TZOLKIN: COUNT OF DAYS
Tzolkin Trecena Notes – 1 Crocodile (Imix)
Day 1 of the 260 Day Tzolkin
Gregorian Date:
Trecenas are thirteen-day periods in
the Tzolkin. Each Trecena starts with the Number 1, but with a different Day Glyph. As a wave of the
Thirteen Heavens, the underlying energy is governed by the First Day Glyph of
the Trecena and influences all thirteen successive
Day Glyphs. Being aware of the predominant energy of the First Day of the Trecena, we can align our intentions with that energy and
allow our goals to manifest.
This Trecena starts with 1 Imix (Crocodile/Alligator/Waterlily) – Beginning - Initiating new possibilities and
concepts – Receptivity and Trust, Earth Mother, Nourishment, Protection, Primordial
Ocean of Possibilities.
The Classic Maya believed
that an earth monster or primordial Crocodile floated in the ocean of the
Underworld. He carried the Earth on his back, nourishing and protecting all
life. Thus, Crocodile supplies humanity with the underlying primal feeling of
our connection to nature and Mother Earth. The glyph itself represents a Waterlily, a symbol of beauty, abundance and growth, and
the possibility of ascension out of the primordial soup of creation.
Out of the void, a spark of
fire falls into the primordial ocean of possibilities and creation spirals into
life.
 © 2006 Judith Ann Griffith |
With 1 Imix we are
starting a new Tzolkin round of 260 days which ends
on 13 Ahau. 1 Imix is a
logical place to begin counting the days. The number 1 and Imix both symbolize beginning. According to Kenneth Johnson in Jaguar Wisdom, “this
is an arbitrary point of origin. The rhythm of the Sacred Calendar is circular;
many contemporary Calendar shamans insist that it has neither beginning nor
end. Nevertheless, we will follow tradition and use 1 Crocodile as a convenient
‘beginning’.”
Another representation of the Trecena is that of a creative wave beginning at 1 and ending at 13, with the numbers 6,
7 and 8 representing the crest of the wave. The crest could be interpreted as a
strong influential energy, although the underlying influence on the Trecena would still rest in the beginning. In this Trecena, the crest falls on 6 Cimi (Transformation/Death), 7 Manik (Deer/Healing Hand)
and 8 Lamat (Rabbit/Venus). It is interesting that
Transformation, change and new beginnings, falls on the crest of the wave in
the trecena Crocodile which is the beginning of the Tzolkin. Deer symbolizes groundedness of the four-legged animals and the healing hand. Rabbit energy symbolizes abundance and the pure
joy of being alive. The energies of this Crest propels us to move forward -
from transformation, healing and into abundance.
As we journey through each day of this Trecena (1 Imix, 2 Ik, 3 Akbal, 4 Kan, 5 Chicchan, 6 Cimi, 7 Manik, 8 Lamat, 9 Muluk, 10 Oc, 11 Chuen, 12 Eb, 13 Ben), focus on the energies of Crocodile protecting, nourishing and grounding us to the Earth. Crocodile offers emotional, physical and spiritual security allowing us to open up to new beginnings.
In Lak’ech,
William and Viola
©2008 William and Viola Welsch