At the arrival of the famous date of December 21, 2012, the so-called “End of the World” was spread as if it were a prophecy that was originated in the Maya World. Although we tried to undermine these words which were attributed to us, very few media opened a space for a clarification from the elders and Maya spiritual guides. However much we tried, the spaces were closed. When this supposed widespread catastrophic event did not happen, mockery and discredit were the consequences for the Maya culture. It is worth saying that this was a plot.

These times are marked by the change of a cycle of 5,200 Ab’ years -which are equivalent to 5,184 Gregorian years- and this cycle that ended did not bring with it any type of end of the world, not even an end of humanity.

This new cycle is known as Job Ajaw, or Fifth Sun. It is a period that opens the consciousness of the human being, it is a time of understanding, of faith, balance and harmony between spirituality and the materialistic vision in which we have become immerse. Before we reached this time, we lived four cycles of 5,200 Ab’ years each. The first was of female energy, with Fire as the ruling element. The second was of male energy with Earth as the ruling element. The third cycle was of female energy with Air as the ruling element, the fourth cycle was of male energy with Water as the ruling element, this was the cycle that ended on December 21, 2012. The new cycle, the Job Ajaw, brings a balance between the female and male energies, that is to say that it contains both energies, and the element that rules is Ether, which contains the four primary elements. Ether is what makes up the space of the Universe (now called black matter) and it has a very subtle essence; it is the one that allows the Interstellar connection that will empower our evolutionary development. You may wonder, if we have already reached the cycle of the New Era, why are we living under such turmoil? Why are the drums of war rumbling and why is racism so present? Every day we see outbreaks around the world; demonstrations, non-conformity, and all that this materialistic vision of the human being has brought. One only has to look at the world around us to see the pollution, the extreme weather, the unconsciousness of our governments, etc.; as entering into this new cycle is not like turning on a switch to attain an automatic change, there is a period of transition. According to the knowledge that was bequeathed to us by the Elders, the new cycle began on December 21, 2012, but we have to remember that there are micro-cycles which are related to the growth of a human being. From age 0 to 13 we experience the stage of childhood, a time of vulnerability at the beginning and of energy with the passing of the years, for the Maya world a person stops being considered a child at the age of 13. This is the stage that we are living at this moment, a stage of action, effervescence, of an energy that is somewhat dispersed; we can see this in our politicians, in their actions. Few people have clarity and no one is taking real measures regarding pollution and unbalance. This period will reach its peak between 2025 and 2026, it will be a time of turmoil and unrest amongst humanity, the economical systems may suffer a lot during this short cycle and instability will mark this time during which wars are likely to increase.

The next thirteen years of this development are marked by learning through experience; this cycle is much more complicated for confrontations could heighten. This energy is expanding and searching for its future, which could bring more radical changes. This period is marked by a cycle during which we could experience scarcity, if we do not account for disruptions and plan, as lack of water and drought will begin to manifest.  It is prudent that we are well prepared. We will depend again on Mother Earth to survive, it is urgent that we reforest, that we mitigate the damage that we have inflicted upon Mother Earth. This cycle goes from 2026 to 2039. The calling of the Elders is to become aware, to assume our roll as human beings. It is not possible that we continue the destruction of our own home! There are two aspects to realize; first, that for our life’s purpose, for our development as Cosmic Beings, as an important part of the Universe, and as a part of Creation the achievement of the “awareness of being” is imperative and our actions need to have that sense, in these moments all possibilities are open to us.  The other aspect is that our existence is linked (both as the individuals and as humanity) to Mother Earth, we have an evolutionary development and a cosmic purpose within a larger plan, but we need to be clear that Mother Earth will continue traversing through the cycles with or without us, for if we do not become aware, a new beings generation will be in tune with her purpose.

During these days we celebrate our ancestors, we commemorate the memory of those who left this dimension before us. In the traditional Maya world we pay homage to their memory every Kame, especially on the day 13 Kame. With the coming to the Americas of catholicism, and to protect their spirituality and traditions, the Maya people adopted the celebrations of All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead to celebrate their ancestors (November 1 and 2).

The Maya elders tell us that during these days there is a subtle line in which the realities of this world and of the world of those who have passed touch, in a way we are vibrating in the tradition of celebrating the memory of our ancestors, these beings who existed in the ephemeral existence of life, in which they achieved their projections, their evolution, and left us the legacy of their knowledge. The importance of belonging to a lineage that was inherited to us marks us in life, for this lineage is transmitted to us at every level.

Let’s remember and thank our ancestors in the other dimension for guiding, advising and protecting us, for always watching over us. Especially for interceding for us before the energies of Creation, for inheriting us the lineage that composes our being, for transmitting their life experiences to help us grow.

We are bearers of that long lineage, our own character was outlined by all the ancestors that came before us, it is because of this that reminiscing their memory and recognizing their values and interests brings us closer to our purpose of life, their awareness of being is part of our origin, of our destiny, it serves us to redirect our purposes of life.

Today and tomorrow we can light a fire or some candles to invoke our ancestors and connect to their energy, wisdom, and essence. Let’s not forget them, let’s thank them for their lineage and heritage, let’s say a prayer to honor them, to remember that a great part of who we are, a great part of our being, exists thanks to them.

“Oh Father, Oh Mother; Heart of the Sky, Heart of Mother Earth, Heart of the Air, and Heart of the Water, oh Great Grandfathers and Grandmothers, great ancestors who have preceded us in this reality, in this day in which your presence is stronger we want to honor and remember you, we want to thank your legacy, your guide, and your protection. Our heart calls you so that your heartbeats attune with ours; we are your descendants, the seeds that you planted, the offspring that succeed you in the transit through this reality to carry on with the process of healing and growth of your legacy, for this we give thanks. Your consciousness has influenced the lineage of which we are a part, your achievements and shortcomings have brought us to this moment and for this we ask that together we can move forward to fulfill the destiny that was outlined at the beginning of Creation. We ask your guidance to fulfill our individual life’s purpose and the destiny that we share as a lineage. We give thanks for your existence, your heritage, and your energy in our lives. We honor the life of each and every one of you and for it, we give thanks, four times we give thanks.”  

The energies that affect the Najt/Space -Time come from the Uk’ux Kaj/Heart of the Sky and Uk’ux Ulew/Heart of Mother Earth. The convergence of these creates our existence in this dimension.  It is Ajaw B’atz who initiates the interweaving of reality in the Najt, and one of the most important days is 9 B’atz, the manifestation of the Female energy. It is the guiding thread of that essence that brings the subtleness, kindness, and creativity. It is the magic and the mysterious force that breaks through dimensions and brings us the marvel of life. It is because of this that when they were shaping the Cholq’ij/Sacred Maya Calendar, the wise men designated this the women’s day. It’s great protector has been Grandmother Ixmukane, who, together with her partner (husband) Ixpiyakok, gave advice to the Creators and Makers by making a divination with the Tz’ite seeds to form the new Human Being. This Grandmother, who is one of the greater divinities of the Maya world and whose presence has existed from the beginning of times, is the driving force of the female energy in the times of the Maya matriarchy.  Her power and magic have accompanied the world since its origins, especially for women.

The Ch’umil/Nawal of Ajaw B’atz opens on this day the opportunity to reconnect with our feminine conformation, for we, both men and woman, have lost much of it.  In the pyramidal structures, the female energy is that of the 9th platform, meaning the highest level (it is rare to find a pyramid with more than 9 platforms). The pyramids of 8 platforms are related to the male energy.

Let us remember that the female energy is also the energy of Mother Earth, and its fruits, as with women, give continuity to life, to its expression. It is this energy that opens the space of intuition, of magic, all of this because of the relation of the dimensional spaces of Paxil and Kayala (dimensions that coexist with our dimension). In some way it is the expression of beauty and art.

This day of Ch’umil B’atz is of great importance to connect with Mother Nature, preferably to go to the forest or to a park with lots of trees, if this is not possible go to a botanic garden, to the shore of a lake, look at a volcano, at a mountain. What is important is to communicate with Her, even if it is only by looking at the sky. Light green and blue candles, which represent the natural environment, tie each of them with a thread (of the color that resonates with you) turning it around the candle and asking a wish with each turn. Don’t forget to ask for the recovery of Mother Earth. Sit and meditate about the interweaving of your life and how to project your objectives.

Life is a gift given to us by the Creator and Maker, fulfilling our purpose of life is the opportunity that the awareness of being gives us and which is manifested during this day!

B’elejeb B’atz’ for 2017 first falls on Monday, January 15.

We are fortunate to have an article from Carlos Barrios, and a video from Maya elder Tata Pedro Ixchop, on the significance of B’elejeb B’atz’

Wajxaqib’(8) B’atz’ is the first day of the count of the Cholq’ij Calendar. There is a great celebration on this day. In Guatemala, thousands of traditional Fire Ceremonies are celebrated, as we begin a new cycle of 260 days. This is an important moment to organize and ask for the fulfilment of the purposes we have set out for ourselves. The energy that rules this date is one of a physical and material realization.

B’elejeb (9) B’atz’ is also an important date within the count of the Sacred Calendar. It is celebrated 40 days after Wajxaqib’ (8) B’atz’. B’elejeb (9) B’atz’ is also celebrated throughout the country and carries with it an energy of sensitivity for realizing the spiritual purposes we have decided to reach for.

During this important day, lets connect to the energy of B’elejeb (9) B’atz’. Let’s be aware, throughout the day, of its strength and power. If we wish to increase the effects of it’s energy, we can light a candle or a fire to connect to this Ch’umil. Lets ask that this Sacred Fire may increase our sensitivity, the power of our vision, the revelations through dreams, and the power of our mind. Let us focus upon balancing our polarity to open the space to both the masculine, material, and physical energies and the female, emotional, psychic, and spiritual energies. The energy that comes with B’elejeb (9) B’atz’ is a very subtle one and it allows us to develop the asepcts to which we normally don’t pay much attention, but which is highly important and which allows us to have a balance as whole beings.

B’elejeb (9) B’atz’ has many elements of the female energy, for which many people call it the Day of the Maya Woman.

• Carlos Barrios

In this video, Tata Pedro discusses the significance of B’elejeb (9) B’atz’ from a traditional perspective. This includes its relationship to Waxaq’ib (9) B’atz and the significance it has for both men and women. Don Pedro’s teachings here come from a deep root and ancient lineage, and sometimes differ from the current understanding, even amongst many ajq’ij’ab.  Maya Elder, Don Pedro Ixchop is the head of the Association of Maya Ajq’ij in Guatemala.

Maya guide, educator and researcher Lina Barrios describes the continued relevance of the Maya Cosmovision in today’s modern world. The Cosmovision has withstood untold challenges, yet remains essential in the lives and flourishing of Maya identity and holds keys for potentially improving all our lives and even transforming modern civilization.

The ancestral Maya world recognized that this which we call reality is a world of energies contained in the NAJT: space-time. Each of these energies has a cosmic and telluric correlation.
It is from this knowledge that the different calendars that govern the Maya world were delineated.
The calendar known as Ab’ is in essence an agricultural calendar of 360 days plus 5 additional days. These last days are used for meditation, to reflect upon our life, about the things that influenced us, the events that took place during this past year. During these five days known as the WAYEB, people would shut themselves in their home. They would fast and drink only a beverage made of maize (atol de maiz) and dedicate their whole time to go back and recapitulate their life, but mostly this last cycle. Which of the things they had projected had succeeded and why have some of the things they planned not happened? What were the causes and reasons that impeded achieving all their purposes? It is during the Wayeb that we analyze how we feel, what we like about our life and what we want to change or end, that is those things that do not allow us to be fulfilled. It is important to define what we want, what makes us happy, what we want to end, and how to remove from our life the people or situations that are an obstacle for our development.
This is also a time to project and plan the next cycle of 360 days…
This is a very important practice to stay well and in complete harmony with ourselves and with the world that surrounds us.
The COSMIC WAYEB is related to the Winter Solstice, and according to the Elders, the five days from the 21st to the 25th of December is the time in which the Father Sun rests. This is an apparent vision seen from Earth in which the Sun remains motionless in a corner of the Universe during these days. It is for this reason that this time is used to meditate and reconfigure our life.
Let us use these five days as a tool to renovate and plan our purposes.
The ancestral knowledge indicates that we must be aware of every action in life. The advice is to take this opportunity with the necessary determination, with the calmness needed to search within ourselves. The wisdom, the peace, the harmony are deep inside each being… we just need to be determined to find it.

Nawal: The Sacred Maya Calendar, Cholq’ij, is formed by 260 days/energies; 20 energies that vibrate in 13 different manifestations. These energies are commonly known as Nawal, which is the name that has been diffused in the Western World. According to the most traditional Elders the days/energies of the calendar should be called Ch’umil, which means star or destiny. It is the energy that each day of the Sacred Calendar brings with it. Ch’umil is a broader concept to describe the days/energies, since the concept of Nawal is more that of a spirit, of an energy that animates. Nawal is, then, the spirit of the correlative or protective animal that rules over each Ch’umil.

Nawalism: The word nawalism indicates the capacity that a human being has, once he has initiated the ancestral powers and traditions, of transforming into his correlative animal. Nawalism is known in the Maya world as the property of Charakot. Nawalism is a ritual for the practitioners of Maya spirituality, since it requires a discipline and learning for which an absolute impeccability in necessary. For the non-practitioners, however, it is important to work with the correlative animals to awaken their powers and connect to nature.

Every person, at the moment of birth, is born with an energy or Ch’umil, and each Ch’umil is accompanied by a correlative animal -Nawal- that protects the person throughout their life, appearing in the person’s life either physically, through dreams, or through visions.

Each person shares several characteristics with their correlative animal, they possess their abilities and even some of their habits. For example, people born under the energy of Tz’i’, the dog or coyote, protect their space and their people, they have an acute sense of what will come, they are agile, but like a house dog they could become dependent. It is a good idea to learn about our Nawal, to see how it affects us and which things we share with it, to connect to it and allow it to be our protector. It is also good to have something, such as an iconic image that represents it, for example a pendant or a painting.

The Maya spiritual path teaches techniques that give people the ability to become their correlative animal, this is called Nawalism. Many of these techniques, however, are nearly lost, especially in the “civilized” areas, or kept in secrecy. The purpose of becoming an animal is to move faster, to stand in a place that provides a view of any dangers for the community, to check if anyone is sick or in danger to help them, and to go into the mountains and the forests to collect wisdom, for through this animal manifestation you can easily connect to the energy of Mother Earth, to the knowledge of the Ch’umil, and you can cross to other dimensions.

Learning about our Nawal we can understand the essence of nature, which integrates us to a more real world, to the world of the origin of Mother Earth. The transcendence of the Winaq (human being) consists in developing all the possibilities that the Cholq’ij brings. For this it is important to know and transcend all the possibilities in the Cholq’ij, to learn about all the Ch’umilal and Nawalil of the Calendar, so that the Maya Cross no longer affect us, so that we can transcend all the crosses, in other words, so that we can become an integral being.

Approaching the knowledge of nawalism allows us to learn the mimicking of the correlative animals through the movements, through the energy of the animals, in other words it allows us to vibrate with the animals to merge with them and to understand the Nawal of each Ch’umil. This makes us more sensitive and more integrated. The importance of this learning is that it brings us closer in an experiential way to the energies of nature, to Mother Earth, to the origins of everything; because sadly we human beings are distanced from the natural world. We are no longer part of nature, but we have become part of an artificial and material world, which makes this learning transcendent. For the people who are have more consciousness, it is transcendent to have this experience, for in these levels one could even feel and deeply connect to the wisdom and the spirit of the animals. This technique is part of the learning and evolution of the Winaq, the whole human being.

Don Pedro Ixchop, head of the Association of Maya Ajq’ij offers a prayer at Lake Attitlan in April, 2017. Don Pedro was gracious enough to join us, along with his son, for a day where we filmed him speaking on a number of topics, including the mathematics behind Maya knowledge, meaning of Ch’umil’al, numbers, and much more.

Here is a rough translation of the prayer: Heart of the Sky and Heart of Mother Earth we thank you for being here today with my brothers and sisters. In this day we ask you Ajaw, Bitol, Tz’akol that you bless my brothers and sisters and bless us in our mission. We ask you with much humbleness, because you are the Ajaw, you are part of the air, part of the fire, you are in the Earth, you are in every place that exists in the four cardinal points of the Universe that you bless all the nations of the world. You are the powerful one who resides in the mind and the heart of every creature over the face of the Earth, don’t leave them or forget them Father, because they are also alive, because they also pray for the peace and calmness of the world. Thank you Ajaw, Heart of the Sky and Heart of Mother Earth.

Tata Pedro Ixchop prayer from Saq’ Be’ on Vimeo.

For most of the ancient peoples, the cosmic events represented a great occasion. Nowadays these are not as relevant, but even though they are not as present in our minds, they influence us. For the Maya people both the Equinoxes and Solstices mark the beginning of a new cosmic-telluric cycle.

The Winter Solstice is the most important for the spiritual and evolutionary development of the human beings and Mother Earth. The Elders say “The Ajaw (Father Sun) takes five days of rest.” The Ajaw (Sun) settles in one of the corners of the Jun Kaj (the first level of the thirteen skies) and rests there for five days. The cycle that goes from December 21 to December 25 is called the Cosmic Wayeb. For our tradition, this visual stagnation represents a time of reflection, the days of introspection and meditation. This position of the Ajaw gives us a moment of mental and energetic quietness, which also affects the physical plane. This influence flows in accordance with the energies of the Choq’ij Calendar, the Calendar of Life.

This December 21st is influenced by the energy of 9 Imox, which opens a space to activate our internal powers; the development of our vision, intuition, the awareness to find balance between the material and the spiritual. Imox brings with it the energy of the unusual, the energy that breaks the traditional schemes. This Ch’umil is known as the left hand, and it gives us the vision and the intuition. It is also related to craziness, not of mental loss or unbalance, but of the force that breaks with the conventional, with the system.

According to the tradition of the Mam Elders this cycle (December 21), which this year bears the energy of 9 Imox, is the energy of subtleness, of the spiritual openness that comes from Ajaw Imox, who opens dimensional pathways and connects us to the wise ancestors. Our focus should be in connecting with our inner being to develop our internal powers.

This cycle ends on December 25 when it is influenced by the energy of Ch’umil 13 Kan, which represents the strength of energy both in the physical and mental, number 13 is the highest expression of the energy of Kan. We should focus in perceiving the power of Kan and make it part of our existence, to flow with the energy of wisdom that Kan brings, and to accept and provoke the changes both in the physical and the mental.

The process of the Cosmic Wayeb is transcendent for this moment in which humanity is about to face changes in the social, in the economic, and in our relationship with Mother Earth, for which we must be prepared.

The advice is to practice a meditation-focusing. Take some time during the sunset, when Father Sun falls, and light a white, yellow and red candle. Focus your attention in these candles, as they will be the catalyzers of your purposes. During these five days you can make a recap of your year and how you have reached the reality you have forged for yourself. Think of what makes you happy, what you want to change; it is a real introspection, a recapitulation as the ancestors called it.

During these days you can outline your purpose and the course your life should take, you have to program and determine what you want in every level, the changes that you will make and how you will accomplish them. Let’s remember that the power of the mind is infinite.

It is also important to make a projection in a community level, in which we determine the wellbeing of our community, then making this projection expansive to all humanity.

We are living in challenging times and our purpose should be focus in halting all this negative energy; lighting candles, meditating, focusing, or doing our spiritual practices with the purpose of stopping the forces of destruction, racism, hatred, and intolerance. We will change things by projecting peace, harmony, tolerance, awareness, kindness, and compassion. It is also important to focus in the destiny of Mother Earth and us, human beings. Our thoughts and vision, together with the power of our heart and our mind, should also be guided stop the harm we are causing Mother Earth, how we are affecting her and creating climate change, hydrologic stress, deforestation, etc. We must project a real change to stop the madness toward which our countries, especially the great world leaders, are taking us.

Let’s become human again!

WHAT TO DO TO BENEFIT FROM THE FULL MOON ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 14
THE MOON WILL BE CLOSER TO EARTH- FULL MOON ON JUN LAJUJ K’AT

According to the vision of the Maya World, we are living the times of change, which are related to the New Cycle, the Job Ajaw or Fifth Sun.

The events that are happening indicate that the paths for the readjustment of the energies are opening, this readjustment comes with much strength and affects us both in the individual and the collective, as a humanity.

The standards with which we have lived are being shaken. It is the time to restructure our system of life in the social, material, and spiritual; in the essence: our relationship with the environment, with the manifestation of Mother Earth.

We are filled with a diversity of thoughts before the uncertainty that destiny holds…

This November 14 we have the opportunity to redirect our purposes.

The Moon will come closer to Mother Earth and a special space will open in which we will have the opportunity to free ourselves from the burdens that affect us, in our thoughts and feelings.

In the space of the sub-lunar plane (which is located between the Moon and the Earth, closer to the Moon) all the energy of thoughts and feelings, both dense and subtle, from all the human beings who exist and have existed, is accumulated. It is the space of the sensitivity of the psyche, in all its manifestations. The love, compassion, frustration, fear, hate, etcetera.

During this night the full Moon will be influenced by the Maya energy of the day -Ch’umilal- 11 K’at, which is the net that traps the unbalance, those negative feelings and thoughts.

Since Grandmother Moon will be closer to Mother Earth, her power of attraction is stronger. When the Moon rises we can meditate, think of those things that limit our development, the evolution of our spirit. We have to take action to get rid of this energy.

With the help of a white candle you can focus in its flame and direct your thoughts to this light that will take them to the sub-lunar plane, take as much time as you need. Make a recapitulation of who you are and how the internal and external thoughts affect you. Rely on the flame to remember, to define, and to let go, one by one, each thing that limits you, that imprisons you. Rise your eyes to the Moon and place the candle-flame between the Moon and your vision. Remember, think, take action and free yourself, send it all to the sub-lunar plane.

If you can’t do this exercise when the Moon rises, you can do it at any moment of the night.

After taking this action, it is good to receive the light of grandmother Moon, guiding it to your crown, to receive the new vision of simplicity, of not complicating yourself, of being open to the realization of the new being, of consciously filling yourself with happiness!

There are thoughts that bring with them a line of action, a tendency. These come form what we have learned and are used to repeat the same experiences. Our purpose must be focused in the possibilities, product of our state of awareness, we must let flow and free ourselves of all those things that limit us.

“We are the ones that create reality”.