TZOLKIN: COUNT OF DAYS
Tzolkin Trecena Notes – 1 Night (Akbal)
[Day
183 of the 260 Day Tzolkin]
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 Akbal (Night/Hearth) (Gregorian date: January 20, 2008) – Introspective Dreamtime,
Darkness, Stillness, Sanctuary, Temple, Travel the Void Within to Birth New
Ideas, Travel the Underworld in Search of Wisdom.
According to the Popol Vuh, the Maya creation legend, twin brothers travel to the
Underworld where they are challenged by the Lords of Darkness to a game of
handball. They spend several nights in different houses of the Underworld where
they face many perils and fears. They win the handball game but due to trickery
of the Lords of Death, they are ritually slain, only to return to life again.
The Maya believed that the Underworld or House of Darkness was the place where
we descend to face our fears and experience spiritual death and rebirth.
Another Maya name for this sign was Utoan, meaning heart. The Aztec deity associated with Akbal was Tepeyollotl “Heart of
the Mountain.” This deity was the Guardian of Caves and was also known as the
Earth Father or Lord of Animals. His voice of thunder echoing in the caves and
mountains was associated with drums. Akbal is also
known as the Guardian of Dawn and the Guardian of Dusk, the magical transition
periods when darkness becomes daylight and daylight becomes darkness.
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 Lamat (Rabbit/Venus), 7 Muluc (Water) and 8 Oc (Dog). Lamat is also known as Venus which symbolically represented
the cycle of death and rebirth to the Maya. Venus shines as the evening star,
disappears and then reappears as the morning star. Muluc represents water as a sacred natural force giving life or taking it away. Oc is the energy of Dog, faithful companion who carries the
torch lighting the pathway through the Underworld. As we search for inner
wisdom, know that the fire of faith guides us through the darkness in order to
rebirth our souls into the light.
As we journey through each day of this Trecena: 1 Akbal (Night/Hearth), 2 Kan (Lizard), 3 Chicchan (Serpent), 4 Cimi (Death), 5 Manik (Deer), 6 Lamat (Rabbit), 7 Muluc (Water), 8 Oc (Dog) , 9 Chuen (Monkey), 10 Eb (Road), 11 Ben (Reed), 12 Ix
(Jaguar), 13 Men (Eagle), utilize the energy of Akbal to descend into your inner darkness, face your fears, release the ego and allow
your soul to be reborn.
In Lak’ech,
William and Viola
©2007 William and Viola Welsch