There is “movement” in the works – can you feel it? As we kick off this new trecena at a key 52-day “shift-point” within the 260 day cycle the sense of some sort of shifting-of-energies seems palpable.

We have just come through an intense 13 days that have included a rare impeachment trial in the US, the finalization of Brexit related formalities associated with the UK and EU, giant swarms of locusts in Africa, destructive hailstorms and ongoing bushfires in Australia, and the shutdown of large cities, major tourist attractions, and large companies in China in a massive attempt to curtail the spread of a deadly virus. Even Chinese New Year was cancelled in some places as part of this effort. And although some of this is ongoing, there are definite changes in the works which includes a coordinated global response to the rapid acceleration in the dispersement of that virus. The World Health Organization’s declaration, just as this trecena was coming in, of a global health emergency underscores the gravity of this situation.

Within this calendrical system this Kab’an trecena tends to be associated not only with the opening and closing of major eras, but the events that transpire within this frame of reference are often significant to the world as a whole. Sometimes this has to do with “ways of thinking”, as in the “end of the world” fears in 2012 when legions of people were convinced that the world was going to end on Dec. 21st, the fourth day of this trecena, even though most people didn’t know a thing about the calendar other that what was promulgated through media hype about the Mayan calendar “coming to an end” at that time. Any Mayanist who tried to point out that the calendar was not coming to an end but rather coming to the end of an important cycle was simply not heard at that time. Currently we are now seven years into a new era, that began ten Tzolk’in cycles (2600 days) ago.

The patron of this time frame was traditionally seen as an aspect of Tlazoltéotl, a “Great Mother Goddess” who was associated with forgiveness and purification. As she was also known as the “Eater of Filth”, this trecena was often seen as a time when confessional rites were conducted. Since this deity was seen as a fertility goddess who also worked with major generative forces, this metaphor ties in with the tendency for many events within this period to be world-shaping in nature, in terms of both major endings as well as the emergence of new beginnings. Often these tie in with issues of an “earth-shaking” nature.

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

Five cycles ago (in 2016) this was the trecena that brought forth a change in power in the U.K. as Theresa May became Britain’s second female Prime Minister, just before the earth-shattering RNC convention in the U.S. that brought the nomination and acceptance of Trump as the Republican candidate for president [on a 10 Kimi (“foundational death”) day]. 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.

During the last appearance of this trecena (last May) many seismic shifts (with massive consequences) took place in political systems in places such as Europe, Australia, and India as a result of elections – including the swearing in of Ukraine’s new president Zelensky who is so strongly linked to Trump’s impeachment trial.

In the US the weather was particularly wild throughout the trecena, as tornadoes seemed to make news on a daily basis, particularly in the midwest. At that time strong emphasis was placed on issues associated with the planet itself, as that was when the Second Global Climate Strike for Future took place as young people demanded concrete action from global governments regarding climate change, with sixteen year old activist Greta Thunberg leading the charge.

Often this Earth oriented trecena serves as a kind of check-point with regard to global evolution. Within the 260-day cycle as a whole the beginning of this trecena is one of the most important “trigger points” that seems to bring key issues into focus as it sets the stage for critically important actions that can have significant implications for large numbers of people. Aligned not only with Earth, but with “evolutionary movement”, the Kab’an trecena often coincides with radical shifts in world order. And now, with the commencement of this current energy sequence we find that the first day of this trecena coincides precisely with Brexit day, the long-fought for – and highly controversial – day when the UK officially leaves the EU. If they knew anything about these energies, many would likely call this “perfect timing”.

Looking back to that fateful summer of 2016, the first day of this 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, that particular lineup of 13s delivered a punch that is still reverberating today! By the end of the trecena (1313 days after the end of the 13th Bak’tun) people were feeling stunned and horrified by all the political upsets and rapid transitions that were taking place.

And now, five cycles later, this all-important Kab’an trecena is coming into being at the 2600 day point (10th cycle completion) since the end of the 13th B’aktun, which also seems very significant since “260” is the key number at the heart of the Maya Calendar. Given what is currently going on – Brexit, the impeachment trial in the US, and the rapid spread of the coronavirus, among other things – this seems to be particularly noteworthy. So far, of course, we have no way of ascertaining the scope of the implications associated with these events, but they all seem “earth-shifting” in one way or another.

During this 13 day period there are a number of large festivals coming into play including the Quebec Winter Carnival, the Sapporo Snow Festival, Candlemas festivals, Carnevale in Venice, and the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival. It is likely that the latter may be cancelled in many areas, due to the virus outbreak. However, it remains to be seen what festivals and large gatherings might be either cancelled or allowed to proceed in places other than China, as a precautionary measure. And then there will be events such as the Superbowl in the US, which is on a scale of its own.

During this critical period, with its emphasis on both completion and renewal, it will be interesting to see in which direction the “movement” will flow – will the emphasis be placed on evolution or devolution? Will there be “confessions” and accountability? Will there be some kind of cleansing and “forgiveness”? Will there be “dynamic forward motion”, and if so, in what direction? In the US, the outcomes of the impeachment trial, the state of the union address, the Iowa caucuses, and the New Hampshire primaries should provide some important clues.

As always this would be an auspicious time to review one’s own 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 (Jan. 31st) – the “initiation of evolutionary movement”, the start of the trecena that begins the eleventh Tzolk’in cycle of the new era (since December 2012). As a key 52-day “shift-point” within the 260 day cycle, this is a point that often initiates dramatic and/or consequential movement with planetary consequences. This is Brexit day, the historical day when the UK officially leaves the EU. In London buildings around Whitehall will be lit up to mark Brexit and the Union Jack will be flown on all of the flag poles in Parliament Square, but with Big Ben still under renovations there will be no tolling of that famous bell at this time. However, on Downing Street Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address a nation that has been deeply divided over the Brexit issue, as he calls for unity.

In the US this is likely to be the day when the vote may be taken regarding whether or not witnesses will be allowed to testify in the impeachment trial.

And on a lighter note, in Canada this is the opening day for Winterlude, Ottawa’s 18-day winter festival.

In 1939 this was the energy in place as German troops were assembling in preparation for the invasion of Poland; in 1940 this was the energy in place at the time of Germany’s invasion of Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, the first stage in the Battle of France. In 1943 this energy brought the beginning of the largest convoy battle of the Atlantic during WWII. Fortunately this energy also brought the surrender of Germany in 1945.

2 Etz’nab’ (Feb. 1st) – a dynamic “knife-edged” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate, at the beginning of Black History month in the US. This is the eighth day of Chinese New Year celebrations, traditionally aligned with the honouring of food and agriculture.

3 Kawak [Feb. 2nd, a Palindrome (02-02-2020)] – this is an “activating storm” type of influence that can manifest as a true weather storm or a “storm” of compassion or emotion, coinciding at this time with Groundhog Day, World Wetlands Day, and Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas), a major fiesta in Mexico that comes in 40 days after Christmas and heralds the arrival of spring. In Puna, Peru this is the start of the colourful 10-day Candlemas fiesta in honour of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of Puna. This is one of Peru’s biggest cultural festivals and is strongly associated with pachamama or “mother earth”.

In Chinese traditions this is the ninth day of the Chinese New Year sequence, which is celebrated as the birthday of the Jade Emperor, Emperor of the Universe, the Supreme Deity of Taoism, a day honoured by all the deities of Heaven and Earth. In the Chinese New Year sequence this day of the Stone Festival, the birthday of the god of stone, known as Shi Bu Dong (not moving stone). Incense and candles are burned at this time, and stones or rocks are not moved or cut, in the interest of protecting crops.

In the US this is Superbowl Sunday. During this event $10 million ads purchased by both Bloomberg and Trump will square off at this time, and both Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing at the halftime show.

In 2008 this was the energy in place when it was announced that the Lehman Bros. investment bank had run out of cash, triggering a massive financial meltdown over the next few days, generally referred to in the US as “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression”.

4 Ajaw (Feb. 3rd) – 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 tenth Tzolk’in cycle since Dec. 21, 2012, and the beginning of the eleventh 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. In 1969 this was the energy in place when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module on the moon and made their historic moon walk. In 2016 this was the energy in place when Theresa May took office as the UK’s Prime Minister.

Two cycles ago, in 2018, this was in place at the time of Sen. John McCain’s memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral, with Presidents Obama and George W. Bush delivering eulogies. The last time this energy was in place billionaire Robert F. Smith made a pledge to pay the student debt (estimated at $40 million) for the entire 2019 class at Morehouse college, Martin Luther King’s alma mater. Currently this is the day of the Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 presidential election.

This is the Maya birth energy of climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg, who was chosen as Time magazine’s Person of the Year last year; age 16 at the time, she was the youngest individual ever to be recognized for this honour.

5 Imix (Feb. 4th) – the “blessing of birth”, representative of both “the realm of all potential” and chaos; symbolic of the primordial realm, which contains “all possibilities”. This also marks a return of 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.

In 2016 this was the energy in place when Theresa May took office as the UK’s Prime Minister. As she spent much of her time in office trying to broker a Brexit deal it seems right “on schedule” for Brexit to take effect during this same trecena.

Currently this is World Cancer Day, and the day when Trump delivers the State of the Union address to Congress. In Japan this is the opening day for key Sapporo Snow Festival sites.

6 Ik’ (Feb. 5th) – 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 is the date set for the final vote in the Trump impeachment trial, which is expected to result in acquittal – an outcome that would be met with outrage on multiple levels as Republicans voted to disallow witnesses and a great deal of evidence, even though 75% of American voters were calling for witnesses and a proper trial. This final vote will be taken exactly 16 Tzolk’in cycles after the announcement in 2008 of the failure of two of the five major investment companies in the U.S. (with the failure of a third shortly thereafter), which was called “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression” – a failure that triggered a dramatic plunge in the stock market and outright chaos in world financial markets. In 2008 the bottom fell out of financial markets resulting in financial meltdowns for many; in 2020 many fear that the bottom is falling out of democracy itself. Whatever happens on this day the “winds of 6 Ik’ ” will reverberate “in all directions” for some time to come.

Maya birth energy of Elijah Cummings, a “formidable orator” and civil rights champion who served in the US House of Representatives from 1996 until his death last October. He was the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which led investigations related to the Russia probe.

7 Ak’b’al (Feb. 6th) – a “self-generating” type of energy associated with the concept of “temple” or “house”, but also darkness or “sanctuary”, coinciding at this time with the 68th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. In 1492 this was the energy in place when Christopher Columbus embarked on his first voyage into the unknown.

8 K’an (Feb. 7th) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with germination and even opulence; an “harmonious gift” type of influence, coinciding at this time with the opening of the 66th Quebec Winter Carnival, billed as the “World’s Biggest Winter Carnival“, and the first day of the World Ice Dragon Boat Championships in Ottawa.
This is also the day of the Democratic debate in New Hampshire.

9 Chikchan (Feb. 8th) – 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 beginning of World War II when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, and again in 1944 when Paris was liberated by the Allies. In 1863, this was in place at the beginning of the horrific Battle of Gettysburg, seen as a turning point during the U.S. civil war, as the Confederate army was forced to retreat.

Five cycles ago (2016) this energy coincided with the beginning of the consequential Republican National Convention in the U.S. Three cycles ago (Dec. 2017) the GOP shoved a massively unpopular tax bill through Congress, with no hearings, no Democratic support, no expert testimony, and no advance planning, in order to slash tax rates for corporations and provide huge benefits for the wealthy. It was a bill that provided the top 1% of Americans with 83% of the tax benefits and was projected to add $1.46 trillion to the U.S. debt over a decade.

Currently this energy coincides with the Full Snow Moon and with the Spring Festival in China – the day of the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival, on the 15th and final day of Chinese New Year.  This is the time when special sweet dumplings (called yuanxiao) resembling the shape of the full moon are eaten, and lanterns are lit to facilitate the return of light. Taiwan celebrates its renowned Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival at this time.

This is also coinciding with the start of the spectacular Carnevale Di Venezia (Venice), one of the most famous in the world, which goes until Feb. 25th. In addition, this is one of two days associated with the Buddhist Parinirvana or Nirvana Day, celebrating the day when Buddha was said to have achieved Nirvana or full enlightenment (the other day, celebrated by most Buddhists, is Feb. 15th). It is also national election in Ireland.

10 Kimi (Feb. 9th) – a double “absolute foundations” type of energy that is represented by the death god in both the number and daysign positions; five cycles since Trump’s nomination as a GOP candidate for president, and two cycles since the final day of the contentious Kavanaugh hearing related to US Supreme Court, as Democrats attempted to expose the fact that Kavanagh blatantly lied, under sworn testimony, with regard to a host of issues in the past.

Currently this is the day of the 92nd Academy Awards, just over 42 years since that historic 10 Kimi day in 1977 when the first Star Wars film was released. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the final episode of the 9-part “Skywalker saga” has been nominated for several Academy Awards. Since its release on Dec. 20th this film has quickly grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

This was the energy in place when Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony was first performed in early May of 1824. If Beethoven was born on 10 Kimi, as many have surmised, this performance would have taken place precisely 75 T’zolk’in cycles (54 years) after his birth.

11 Manik’ (Feb. 10th) – “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. This influence was in place in 2018 at the time of the Peoples Climate Movement March, a worldwide grassroots Global Day of Action, with their motto being “to change everything, we need everyone”.

Currently this is the 180th Gregorian anniversary of extravagant wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840, seen as a pivotal moment in British history.

12 Lamat (Feb. 11th) – a double Venus type of force representative of the “grouping together” influence of the number 12 in combination with Lamat’s “heralding” type of energy, which sometimes “signals” war or some other critical development. This was in place 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. Currently this coincides with the New Hampshire primaries.

In 1947 this was the energy in place when a brilliant object plunged to the ground NW of Roswell, New Mexico, touching off great speculation about whether or not it was a UFO.

13 Muluk (Feb. 12th) – “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. Five cycles since the July 2016 Wikileaks release of documents stolen by Russian hackers from the DNC (and called for by Trump), intended to hurt Hillary Clinton, which triggered the torrent of speculation that ultimately resulted in Clinton’s loss in the November election – and all the political chaos that has happened ever since.

Note that this trecena will be in place twice this year – with the second appearance happening in late October. At that time it will be the last full trecena before the 2020 US presidential elections.

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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.]