“The Eagle has landed.” Those four words heard by millions when Neil Armstrong landed the little spacecraft named Eagle on the lunar surface fifty years ago, with very little fuel to spare, triggered enormous elation on planet Earth as the world celebrated the first arrival of humans on the moon. Now often used to indicate the successful completion of an objective, these same words still carry the sense of heroic accomplishment that goes hand-in-hand with the general idea of “Eagle”.

The many “50th anniversary” broadcasts of the moon landing that have been shown over the past few weeks have reminded us of many things, including the fact that this was a mission that was widely heralded as an enormous achievement by “humankind”, with emphasis on “the people of the Earth”, not just one country. The images of Earth as a wondrous blue planet suspended out there in space (as seen from the moon) also helped people to gain a whole new perspective and a whole new sense of appreciation for our home, summed up in many ways by the astonauts who commented on the beauty and fragility of this planet, emphasizing the idea of Earth as an Oasis. Indeed, the images taken from the lunar missions did a great deal to trigger environmental protection initiatives as people came to realize the need for action. However . . . in these times . . . it has become all too obvious that far too few have taken far too little action and now this precious blue planet is in serious peril.

Now, with the return of the Eagle trecena, it seems like a good time to provide the reminder of the pressing need to garner the strength, courage, and vision of the Eagle in order to tackle the enormous challenges that are now facing our precious Planet Earth and its diverse inhabitants.

As always, this Men (Eagle) trecena tends to be a kind of “head’s-up”, “call-to-action” kind of time frame, associated with valour and the push towards supremacy. It is a zone that has been oriented, traditionally, around power, military strength, and transformative action, as symbolized by the eagle. During this period people are often prompted to step into positions that require perception and courage, with many finding themselves called upon to “become warriors” for a cause.

During this period the “call to action” is often triggered by some kind of extreme condition that requires people to pluck up the fortitude to get involved. Sometimes this transpires as standing up for principles, defending ideological positions, pushing back against injustices, or even dealing with life-and-death issues such as those caused by severe weather events or situations affecting large numbers of people, as happened exactly one cycle ago when desperate migrants began arriving in large numbers at the southern U.S. border. Currently the people of Hong Kong are deeply involved in both weather related issues (associated with Typhoon Wipha) and political issues as people battle to maintain their freedoms and independence from the dictates of mainland China.

Historically the very first day of this trecena has often been marked by significant events that tie in with these kinds of ideas, as when the U.S. declared war on Iraq in 2003 and began their invasion of that country, with its launch of airstrikes against ISIS groups in that country also taking place under this influence, precisely sixteen cycles later during the summer of 2014.

In 2011 the “Occupy Wall Street” movement against social and economic inequality spread to hundreds of cities in 82 countries during this trecena, at the same time as major street riots in Tunisia initiated the downfall of that country’s government – the first major denouncement of authoritarian rule accompanied by a demand for democracy in the Arab world, a situation that instigated a wave of revolutionary events throughout that region. Four cycles ago (in 2016), throughout this trecena, the crumbling city of Aleppo in Syria suffered through significant bombardment, with close to two million beleaguered residents under severe seige without access to clean water or assistance – at the same time as things were falling apart on the election front in the US.

Not only is there often a “call to arms” during this time frame, but there also tends to be a great deal of political “maneuvering”, as in “jockeying” (or downright pushing) for power. In 2017 this trecena brought a clear majority to Emmanuel Macron as his new Republic on the Move! party swept the French parliamentary elections.

The day known as 12 Kimi has had the tendency to bring forth events of a particularly consequential nature in this regard. Most certainly this was the case in October 2016 when that cache of stolen Clinton campaign e-mails was released by Wikileaks just after the Obama White House warned that there was evidence that Russia was trying to actively interfere with the U.S. election. Amazingly the impact of the release of that cache had more impact than the warning about Russia, and thus the stage was set for the forthcoming “election from hell”.

Over the next four cycles this trecena has continued to be instrumental in helping special prosecutor Robert Mueller and his team to investigate and bring charges against several key figures associated with Trump, including Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, and Rick Gates, the deputy- campaign manager (both of whom were indicted on multiple counts of financial fraud), and 13 Russians who were involved in significant election interference.

And now, of course, the U.S. is gearing up once again for a presidential election, so this is sure to be another intense period as political battles continue to be fought on many fronts, at the same time as a majority of House Democrats have indicated that they now support an impeachment inquiry – which is interesting timing since the middle of this trecena marks the 45th anniversary of the resignation of President Nixon after the Watergate scandal (now seemingly “minor” in comparison with what has been happening over the past four cycles).

But currently this time frame will not just revolve around political battles. It seems that this time, Xochiquetzal, the Aztec goddess who serves as a patron of this period, is going to encourage greater alignment with artistry and creativity, as there are many opportunities coming up during this period that will enable people to celebrate the diversity of this planet and, hopefully, provide reminders of the importance of becoming more resourceful and more creative in terms of its stewardship. The eagle energy that is carrying this period can remind us of the importance of “rising high”, to keep pushing towards the sun and light in order to gain perspective when dealing with challenges. During this critical period these are the energies that come into play:

1 Men (Aug. 2nd) – the “initiation” of the high-flying (Eagle oriented) solar energy, a kind of “pushing for supremacy” type of force that has manifested in the past in the form of major protest demonstrations, the beginning and ending of major battles (such as Bull Run at the start of the U.S. Civil War, and then the end of the 2-day Battle of Shiloh in 1862), and even the push of natural forces such as the six significant volcanic eruptions in 6 countries on One Men in 2013 and the major earthquake in Nepal on One Men in 2015. On its last appearance (last Nov.) it brought Winter Storm Avery to the US Northeast, which put 100 million under a winter advisory alert, at the same time as a massive windstorm hit Canada’s Atlantic Coast. This marks five cycles since the unexpected death of rock icon David Bowie, two days after his 69th birthday.

Currently this energy coincides with the opening of the lively Caribana festival in Toronto, as well as the opening of the 25-day Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, seen as the world’s largest celebration of arts and culture, with thousands of shows in more than 300 venues.

This is also the day when Puerto Rico Governor Rossello’s resignation goes into effect as a result of the recent massive protests to oust him.

2 Kib’ (Aug. 3rd) – a “dynamic” type of energy that can “shake things up” but ultimately tends towards being a transmutation force that can lead towards the restoration of order, coinciding at this time with Caribana’s flamboyant Grande Parade, and the start of Vancouver’s Powell Street Festival, now into its 43rd year.

This is also the legendary Tony Bennett’s 93rd Gregorian birthday. Last year he was awarded the US Library of Congress Gershwin prize for his lifetime musical achievements. Currently he is still touring across the US, with over a dozen major gigs booked from Pennsylvania to Seattle over the next 3 months.

3 Kab’an (Aug. 4th) – the “activation” of “movement” or “earth movement”, in place at the time of Vancouver’s Pride parade, on the second day of the Powell Street Festival. This is the Maya birth energy of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the US Congress.

4 Etz’nab’ (Aug. 5th) – a “defining” type of energy aligned with Etz’nab’s sparkling, “knife-edged” dazzle – an energy that can bring sudden change, as when unrestricted submarine warfare began under this influence during World War I. Currently this is B.C. Day, Heritage Day in Alberta, Terry Fox Day in Manitoba, and the final day of Caribana in Toronto.

5 Kawak (Aug. 6th) – the “blessing” of “stormy” compassion; a precision kind of energy that can stir emotions and trigger important events, coinciding at this time with the 74th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing attack in 1945. A commemorative ceremony will take place at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the location of one of the few buildings left standing near ground zero.

6 Ajaw (Aug. 7th) – an “everywhere” type of energy associated with full sun and the power of enlightenment, on the 21st anniversary of the launch of the Zarya Module, the first component of the International Space station. This is the day of China’s Double Seventh Festival (aka the Qixi or Qiqiao festival), also seen as “Young Girls’ Festival or “Chinese Valentine’s Day” based on an ancient love legend.

As the Maya associated this 6 Ajaw energy with kingship, it seems fitting that this is Helen Mirren’s Maya birthday. Helen has not only played the roles of Queen Charlotte, both Queen Elizabeth I and II, and even “The Snow Queen”, but has also received the Triple Crown of Acting (Academy, Emmy, and Tony awards).

Three cycles ago this was the energy in place when Emmanuel Macron and his party won the French presidential election.

7 Imix (Aug. 8th) – “self-generating” birth, an energy often asssociated with the envisioning of a “new order of being”, as when Hernán Cortés and his Spanish conquistadores arrived at Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) under this energy influence five hundred years ago, marking the beginning of a “titanic” struggle for power that involved the Spanish siege of Tenochtitlan and its ultimate defeat two years later.

8 Ik’ (Aug. 9th) – the “resurrection” of wind/breath/spirit; symbolic of the Corn God working together with the wind/breath/spirit aspect of Quetzalcóatl, coinciding at this time with the 74th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing attack in 1945. An estimated 129,000-226,000 people were killed as a result of the bombing of those two Japanese cities.

Nine cycles since the March 2013 election of Pope Francis I, and exactly two cycles since the U.S. Ninth Circuit court ruled in favour of the Youth Plaintiffs in Our Childrens’ Trust (the Youth Climate Lawsuit against the US), rejecting Trump’s attempt to evade the constitutional climate trial, with the court ruling that the Juliana v. U.S. case could proceed to trial. Since then the case has been working its way through the courts, with the latest hearing taking place this past June.

By the time this energy was in place one cycle ago (last November) thousands of migrants had arrived at the US-Mexico border, after spending weeks fleeing from poverty and violence in places such as Honduras and Guatemala.

Currently this is the UN’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, with this year’s focus being Indigenous Peoples’ Languages.

This is also the opening day for Anirevo in Vancouver, a celebration of Japan Pop culture, and – in the evening – the beginning of the Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, at which time millions of Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for annual prayers.

At this time there is a rare alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon in the southern sky, spanning this evening and the next 2 days.

9 Ak’b’al (Aug. 10th) – an “outwardly-projecting” type of force often aligned with the “temple” or “house”, deep esoteric mysteries, and even “darkness”, coinciding at this time with World Lion Day, the Obon festival in Japan, the Red Dress Run in New Orleans, and the Rolling Stones concert in Denver.

This was the energy in place two cycles ago when Paul Manafort was arraigned on 18 felony counts in a federal court in Virginia before being sentenced earlier this year. This is also the Maya birth energy of US Senator Dianne Feinstein, the former Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

10 K’an (Aug. 11th) – “foundational germination” – a force that can be quite volatile, as in the generation of strong weather conditions or in the eruption of strong emotion-propelled action (as was in place at the beginning of the Egyptian and Syrian Revolutions in 2011). In the evening – the beginning of the Islamic holiday known as Eid Al-Adha.

11 Chikchan (Aug. 12th) – inspirational Lifeforce, aligned with Liberation and Higher
Consciousness; a Burner Day traditionally associated with “extinguishing the fire” – often signalling some kind of change in direction, as was the case in 2001 when the Patriot Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, giving federal agencies wide ranging powers in order “to intercept and obstruct terrorism”.

Currently this energy coincides with World Elephant Day, the UN’s International Youth Day (with its theme this year being “Transforming Education”), and with the Muslim celebration of Eid Al-Adha or Qurbani.

12 Kimi (Aug. 13th) – a “gathering together” type of energy associated with “absolute foundations”; a “regrouping type of energy” that could help to lay the foundations for new ideas or ventures, coinciding at this time with the peak of the Perseids Meteor Shower, and the first day of Obon, the Japanese Buddhist Festival of Souls during which rituals and celebrations are performed 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.

Exactly four cycles since this energy brought one of the “most insane and consequential news days in the history of the US”,  just before the 2016 election. It was the day when the Trump campaign almost imploded but was somehow “revived” when the hacked Clinton campaign e-mails were suddenly released by Wikileaks, setting the stage for the forthcoming “election from hell”.

Amazingly this was also the energy in place when John F. Kennedy was nominated by the Democratic Party as their candidate in 1960 and it was also in place at the time of the death of Ted Kennedy in 2009. This is also Kamala Harris’s Maya birth energy, which puts all of these events into an interesting juxtaposition with one another, and makes one wonder what to expect next under this influence.

13 Manik’ (Aug. 14th) – “transformational deer”, coinciding at this time with the Superior Conjunction of Venus, on the 72nd Gregorian anniversary of Pakistan’s independence. This is the second day of the Obon Festival. Referred to as Bon Odori, this is a day dedicated to dance and performances related to the ancestors. Click here for five different Obon festivals; click here for more information on the Bon festival. This evening marks the final day of the Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and is the evening when the Rolling Stones will rock Seattle.

In 1883 this was the energy in place when the Krakatoa volcano exploded with such a force that it blew the island apart, creating a 130 ft. tsunami and a humungus dust cloud that plunged Jakarta, 100 miles away, into complete darkness. Aug. 27th will be the 136th anniversary of that event.

Exactly twelve cycles since the day in January 2011 when small anti-government protests began to erupt in Syria, at the same time as a “Day of Rage” erupted in Cairo and many other cities in Egypt in an intense historic “meltdown” as tens of thousands of anti-government protestors took to the streets. Eleven cycles ago this energy brought a day of “Global Revolution” as the “Occupy Wall Street” movement against social and economic equality spread to cities around the world.

Four cycles ago Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Charleston under this influence, before looping back towards the Caribbean, as states of emergency were declared on the Eastern seaboard. Overall, this is a good day to exercise caution as this can be a highly intense energy.

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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.]