Fallout from the dramatic shake-up in Russia’s government, an historic and highly contentious presidential impeachment trial in the U.S., backlash on several fronts after a passenger plane was shot down during heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, severe weather in many regions, and hundreds of millions of people on the move during chunyun, or spring migration, the world’s largest human migration, to celebrate China’s Lunar New Year – this K’an trecena has much to contend with at this time.

Traditionally this is a trecena that was thought of as being aligned with Germination, which opens with an energy tied in with the young Maya corn god who represents exuberance for life and the bounties of the earth. Also tied in with the general idea of abundance, this is a trecena that holds the potential to be highly robust in the sense that it can open up all sorts of possibilities for action. Still part of the traditional creation sequence that began 13 days ago, this K’an initiated time period tends to encompass some vigorous energies associated with the inception of new ideas or the forging of new directions. It can often manifest as a time of “testing”, as new possibilities begin to take shape and the process of nurturing new endeavors begins.

In ancient Mesoamerica this trecena was seen as being under the patronage of a formidable deity known as the Itztlacoliuhqui, the God of Frost, often associated with coldness, punishment, and even blindness, which sounds rather ominous. He appears to be making his presence known in Newfoundland at this time as a hurricane force snowstorm is lashing that region as this trecena gets underway – visibility is so bad that people have been told to stay off the roads entirely.

On a more esoteric level this concept may be representative of a need to retain a certain amount of caution if presented with enticing new ideas as there is a potential here for great bounty (in one form or another) to unfold, which could be jeopardized by “frost” or “blindness to realities” (metaphorical or “real”). The idea is to carefully nurture, but not endanger, new opportunities. This deity is often shown holding a broom, symbolic of the idea of “sweeping something clean”, even sweeping away “sins” in order to assist the germination of the bounty to come.

Tied in with these ideas there is often an emphasis on working with “the unseen” or the unknown during this period. As we embark on this period there are many unknowns – as in secrets that have been covered up by the White House, the mountain of lies that have been told by Trump, and the who-knows-how-many documents and other forms of evidence that have not yet reached Congress. There is also the deeply chilling issue of whether or not Republican senators will adhere to the constitution – and their sworn oaths – and be impartial during the forthcoming impeachment trial, as opposed to succumbing to pressure from Trump and his supporters. Factors associated with the “unknown”, and with coldness or cold-heartedness may loom large at this time, placing strong emphasis on the need to get out that broom to sweep away everything that has been holding back warmth and life.

A second patron aligned with this time frame (shown in the trecena image above) is Black Smoking Mirror, representative of the mysteries of the cosmos and “the fate of the earth”, which – given the current circumstances – seems particularly apropos, as so many highly consequential events will be unfolding at this time. Working in tandem, these two patron energies might be seen as formidable taskmasters that hold the potential to open up many new possibilities IF the things that restrict life can be dealt with and “swept away”. Most certainly the events that unfold at this time will set the stage for the highly significant Kab’an trecena that will follow, beginning on the last day of January.

In the past this was the trecena that brought Napoléon Bonaparte’s declaration of himself as Emperor of France (in 1804). In 1933 this was the trecena in place when Hitler acquired dictatorial powers, and in place again the following year when he became Führer of Germany; it was back in place in 1945 at the time of his death. In 1978 it was this trecena that brought Cardinal Karol Wojtyla’s election as Pope John Paul II, and in 1985 this trecena saw Mikhail Gorbachev’s election as Secretary General of the Soviet Communist Party. It was the first day of this trecena back in 2008 when Barack Obama gave his historic and inspirational acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium as the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency. And six cycles ago (in Oct. 2015) it was this trecena that brought a stunning victory for Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party during the Canadian elections.

Significantly, given what is on the current agenda for this time frame, this is the trecena that was in place in 1973 at the time of that “Saturday Night Massacre” related to Watergate. At that time there was enormous concern about what was then seen as “the most serious constitutional crisis in [U.S.] history”, which erupted in conjunction with President Nixon’s firing of special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox, which eventually led to Nixon’s resignation after the first article of impeachment was drawn up. All of that pales, of course, when compared with what has been unfolding over the past three years.

One of the key days at this time will be 4 Manik’, on Jan. 21st, as all eyes will be on Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. who will be presiding over this historic trial – not an enviable position! As Frank O. Bowman, the University of Missouri law professor and the author of High Crimes and Misdemeanors: A History of Impeachment for the Age of Trump put it, this trial in particular is “so poisonous” that the Chief Justice is “going to be concerned that any perception of partiality to either side will potentially damage the institutional legitimacy of the court.” Last week he presided over the oath-taking by Senators to do “impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws” but how that will actually translate in the context of this trial remains to be seen. That “unseen” factor certainly ties in here, as do “the sins of the past”!

Adding to the pressure for Chief Justice Roberts is the fact that he is already dealing with divisive issues in the Supreme Court, including three cases relating to the release of Trump’s financial records and one on Trump’s efforts to withdraw protection from deportation for young immigrants. Adam Liptak of the New York Times reported a few days ago that the Chief Justice set a goal for 2020, knowing it would include the impeachment trial. “As the new year begins, and we turn to the tasks before us,” he wrote, “we should each resolve to do our best to maintain the public’s trust that we are faithfully discharging our solemn obligation to equal justice under law.” Given that so many Republican senators have already indicated (in one way or another) that they are not impartial, that they don’t want to call key witnesses, and that they are not interested in acquiring evidence relating to the issues addressed by the articles of impeachment, this is an unprecedented situation that places the spotlight on democracy itself. The question seems to be: Is corruption in the Senate so deeply imbedded that democracy itself will be trampled into oblivion?

Indeed, many see this trial as being not so much about Trump, but about ethics and morality at the highest levels of government. As writer Steve Almond (Cognoscenti contributor and author of Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to Our Country) put it: The GOP “should be forced to explain, every single day, why they are endangering our democracy to protect a man they know to be utterly corrupt”. And here we have a trecena that places emphasis on that very idea of “a time of testing”. It doesn’t seem to be coincidental that this was the trecena during which, just two cycles ago, Michael Cohen (Trump’s former longtime lawyer), pleaded guilty to eight felony counts related to campaign finance violations, tax evasion, and bank fraud, and Paul Manafort (his ex-campaign manager) was found guilty on eight counts of tax fraud. Even though Trump was implicated through Cohen’s testimony as as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in campaign finance violations, the GOP has continued to make excuses for his actions. With everything now funneling down to the actions of the Senate during this trial this will be a REAL test for democracy and the justice system in the US.

The first few days of this K’an trecena are an extension of the creation sequence that began on One Chuwen (on Jan. 5th). Based on past events that have taken place on the first day of this K’an time frame, there is the suggestion that during this period a number of influential energies that are embryonic to major world developments can come into play. This idea of attempting to “germinate” or set the foundations for new ideas can be seen in many key past events that have taken place during this trecena, as when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his prophetic speech about being a “drum major for peace” in 1968.

As noted above one of the most significant days will be 4 Manik’, as the impeachment trial in the U.S. clicks into high gear. As it happens this day will mark one cycle exactly since Michael Cohen reported to prison to begin a three-year term.

One of the most important days for the Maya comes in on Eight Chuwen (aka 8 Batz’), the most auspicious festival day for K’iche’ Maya daykeepers. This is the sacred day that is oriented around the renewal of calendar traditions and the initiation of new daykeepers. Eight Chuwen represents a kind of “resurrection” of the type of solar energy that can “weave together” past and future to help the “new entity” gain a foothold on the road of life, with that “road” being represented by the 9 Eb’ energies that come in the following day. It just so happens that this particular 8 Chuwen day is both the Maya birth energy and the Gregorian birthday of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, who is deeply connected with the scandal that led to this impeachment trial.

So as we journey through this energy sequence keep in mind that whatever happens will be “planting the seeds”, and providing the groundwork for what is to follow. It is a time when sacrifices may have to be made to make room for new growth and new life. This may well require the abandonment of old ideas in favour of something new, fresh, and life- enhancing. As this trecena holds the potential to bring forth surprises it would be a good idea to exercise care and prudence with anything that one might want to “germinate” at this time. Certainly with vigilance and care anything “planted” at this time could easily “sprout” into something strong and robust. Coldness and recklessness, on the other hand, could be very problematic. Here are the energies that will come into play:

1 K’an (Jan. 18th) – an “initiating” energy associated with germination (or even the creation of new abundance), coinciding with the global 2020 Women’s March. In Washington DC, the Women’s March participants will gather at Freedom Plaza to mark three years of resistance to the Trump presidency and three years of building power.

The route of the march will take them around the White House, with a key moment being a mass performance (song and dance) in front of the White House of a Chilean feminist protest anthem called “Un violador en tu camino” (“A Rapist in Your Path”) which has been quickly popularized by feminist protest movements worldwide to denounce gender-based violence. It finishes with the line “The oppressive state is a macho rapist, the rapist is you” – at which time they will all point at the White House. Click here to see demonstrations of this around the world.

It has been two cycles exactly since some 350 media organizations published a “coordinated response” on the dangers of the Trump administration’s assault on journalism and the press; with the core message in all editorials being “the importance of a free and independent press”. That was the same day as the jury in the Paul Manafort trial began their deliberations. One cycle since the start of the 3-day coronation proceedings for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, the first coronation in that country since 1950.

Maya birth energy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who will celebrate her 87th Gregorian birthday in March.

2 Chikchan (Jan. 19th) – “dynamic lifeforce”, on the day when SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the final Crew Dragon Abort Test before this commercial spacecraft begins to carry astronauts to the ISS (postponed from the day before). One cycle since last May’s enactment of the official coronation ceremony for King Vajiralongkorn in Thailand.

3 Kimi (Jan. 20th) – the “activation of absolute foundations” on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day that coincides with Blue Monday, the third Monday in January which many claim to be “the most depressing day of the year”, calculating in such factors as weather conditions, debt level – especially after Christmas expenses – and low motivation levels at this time of the year.

In Maya creation mythology this was seen as the day when “the first death” was “invented”, which “happens” to coincide at this time with the third anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, an event referred to by many as “one of the darkest days in the history of the U.S.”. In 1934 Hitler became Führer of Germany under this influence and currently this is the eve of the start of Trump’s impeachment trial in the US Senate. The fact that thousands of activists will be descending on the Virginia State Capital on this day to rally against new gun control proposals is also noteworthy.

This was the energy in place two cycles ago at the time of the death of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General (the world’s top diplomat for 10 years from 1997- 2006) and Nobel Peace prize laureate who was well known for quietly reminding world leaders that they needed to put their duty to their citizens above their political careers. It is also the Maya birth energy of Henry Scott Holland, a former Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University, who gave a famous sermon in 1910 following the death of King Edward VII titled The King of Terrors, which includes the well-known passage that is often titled “Death is Nothing at all”.

Currently, this is the first of what is expected to be three peak travel days related to Chinese New Year, as Mars conjuncts the waning crescent moon. At this time SpaceX is scheduled to launch another group of Starlink broadband satellites.

4 Manik’ (Jan. 21st) – a “defining” energy associated with reciprocity and the energy of deer – a kind of harmonizing energy connected with the natural world, but there is also a strong “sacrificial” aspect to it. In combination with the solar energy of the number four this is a “double sun” type of force, as the deer was seen as an embodiment of the sun.

With the impeachment trial in the US Senate due to begin on this day, it is intriguing to see that this is the Maya birth energy of Robert Mueller, the Special Counsel who oversaw the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. As of this day it has been one cycle exactly since Michael Cohen began his 3 yr.prison term, seven days after his Maya birthday. That is also the day when Deutzchebank was scheduled to start handing over to Congress documents relating to Trump’s finances (an action that was blocked by the White House, and is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court). Publication day for Rucker and Leonnig’s A Very Stable Genius.

This is also the opening day for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on the 50th anniversary of the foremost creative arena that enables world leaders to collaborate in addressing pressing global issues and work together to shape global, regional, and industry agendas for the year. The theme this year is “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”.  Greta Thunberg will be in attendance.

5 Lamat (Jan. 22nd) – a “blessing” type of energy associated with Venus, which can serve as a beacon or herald, one Calendar Round (52 years) since Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his prophetic speech about being a “drum major for peace” on Feb. 4th in 1968.

It has been one 260-day cycle since the bombshell New York Times report that began with the headline: Decade in the Red: Trump Tax Figures Show over $1Billion in Business Losses, with the lead-off being: “Newly obtained tax information reveals that from 1985 to 1994, [Trump’s] businesses were in far bleaker condition than was previously known.” It has also been one cycle since former White House Counsel Don McGahn defied a supoena from the House Judiciary Committee to hand over a huge cache of documents related to the Mueller probe on the same day as the House Intelligence Committee demanded that A-G Barr hand over the full unredacted Mueller report, along with all underlying evidence. These were the kinds of issues that eventually led to obstruction of justice becoming one of the articles of impeachment.

6 Muluk (Jan. 23rd) – the energy of the six directions in conjunction with the purifying or shape-shifting energy of water, at the time of the opening of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Israel and  the opening of the prestigious 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

7 Ok (Jan. 24th) – translating as “self-generating” love, guidance, and/or loyalty, on the eve of Chinese New Year as millions continue to travel and make their preparations for this important festival, coinciding with the New Moon. This is the final day for the World Economic Forum in Davos, which will be accompanied by another Fridays for Future climate change demonstration.

Four cycles since the dramatic hearing before the US House Intelligence Committee when former FBI Director James Comey told that committee for the first time that the FBI was investigating the possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow – the first time a seated president has been under FBI investigation. One cycle ago (last May) a petition was delivered to Congress on behalf of a number of activist groups such as MoveOn, Democracy for America, and the Courage Campaign, that contained 10 million signatures that called upon lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump.

8 Chuwen, aka 8 Batz’ (Jan. 25th) a “resurrection” type of energy associated with play, creativity, and “time weaving” – a highly auspicious day for the Maya, as this is the time when K’iche’ Maya daykeepers celebrate the renewal of their sacred calendar traditions and initiate new daykeepers. At this time this auspicious energy coincides with Chinese New Year (aka the Spring Festival, the most important holiday in China, which lasts until Feb. 8th) and with Vietnam’s TET (Tet Nguyen Dan), the Lunar New Year. In the Chinese calendar this will be the year of the White Metal Rat, associated with new beginnings. At this time this energy also coincides with Robbie Burns’ Day, the 261st anniversary of the birth of much loved Scottish poet Robbie Burns.

This is the Maya birth energy of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian actor and comedian who became the president of Ukraine last year, and shortly thereafter found himself at the centre of the Ukraine scandal around which Trump’s impeachment trial is being based. This is also Zelenskiy’s 42nd Gregorian birthday, and a good example of how the Gregorian and Maya systems can dovetail around the 42nd year (an individual’s 42nd Gregorian birthday will always be on, or within a day or two of, their Maya birth energy). So happy double birthday Volodymyr! Not only did you hit the mark with these dates, with the Maya date being one of the most important in the 260 day cycle, but you have the whole world talking about you at the same time!

9 Eb’ (Jan. 26th ) – “outward projecting stream of consciousness”, or “outward projecting road”, an energy that could also translate as “immortal healing”. Maya birth energy of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico who, just a few days ago, launched his plan to provide free healthcare, including medicines, to benefit all Mexicans, especially those lacking social security.

This is India’s 71st Republic Day, marked by parades and celebrations. It is also the second day of Chinese New Year, the day of the grand Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver’s Chinatown and elsewhere. In Chinese tradition, this is also the “Birthday of the Dog”, the day when dogs are given special treats. And speaking of special treats, the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will also be held at this time.

This is also the ninth Gregorian anniversary of the start of both the Egyptian Revolution and the anti-government protests in Syria.

10 B’en (Jan. 27th) – “foundational personal authority”; symbolic of the full authority of maize, this is a strong “pillar” energy representative of strength, inner power, and self determination, this time coinciding with the UN’s International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, with this year’s theme being “75 years after Auschwitz – Holocaust Education and Remembrance for Global Justice”. At this time there will be a United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony in the General Assembly Hall.

In 1973 this was the energy in place at the time of the “Saturday Night Massacre” related to Watergate – on that night The Tonight Show was cancelled so that media could report on what was then seen as “the most serious constitutional crisis in [US] history”. As the US is currently in the midst of a situation that most are now seeing as infinitely worse than that, it will be interesting to see what plays out with regard to the current impeachment trial, and its aftermath. It is noteworthy that this is also the Maya birth energy of Nostradamus, the 16th century seer whose predictions helped to fuel speculations about the “end times”. What part of the current nightmare was Nostradamus seeing? At this time there is a conjunction of Venus with the sliver of a waxing crescent moon.

11 Ix (Jan. 28th) – “inspirational magic” in conjunction with the jaguar and the mysteries of the earth, coinciding at this time with Little New Year (The Kitchen God Festival) in China. This is the auspicious fourth day of Chinese New Year, known as “Yang Ri”, the Day of the Goat, a symbol of luck; the day when the Kitchen God (associated with good fortune) is welcomed in. A good time to throw out rubbish and anything associated with bad luck – are you listening Washington?  Maya birth energy of New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, author of 27 books, including The Great Republican Abdication –A party that no longer believes in American values.

12 Men (Jan. 29th) – a “gathering together” type of energy associated with the high vision of the Eagle, in place at the opening of the World-Changing Women’s Summit in Sonoma. This is the fifth day in the Chinese New Year sequence, known as the “Birthday of Ox and Cattle” and the birthday of the God of Wealth (Caishen or Zhao Gongming) in China – a good time to welcome wealth into one’s home.

13 Kib’ (Jan. 30th) – a transformation-oriented energy aligned with the ability to “fly high”, survey, and ultimately restore order. As Kib’ is an energy that can often force people to think differently, this 13 Kib’ energy can often push particularly hard, often compelling people to take some kind of direct action. Precisely one Calendar Round (52 years) ago, this 13 Kib’ 4 Pax energy was in place when President Johnson issued the order to halt General Westmoreland’s “Operation Fracture Jaw” plan to move nuclear weapons into South Vietnam. Four cycles ago (the spring of 2017) this was the energy in place when tens of thousands of people participated in anti-corruption protests in cities across Russia, with many carrying “Down with Putin” signs and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Hundreds were arrested. Now, given the recent resignation of Medvedev and the entire Russian government it remains to be seen what will happen next.

On the last apperance of this energy (last May) G7 leaders attended the Christchurch Call to Action summit in Paris where they worked on tightening the rules relating to livestreaming in order to curtail online extremism and restrict the spread of deadly ideas through social media and other online platforms. This summit, attended by companies such as Twitter, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, was seen as a “significant starting point” for changes that would be made to governmental and tech industry policies, as world leaders and the heads of global technology companies pledged to tackle online terrorism and extremism. The US did not sign the pledge due to concerns about freedom of speech.

Cuurently this is the opening day for ICFP 2020: International Conference on Family Planning in Sydney, Australia, and the sixth day of Chinese New Year, known as “Ma Ri”, the Day of the Horse”, the day when, traditionally, families send away the ghost of poverty.

Note that this trecena will be in place twice this year – with the second appearance happening in late September, just a few weeks 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.]