In order to gain perspective on a situation, it is often helpful to climb up to a high perch and scan the area – like a vulture does when looking to “clean things up”. From that higher perspective it often becomes evident that this Kib’ trecena can function as a kind of bellwether that can reveal the “state of play” in the world, as it did last November when it highlighted so many ways in which the dumpster’s administration in the US was “collapsing on multiple fronts”, as Nobel economist Paul Krugman succinctly stated at the time. And very often this trecena can not only provide that perspective, but can also engender concrete and transformative actions that can ameliorate past wrongs or push back against chaos.

The Vulture symbolism associated with this period relates to the idea of vultures being revered for their resourcefulness and perceptive abilities, and for their connections to death and rebirth.

Kib’ is often represented by a vulture that is tasked with “cleaning things up” after some kind of carnage. Traditionally there has been a strong emphasis on ingenuity, industriousness, practicality, and learning to “think differently” during this period. This can be a time when important transmutations take place, often triggered by dramatic events that demand change. And in today’s world the demands for change are louder than ever, particularly when it comes to the need for concerted practical action to tackle climate change, the need to step up and implement accountability with regard to the widespread greed and corruption that has been plaguing the world for far too long, and the need to set up global support systems that can help to address the multitudes of humanitarian and environmental needs that are crying out for attention.

Keep in mind that during this energy sequence there is often an emphasis on duality, sometimes involving paired events or paired ideas struggling to maintain equilibrium or overcome obstacles. Often there is a kind of “teetering” between two polarities, reflective of the “sun close to the earth” or “fire in the earth” kinds of forces associated with the patron energies of this period, energies that have been known to foment havoc for the purpose of transmutation, often as part of a push towards the birthing of a new type of order.

Traditionally, the principal patron of this period was seen as the canine deity Xólotl, a god of twins and conjoined things, who protects and accompanies the sun on its journey through the Underworld at night. Tlalchitonatiuh, “Sun close to the Earth”, representative of the setting sun, is also associated with this period.

As we go through this period, that idea of “paired ideas struggling to maintain equilibrium” will continue to be a major theme. A number of examples are highlighted here to illustrate the kinds of polarities that often come into play during this period, including important practical actions that have been put into place in order to address critical needs.

Keep in mind that this is a period that often brings forth significant shifts, generally towards the light, as reflected in the symbols associated with this period, one of which is “wax”, as in “candle” or “votive” (ie. light), symbolically seen as a piece of the sun that can help to restore hope and light the way. The candlelit vigil held in Washington D.C. by Epstein survivors one cycle ago, on the eve of the start of the Kib’trecena, after that near-unanimous vote to release those files, is very symbolic of the potential.

Another is that symbol of the Vulture, the high-flying bird that is often highly revered for its resourcefulness, intelligence, adaptability, and perceptive abilities, and for its ability to neutralize harmful substances, and “purify”. Additionally, keep in mind that vultures are known as nature’s “beautiful purifiers”, “cleansers”, and “composters”. A gathering of vultures is known as a “wake”, which reflects that connection to death and the preparation for rebirth.

Indeed, the very first day of the Kib’ trecena (One Kib’) often reveals the nature of whatever it is that will need to be addressed, in order for amelioration to occur. Through making clear the nature of the problem, the first day of this period (representing the “initiation of the restoration of order”), often marks the beginning of a time frame that will involve “really getting down to business” in order to turn the tide.

This could be seen vividly nine cycles ago, in early 2020, when ingenuity and “quick thinking” were swiftly called into play during this period, and humungous numbers of people were required to make huge adjustments to their lives due to the rapid spread of Covid-19. That was when the World Health Organization formally declared a global pandemic and called for governments to take “urgent action”.

Indeed, many big changes have been made during this trecena in the past, and people with integrity have stepped forward, as could be seen on the first day of this trecena in 1987 when President Reagan challenged President Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. In 2009 this was the trecena in place when the U.S. and Russia mutually agreed to reduce nuclear arsenals, which set the course to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. In 1972 this was in place when the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam, and again in 2021 when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan.

Four cycles ago global support for Ukraine in its war against Russia intensified into a unified commitment, becoming Europe’s top priority – a priority that has intensified and solidified as Europe came to the realization that the US could not be relied upon to provide assistance. And now Europe is on an even heightened state of alert as NATO works to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems that have been under severe strain from constant Russian bombardment. Similarly, the intense heat and horrific wildfires across parts of Europe are necessitating very quick action to address life-threatening situations.

And then there is the Middle East, with the dumpster floundering around in the midst of a war of his own making, with no idea how to end it, with his “kindergarten diplomacy” doing nothing but extending the chaos and pain. Similarly, with Israel continuing to attack Gaza and related regions, regardless of the so-called ceasefire, the situation continues to be highly problematic. So clearly much effort is still required in order to develop workable and practical solutions to all the needs associated with that besieged region.

The last time this trecena was in place, last November, millions of people engaged in three days of Direct Action in Washington DC to demand the conviction, impeachment, and removal of the dumpster. Those kinds of protests have continued all across that nation all through the past cycle, but now the push is on to oust the monster and his cohorts through the electoral process. With primaries underway, and US midterm elections pending, the countdown is on to protect election integrity and shift the balance of power. So that “teetering” between two polarities aspect of this trecena will be playing out quite intensely during this period in that regard.

Keep in mind that this trecena always holds great potential for illumination and pathfinding, and for the development of practical approaches to dealing with even the most challenging of issues – all oriented around transmutation and, ultimately, the “restoration of order”. Here are the energies that are coming into play:

One Kib’ (Aug. 6th) – the “initiation” of the “practically”-oriented transmutation force that could lead towards a restoration of order, coinciding with the 61st anniversary of the signing into law of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson, which was a landmark U.S. federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. This might be something to keep in mind as the White House felon continues with his attempts to thwart the US midterm elections, which will take place in 89 days.

Note that this was also the energy in place in the spring of 2010 when The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law in the US by President Obama. Ten years later the first day of this trecena became the “turning point” day for Joe Biden when he won several state primaries, making it clear that he would become the Democrat’s presidential nominee for 2020.

Unthinkably, things took a major downward turn two cycles ago when the tyrant who took over the White House last year delivered a highly narcissistic speech to a joint session of Congress, during which he flaunted his so-called “achievements” and tried to wield authority over other branches of government, including the courts. That speech vividly illustrated what Atlantic writer Brian Klaas had written about exactly three cycles earlier, on One Kib’ in 2023, when he discussed how the “Banality of Crazy” had warped American politics, as few voters at that time were recognizing “just how deranged, delusional, and dangerous” [Trump] was, as Klaas called out the press for losing “all sense of scale and perspective” and failing to meet the moment.

Things were looking slightly more promising the last time this was in place, last November, when Trump signed a congressional bill that gave final authorization to the release of the infamous Epstein Files, which he had worked for decades to stifle. Nevertheless, the coverup has continued as several million files still have not been released, and much of the material that was originally released was redacted.

It has now been two full 260-day cycles since that horrific speech in March of 2025, when the dumpster launched a ridiculous trade war against Canada, Mexico, and China. It was summed up by Lawrence O’Donnell who said: “the imposing of tariffs is the most profoundly stupid economic idea ever advanced by a U.S. president”. O’Donnell was correct, as that imposition of those tariffs was eventually declared to be illegal. That was the day when French politician Claude Malhuret was telling the French Senate that “Washington has become the court of Nero, a fiery emperor, submissive courtiers and a ketamine-fueled jester in charge of purging the civil service. . . . .”, in one of many examples of how other countries were waking up and rallying their own defenses.

As this day coincides with the opening day for the two-day Global Leadership Summit, that is designed to build leadership skills and strengthen global partnerships across more than 100 countries, there will be much emphasis at this time on creative sharing and the building of workable support networks to counter the tyrannical forces that have been wreaking so much havoc in the world.

This day is also providing the reminder that this is the 81st anniversary of the day when the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 70,000 -80,000 people in the first such horrific event in human history. And now, the need for competent, knowledgeable, respectful, humanity-oriented leadership has never been greater.

2 Kab’an (Aug. 7th) – a “dynamic” type of energy related to the earth, or “earth movement”, and even movement of an “evolutionary” nature, now marking the 61st
anniversary of the coming into effect of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This was the energy in place in 1968 when Douglas C. Engelbart gave a 90-minute demonstration at the Fall Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco that included the world’s first mouse and word processor, key to the huge transition into the now ubiquitous use of computer technologies.

Last November this was in place at the start of three days of Direct Action in the U.S., when large groups of people staged protest rallies and lobbied Congress to “Convict, Impeach, Remove” the dumpster. This is also marking four cycles exactly since the start of the Trump Organization’s civil trial in New York in 2023, to settle questions related to the fraud case brought by New York attorney general, Letitia James. As the trial unfolded, overwhelming evidence was presented that exposed that company as being completely fraudulent.

In addition, this day marks nine Tzolk’in cycles precisely since the WHO declared a global pandemic in 2020 and called for governments to take “urgent action” against the coronavirus. (Contrast this with the dumpster’s devastating executive orders early last year to withdraw the US from the WHO and stop the CDC from even communicating with them, with enormous consequences in terms of global health and security.)

In Scotland, this is the opening day for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, referred to as “the greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet”. This is a festival that dates back to 1947, when eight theatre groups showed up to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival. Since they weren’t officially invited to the Festival they staged their own shows on the “fringe”. The vision of “giving anyone a stage and everyone a seat” continues. This festival runs from Aug. 7-31.

Note it has now been 11 cycles since the release of the UN’s “final call” Climate Change report (in 2018) that gave that extensive warning of the need to limit global warming to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, which would require “rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”. Since those changes did not take place the planet is now sweltering and burning!

3 Etz’nab’ (Aug. 8th) – the “activation” of a sparkling, “knife-edged” type of energy that can dazzle, shock, and/or begin a separation process, on the 52nd Gregorian anniversary of the day when President Nixon announced his resignation, in a nationally-televised speech to the nation, shortly after the “smoking gun” tapes were released in 1974. He gave his letter of resignation to the Secretary of State the following morning.

The last time this was in place the largescale protest rallies that were pushing for removal of the dumpster were still underway.

It has now been four cycles since Kevin McCarthy was ousted as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the first time in U.S. history that a speaker was ousted by his own party. That was seen as a “complete meltdown” day for the Republican party, and they have never recovered.

It has now been nine cycles exactly since “America shut down”, as theatres, museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, colleges and school districts across the US closed up; and many other events were cancelled or postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic.

4 Kawak (Aug. 9th) – a “defining” type of energy aligned with “storm”, representative of the sun working together with the energy of intense rain, which can sometimes manifest as a “storm of compassion”. One of the five key energies located at the centre of the Aztec Sun Stone, this is coinciding at this time with the UN’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (aka World Indigenous Day), with this year’s theme being “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being”. This year a virtual commemoration will take place the following day.

This is National Peacekeepers’ Day in Canada, in honour of more than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces peacekeepers and over 4,500 police officers who have served in dozens of international efforts over more than six decades. A national ceremony is held in Ottawa on this day.

This is marking the 81st anniversary of the day in 1945 when the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, the second atomic bomb dropped on that nation in four days. A ceremony of remembrance will be held at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial on this day.

This is the 52nd anniversary of the day when President Nixon submitted a signed letter of resignation, becoming the only U.S. president to resign from office. He did so because he faced “almost certain impeachment” and removal from office, over the Watergate scandal.

Last November this was the energy in place at the time of the huge 11:22 “Remove the Regime” rally in Washington D.C. that featured headline speakers at the Lincoln Memorial to demand the impeachment and removal of Trump. It is also marking six Tzolk’in cycles since the grand jury was impanelled in the Fulton County, Georgia case in 2022, pertaining to the dumpster’s (and his cronies) attempted meddling with the results of the 2020 U.S. election. Why is he still there and STILL doing this, without Congress and the US justice system demanding accountability????? As with so many other of his crimes, his political machinations have severely limited forward motion of that case.

5 Ajaw (Aug. 10th) – the “blessing of enlightenment”, a “full sun” day associated with an Aztec deity known as Five Flower (Macuil Xochitl in Nahuatl), a patron of games, music, and pleasure. Aligned with the sun, this often manifests as “enlightenment breaking through” in some way, but it can also bring forth a great deal of heat.

Currently this is World Lion Day, a day to raise awareness about lions and to garner support for their conservation.

This is Bruce Springsteen’s Maya birth energy, and the Maya birth energy of Dr. Peter Bryce, the Canadian public health physician who brought attention to the mistreatment of indigenous children in Indian residential schools during the early 20th century.

6 Imix (Aug. 11th) – an “everywhere” type of energy associated with “birth”, which can sometimes foment chaos as some new order of being is manifested, now coinciding with the congressional, state, and gubernatorial primary elections in a number of US states, leading towards midterm elections.

The last time this was in place it was reported that the dumpster’s USAID cuts had resulted in the deaths of some 600,000 people (including 400,000 children). It was also reported that some 5,500 career employees had left the US Department of Justice over the previous few months. Exiting staff were warning of the “irreversible damage” being done to the justice system by those “in charge” as they left behind a trail of emotional farewell notes warning about “potentially irreversible damage,” a retreat from ethics, and the “toxic work environment” at the agency.

It has now been eleven cycles exactly since huge migrant caravans began trekking north from Central America towards the U.S. border in 2018. This was also the energy in place at the time of the terrorist attack on, and demolition of, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001.

7 Ik’ (Aug. 12th) – “self-generating” wind/breath/spirit, coinciding at this time with a New Moon and a Total Solar Eclipse, visible from parts of northern North America (including eastern Canada), northwestern Africa, and much of Europe.

This is the UN’s International Youth Day, which is commemorated annually on August 12th to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people around the world. According to the UN, this day “serves as a platform to promote youth engagement and celebrate their contributions to society, development, and peace.” This year’s theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.

It is also World Elephant Day – a good time to remember these amazing beings that are in need of help in many places on this planet. The World Elephant Day website lists many ways in which people can help. A list of specific things that can be done are shown on their “How to Help Elephants” page.

In the U.S., this day marks eight cycles exactly since early December, 2020 when then-US Attorney-General Barr said that there was no evidence of fraud in the 2020 election, a statement that preceded his resignation and the concoction of the BIG Lie on the part of the dumpster and his allies that led to the Jan. 6th insurrection and its aftermath. At that time Georgia’s voting systems implementation manager angrily admonished Republicans for spreading these lies, and specifically called upon the dumpster to “stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence”. This eventually led to the impanelling of that Georgia grand jury to investigate these issues, and the eventual indictments that followed.

When this was in place two cycles ago (early last year) the United States was added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, which identifies countries that the global civil rights watchdog believes are currently experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms.

It has now been four full 260-day cycles since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, when 1,195 people were killed and 251 hostages taken, triggering the Gaza-Israeli war. Since then over 72,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks, as well as close to 1,160 people in the West Bank.

8 Ak’b’al (Aug. 13th) – a “resurrection” or “renewal” type of energy associated with “temple” or “ house”, “darkness”, and deep esoteric mysteries, on International Wolf Day, at the peak of Perseids Meteor Shower, the most anticipated one of the year.

This is the first day of Ghost month in China, Taiwan, and many other places, with this day being Ghost Gate Opens day. Traditionally it is believed that this is the day when departed spirits are free to return to this realm and wander about for a month. Food and offerings are provided during this time, to please the ghosts.

Similarly, this is the start of Japan’s Obon Festival, the first of four days of Obon, the Japanese Buddhist Festival of Souls during which rituals are performed and celebrations are held to honour the spirits of ancestors.

On this first day fires and lanterns are lit to guide spirits home and altars of fruit, incense, and flowers are set up. Ancestral tombs are cleaned and decorated, prayer services are held at temples, and special meals are prepared.

In Canada, this is the start day for the 45th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, which runs through to Aug. 23rd, billed as North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival, featuring artists from around the world. This year the festival includes 209 theatre productions and performances by more than 1600 artists from more than six countries.

This energy is also marking four cycles exactly since Israel formally declared war on Gaza on what, at that time, became the deadliest day for Israel since the 1973 war.

9 K’an (Aug. 14th) – representative of “outwardly-projecting” longevity in association with Germination, coinciding at this time with the second day of Obon, referred to as Bon Odori in Japan, a day dedicated to dance and performances related to the ancestors. This is also marking the 80th Gregorian anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

Currently this day marks four cycles since Israel ordered a “complete seige” of Gaza, closing off food, fuel, water, and electricity supplies as their horrific bombing attacks got underway.

It has now been three years precisely since a grand jury in Georgia handed up the indictments in the Georgia election racketeering case, when the dumpster and 18 others were charged with 41 felony counts. Whatever happened with regard to THOSE indictments?

On a more positive note – this is the 91st Gregorian anniversary of the day in 1935 when President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.

10 Chikchan (Aug. 15th) – a Burner Day associated with “Foundational” Lifeforce, Liberation, and Higher Consciousness, that can be quite intense, now coinciding with India’s 80th Independence Day (factoring in the first day of independence in 1947). In Korea, this is National Liberation Day, the only Korean public holiday celebrated by both North and South Korea. In the US this is National Airborne Day, celebrating the accomplishments of American paratroopers.

This is the 81st Gregorian anniversary of VJ Day, the great celebration of Victory at the end of World War II after the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan in 1945. Last year in the UK hundreds of buildings were lit up to mark VJ 80 as part of commemoration events throughout the country.

Note that 10 Chikchan is a kind of “seesaw” force that represents a balancing between Death (10) and Life (Chikchan), so the choices made at this time can be highly consequential.

As this is International Homeless Animals’ Day (IHAD), this is a good time to remember that animals as well as people are being affected by global tragedies, including climate change. This is an excellent time to transform a homeless animal’s life for the better by giving them a furever home.

This was the energy in place nine cycles ago when the dumpster in the White House told journalist Bob Woodward that his first instinct regarding the coronavirus was to “always play it down”. But after that millions of people in the U.S. became infected, and well over a million in that country alone lost their lives to it.

In 1980 this was the energy in place when the World Health Organization announced that smallpox has been eradicated.

11 Kimi (Aug. 16th) –a “change-related” (and sometimes even “inspirational”) type of energy associated with death/new foundations, now coinciding with the final day of the Obon festival in Japan, as lanterns (often floated onto rivers) help to guide the spirits of ancestors back to the spirit world in a ritual called okuri-bon.

This is also the 49th Gregorian anniversary of the sudden death of Elvis Presley in 1977, which came as a great shock to a whole generation of his admirers. Elvis once said:

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.

In India this is the start of the colourful Onam harvest festival in Kerala, where the ground in front of homes will be decorated with wonderful floral carpets called pookkalams, and people celebrate with feasting, new clothes, games, and snake boat races. Although this festival begins at this time, the main event day is Aug. 26th.

In 1922 this was in place at the time of the proclamation of the British mandate in Palestine, at a ceremony in Jerusalem. This triggered a situation in which more than 3 million Palestinians were made homeless and more than 100,000 were killed by British, American, and Israeli soldiers to make room for Jewish settlers, in contravention of international law. And then came the atrocities of the recent Israel-Gaza war and the devastating situation that exists in Gaza and other parts of the Middle East as a result of that horrific conflict. And then there is the issue of the pointless US-Iran war, which is further complicating the overall situation.

At this point it has been 15 Tzolk’in cycles (15 x 260 days) since 196 nations involved in the COP21 (Climate Change Conference) in Paris, in 2015, voted to approve an historic global accord to fight climate change, signalling an end to the fossil fuel era, as they committed for the first time to a universal agreement that has the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and limiting temperature rises. At that time then-French president François Hollande indicated that “We are at a decisive point in time”. Despite the fact that this agreement became international law in 2016, it quickly became clear that the planet has been moving much too slowly in terms of preventive climate related actions. As we all know, politics, the pandemic, and horrific on-going wars have all played havoc with that goal and the planet as a whole is now suffering the consequences.

12 Manik’ (Aug. 17th) – a “gathering together” type of energy associated with reciprocity, now marking seven cycles since Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine received full approval from the US FDA, the first one to be licensed in the US.

In the spring of 1968 this was the energy in place when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable “I’ve been to the mountaintop” speech the day before his assassination. He would be SO appalled by what has been happening in the US with regard to the trampling of human rights.

13 Lamat (August 18th) – “transformational star”, an intense and often highly consequential “heralding” type of force, coinciding at this time with the 106th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, giving women the right to vote, in 1920.

Four cycles ago, in October of 2023, this was the energy in place when Israel cruelly ordered over one million people in northern Gaza (including Gaza City) to relocate to the south within the following 24 hours, as hundreds of thousands of Israeli soldiers amassed on the border ahead of an expected ground offensive into the densely populated enclave. They were also enforcing a total blockade of fuel, food, and water. Shortly thereafter Israeli airstrikes attacked convoys of Palestinian evacuees heading south, and began attacking the very regions that they had previously referred to as being “safe”. At that time a “Day of Rage” broke out across the Middle East and beyond, as tens of thousands of people denounced Israel and demanded an end to the fighting.

This was also the energy in place at the end of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, when the last remaining U.S. combat soldiers left Vietnam in 1973, and also near the end of Afghanistan evacuations in 2021, when US forces airlifted some 19,000 people out of Kabul over a 24 hour period. It was also in place in 1968 at the time of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Currently this is the 86th anniversary of “The Hardest Day” in 1940 when an intense air battle was fought between the German Luftwaffe and the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

The BepiColombo spacecraft was launched under this influence in 2018. It is expected to enter Mercury’s orbit in November of this year.

This is the Maya birth energy of the early 20th century satirist and cultural critic H.L. Mencken, author of a quote that is often mentioned these days:

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

No doubt Robert Redford would have agreed. This would have been Redford’s 90th birthday.

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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.]