Tzolkin Trecena Notes – 1 Night (Akbal)

Carlos Barrios in The Book of Destiny states “This glyph signifies the owl and represents light and dark at the same time. The two circumferences at the top represent the energy of creation, and the dots below represent receptive energy.”

The Popol Vuh (Maya creation legend) relates the story of the Hero Twins (two brothers) who 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 facing and conquering magical tests. They eventually win the handball game, but due to trickery of the Lords of Death, they are ritually slain – only to return to life again. In Jaguar Wisdom, Kenneth Johnson explains:  “Thus, with this legend, the House of Darkness is the place where we face the perils of the soul, our personal netherworld where the ego dies only to be reborn in different form.” The day sign Akbal symbolizes the Underworld or House of Darkness.

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.

“This is the day to ask for clarification regarding our path, to ask for fresh opportunities to renew our life, to achieve clarity, to bring light into the darkness, and to reveal mysteries. It is a good day to ask for stability and to find a good job.” Carlos Barrios The Book of Destiny

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 represents 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.