We recently had a chance to conduct a Q&A session with Denise Barrios, who just released the Maya Count of Days, a daily planner that follows the Cholq’ij Calendar, which is available for purchase in both English and Spanish. The book is a moving tribute to her work with her father, elder Carlos Barrios, who transitioned last year.  This is an incredible resource to help guide and harmonize us in our daily lives, and we were fortunate to have Denise share her insights with us here.

How did you come to this path?  What can you tell us about your journey?

I was born into a family that follows the spirituality of the Maya and its calendar, practices, and wisdom are the way in which I learned to understand and perceive reality. My father, Carlos Barrios, was an Ajq’ij (Mayan spiritual guide). Together with him and my mother I was blessed with the opportunity of traveling around Guatemala, mostly to Sacred Altars in the mountains of the highlands, sharing with elders, Grandmothers and Grandfathers who held a great wisdom.

At the age of 15 I felt that I also had a calling to become an Ajq’ij. My teacher, who was an elder from Totonicapán, thought that I might be a bit too young to begin this path, however, one day as we went to collect Tz’ite seeds (these are the sacred seeds that compose the Pisom Q’aq’al -Sacred Pouch of the Ajq’ij-) I had coincidentally collected the exact number of seeds that forms the Pisom Q’aq’al. At that moment he realized this was a sign for him to walk me on my path as a spiritual guide. Most of my learning in the spiritual path not only came from my teacher, but also from my father, with whom I was lucky enough to have worked with from that moment until his recent transition to another plane of existence. This has been a magical path that has allowed me to learn, to share, and to be able to help others, for which I am most grateful.

What is the Cholq’ij Calendar?  Why does it matter in our everyday lives?

The Cholq’ij, also known as the Sacred Calendar or the Calendar of Life, is the guide and axis around which the life and spirituality of the Mayan people revolves. More than being just a calendar that marks the passage of time, the Cholq’ij opens for us the possibility of understanding the energies that surround and influence us.

Through their wisdom and their way of living, which was one of complete harmony with nature and the universe, the ancient Mayan elders realized that our reality is formed by the confluence of the different energies that emerge from the power of the Cosmos and Mother Earth and that these energies not only shape our reality but they are also connected to us, as we are an integral part of the whole. Based on this wisdom they created a guide that determines the influence that the energies have on each day and the effect they have on people, giving shape to the 260 day Cholq’ij Calendar which is formed by 20 Ch’umilal or energies that vibrate in 13 different manifestations (20 x 13 = 260). The Cholq’ij is then the counting of time in relation to the human being and the cosmic-telluric power that flows in this reality.

Understanding these energies and how they influence us allows us to transit our life in harmony with existence, to make the most out of each day, as we can synchronize with its power. This calendar is a great tool that when we understand how to use it, it can help us in the path of our fulfillment and to accomplish our purpose of being.

What was the inspiration for the planner?

For the past 25 years or so I have been walking my spiritual path alongside my father, during that time I had the blessing of sharing with him and also of learning from him, as he was a powerful and renowned Mayan Elder. When he passed away last year I felt that I wanted to do something both to honor him and to share with others what I had the great luck of learning and experiencing in this path with him. It felt like a planner could be the first step into sharing his wisdom, as this is a great way of understanding and living the Cholq’ij.

How can people utilize the planner?

The planner is formed of two parts. First there are introductory chapters which explain what the Cholq’ij is and the energies that influence it, so that people can understand them and begin to integrate them into their life. Then there is the part of the planner, which combines the Gregorian date and the Mayan date, and for each Mayan day there is a text that was written by my father where he shares his interpretation of the energy. There is also a space where people can write their own feelings, events, dreams, intuitions… so that they can begin to sense how the energies influence and interact with them personally.

You also work to nourish the roots of the tradition that have passed on this knowledge.  Can you say anything about why this is important and the work you do?

One of the greatest blessings of being an Ajq’ij is the opportunity that this path opens to help others and to become keepers and transmitters of the wisdom of the grandmothers and grandfathers.

Twenty years ago my father together with Adam Rubel & Zoraida Palacios Rubel planted the seed of Saq’ Be’ with the purpose of spreading the true teachings and wisdom of the Mayan people, as the elders saw an importance in creating a space for sharing the authentic tradition and helping raise awareness in humanity. This platform soon became a space to share with and to support traditional communities. Although I had been collaborating with Saq’ Be’, especially when groups came to Guatemala, it was around ten years ago that I became an active member. This has given me the chance of working closely together with Tatas and Nanas, with Grandmothers and Grandfathers, in creating bridges of communication to make the wisdom of the wise sages more available to people, providing valuable tools to transit these relevant times we are living as a humanity, and at the same time to do projects that bring value to the communities and help nourish the roots of the Maya tradition, to heighten the value that it has not only for the Maya people but for all of us.

Some of the work we have been doing is filming audiovisual material of the elders who share their wisdom with us with the purpose of eventually creating a space of study for the communities. We are also currently collaborating with the building of medicinal gardens where the communities can find a space of healing, where the wisemen can share their knowledge, and the children and everyone can learn from the sacred plants.

We have many dreams and plans to accomplish to make the wisdom available, doing it in a way in which we respect the elders, and we will continue to nourish the seed of Saq’ Be’ so that all these dreams can flourish. I believe in my heart that learning from, nurturing and spreading the knowledge of the traditions that understand the importance of living in harmony with nature, with the cycles of the earth and universe is a step forward in our evolution.

I want to take this opportunity also to thank each of the members of Saq’ Be’ for the support they have given me in the creation of this planner, three times thank you!

Is there anything else you would like people to know about the importance of living in harmony with the energies of the Cholq’ij and how the planner can help them to do this?

My personal experience is that when you vibrate in harmony with the energies that surround you, when you come to understand the influence they have in you personally or even the influence they might have on others, why a day might feel stuck, why you feel sensible or are particularly intuitive, you find a new magic in the way you perceive life. To me the calendar is a perfect tool that allows you to flow through life with much less resistance and much more understanding, to create the reality you want to experience and to impel your growth as a being, not only in the spiritual plane, but in a holistic sense, in each plane of manifestation. This planner is aimed to be an instrument that enables people to do this in a simple way and to integrate this wisdom into their daily life.

Order English Version Here:

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We are pleased to be able to share the following videos of twin brothers Juan and Miguel León Cortez doing a healing for B’atz’, along with a video of them playing sacred marimba music.  We are grateful for their partnership with Saq’ Be’.  The brothers recently constructed, planted and harvested a healing medicinal garden in Chichicastenango.  We will share an update on the tremendous progress of the project soon.

Our spirit, our hearts, our body and our intelligence is reflected when we go out into the mountains, a river, a lake, the sea, in the forest. In the Maya towns, exists the homes of the cofradias. These places of energy are constantly being cleansed  with incense, colognes/scented oils and prayer. Anyone can go to these places to pray for a while, to meditate, to converse with the energies of the place and tell them their problems.  Nowadays these energies have the names of some catholics saints, but these places are places of peace and tranquility.

Going out into nature nowadays may not be as easy as it once was and in other countries there are no homes of cofradias. However, we can use these principles to make our own homes a place to gather energy.

To create this space of energy, we will choose a place where we can lay down, far away from noises and a place where no one passes through. Avoid places like a hallway or corridor or even the living room, because even if you live alone, these are places where we  spend time to either watch tv or  to have visits with others and so it ends up not being a place to gather energy.  This space we are creating will be for one purpose, for relaxation and to gather energy.  It may not be used for anything else.

Once we’ve chosen  a spot, we will ask permission to use it for a place of energy and further telling it that we will cleanse the space and consecrate it. Next we will mark it off energetically, placing objects in all four corners and asking that we may be remembered and that we will not use this space for any other activities. We can use, for example,  four stones or four flower pots and if there are pets or children in the house, you can set up a type of canopy to keep the space from being entered. It can be as simple as using  some pvc pipes to create this with some fabric over it. Make sure that the textures and colors are satisfactory and to your liking. Preferred colors are soft or pastels.

Now that we have our space marked off, we can cleanse it, physically and energetically.

Cleansing it physically means sweeping. While we’re sweeping we will say out loud, I leave this place clear of any bad energies, free of any arguments, free of exhaustion, frustration and of any sickness both visible and invisible. Next we will mop. And lastly disinfect the space with an aromatic disinfectant of preference. For the energetic cleanse, we will burn incense in the space, decreeing that this space may have a positive energy and thinking of a place that has filled you with energy previously,  for example the lagoon of chiq’ab’al, and saying may this space have the energy of this lagoon, calling that place in.  It can be a forest,a river, any place that truly brings you peace.

Next we will think of ourselves as builders and with our hands we’re going to place bricks and imaginary mortar to make the walls of our space to help separate this space from the energy of the rest of the house. First we build the wall facing the sunrise, next the wall facing the north, then the west and finally the south. Now we can place our  fabric.

Now that we have our  imaginary little house, we’re going to furnish it. Placing  cushions down that have previously been cleaned, we can put essential oils on them or any other perfume of preference. Again decreeing on each cushion that this place may be of peace, on the next one that this place may be of tranquility and like this we can mention love, harmony, relaxation, good  health…etc on each of the cushions.  If you don’t like cushions then place a small mattress or futon or anything that will be comfortable to lie on. Every object that enters our little house can not be used for anything else and you must apply some form of essential oil or perfume and hold a decree with every object that this will now be for the place of peace.

Finally when our little house is all built and furnished we can proclaim, “this is a sacred place inside my home and it will serve for relaxation and fill me up with energy”.

To enter our house of energy, we must make sure that any children or pets are taken care of by  asking someone to look after them or placing pets in another room. This will allow for no interruptions. Prior to entering also make sure to shower, have on comfortable loose clothes, no cell phones or pets allowed inside. Now lie down and close your eyes and think about that one place that you enjoy so much because of its energy.  The example given earlier was of the lagoon of chiq’ab’al, so I would think about this place, visualize it and see myself walking around it, admiring nature, breathing it in.  We feel how the energy of this place helps us to relax and we fully enjoy these  sensations in our body.

Then with every breath, we visualize entering into our body, pure oxygen that fills us up with positive energy, we take four deep breaths. Now we’re going to bring in energy into all 13 major articulations. These articulations or joints have an internal and external part to them. We start with the internal part, breathing into each articulation, this is the order we move in; begin with the inside of the left ankle, breath in, move up to the inside of the left knee, breath, next is the inside of left hip, now we move to the inside of left wrist, inside let elbow, under the armpit of left arm, the neck, now move under armpit of right arm, inside right elbow, inside right wrist, inside right hip, inside right knee, inside right ankle, now moving to the outside or external part of the right ankle breath into this articulation, moving up to the outside of right knee, outside of right hip, outside of right wrist, outside right elbow, outside right shoulder, the back part of the neck, now moving to left shoulder, outer left elbow, outer left wrist, left hip, outer knee and the outer left ankle. Finally feeling relaxed and full of energy.

This is not the best place to light candles because of all the fabric and cushions.  We light candles at an altar. On the next discussion or exercise we will explain how to dedicate a place in your home for an altar.

Un lugar para tomar energía. Nuestro espíritu, nuestro corazón, nuestro cuerpo y nuestra inteligencia se relajan cuando salimos a pasear a una montaña, a un río, a un lago, al mar, al bosque. En los pueblos mayas existen las casas de las cofradías, que son lugares energéticos donde se limpia constantemente con incienso, lociones y rezos. Cualquier persona puede ir a ellos a rezar un rato, a meditar, a platicar con las energías del lugar a contarle sus problemas, solo que ahora estas energías tienen nombre de santos de la iglesia católica. Pero son lugares de paz y tranquilidad.

Salir a pasear a lugares de la naturaleza ya no es tan factible como antes y en otros países no existen las casas de la cofradía. Pero se pueden tomar esos principios y hacer un lugar para tomar energía en nuestra propia casa.

Para hacer este espacio de energía, debemos escoger un área para estar acostados en ella, que no esté cerca del ruido y que no sea un lugar donde pasen personas, como un corredor, tampoco el sillón de la sala, pues aunque vivamos solos, a veces nos sentamos a ver televisión o llegan visitas y entonces deja de ser un lugar para tomar energía.

Este espacio tendrá como único fin, relajarnos y tomar energía, no se puede usar para otras cosas. Ya que escogimos el lugar, le pedimos permiso para usarlo como un lugar de energía y le decimos que lo vamos a limpiar y a consagrar. Luego se delimita energéticamente, colocando objetos en las cuatro esquinas que nos recuerden que no lo debemos usarlo para otras actividades. Por ejemplo poner cuadro piedras, cuatro macetas. Si hay niños o mascotas en la casa, hacer un dosel para que no entren a ese espacio, se puede hacer con tubo de pvc y colocarle tela y la tela debe ser de nuestro completo agrado, de preferencia colores suaves como blanco, celeste, amarillo canario o colores pastel.

Ya que tenemos delimitado el espacio, se limpia físicamente y energéticamente.

La limpia físicamente es barrer, mientras barremos decimos en voz alta Dejo este lugar limpio de mala energía, de pleitos, de cansancio, de frustraciones, de enfermedades visibles e invisibles. Luego trapeamos el lugar, y por último trapeamos con desinfectante con aroma que nos guste.

La limpia energética es pasar incienso en el lugar, y decir decreto que este espacio tenga energía positiva, previamente he pensado un lugar donde yo he estado y me llena de energía por ejemplo la laguna de chiq’ab’al, y decreto este espacio tendrá la energía de la laguna de chiq’ab’al. Puede ser un bosque, un río, lo que más les trae paz a usted.

Seguidamente pensamos que somos albañiles y con nuestras manos vamos a colocar ladrillos y mezcla imaginaria para hacer las paredes de nuestro espacio y separar este espacio del resto de la energía de la casa. Primero hacemos la pared que ve a la salida del sol, luego la que ve al norte, luego la del poniente y por último la del sur. Finalmente ponemos las láminas de nuestro espacio,

Ya que tenemos nuestra casita imaginaria vamos a amueblarla, colocamos cojines, que previamente han sido lavados, se le echa perfume o loción que más nos guste y decretamos en

cada cojín este será un espacio de paz, en el otro este será un espacio de tranquilidad, y así nos vamos mencionando, amor, armonía, relajación, salud, etc. en cada cojín. Si no desea cojines, pues un colchóncito cómodo, o unas frasadas dobladas para acostarnos encima de ellas. Cada objeto que entra a nuestra casita ya no se puede usar para otra cosa y debe echársele perfume o loción y decir decreto en cada objeto, esto será para el espacio de paz.

Finalmente cuando nuestra casita está construida y amueblada decretamos “este es un lugar sagrado dentro de mi casa, servirá para relajarme y para llenarme de energía”.

Para entrar a la casita de energía, debemos de pedirle a otra persona que se encargue de los niños, llevar a las mascotas a otro cuarto, no nos pueden interrumpir. Inicialmente debemos bañarnos, colocarnos ropa cómoda y liviana, no entrar con celular, ni con mascotas. Nos acostamos y cerramos los ojos, pensamos en ese lugar que nos encanta por su energía, en el ejemplo se dijo la laguna de chiq’ab’al. Así que la visualizó, pienso que estoy allí caminando, admirando la naturaleza, respirando. Sentimos como la energía del lugar nos relaja y lo disfrutamos esa sensación en nuestro cuerpo.

Luego pensamos que en cada respiración va entrando a nuestro cuerpo ese oxigeno puro que nos llena de energía positiva, hacemos cuatro respiraciones profundas. Después vamos a entrar energía por nuestras trece articulaciones mayores. Las articulaciones tienen parte interna y externa, iniciamos con la parte interna de nuestras articulaciones. Vamos a respirar una vez por cada articulación y el orden es el siguiente. Iniciamos con la articulación interna del tobillo izquierdo, articulación interna de la rodilla izquierda, articulación interna de la cadera izquierda, articulación interna de la muñeca izquierda, articulación interna del codo izquierdo, articulación interna del hombro izquierdo, articulación interna de la nuca. Luego vamos bajando por todas las articulaciones internas del lado derecho. Luego vamos a dar una respiración por cada articulación externa en el siguiente orden, por articulación externa del tobillo izquierdo, articulación externa de la rodilla izquierda, articulación externa de la cadera izquierda, articulación externa de la muñeca izquierda, articulación externa del codo izquierdo, articulación externa del hombro izquierdo, articulación externa de la nuca. Luego vamos bajando por todas las articulaciones externas del lado derecho. Finalmente quedamos relajados y llenos de energía.

En este espacio no es oportuno encender velas, por los cojines y frazadas, las velas se encienden en un altar, en el próximo consejo vamos a explicar como dedicar un espacio en nuestra casa para un altar.

Please consider supporting Saq’ Be’, a nonprofit organization, as we finalize plans for many new programs in this, our 20th year.

As we move deeply into this age of visible consequence, the turbulence of our time provides incredible challenges for maintaining one’s internal equilibrium and balance within the world.  To help us navigate these rough seas with more grace, Armadillo Rojo has generously shared a four part process for clearing obstacles and reinvigorating our being. We will publish the series in four parts, featuring a new body (mental, spiritual, emotional, material) each week. We encourage you to participate in the exercises as described, and hope that it may help you to find balance and well being in this time when our collective strength is being called forth. We also express our deepest gratitude for the sharing of these timely teachings with us all.