2008), and the failure of major investment companies in the U.S. which precipitated chaos in world financial markets (also in 2008).

In 1956 this trecena was in place twice, coming in first on January 7th, the day when Elvis Presley first appeared on a show called “Louisiana Hayride”. Three days later (on 4 Ajaw) he recorded three songs, including “Heartbreak Hotel”, which quickly jettisoned into the number one spot in the hit parade. By the time this trecena appeared for the second time that year (in late September) Elvis had become known as “The King of Rock and Roll” and the world itself seemed to have shifted on its axis in response.

Two cycles ago, during the summer of 2016, this is the trecena that was in place at the time of the change in power in the U.K. as Theresa May became Britain’s second female Prime Minister. Towards the end of the trecena the earth-shattering RNC convention was held in the U.S., which brought the nomination and acceptance of Trump as the Republican candidate for president [on a 10 Kimi (“foundational death”) day].

Meanwhile, on that same day, the Turkish government initiated the sudden detainment or dismissal of some 50,000 people in a far-reaching backlash after a failed military coup.

On the last occurrence of this trecena, one cycle after the election of Theresa May, the UK filed papers that started the process of officially breaking away from the EU. These are the kinds of events that can foment prodigious change on this planet, often on a global scale.

And let us not forget that this is also the trecena that was in place on Dec. 21, 2012 when legions of people were convinced that the world was going to end, due to media hype that provoked the notion that this would happen because the Maya Calendar was ending. The Maya and Mayanists who tried to point out that this was NOT a world ending point, but rather a significant point of renewal (into a new era) in terms of calendrical cycles were simply not heard at that time.

When this trecena came into place during the summer of 2016 the first day of the trecena (One Kab’an) marked the 1300 day point (5th cycle completion) since the end of the 13th B’aktun on Dec. 21st, 2012. This seemed significant due to the fact that the number 13 is the energy of transition in the Maya Calendar, and sure enough, this particular lineup of 13s delivered an enormous punch! By the end of the trecena (1313 days after the end of the 13th Bak’tun) people were feeling stunned and horrified by the political upset that rattled huge numbers of people as this trecena was nearing its completion. By the time one more cycle had finished, during late March to early April of this year, the corruption, incompetence, and abuses of power by those who were gaining control in Washington were being revealed on a daily basis.

And now we come once again to this key 52-day “shift- point” and the beginning of this critical Earth-shifting time frame, at a time when many major “political powder kegs”, many of which represent fuses lit by Trump, are not only phosphorescing but are dangerously close to exploding. Significant insight into the nature of this danger can be seen in an article published on Dec. 7th by David Brooks titled “The G.O.P. is Rotting”, wherein he describes the corrupt bargains that have been made as the GOP has sold its soul to a “narcissistic sexual harasser and a routine liar”.

Add to the mix the on-going protests over Trump’s actions on a daily basis, the evolving findings of the on-going Russia probe, the tensions over North Korea, the bitterly debated election in Alabama on the first day of this trecena, and the recent White House announcement regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that has touched off fury within the Arab world (already resulting in injury, death, and the total disruption of delicate negotiations) and the situation looks more than a little ominous. And then there are the jaw-dropping wildfires in southern California and a huge snow storm in the UK and on the U.S. east coast, in addition to the political storms.

Within the context of all this, at this important time of both completion and renewal, at the time of the Winter Solstice, and the beginning of another cycle within the new era, what can we contribute to the efforts to overcome the darkness? How do we deal with the darkest time of the year, in a world that seems to be lit only by wildfires and festering powder kegs?

Fortunately, this trecena is offering some gifts in this regard as several special celebrations such as Hanukkah and the Feast Day for Tonantzin, Our Lady of Guadaloupe both coincide with the opening of the trecena, and celebrations relating to Winter Solstice follow shortly thereafter. And, of course, there is the lead-up to Christmas with its various holiday festivities. There are even spectacular meteor showers happening at this time – as above, so below?

At this important time it might be helpful to keep in mind that this Kab’an trecena is associated not only with the opening and closing of major eras within the Maya Calendar system, but it is also aligned with re-birth or emergence which can sometimes manifest as world-shaping beginnings and endings. Both forgiveness and fertility are often involved, representative of the patron dieties of this time frame, which tie in with the overall idea of dynamic motion.

As always this would be an auspicious time to review one’s personal journey in order to set the course and intent for the next 260 days. What will be your next “evolutionary leap” and how will you facilitate it? During this critical time frame these are the energies that will come into play:

1 Kab’an (Dec. 12th) – the “initiation of evolutionary movement”, the start of the trecena that begins  the eighth Tzolk’in cycle of the new era (since December 2012). This is a key 52-day “shift-point” within the 260 day cycle, a point often marked by dramatic and/or consequential movement.

At this time this energy coincides with several key events including Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun; the end of Mawlid, the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday; a National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and the Feast Day for Tonantzin, Our Lady of Guadaloupe (patroness of the Americas), celebrated both in Mexico and in many other places in Latin America, as well as in Latin communities within the U.S.  The evening brings in the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish “festival of lights” that features the lighting of menorahs over eight consecutive nights.

Given the recent White House announcement regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that has touched off fury within the Arab world, this particular Hanukkah could be particularly consequential. Moreover this is also the day of the bitterly debated US Senate special election in Alabama, to fill the vacancy in the Senate that arose from the resignation from the Senate of Jeff Sessions. With the Republican candidate being the subject of yet another sexual allegations scandal the implications of this situation in terms of political ethics are profound.

2 Etz’nab’ (Dec. 13th) – a dynamic “knife-edged” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate. At this time this energy coincides with the peak of the Geminids meteor shower (known as the “king of meteor showers”), associated with the 3200 Phaeton asteroid – named after Phaëton, the son of the Greek-named sun god Helios – that travels closer to the sun than any other asteroid; into the early morning of 3 Kawak. The first full day of Hanukkah.

3 Kawak (Dec. 14th) – “activating storm” that can manifest as a true weather storm or a “storm” of  compassion or emotion, this time coinciding with World Monkey Day at a time when the Moon + Jupiter are conjunct

4 Ajaw (Dec. 15th) – a “defining” energy associated with the full light of the sun, symbolic of renewal and enlightenment, the same “defining” Burner Day energy that coincided with Long Count 13.0.0.0.0, the end of the 13th B’aktun on Dec. 21st, 2012, the day in which a whole new Great Cycle of Time was “seated”. Currently this day marks the completion of the seventh Tzolk’in cycle since Dec. 21, 2012, and the beginning of the eighth cycle since the end of the 13th B’aktun. Four Ajaw was the energy that brought forth the signing of the unconditional documents of surrender by German forces in 1945.  At this present time this day brings the opening of the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

5 Imix (Dec. 16th) – the “blessing of birth”, representative of both “the realm of all potential” and chaos; symbolic of the primordial realm, which contains “all possibilities”; a return to the energy that was in place on VE day in 1945, when the world jubilantly celebrated the end of World War II in Europe and the beginning of peace. Two cycles ago this was British PM Theresa May’s first full day in office. Currently this correlates with the opening of New Zealand’s Festival of Lights

6 Ik’ (Dec. 17th) – an “everywhere” type of energy associated with wind, breath, and spirit, as was in place when World War II officially ended in 1945, after the unconditional surrender on 4 Ajaw. In 2004 this was the energy in place when Venus made its transition across the face of the sun – an event watched by millions. Currently this coincides with the 125th anniversary of the publication of Vogue magazine.

7 Ak’b’al (Dec. 18th) – a “self-generating” type of energy, often referred to as a “temple” or “house”, but also darkness or “sanctuary”, correlating at this time with the New Moon. In 1492 this was the energy in place when Christopher Columbus embarked on his first voyage into the unknown.

8 K’an (Dec. 19th) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with germination and even opulence; an “harmonious gift” type of influence.

9 Chikchan (Dec. 20th) – representative of “outwardly-projecting” lifeforce, a powerful force that can spawn major weather events such as typhoons, and even push forth “evolutionary” events that can significantly impact the world, as happened when the First Women’s Rights Convention convened in New York in 1848. This energy was also in place at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, at the beginning  of World War II when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, and again on the day in 1944 when Paris was liberated by the Allies. Two cycles ago this energy coincided with the beginning of the consequential Republican National Convention in the U.S. and the start of the huge government purge in Turkey after the attempted coup three days earlier.

10 Kimi (Dec. 21st) – a double “absolute foundations” type of energy that is represented by the death god in both the number and daysign positions, on the shortest day of the year and the start of the winter season – the Winter Solstice. Precisely two Tzolk’in cycles since the nomination of Trump as the Republican candidate for president. And doesn’t it seem like it’s been one long winter ever since? In Catalonia this is the day for the regional election to form a new parliament, with all 135 seats open following the removal of the last Catalan government a few weeks ago after an attempted declaration of independence. This is also the 80th anniversary of the premiere of Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, his first animated feature film, in 1937.

11 Manik’ (Dec. 22nd) – “inspirational deer”, a change-oriented day aligned with the idea of  reciprocity and new possibilities, although there can be a sacrificial aspect to it. This is an energy that can be somewhat “fiery” since Manik’ is a “carrier” of the sun on Earth, with the number 11 also being highly Earth-aligned. Situated in a position of intensity near the end of this “earth- movement” trecena, this energy is representative of solar power in tandem with strong Earth-aligned forces, in place now at the peak of the Ursids meteor shower (transitioning to Dec. 23rd). Maya birth energy of Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian politician nicknamed “Wunderwuzzi” (someone who can “walk on water”) who became Europe’s youngest leader during Austria’s elections last October.

12 Lamat (Dec. 23rd) – a double Venus type of force; in combination with the “grouping together” influence of the number 12, this is a strong “heralding or signalling” type of energy, as seen during the summer of 2016 at the time of Trump’s acceptance speech as the Republican nominee and the closing of the Republican National Convention.

13 Muluk (Dec. 24th) – “transformational water” – an energetic, often dramatic, type of energy that can trigger strong feelings and stir environmental forces which have, on occasion in the past, developed into floods, tornadoes, and even hurricanes, this time coinciding with Christmas Eve. Two cycles since the July 2016 Wikileaks release of documents stolen by Russian hackers from the DNC, intended to hurt Hillary Clinton, which triggered the torrent of speculation that ultimately resulted in Clinton’s loss in the November election – and everything that has happened since then.

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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.]