“We are on the precipice.” Those were the words of Judge Merchan a few days ago as he warned the high profile defendant in his courtroom that jail would be the next step if there were any more breaches of the gag order that had been imposed upon him. And since the defendant is a former US president, this was an significant statement, in an unprecedented situation. And yet, this seems to be a metaphor for much of what is happening globally right now. Certainly this applies to Gaza, as Israeli tanks corner over a million war-ravaged civilians in the south-east corner of the Strip. Certainly this applies to Russia, Ukraine, and global stability/instability as Russia parades its nuclear arsenal. And certainly this applies to the planet as a whole as climate change continues to zoom off the charts. And, following suit, this also applies to this trecena, as this is a trecena that often brings forth monumental shifts.

The first day of this time frame coincides with the start of the fourth 52-day period within the 260-day cycle, an important shift-point within the overall sequence of days. Two cycles ago, exactly, the first day of this trecena coincided with the opening of the COP15 summit, as thousands of government officials, scientists, and activists representing 196 countries gathered in Montreal for the world’s most important biodiversity conference. One cycle ago global leaders were meeting in Johannesburg, for the BRICS summit, with topics related to global concerns again being on the agenda.

But looking further back we find that this trecena has often been pivotal in terms of major conflicts, as seen in 1939 as German troops were assembling in preparation for their invasion of Poland just after Germany and the USSR signed a 10-yr. non-aggression pact. One cycle later, Germany began its blitzkrieg on Europe through its invasion of Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg, the first stage in the Battle of France, on the first day of this trecena. At that time the British government was in disarray. On what has been seen as one of the most dramatic days in British history, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned and Winston Churchill was appointed as Prime Minister. Several years later, this trecena brought forth the signing of the unconditional documents of surrender of the German forces, finally bringing World War II to an end, in May of 1945. The horror of that global conflict had spanned seven Tzolk’in cycles.

With the opening of this new 52-day period, echoes from events during the Nixon Watergate era will start to be revealed, as the same daysign-plus-month energies that were in place in 1972 begin returning. The 7 Ak’b’al 6 Sip energy that will be in place on May 15th, for instance, will be a Calendar Round return of the 7 Ak’b’al 6 Sip energy that was in place on May 28, 1972, at the time of the first Watergate burglary. (Calendar Round/New Fire returns are always 52 years less 13 days apart). So as events evolve over the next two key years in US politics, we will be paralleling (via the Maya Calendar) energies that were in place during the unravelling of that whole Watergate saga, except that this time the stakes are much, much higher.

The overseer of this Kab’an trecena was seen in Aztec mythology as Tlazoltéotl, the “Great Mother Goddess”, known as the “Eater of Filth”, who was associated with forgiveness and purification. She was seen not only as a fertility goddess who worked with major generative forces, but also as an entity who conducted confessional rites. These “confession” + “life generation” aspects can be seen in the tendency for events within this period to be, oftentimes, world-shaping in nature, in terms of both major endings as well as the emergence of new beginnings in association with issues that are often of an “earth-shaking” nature.

Over the past few days there has been a great deal of “boundary testing”, bringing us to this “precipice” point, with many questions awaiting answers. Will a ceasefire be negotiated in Gaza, leading to a release of hostages and a withdrawal of IDF forces before even more people are killed? Will reinforcements arrive in time to bolster Ukraine before even greater damage is done? Will the dumpster defy the gag order again and actually go to jail? What is going on in Georgia with regard to the election interference case? As highlighted in the listing of days below, this trecena is bringing energy returns relating to many consequential events from the past. Will there be echoes from those events, and if so, how will they manifest?

Keep in mind that this is a trecena that often places strong emphasis on issues associated with the planet itself, often serving as a kind of check-point with regard to global evolution. As seen in the past, 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 with Earth itself, this Kab’an trecena often coincides not only with radical shifts in world order, but with significant Earth-oriented shifts, so expect a great deal to be “in motion” during this period.

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 very critical time frame these are the energies that will come into play:

1 Kab’an (May 9th) – the “initiation of evolutionary movement”, the start of the trecena that begins the 17th 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 significance – with emphasis on “planetary”.

This last time this was in place (last August) the leaders of over 60 countries were participating in the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, during which many new economic and political partnerships were negotiated. It has now been six 260-day cycles since BREXIT Day in the UK and the end of an era in 2020, when the UK formally left the EU at 11 PM after 47 years of membership. The nation was deeply divided over this (and still is), as new trade deals had to be made between the UK and more than 70 countries.

In the US last summer this energy marked the start of the Republican primary season, with the first official GOP presidential debate, at the same time as several defendants in the Georgia election interference case, many of whom face multiple felony counts, began going through booking procedures at the Fulton County jail. One cycle before that Trump’s company was convicted of fraud after being found guilty on all 17 counts, including conspiracy charges and falsifying business records. On that same day Raphael Warnock won the heated runoff election in Georgia, to decide Georgia’s representative for the U.S. Senate. His win helped Democrats to solidify their Senate majority.

On that same day India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar rover, which was launched 40 days earlier, touched down on the Moon’s surface, as India became the first country to perform a controlled “soft landing” near the lunar south pole.

Currently this is Europe Day, the 73rd 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. This time this flaunting of military strength will occur just two days after Putin was sworn in for a fifth term.

As noted above, this was the energy in place in 1939 as German troops were assembling in preparation for their invasion of Poland, and again in 1940 when Germany began invading European countries, and then in 1945 when Germany surrendered unconditionally, bringing an end to World War II.  (also see 9 Chikchan, below)

On a much, much lighter note (but evolutionary for many fans), this is the opening day for the Taylor Swift Eras show in Paris, that will be followed by 49 shows in Sweden, Ireland, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Austria, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland before wrapping up the European tour in London on Aug. 20th on 13 Ajaw, the final day of this cycle.  As always this will be a busy start to an important trecena.

2 Etz’nab’ (May 10th) – a dynamic “knife-edged” type of energy that can dazzle and/or divide and separate, marking one cycle since Trump turned himself in, to be booked at the Fulton County jail in Georgia, after being indicted there last Aug. 15th. He had already signed a $200,000 bond on racketeering charges that explicitly limited his ability to attack witnesses or his co-defendants in this case, including on social media. The restriction also prohibits him from making any “direct or indirect threat of any nature against the community or to any property in the community”.

Last August this was in place when Japan began releasing treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, after the UN’s nuclear watchdog approved the plan. It was indicated that some 1.34 million tonnes of water, which has accumulated since the destruction of the plant by the tsunami in 2011, will be released over 30 years after being filtered and diluted.

3 Kawak (May 11th) – an “activating storm” or “activation of compassion” type of influence that can manifest as a true weather storm or a “storm” of compassion or emotion. This marks three Calendar Rounds (52-year periods) since the beginning of the Navajo “Long Walk” home in 1868.  (Click here for an overview of that tragic episode in American history.)

In October of 1815, this was the energy in place when the deposed and disgraced ex-emperor Napoléon Bonaparte arrived at the remote tropical island of St. Helena, where he began his final exile before dying 6 years later.

Currently this is World Migratory Bird Day, the first of two this year, with the focus this year being on the importance of insects for migratory birds.

Lots of excitement in Las Vegas at this time, with the Rolling Stones in town for their concert, and also much excitement in Malmö, Sweden as that city hosts the final events for the 68th Eurovision competition – the world’s biggest international song contest, with 26 countries competing in the grand spectacle finale.

4 Ajaw (May 12th) – 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 16th Tzolk’in cycle since that date, and the beginning of the 17th cycle.

It has now been three cycles (780 days) since March of 2022 when an extraordinary meeting of NATO leaders was held in Brussels at which time members reaffirmed their “unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine”, and resolved “to counter Russia’s attempts to destroy the foundations of international security and stability”. But still the war careens on, and it is now widely seen that not nearly enough has been done by world powers as a whole to push back on Russia’s aggression. And now Russia is holding drills on the use of “tactical nuclear weapons”. Scary times! Nevertheless, as the EU has just reached a deal on using profits (an estimated €4.4bn) from Russia’s frozen assets, to fund weapons and aid for Ukraine, and as the US has finally released $61 billion for military aid, the tide is beginning to turn in Ukraine’s favour once again. The question remains: Is it enough?

In 1945 this was the energy that brought forth the signing of the unconditional documents of surrender by German forces, that put an end to the “big lies” that Hitler had been promulgating in Germany. But it seems that much has been forgotten in that regard, as so many “big lies” of a similar nature are now threatening global stability.

In the past, many space-related events, such as the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969, have taken place under this energy influence. This was also the energy in place when the Space Shuttle Atlantis spent its final day in space, in 2011, marking the end of the space shuttle era. Currently, the launch of the Boeing Starliner capsule, now rescheduled for May 17th, will mark the beginning of yet another era in space exploration.

Currently this is International Mother’s Day, and International Nurses Day, marking Florence Nightingale’s 204th Gregorian birthday, on the final day of the Canadian Nursing Association’s National Nursing Week, and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week. Israel’s Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) begins at sundown.

5 Imix (May 13th) – the “blessing of birth”, representative of both “the realm of all potential” and chaos; symbolic of the primordial realm, which contains “all possibilities”, coinciding at this time
with Israel’s full Yom HaZikaron day (official Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism), with Israel’s 76th Independence Day celebrations (Yom Ha’atzma’ut in Hebrew), beginning at sundown, with the ceremonial lighting of twelve beacons (representing the 12 tribes of Israel) at Mount Herzi, Israel’s national cemetery. Given all that has happened over the past few days and months, the word “celebration” does not seem to apply at this time.

This is World Fair Trade 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.

This is the energy that was in place on that historic day in 1969 when Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon after landing the day before.

In 1945 this was the energy in place on VE day, when the world jubilantly celebrated the end of World War II in Europe and the beginning of peace. Currently this marks 7 Tzolk’in cycles since the inauguration of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the president of Ukraine on May 20, 2019.

6 Ik’ (May 14th) – an “everywhere” type of energy associated with wind, breath, and spirit, coinciding with the 76th anniversary of the day in 1948 when the British Mandate expired in Israel and the new Jewish state was established. Also the opening day for the Cannes Film Festival, during which “Star Wars” creator George Lucas will receive a lifetime achievement award. A biopic of Trump’s early years will also be featured.

This day marks one 260-day cycle since the first hearing in the Jan. 6th case in the U.S., the day when Judge Chutkin announced the date for that trial. That took place exactly five cycles after voting day in the dumpster’s first impeachment trial, in early February, 2020. That was the day when Senator Mitt Romney spoke on the Senate floor, indicating that he planned to vote for Trump’s conviction, since the dumpster’s actions were a “most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office”. During that speech Romney pointed out that the dumpster, for his own personal and political purposes, had asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival, withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so, and delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders. As Romney put it: “what Trump did was wrong – grievously wrong” – he was “guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust”. Romney’s vote denied the dumpster unanimous GOP support for his acquittal, an acquittal that has been disastrous for democracy as those “appalling abuses of public trust” continued to escalate and infect that entire party. It has now been one cycle since the review of Mark Meadows’ request to move the Georgia election racketeering case against him to federal court rather than state court. That request was subsequently denied.

In 1945 this was the energy in place when World War II officially ended, after Germany’s unconditional surrender on 4 Ajaw.

7 Ak’b’al (May 15th) – a “self-generating” type of energy associated with the concept of “temple” or “house”, but also darkness or “sanctuary”, the energy that was in place at the time of Richard Nixon’s presidential win in 1968. Precisely five cycles later, in May of 1972, operatives working for the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP) broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters (the Watergate office complex) in Washington, DC and bugged the telephones of staffers. This is the Calendar Round anniversary of that dark event that took place on 7 Ak’b’al 6 Sip in May of 1972, the same Calendar Round energy that is in place at this time, as yet another “dark” former president faces a slew of criminal felony charges on multiple levels, for his devious actions.

This marks the 76th 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 now the residents of Gaza who have been subjected to continuous bombardment, are living in abject terror, in the midst of a full blown famine, still under continuing threat. Within the past few days it has been estimated that, in addition to the nearly 35,000 people killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, some 79,000 homes have been destroyed, and some 370,000 buildings damaged since the Hamas-Israeli war began last Oct. 7th.

Note that late in 2022 the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution to commemorate this 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.” What has happened since then is head-spinningly unconscionable.

In 2015 this was the energy in place when the Minsk II agreement was signed between Russia and Ukraine, that set out the parameters for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line, and for constitutional reform in Ukraine. Currently, however, this is Day 811 of the Russia-Ukraine war. It is also International Conscientious Objector Day, marked around the world, associated with raising awareness of those who refuse 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. It might also be seen as hurricane day in Seattle at this time, as this is the day when the Rolling Stones will be rocking at Lumen Field in the heart of that city.

8 K’an (May 16th) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with germination and even opulence, coinciding at this time 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 in support of Ukraine, Gaza, and other war-ravaged regions will likely be held at this time.

This is also 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 64th anniversary of the first successful operation of a laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman (7 Ok), who developed the world’s first functioning laser. The theme this year is “Light in Our Lives”.

In addition, this is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, associated with spreading awareness about how to make technologies more available to people with disabilities.

In 1969 this was the energy in place when Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific after 8 days in space. Exactly one Calendar Round later (on July 11, 2021) this was in place at the “Dawn of a New Space Age” when billionaire Richard Branson reached the stars aboard his own Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo spacecraft.

In March of 2022 this was the energy in place when delegates from the AFN, Métis, and Inuit Nations, and residential school survivors, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, at the same time as two large coronal mass ejections (CMEs) blasted out from the sun.

9 Chikchan (May 17th) – representative of “outwardly-projecting” lifeforce, this is 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 was the energy that was 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.

Currently this is 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 “No one left behind: equality, freedom, and justice for all”. This event is celebrated in more than 130 countries.

It is also the 19th annual Endangered Species Day, a global day of awareness raising and global action, this year celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which became effective in 1973.

This is the rescheduled day for the first astronaut launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, aboard an Atlas V rocket, which will carry two NASA astronauts to the ISS. In 1970 this energy was in place at the time of the launch of Apollo 13.

This is the start day for the Sacred Journey 2024 from Xcaret to Cozumel Island, to pay tribute to the Maya Goddess Ixchel, in a re-creation of a sacred Maya tradition.

10 Kimi (May 18th) – a double “absolute foundations” type of energy that is represented by the death god in both the number and daysign positions, now marking 11 long cycles since the dumpster was officially nominated as the Republican candidate for president at the RNC, in 2016.

This is the opening day for the 10th World Water Forum, in Bali, and International Museum Day, with this year’s theme being “Museums for Education and Research”. It is also National Armed Forces Day in the U.S., and International Astronomy Day, as the planet Jupiter conjuncts the sun.

Six cycles ago (in February of 2020) this was the energy in place when the Antarctic registered a temperature of more than 20C (68F) for the first time, prompting fears of climate instability in the world’s greatest repository of ice. Four years on we are now seeing the world’s leading climate scientists “in despair” as they are expecting global temperatures to rise at least 2.5C above preindustrial levels this century, well beyond the internationally agreed-upon targets.

11 Manik’ (May 19th) – “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, now aligning with World Family Doctor Day.

Six cycles ago (Feb. of 2020, just as the pandemic was ramping up) this was the energy in place when a new, and terrifying, facet of the madness that still has a chokehold on too many people in the US was revealed, when the Trump administration rolled out a budget that called for $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act over a decade. This “plan” also sought to halve US funding for the World Health Organization, in addition to calling for deep cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund.

12 Lamat (May 20th) – 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 often “signals” some critical development, suggesting the possibility that some kind of significant announcements could be made at this time.

This is Victoria Day in Canada and the fifth Gregorian anniversary of the inauguration of President Zelenskyy in Ukraine. on May 20, 2019 (on 5 Imix).

This is the also the UN’s World Bee Day, oriented around raising awareness concerning the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, of the threats they face and of their contribution 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 is the Maya birth energy of E. Jean Carroll, who has been awarded over $83 million in her epic battle for justice in her long, protracted lawsuit against the dumpster for sexual abuse and defamation. Originally this was a tentative trial date for the classified documents case (MAL case) but that date is now still to be determined.

In China this day is like a second Valentine’s Day since the Mandarin pronounciation for 5.20 “five- two-zero”) sounds like “I Love You”. This is also Cher’s 78th Gregorian birthday. Happy birthday Cher!

13 Muluk (May 21st) – “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.

As this currently coincides with World Meditation Day, let’s hope that it’s a little calmer at this time. This is also UNESCO’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day designated by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony – something greatly needed these days.

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 25th.

It has now been 11 full 260-day cycles since the July 2016 Wikileaks release of documents stolen by Russian hackers from the DNC (and called for by the dumpster), intended to hurt Hillary Clinton, which triggered the torrent of speculation that ultimately resulted in Clinton’s loss in that 2016 election – and all the political chaos that has happened ever since.

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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.]