The Number 6 is the number of ultimate stability. The “Place of Number 6,” the hill called Paclom, represents the axis mundi or world center in contemporary Momostenango. Some Mayan teachers say that there are 6 components which establish the vitality of a family system: 1) Health 2) Understanding 3) Work/Employment 4) Friendship 5) Property or Possessions 6) Positive and Negative Actions.
IMIX (IMOX) THE LEFT HAND: Signifies the left side of reality, hence receptivity, receiving messages from other dimensions, and the ability to see into other worlds; but also madness, disorder, nervousness, uncertainty and doubt. It is a sign of cooperation, for the left arm must cooperate and work well with the right. It is the nawal of the ocean, a day for healing illnesses of the mind, for giving thanks and asking for rain. The world is filled with psychological perils and stresses. Upon this day we pray for good mental health, both for ourselves and for all those around us. We pray that our dreams and visions may bring us beauty and wisdom rather than delusion and craziness. Since this day has a strong connection with water, to be close to a flowing river or stream or the ocean is beneficial upon this day.
The Number 5 represents the human hand and the five senses, as well as the five fingers and toes. Our hands do our work for us. Hence 5 may be regarded as the number of work, and of karma. Some Mayan teachers perceive five stages of life as well: childhood, youth, adulthood, mature adult, and elder.
AHAU (AJPU) THE HUNTER: Signifies a blowgun hunter, a leader, struggle, heroism, death and hunting. It is the nawal of the sun, the day to ask for wisdom, talent, and physical fortitude. It is the nawal/guardian and patron of flowers. It is the day of mental and psychological tests and challenges, for the winner of such tests and challenges (heroic like the mythic Hero Twins); prophet, fortune-teller, psychic, diviner, accuracy in divination and prophecy; may also signify an eclipse. The day of the grandparents who have departed.
The Number 4 symbolizes wholeness. It is associated with Ahau, the Sun God as cosmic lord (the word ahau literally means lord). Why is this a solar number? The word for “day” (k’in in Yucatec or q’ij in K’iche’) is the same as the word for “sun”; a day is a complete passage of the sun. The sun or the day has four stations: dawn, noon, sunset and midnight. These four components of each day, each “sun,” can be conceptually expanded to include the solstices and equinoxes; thus the year is also a 4. There is evidence that the Classic Maya divided the universe into four sections marked by the two intersections of the Milky Way with the ecliptic. Thus we live in a fourfold universe. The Maya still lay out their ritual altars in a fourfold pattern. The number 4 represents the four elements: Air, Fire, Earth and Water; these compose nature and give us life. Four is also the Four Directions and the Four Pillars which hold up the Earth. In K’iche’ myth there are four pillars which keep the Earth and Sky in their rightful places.
CAUAC (KAWOQ) THE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY: The sign of the Divine Feminine, signifying wives, female healers, and especially midwives; thunder, lightning, cyclone; spiritual unrest and mental conflicts; spiritual contacts and communication; blood lightning/signs, signals and messages in the blood. This day is sometimes said to signify the celestial home of the gods. Upon this day, we pray that there may always be harmony in our home lives and among our friends. Like the previous day, it is auspicious for all matters regarding health and healing. It has a special connection with women and with feminine energy.
Even though the Maya typically avoid performing rituals on 13 days, today is an important exception. Men (Tz’ikin in K’iche’) is the nagual of economic well-being, good fortune. It is an auspicious day to give thanks and ask for financial prosperity. It is the communication and mediation between Uk’ux Kaj and Uk’ux Ulew (Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth). Unlike those of some spiritual traditions, the Maya do not feel that material prosperity is undesirable or “non-spiritual.” Upon this day, we may thank the universe for whatever abundance we currently enjoy while honestly expressing the intention that more prosperity may attend our lives.
On 11 Ben (Aj), the pilgrimage to the Four Sacred Mountains continues, this time with a journey to Pipil Abaj, the Sacred Mountain of the North. I had the good fortune to travel with the daykeepers on this pilgrimage. It is a long trek through remote mountains, ending at the shrine of North Mountain which is situated at the tip of a promontory overlooking the meeting of two rivers. The shrine itself is a natural rock formation which is said to be enlivened with an especially powerful “encanto,” i.e. the guardian spirit of a sacred place. The rock is blackened from the smoke of countless fire ceremonies.
The Number 1 symbolizes beginnings, unity, the original energy of creation. Even though it is a low number, it is powerful, for it has to do with the energy of the new trecena which is making its arrival. Therefore, Daykeepers usually do ritual on a 1 day, and in some traditional communities there is a special shrine dedicated to the number 1. It also symbolizes the power of thought, the initial or beginning “idea” behind all things that inspires us to create and to bring things into manifestation.
AKBAL (AQ’AB’AL) DAWN: Signifies awakening, dawn, marriage, light and enchantment. It is the nawal of clarity or light, the day to ask for the occurrence of the light in all things. It is especially a day of marriage, love and romance.. This day symbolizes both darkness and dawn; hence it is a day of new beginnings. Upon this day, we express our intention always to think and act with perfect clarity. Needless to say, it is also perhaps the most favorable for day for love and marriage (though Chuen is also very good, especially for the actual marriage ceremony). An Akbal day can also be quite favorable for finding a job.
The number 13 is the completion of life, of all movement and process. 13 has a special relationship with the development of paranormal abilities, as we might expect from its connection with the 13 major joints where the sacred koyopa energy accumulates. 13 also relates to refinement and sensitivity, enhanced perception and acute intuition. This ability to access other dimensions of reality applies to all actions performed on a 13 day as well as to those who are born upon a 13.
IK (IQ’) THE BREATH OF LIFE: Signifies wind, moon, crisis. It is the nawal of the element of air and the moon, of the spirit of human existence. It is a day for the removal of negative energy and illnesses. It is the wind which sweeps clean our house and our body. Also signifies a hurricane, cleansing, purification, breath, and sexual obsession. Upon this day we ask for the strength, the vitality, and the commitment to carry on in our chosen work. This is a day for the removal of negative energy and illnesses; in terms of healing, it favors the resolution of psychological problems, especially those which arise from angry emotional states.
Even though the Maya typically avoid performing rituals on 13 days, today is an important exception. Ik is associated with the kab’awil. These are objects from ancient times, often discovered while the Maya work their cornfields etc. They almost never submit these objects to the “authorities,” for they regard them as representatives of colonial powers who will take the sacred things of their ancestors and put them in a museum for strangers to gawk at. So they give them to their favorite Daykeeper instead. Many humble family altars contain figurines and other ancient objects which one usually sees only in famous museums. When the most difficult day-sign (Ik) reaches the most difficult number (13), a transformation into positive energy occurs, and Ik becomes the “divine wind” or “breath of life” which cleanses our altars or other sacred spaces. Today is the day to charge up any power objects you may possess.
The number 12 is the highest of the even numbers and represents a summing up one’s life. At one time or another we must all come to a such an accounting of all our actions and experiences, weaving together all our individual, family, societal and cultural influences. 12 represents this totality of thought.
IMIX (IMOX) THE LEFT HAND: Signifies the left side of reality, hence receptivity, receiving messages from other dimensions, and the ability to see into other worlds; but also madness, disorder, nervousness, uncertainty and doubt. It is a sign of cooperation, for the left arm must cooperate and work well with the right. It is the nawal of the ocean, a day for healing illnesses of the mind, for giving thanks and asking for rain. The world is filled with psychological perils and stresses. Upon this day we pray for good mental health, both for ourselves and for all those around us. We pray that our dreams and visions may bring us beauty and wisdom rather than delusion and craziness. Since this day has a strong connection with water, to be close to a flowing river or stream or the ocean is beneficial upon this day.
The number 11 has great force, strength and power. This power is neither positive nor negative but neutral. Some Mayan teachers see it as representative of the totality of past, present and future, everything that unfolds over time. The number 11 holds tremendous creative potential, but it can be challenging to access that force and is sometimes perceived as a “difficult” day.
AHAU (AJPU) THE HUNTER: Signifies a blowgun hunter, a leader, struggle, heroism, death and hunting. It is the nawal of the sun, the day to ask for wisdom, talent, and physical fortitude. It is the nawal/guardian and patron of flowers. It is the day of mental and psychological tests and challenges, for the winner of such tests and challenges (heroic like the mythic Hero Twins); prophet, fortune-teller, psychic, diviner, accuracy in divination and prophecy; may also signify an eclipse. The day of the grandparents who have departed.
On this day, the pilgrimage to the Four Sacred Mountains continues. Daykeepers visit the Sacred Mountain of the West and perform ritual there.
The number 10 symbolizes the 10 digits on our hands and our feet, which altogether make up the 20 which comprise a human being. This number has a special meaning of human cooperation, the bonds and relationships between people.
CAUAC (KAWOQ) THE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY: The sign of the Divine Feminine, signifying wives, female healers, and especially midwives; thunder, lightning, cyclone; spiritual unrest and mental conflicts; spiritual contacts and communication; blood lightning/signs, signals and messages in the blood. This day is sometimes said to signify the celestial home of the gods. Upon this day, we pray that there may always be harmony in our home lives and among our friends. Like the previous day, it is auspicious for all matters regarding health and healing. It has a special connection with women and with feminine energy.