The Lamat trecena – the last 13 day period at the end of the 260-day Imix to Ajaw cycle, and the last full trecena before heading into fall-based September. It is at this point that we often find a lot of “signals” relating to what lies ahead, and these are often associated with leadership. During this energy frame (associated with Venus, the great celestial “signaller”) it is not unusual for sudden and dramatic change to occur, particularly with regard to individuals in leadership positions. Indeed, it is not unusual for these kinds of signals to be seen on the very first day of this time frame, as seen on One Lamat last November when US House Democrats voted overwhelmingly to re-elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House after the midterm elections.

One Lamat was the energy in place in 1918 when Russia’s Czar Nicholas and his family were executed by Bolshevik troops after being removed from Imperial power and held in captivity for several months. Thirty-five years later this energy brought forth the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, on the first day of the same trecena that saw the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I in 1559 (the two coronations were only five Maya calendar days apart). Seven years after Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1960 that same One Lamat same energy saw John F. Kennedy give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention after winning the Democratic nomination for president. Fast forward to 2013 and we find the inauguration of Pope Francis I on One Lamat, in an open air mass under blue skies in St. Peter’s Square with heads of state and religious leaders from 132 international governments or organizations, and some 200,000 people in attendance.

In terms of this trecena as a whole, this is a time period that has precipitated a number of important “world shifting” events in the past, including the discovery of gold in California in 1848; the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, followed by the unconditional surrender of Japan at the end of World War II; the passage of the Civil Rights Act in the U.S. in 1957; the first major Greenpeace event, in 1975; the completion of the deconstruction of the Berlin Wall in 1990; the storming of Baghdad by U.S. forces in 2003; the approval of the sweeping Wall St. reform bill in the U.S. in 2010; and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

Four cycles ago, in October of 2016, this trecena was sending out all sorts of warnings to the world to “get ready” for the monumental changes that were about to unfold with the forthcoming U.S. presidential election. This included (on the final day of this trecena – the last day of the cycle) a massive internet cyber attack that involved the weaponization” of internet-connected everyday devices, which knocked out access to many of the top internet sites such as Amazon, Twitter, Paypal, and Netflix.

Three cycles ago massive protest demonstrations took place in dozens of US cities during that summer of 2017 in a huge call for Trump’s impeachment, with marchers’ signs signalling sentiments such as “Illegitimate, Corrupt Puppet”, and “Worst President Ever”.

Two cycles ago (early last year) there were a number of departures associated with the White House, which including the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and three of his close associates, on the same day as Paul Manafort was put under house arrest; the firing of national security advisor H.R. McMaster who had concurred with Tillerson that Russia was responsible for such things as the attacks on spies in the UK; the firing of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe; and the resignation of John Dowd, the head of Trump’s legal team. At the same time there were a number of huge demonstrations, such as National School Walkout Day, a nationwide protest that saw students, teachers, school administrators, parents, and others take part in walkouts, sit-ins, and other related actions on school campuses across the U.S. as they called for tougher gun control laws.

During that same period Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah survived an assassination attack in Gaza, Peru’s President Kuczynski resigned on the eve of an impeachment vote, and Vladimir Putin won Russia’s presidential election by a wide margin, giving him Russian leadership for another six years. When this trecena returned in November/early December, just after the election, Democrats were starting their preparations to resume control of the US House of Representatives, with 102 newly-elected women. During that time several significant lawsuits against Trump were cleared to proceed, including the one against the Trump Foundation in New York. At the same time more and more information was coming out about the situation along the southern border, as it was learned that over 2300 migrant children were still being held in a huge tent city in Tornillo, with no known end in sight, and that more than 6000 bedraggled (mostly Honduran) men, women, and children were holed up in a filthy, overcrowded sports complex in Tijuana, waiting for help.

During the last appearance of this trecena (last November) there was a change of leadership in Mexico as Andrés Manuel López Obrador became Mexico’s 58th president, Chancellor Angela Merkel stepped down as leader of the CDU party in Germany, and French President Macron had to deal with major protest demonstrations in France. In addition that trecena saw the death of former US President George H.W. Bush.

And now, as this trecena begins, the signals of change are starting to be seen in a number of areas including in the economic arena after a rapid tumble in the Dow Jones average that is triggering recession fears, in Canadian politics after the release of an ethics committee report that revealed that Trudeau broke ethics rules in his handling of the SNC-Lavalin scandal, and in Hong Kong as the conflict between authorities and protestors continues to escalate.

As we venture forth through this Lamat trecena it might be a good idea to keep in mind that one of the major patrons of this trecena was known to the Aztec as Xipe Tótec, the ancient Lord of Renewal and Liberation. The other was Xiuhtecuhtli, the Lord of Fire and Time – a deity connected with time-related change, as in cycle endings. Both of these entities are oriented around the idea of setting the stage for new beginnings. These particular patrons may also represent the tendency towards “sudden change” that can characterize this trecena, including its penchant for conjuring up hurricanes and other strong weather systems. But even though “big events” are the things that usually get our attention, it can also be a time when seemingly smaller events can have significant long term consequences, as was the case fifty years ago when a totem pole was raised in the small Haida village of Masset for the first time in nearly 90 years, the consequences of which are described in the 8 Men posting below.

As always this is a particularly good time to set the stage for personal new beginnings, an excellent time to work with the trecena’s energies to “signal” your intentions as you work to create any needed changes that may better serve you. This is a great time to work with the “deities of renewal” who will be laying the foundations for the changes that will come. Here are the energies that will be in place at this time:

1 Lamat (Aug. 15th) – the “initiation of leadership”, a heralding type of energy that can point towards change or new directions, in place at the time of the Full Sturgeon Moon, aka the Full Green Corn Moon as this is the moon that signals that corn is nearly ready for harvest.

This is the 74th anniversary of VJ Day, the great celebration at the end of World War II after the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan, currently coinciding with the final day of Japan’s Obon Festival, with the lighting of bonfires and the floating of lanterns to bid spirits farewell. This is also the day of China’s Hungry Ghost festival, in the middle of the Ghost month, during which many people carry protective amulets. While all this is going on a great National Festival will be taking place across India as that country celebrates its 73rd Independence Day, while widescale patriotic ceremonies will be underway in both North and South Korea for their National Liberation Day, the only Korean public holiday celebrated by both North and South.

This is also the opening day for the 38th Annual Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, on the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the famed American music festival that attracted an audience of more than 400,000 people to Bethel, New York in 1969.

Currently this day marks sixteen cycles since the collapse of a huge section of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 2008 that augmented discussion and action concerning global warming. It has been one highly intense cycle since US House Democrats in Washington DC once again voted overwhelmingly to re-elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.

2 Muluk (Aug. 16th) – the “dynamic shape-shifting” energy of water, the exact energy that was in place 42 years ago at the time of the sudden death of Elvis Presley – an event that came as a great shock to a whole generation of his admirers. This is also the energy that was in place at the time of the death of cosmologist Stephen Hawking, two Tzolk’in cycles ago, on the same day as thousands participated in the National School Walkout Day protests across the US to spur action on gun control. Currently, on this first anniversary of the death of soul-sister Aretha Franklin, there will be a free benefit celebration and musical tribute to her in Detroit.

3 Ok (Aug. 17th) – a Burner Day representative of the “activation of fire” (or heart-fire), in conjunction with International Homeless Animals Day, National Honey Bee Day in the US, and the opening of the 18th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Geneva, Switzerland. Ten cycles since the announcement that CERN had discovered the Higgs-Boson particle (aka the “God particle”), one of the fundamental forces in the building blocks of matter. Nelson Mandela’s Maya birth energy and actor Robert De Niro’s 76th Gregorian birthday. One cycle since the death of former US President George H W Bush.

4 Chuwen (Aug. 18th) – a “defining” day associated with play (and sometimes mischief); a “time-weaver” type of energy that can be quite eventful, as was in place in 2011 at the time of the “March of the Millions” to protest against President Mubarak in Egypt. Currently this energy is in place on the day of The Rolling Stones’ concert at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. This is also David Bowie’s Maya birth energy.

5 Eb’ (Aug. 19th) – the “blessing” of restorative vitality, coinciding at this time with the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Liberation of Paris in 1944, and with the UN’s World Humanitarian Day

6 B’en (Aug. 20th) – representative of “personal authority everywhere”, two cycles since Putin was re-elected in Russia, for his fourth term. At that time most of Putin’s opponents had to battle hard to even qualify as candidates, and that battle is continuing to this day as massive street protests have erupted in Moscow over the past few weeks. Three cycles ago Hong Kong’s new leader was sworn in under this influence, at which time Chinese President Xi issued a stark warning that Beijing would not tolerate any challenge to its central authority. However, that warning has gone unheeded by the residents of Hong Kong as pro-democracy activists have been calling for Hong Kong’s independence continuously since then, with fierce clashes between police and protestors intensifying over the past 11 weeks as citizens of that city fight for their rights and freedoms.

Four cycles ago this energy brought the beginning of Buddhist funeral ceremonies for the long serving King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand who died the day before, with thousands gathering to see the procession and participate in late night vigils.

Four cycles since a monumental climate change deal was finalized by nearly 200 countries at the UN’s 24th Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland (in 2016).

This “personal authority everywhere” energy was in place 460 years ago when Elizabeth I’s elaborate procession took place as she was carried to the Palace of Westminster on a cloth-of-gold covered litter, on the eve of her coronation (Jan. 14th that year coincided with Maya date 6 B’en, with the coronation taking place the following day, on 7 Ix).

7 Ix (Aug. 21st) – a “self generating transformation” type of energy – exactly three cycles since protestors across the U.S. in dozens of cities held huge impeachment rallies, calling for Trump’s impeachment. In 2013 this was the energy in place at the time of South Africa’s national memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

8 Men (Aug. 22nd) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with the high vision of the Eagle, on the 50th anniversary of the day in 1969 when the first totem pole (carved by Robert and Reg Davidson) was raised in Masset (Haida Gwaii) in nearly 90 years. Robert Davidson, whose Haida name translates as “Eagle of the Dawn”, is a leading figure in the renaissance of Haida art and culture which began to blossom after that totem pole was erected. A wonderful description of the raising of that pole can be found in this “A Fine Day in Masset” story. No doubt that today will be another “fine day in Masset” as this 50th anniversary is celebrated.

Hard to believe, but this is also the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last photo shoot, just two days after their final recording session together. Still trucking on, however, after well over 50 years as a group, The Rolling Stones are still rockin’ their way through their current No Filter US tour, as they perform this evening at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena CA.

9 Kib’ (Aug. 23rd) – an expansive, “restoration of order” type of energy, sometimes associated with making “adjustments”, often with long term implications. Two cycles since the resignation of Peru’s President Kuczynski, on the eve of an impeachment vote, after secretly-recorded evidence came to light relating to a huge corruption scandal, on the same day that Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be changing the way it shares data with third-party applications, to provide greater security. Veteran actor Cicely Tyson’s Maya birthday (she will be 95 in Dec.).

This is the 14th anniversary of the Gregorian date when evacuation orders were given and states of emergency were declared as Hurricane Katrina began its rampage on Louisiana and other southern states in 2005.

10 Kab’an (Aug. 24th) – a foundational type of energy associated with the earth and evolutionary movement, one cycle since German Chancellor Angela Merkel stepped down as leader of her CDU party.

11 Etz’nab’ (Aug. 25th) – an “inspirational flint” type of force that can be quite dazzling and attention-getting, coinciding at this time with the commencement of Burning Man 2019 in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, with its current theme being “Metamorphoses”, and the opening of the 45th G7 summit, in Biarritz, France.

In 1325 this energy was in place at the time of the founding of Tenochtitlan, the axis of the Aztec empire. In 1944 an attempt was made to assassinate Hitler under this influence (one of 3 such attempts that year); and in 1955 a young Elvis Presley gave his first professional performance under this influence in his hometown of Tupelo.

During the summer of 2012 Venus achieved her greatest brilliance under this influence in conjunction with an “extreme” X1.4 solar eruption. Currently it has been two cycles since the controversial new U.S. steel tariffs went into effect one day after the US announcement of $50b in tariffs on imports from China.

This is the Maya birth energy of 17th-18th century sculptor Nicolas Coustou whose white marble Pietà miraculously survived the horrific Notre Dame fire earlier this year. This day is also the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

12 Kawak (Aug. 26th) – the “gathering storm/catalyzation” type of energy that can provide a final big PUSH toward enlightenment, coinciding at this time with the closing of the G-7 summit in France.  This is the 101st Gregorian birthday of Katherine Johnson, the trailblazing African-American physicist and mathematician whose work was critical to the success of early US manned spaceflights, including the Space Shuttle program and the 200th anniversary of the Gregorian birthday of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Queen Victoria’s husband and consort. Also the Maya birth energy of both Gloria Steinem and rock superstar Prince.

Two cycles since the massive “March for Our Lives” demonstrations in Washington and other major cities earlier last year. One cycle since thousands of pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit demonstrators took to the streets of London last December to protest Theresa May’s European Union exit deal. Currently this is the day when Glendale AZ will be catalyzed by The Rolling Stones at State Farm Stadium. It is also National Dog Day.

13 Ajaw (Aug. 27th) – “transformational Full Sun”, a day often filled with high drama and great change – and sometimes even great light (enlightenment), at the conclusion of the Imix to Ajaw cycle and the closing of the G-7 summit in France. This day marks 104 cycles since the jubilant celebration of VJ Day in 1945 at the end of World War II after the unconditional surrender of Japan. It is also a Tzolk’in anniversary of the awarding of the contract for construction of the Space Shuttles Atlantis and Discovery in 1979.

Twelve cycles exactly since the great “moment of transition” in Egypt in 2011 when hundreds of thousands waited for the president to step down, and five cycles since more than $13b was raised at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, to address the needs of Syrian refugees. The amount pledged at that time was the largest ever raised for a humanitarian cause.

On the last appearance of this energy (last December) President Macron declared a state of emergency in France and agreed to a wide range of concessions, in response to massive protests that had been taking place, including a minimum wage rise and tax cuts.

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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.]