Early September, and there’s that “something” in the air – a hint of the impending change in seasons, the anticipation of returning to classes or to work, the uncertainties and expectancies associated with the possibility of having to adapt to something new. And, as this is going on, we find the Ok (Dog) trecena in place to carry us through the threshold and into the early days of the adjustments that will have to be made during these last days of a summer that will be highly consequential for many.

As it happens, the first day of this time frame (One Ok) was celebrated traditionally as a Feast Day of Renewal, oriented around the idea of guidance, justice, and the restoration of life. Thought of as being under the patronage of Xipe Tótec, the Lord of Renewal, and Quetzalcóatl, Lord of Life, this trecena was seen, traditionally, as a time when a new sense of direction in conjunction with the energies of renewal come into play. The Aztec deity known as Xipe Tótec, who was generally depicted wearing a flayed skin, symbolic of the “sloughing off” of the old and the bursting forth of the new, symbolized this idea. One of the key symbols associated with this time frame is a dog holding a torch, bringing light into the darkness and showing the way, which is exactly what has happened during this period, many times in the past.

As noted before, one of the things that the Maya Calendar offers is the opportunity to look at the evolution of life from the perspective of energy cycles, as “themes” related to events have a way of returning and evolving in a cyclical manner. Indeed, past events reveal that one of the themes that tends to be highlighted during this time frame is that of justice and accountability. And as this trecena gets underway it appears to be signalling the start of “trial season” in the US as it pertains to Jan. 6th , as the US justice system ramps up its efforts to hold accountable a number of key individuals who had been involved in the overall attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Again we can see “echoes” from earlier events.

The beginning of this trecena marks one cycle exactly since the Jan. 6th committee in Washington DC met for the final time (in December of last year), making public the criminal referrals that resulted from their investigations. Three days later (on 4 B’en), they released their final report. This committee had held its preliminary public hearing on the 11th day of this period, two cycles earlier, in 2021, for the purpose of “shedding light” on what had transpired. Their tenacious work served as a vanguard for the DoJ’s investigations, which have resulted in this year’s indictments.

Note as well that it was the first day of this trecena in 2019 when Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation concluded its probe into Russian interference with the 2016 election, at which time he inisisted that he did not exonerate Trump. He reported that his investigation had found that Russian intelligence officers had used sophisticated cyber techniques to hack into computers and networks used by the Clinton campaign. They stole private information, and then released that information through fake online identities and through WikiLeaks. The release was designed and timed to interfere with the 2016 election by damaging a presidential candidate (ie. Clinton). As it was the final day of the Kab’an trecena in 2016 (10 cycles ago) when that release took place, it was during this Ok trecena at that time when a torrent of speculation was swirling around, ultimately costing Clinton the election. So that was 2600 days ago – a key numerical power in the calendar – 2600 days of chaos as the implications of that release have played out. And now “accountability” (and renewal) begins!

During the early 1960’s President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was not only inaugurated as the 35th US president during this energy frame but also assassinated and interred. During the following decade this was the time frame that brought an end to the whole Nixon era, culminating with the Watergate scandal. During the summer of 1974 the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that President Nixon had to turn over the tape recordings of 64 White House conversations, and it was this Ok trecena that accompanied the review of those tapes, including the discovery of “The Smoking Gun Tape” that contained evidence of obstruction of justice. Articles of impeachment were then approved by the House Judiciary Committee, which brought forth Nixon’s resignation at the beginning of the trecena that followed.

Fast forward to the summer of 2016 and we find Hillary Clinton making history during this time period by becoming the first female to be officially nominated as a presidential candidate by a major US political party. We all know what happened after that. Fast forward to February of 2020 and we find that this trecena was the first full trecena in place after Republicans blocked the impeachment of the dumpster in a sham non-trial by the US Senate. Related issues triggered a HUGE call for A-G William Barr’s resignation, also during this Ok trecena.

Currently this trecena will open one cycle exactly after the conclusion of the COP15 biodiversity summit in Montreal, at which time a landmark agreement aimed at safeguarding biodiversity was reached to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030.

The deal included targets for protecting vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands and the rights of indigenous peoples. As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres put it: “We are finally starting to reach a peace pact with nature”, starting with a 30×30 target – to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030. However, depite the efforts made at that time, Mother Nature still released much fury over the past 260 days, underscoring the fact that the pace still needs to be stepped up. During this current trecena millions of people will be echoing that call, as the final three days of this trecena will see major global action events taking place in cities around the world.

Looking back at history there are many examples of people “holding high” the torch, to light the way forward. During his inauguration speech on the eighth day of this time period in 1961 John F. Kennedy said that “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility –I welcome it. . . . . The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”

Keep in mind that this was the trecena in place during World War II at the time when British and Allied forces were knocked back to the beaches of Dunkirk as they became trapped by the German army. For some “still debated” reason the Germans halted their advance on Dunkirk for several days near the beginning of this trecena, which allowed the Allies to organize an evacuation. Over 800 vessels, both large and small, raced to the rescue of over 338,000 Allied troops as the call for assistance went out. It was a seemingly impossible situation that was turned around by the unselfish actions of people who leapt into the breach throughout this trecena to save the lives of all those men who were cornered in a hellish situation. The bravery and force of intent that went into that operation of rescuing those troops from the Dunkirk beaches became known as the “Dunkirk Spirit”.

It seems that perhaps that same spirit could be at work in Ukraine during this period as it has been reported that Ukrainians have recently broken through many of Russia’s defenses, as part of its counteroffensive against Russia’s aggression. Looking back we can see that it was the first day of this trecena in 2014, at the opening of the 40th G-7 summit in Brussels, when the Ukraine crisis related to Crimea was a significant focus for discussions. In 2018 Russia began its massive Vostok-2018 war games on the first day of this trecena, involving some 300,000 personnel, more than 1000 aircraft, two naval fleets, and some 36,000 tanks and other military vehicles. But despite that show of might, and the extraordinary amount of devastation it has inflicted upon Ukraine, it has been unable to achieve its objectives. Since then Ukraine has received a considerable amount of support from NATO countries, and Ukraine’s resolve to push back the aggressors continues to shine brightly.

Hopefully Xipe Tótec, the ancient Mesoamerican Lord of Renewal, and Quetzalcóatl, Lord of Life, Knowledge, and Culture, the patrons of this time frame, will muster their forces to push back the darkness, to allow for the blossoming of new possibilities as September’s back-to-school and back-to-work activities get underway. Here are the energies that will be in play:

1 Ok (Sept. 5th) “One Dog” – the “initiation of love, loyalty, warmth, guidance”, an energy associated with regeneration, sometimes depicted as a dog holding a torch, leading the way through the darkness. This may be just what will be required as some 70,000 attendees work to find their way out of the muddy quagmire that was the Burning Man festival this year, after the festival was flooded out with rainstorms that turned Nevada’s Black Rock desert into a large mudhole.

Traditionally, this was an ancient Maya Feast Day of Renewal, the festive day associated with a deity known to the Aztec as Xiuhtecuhtli, associated with the renewal of time and the creation of life itself. He was sometimes depicted as Huehuetéotl – the Old, Old [Fire] God, whose image was often shown on braziers. Associated with purification, transformation, the regeneration of natural cycles, and even the regeneration of the cosmos, Huehuetéotl-Xiuhtecuhtli presided over New Fire ceremonies (marking Calendar Round returns, every 52 years) and the lighting of the fires of renewal.

In 1991 this was the energy in place when the Act of Declaration of Independence (from the USSR) was adopted by the Ukrainian parliament, thereby establishing Ukraine as an independent state.

Currently this is the opening day for the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) and General Assembly week, as well as the UN’s International Day of Charity, and the Catholic feast day devoted to Mother Theresa who was canonized in 2016. It is also Teachers’ Day in India.

As of this day it has been one cycle exactly since the Jan. 6th committee in Washington DC met for the final time (in December of last year), after months of investigations, when criminal referrals were brought forward. That last meeting took place exactly five Tzolk’in cycles after Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced that he was formally closing his office and resigning from the DoJ to return to private life. At that time Mueller said that his investigation had shown that Russian intelligence officers, indeed, had used sophisticated cyber techniques to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and that he did not exonerate the dumpster from obstruction of justice in that regard.

In 1974 this was the energy in place when the US Supreme Court ruled that Richard Nixon had to turn over the recordings that included “The Smoking Gun Tape” which contained evidence of his obstruction of justice. Three days later the first of three articles of impeachment against him were passed, and Nixon resigned shortly thereafter.

2 Chuwen (Sept. 6th) – a dynamic type of energy traditionally aligned with creativity, often involving some kind of “intense heat”, the day when the residents of Yellowknife will be permitted to return home after being evacuated in mid August, due to the wildfires. Hopefully, by this time, that heat will have died down enough to enable a safe return home.

Metaphorically 2 Chuwen can be seen as a solar force within a fire-oriented time frame, so this energy can often trigger intense engagement and action, as it did on that dramatic day in 1970 when the Apollo 13 spacecraft successfully returned to Earth after its aborted mission to the moon. Two cycles (520 days) ago this energy was in place at the time when the UN released a critical report on climate change that highlighted the fact that harmful carbon emissions between 2010-2019 were the highest ever in human history – proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster. At that time scientists were emphatically pointing out that it’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. But despite intense global summits on climate change and biodiversity preservation, not enough has been done to avert disasters, and the effects of climate change are now being felt everywhere.

On this day, almost one cycle exactly after the release of the Jan. 6th committee’s final report last year, much attention will be focused on Georgia as Trump and 18 other co-defendants are arraigned on a wide range of charges (including racketeering) associated with election interference. Many have already pleaded not guilty and have waived their right to appear in court on this day. The dumpster is also due to go to Miami at this time for a deposition in a $500 million lawsuit that he filed against Michael Cohen. According to Cohen’s lawyers, whether he tells the truth or pleads the fifth, “his testimony will strip the lie as to his claims against Mr Cohen”. It remains to be seen whether or not he will even show up.

On this day, one day after Freddie Mercury would have turned 77, Sotheby’s London holds a sale titled “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own“, in which the rock legend’s personal items will be auctioned off.

3 Eb’ (Sept. 7th) – the activation of “animating vitality”, a pathfinding/stream-of-consciousness type of force, coinciding with the opening of the Toronto International Film Festival and Vancouver’s 11- day International Fringe Festival, involving more than 85 shows over 11 days.

The last time this was in place Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy met with President Biden in Washington, and addressed a joint session of Congress. That was also the day when the Trump era Title 42 immigration order came to an end, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants began seeking asylum in the US.

4 B’en (Sept. 8th) – a “defining” energy associated with personal authority, marking the first anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The day before would have been the 490th birthday of Queen Elizabeth I, who was born on a 2 B’en day in 1533.

This 4 B’en energy has often been highly consequential in world and U.S. history, as this was in place at the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This was also in place when the first article of impeachment was approved against Richard Nixon in 1974, and in place when Hillary Clinton made history in 2016 by becoming the first female to be officially nominated as a presidential candidate.

The last time this energy was in place (last December) the Jan. 6th committee released its final report, in which they recommended criminal charges (for insurrection against the government, obstruction of an offical proceeding of Congress, and conspiracy to defraud the government) against Trump and others involved in plotting, or taking part in, the attack against the U.S. Capitol. At that time Rep. Liz Cheney also said that the dumpster’s refusal to stop the riot was a “clear dereliction of duty”. She emphasized that “No man who would behave that way at that moment in time can ever serve in any position of authority in our nation again. He is unfit for any office.”

“He is unfit for any office.” Rep. Liz Cheney

And as we have seen, a great deal of action, on multiple fronts, has taken place since then, resulting in major indictments and multiple charges against both the dumpster and many of his cohorts. Many trials related to these indictments will play out during the next 260 day cycle. And, on this day the Georgia Special Grand Jury will release its final report on the plot to overturn the election, and its recommendations for criminal charges.

Currently this is Senator Bernie Sanders’ 82nd Gregorian birthday. Happy birthday Bernie!

5 Ix (Sept. 9th) – a “precision” type of energy associated with mystery and transformation, and even rulership, marking one year since the first full day of the reign of King Charles III. This was the beginning of the official 10-day mourning period in the UK – with gun salutes, flags lowered, and bells rung 96 times at various locations across the country.

Four cycles ago, in November of 2020, this was the energy in place on the day of the U.S presidential election, when Joe Biden had to “battle for the soul of America”.

In 1919 this was the energy in place at the opening of the Paris Peace Conference for negotiation of treaty settlements after World War I, and then again in 1939 when Canada declared war on Germany. One cycle after that, in May of 1940, just over 83 years ago, this energy was in place at the start of the huge efforts to undertake evacuations from Dunkirk beaches during World War II.

Currently this is start of the two-day G20 meeting of world leaders in New Delhi, which will not be attended by Putin or by China’s President Xi Jinping. It is also the start of the 6th Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany. These are the games that were founded by Prince Harry, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Sept. 15th. The Invictus Games were founded in 2014, through the royal foundation, as a way to help wounded veterans with their healing.

6 Men (Sept. 10th) – a “stabilizing” type of energy associated with the high vision of the eagle, coinciding with Teachers’ Day in China, an important national holiday, and National Pet Memorial Day in the US.

This high-flying “6 Eagle” energy was also in place in 1946 when the first ever photo of Earth from space was taken from a German V-2 rocket launched from New Mexico.

It has now been ten Tzolk’in cycles exactly since Hillary Clinton delivered her acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee for President at the 2016 DNC, with every expectation that she would actually be elected president.

7 Kib’ (Sept. 11th) – a self-generating type of energy, often associated with engendering the kind of thought that can lead towards taking practical actions and “restoring order”.

This was the energy in place when the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 when over 20 million Americans poured into the streets to demand environmental justice, in one of the largest single day protests in human history. Currently this is the opening day for the 5th International Symposium on Insects, with its theme of “Unveiling the Hidden Prospect of Insects”. A wide range of topics relating to worldwide insect studies will be included. Click here for an article on some of the most beautiful insects in the world.

This is the 22nd Gregorian anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy in New York.

8 Kab’an (Sept. 12th) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with “evolutionary” movement, In 1961 this was the energy in place at the time of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy, when he called for “high standards of strength and sacrifice”, and for “invoking the wonders of science”, as he called for unification to “undo the heavy burdens”. Near the end of his speech were the immortal words: “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. As it happens this is former President Jimmy Carter’s Maya birth energy. He is now approaching his 99th Gregorian birthday.

Four cycles ago, when this energy was in place, the states that were still finishing up with vote counting all flipped in Joe Biden’s favour, as everyone awaited the final tally. That was when Washington Post columnist Peter Marks tweeted, with regard to Trump:

“He will never have another good day. Loser label will haunt him. The law will pursue him. Mental illness will hobble him. His properties will bankrupt him.”

Never was a tweet more prophetic!!

9 Etz’nab’ (Sept. 13th) – representative of “outwardly-projecting” flint, a “spark-oriented” (and even knife-edged) type of energy that can be quite dramatic and consequential – sometimes bringing something to a definite conclusion.

In 1963, this energy was in place five days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, at which time President Johnson gave an address to the joint session of Congress when he strongly advocated for the earliest possible passage of JFK’s civil rights bill.

When this energy was in place four cycles ago Joe Biden had received over 75,500,000 votes in the election, the most votes ever cast for a presidential ticket, and was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. He then delivered a highly inspirational victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware, during which he called for healing for America. He pledged “to be a President who seeks not to divide but to unify” and said that he “sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of [the US]”. Cities around the world erupted in celebration, reacting as if a dictator had been overthrown and democracy had been saved. Congratulations poured in from leaders around the world. Since then he has demonstrated tireless leadership in his efforts to bring in beneficial legislative reforms, and to help western nations to remain united in their response to helping Ukraine defend itself from Russia. Unfortunately, too many people have been oblivious to the Biden administration’s many significant accomplishments, which have had a tendency to be overshadowed by bombastic messaging from the MAGA zone.

Currently this energy is coinciding with the 16th anniversary of the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is also International Chocolate Day.

10 Kawak (Sept. 14th) – “foundational storm” – an energy associated with intense catalyzation as often can be seen and felt in major energy pushes or strong weather systems, exactly five cycles since a dozen towns in northern Italy went into lockdown due to the coronavirus in February of 2020. Currently this is coinciding with the New Moon, and with the last day of Ghost month in China.

This is the Maya birth energy of Lucile Randon, the French nun known as Sister André, who was the world’s oldest verified living person until her death this past January, just before her 119th birthday. She had survived not only the 1918 flu epidemic, but also two world wars, and Covid-19.  This is also the Maya birth energy of Marie Marthe Augustine Lemaitre Brémont who was verified as the oldest recognized person in the world from November 2000 until her death at age 115 years in 2001. At age 103 she was hit by a car, but survived.

11 Ajaw (Sept. 15th) – an “inspirational sun” or “inspirational enlightenment” Burner Day, the last Burner Day in the Ajaw “Burner” sequence, marking three cycles exactly since the convening of the January 6th special congressional committee to investigate the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. During that investigation the committee conducted more than 1,000 closed-door interviews, investigated tens of thousands of documents, and held 10 public hearings. Over 1000 people have been arrested and charged for taking part in that attack, and many have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

This day also marks four cycles since the announcement in November of 2020 that a preliminary analysis showed that the “first milestone” vaccine for Covid appeared to offer at least 90% protection. Pfizer and BioNTech described this as a “great day for science and humanity”.

Currently this is the UN’s International Day of Democracy, and Hispanic Heritage
Day at the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Click here for information on a lovely online platform dedicated to preserving and and amplifying the work of contemporary Mexican artists and master artisans.

This is also the start of Rosh Hashanah (in the evening) – meaning “head of the year”, thought to be the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Also known as the Feast of Trumpets, this is a Jewish High Holy period that runs from the evening of Sept. 15th to the evening of Sept. 17th.

This is the 202nd anniversary of Central America (including present day Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras) officially declaring its independence from Spain in 1821, on the the eve of Mexico’s Independence Day. Every year on the eve of Independence Day Mexico’s president re-enacts some version of El Grito de Dolores (the “Cry of Dolores”), in a “Viva México! Viva la Independencia! Vivan los héroes!” ceremony broadcast throughout the country, in remembrance of the call to arms that triggered the Mexican War of Independence.

In many cities around the world this will be the first day of a three-day global action period.

With regard to Sept. 15th, Mesoamerican archaeologist/mythologist Karl Taube (and others) have made reference to the local Maya belief in the Yucatan that on September 15th “giant feathered serpents, the noh kaan, emerge from the sacred lakes of Coba to create havoc where they fly”. So it seems that if one is in the Yucatan at this time this would be not only the eve of a great national festival but also a day to watch out for plumed serpents. It may be that, since feathered serpents are symbolic of freedom and liberation, this could be a variant on the independence day celebrations.

This was the energy in place at the time of the Proclamation of Peace on Feb. 18, 1815, when the Treaty of Ghent came into effect, marking the offical conclusion to the War of 1812 between the US and Great Britain. This is also the Maya birth energy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final President of the Soviet Union, who won a Nobel Peace prize in 1990 for helping to end the Cold War.

12 Imix (Sept. 16th) – a “gathering together” type of force oriented around new beginnings (often “cosmic”), coinciding with the UN’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, and World Cleanup Day.

This is also Mexico’s Independence Day, celebrating 213 years since Spain withdrew and officially recognized Mexico as an independent country; the full day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year; and the start of Munich’s 188th Octoberfest, one of the largest festivals in the world. In Japan this is the first day of the Nezujinja shrine Grand Festival, one of three major Edo festivals. In Vancouver the Come Toward the Fire festival will take place at the Chan Centre.

13 Ik’ (Sept. 17th) – “transformational wind, breath, and spirit”, this time coinciding with conclusion of Rosh Hashanah, at nightfall; and the conclusion of the Nezujinja shrine Grand Festival in Japan. Many people will be on the move of this day, as this is third day of the 3-day activation period that will culminate with the March to End Fossil Fuels, in NYC, a significant part of Climate Week NYC 2023, prior to the opening of the Climate Ambition Summit, which will be attended by world leaders at the UN’s headquarters the following week.

This is also Terry Fox Run day, continuing the tradition of raising significant funds for cancer research. In addition this is the UN’s International World Patient Safety Day.

This marks five Tzolk’in cycles since the CDC’s top official on respiratory diseases in the US warned people (in February 2020) to prepare for the inevitability of community spread, indicating that the “disruption to everyday life might be severe”.

Note that this is the Maya calendar energy that was in place in 1940 during the final day of the enormous Dunkirk rescue operation during World War II.

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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.]