Sacred Maya Calendar

The Sacred Maya Calendar, known as the Cholq'ij or Tzolkin, is an ancestral, ritual count of time, fundamental to the Maya worldview and spirituality. It is also a marvelous and accurate instrument for understanding the human being and their developmental cycles, in accordance with the energies of the life cycle, gestation, and human growth, both on a personal level and in their relationship with the community.

Structure and Duration

Days: The Cholq'ij consists of 260 days in total.
Combined Cycles: It is formed by the combination of two cycles that turn like gears:
- 20 Days or Nawales: Twenty energies, symbols, or "faces of the days," which repeat sequentially. These are known as Nawales (or Wayeb), and each has a deep meaning, associated with natural elements, animals, and cosmic forces (e.g., Imox, Iq', Aq'ab'al, K'at, Kan, etc.).
- 13 Tonalities: A numerical cycle from 1 to 13 that accompanies each Nawal.
The Complete Cycle: For a specific combination of Tonality and Nawal (e.g., 1 Ajpu) to repeat, exactly 260 days (13×20=260) must pass.

B'atz

The Nawal B'atz' is the Maya energy that symbolizes the Thread of Time, Creation, and all the Arts. Associated with the Monkey, it governs the beginning of things, wisdom, planning, and the continuity of life.

People born under this influence are intrinsically creative (musicians, weavers, artists), intelligent, and persistent, possessing a great skill for strategy and mental development. Furthermore, B'atz' is the protector of marriages and an auspicious day for conducting ceremonies to ask for unity and to give thanks for the flow of time and destiny.

E

The Nawal E symbolizes the Path and the Sacred Destiny of life, representing the guidance and the necessary action to follow the straight path. People born under this energy are natural leaders, tireless travelers, and excellent communicators (diplomats, merchants), characterized by their kindness, generosity, and the gift of advising others on their journey. It is the auspicious day to start any trip, business, or to ask for protection and clarity on the path of existence.

Aj

The Nawal Aj symbolizes the Sacred Staff, the Reed Bed, and the Home, representing the strength that sustains life, power, and the unity between heaven and earth. Protected by the Armadillo, people born under Aj are responsible leaders, moralists, and scholars, known for their intelligence, perseverance, and dedication to family and community. Aj is the ideal day to ask for the protection of the home, harmony, and abundant harvests.

I'x

The Nawal I'x is intimately linked to the Jaguar (B'alam) and the Mother Earth, representing the feminine force, cunning, and the vitality of nature. People born under this powerful energy are brave, cunning, passionate, and possess great physical and mental strength, with a marked mystical vocation and a deep connection to altars and wildlife. It is the ideal day to ask for protection, vitality, and to honor the fertility of the earth.

Tz'ikin

The Nawal Tz'ikin is the energy of the Guardian Bird (Eagle/Quetzal), symbolizing freedom, the message, sacred vision, and, above all, wealth and material and spiritual fortune. People influenced by Tz'ikin are natural merchants and artists, very fortunate in money and love, possessing great mental agility and charisma. They are excellent mediators and strategists, though they need freedom and can be fickle. It is the auspicious day to ask for abundance and good luck in all aspects of life.

Ajmaq

The Nawal Ajmaq represents Forgiveness, Sin, and the Spirit of the Ancestors, being the energy that invites introspection and reconciliation. Associated with the Owl and the Condor, people born on Ajmaq are profoundly analytical, wise, discreet, and often enjoy a long life. It is the most sacred day to ask for the forgiveness of missteps, honor the ancestral lineages, and cleanse the soul, seeking harmony between heaven and earth.

No'j

The Nawal No'j is the energy of Wisdom, the Brain, and Cosmic Intelligence, symbolizing order, understanding, and profound knowledge. People influenced by No'j are brilliant intellectuals, natural counselors, and creative innovators, possessing great patience and a fertile mind that constantly seeks the truth. It is the sacred day to ask for mental clarity, the development of talent, and the capacity for discernment to make wise and orderly decisions.

Tijax

The Nawal Tijax is the energy of Obsidian and the Sacred Knife, symbolizing the power of healing, the extraction of evil, and uncompromising truth. People born on Tijax are natural healers and surgeons, brave, direct, and possess a sharp intuition for diagnosing problems. It is the essential day to perform ceremonies seeking to cut and eliminate illnesses, curses, or any negative situation affecting health or spirit.

Kawoq

The Nawal Kawoq is the energy of Thunder, Rain, and, most importantly, Community and Family, symbolizing the strength of unity and fertility. It is the Nawal of the Midwife Woman and of healing. Those born on Kawoq are natural community leaders, protectors of their family, noble, intelligent, and excellent communicators with strong intuition. It is the essential day to ask for group harmony, rain for the harvests, and the strengthening of human bonds.

Ajpu

The Nawal Ajpu is the energy of the Sun, the Lord, and the Hunter, symbolizing light, clarity, triumph over adversity, and vital force. Related to the Twin Heroes, people born on Ajpu are natural leaders, talented artists, and victorious warriors who achieve success thanks to their ability, discipline, and courage. It is the essential day to ask for victory, personal strength, and the blessing of the Sun.

Imox

The Nawal Imox is the energy of Water, the Sea, and the Beginning of Life, symbolizing the essence of the unconscious and primordial creativity. People influenced by Imox are profoundly intuitive, sensitive, and mystical, with an overflowing imagination, but they often struggle with order and mental clarity. It is an essential day for ceremonies asking for psychic balance, the abundance of water, and the ability to organize thoughts.

Iq'

The Nawal Iq' is the energy of Wind and the Breath of Life, symbolizing the Spirit, Purification, and the Mind in constant movement. People influenced by Iq' are of a strong and changing character, profoundly sensitive, great communicators (orators, poets), and possess a natural vocation for healing and spiritual cleansing. It is the essential day to ask for mental order, health, and the purification of anything that obstructs the path.

Aq'ab'al

The Nawal Aq'ab'al symbolizes the Dawn and the Daybreak, representing renewal, hope, and the duality between light and darkness. Those born under this energy are tireless workers, full of vitality, loyal, and great protectors of their home and family. It is an essential day to ask for clarity in decisions, strength for the home, and the overcoming of problems, seeking harmony and balance in life.

K'at

The Nawal K'at is the energy of the Net and the Weaving/Entanglement, symbolizing the interconnection of life and the power to both tie and untie the knots of destiny and conflict. Those born under K'at are intellectuals, charismatic speakers, and fortunate in wealth, with a special gift for unraveling problems. It is an essential day to ask for the release from bindings (captivity) and for fertility and prosperity in all undertakings.

Kan

The Nawal Kan is one of the 20 sacred energies of the Maya Calendar (Tzolkin), symbolized by the Feathered Serpent (Q'uq'umatz). It represents the inner fire that drives movement, evolution, and spiritual development. It is associated with justice, truth, and intelligence. People born under this sign are considered strong in the face of adversity, wise, possessing leadership, and great defenders of sincerity.

Kame

The Nawal Kame (or Keme) is one of the 20 energies of the Maya Calendar, symbolized by Death, which in this worldview represents the cycle of life, rebirth, and necessary transformation. It is the energy that facilitates the connection with the ancestors and the spiritual world, acting as a karmic judge. Those born under Kame are seen as intelligent people, with a strong magnetism, frequently possessing gifts of clairvoyance, and destined to be spiritual guides.

Kej

The Nawal Kej (or Kiej/Manik) is one of the 20 energies of the sacred Maya Calendar, symbolized by the Deer or Stag. It represents Harmony and Balance, as it is associated with the four cardinal points and the four pillars that hold up the sky and the earth. Kej is the guardian of nature and stability. People born under this sign are seen as natural leaders, astute, mentally agile, responsible, and capable of being excellent counselors or mediators. It is invoked to ask for spiritual strength, power, and understanding.

Q'anil

The Nawal Q'anil (or Lamat) is a central energy of the Maya Calendar, symbolized by the Seed, which represents the origin of life, unity, and the potential for regeneration in the universe. It is the nawal of fertility, abundance, and harmony, with the Rabbit as its guardian animal, associated with multiplication. People born on Q'anil are seen as intuitive, responsible, and possessing a spiritual strength that allows them to achieve success and maintain harmony.

Toj

The Nawal Toj (or Muluk) is one of the 20 Maya energies, symbolized by the Sacred Fire, whose fundamental concept is Reciprocity and Offering. It governs the law of giving and receiving, recalling the sacred debt one has to the universe and the necessity of maintaining balance through gratitude and service. Those born under Toj possess great spiritual strength, are respectful, and often become guides or spiritual intermediaries.

Tz'i'

The Nawal Tz'i' (or Oc) is one of the 20 Maya energies, symbolized by the Dog or Wolf, which acts as a faithful guide and guardian. Its fundamental meaning is Justice and Authority at all levels, governing cosmic and earthly law. It is an ideal day to invoke truth and order. People born under Tz'i' are seen as faithful, just, balanced individuals, with a natural gift for leadership and counseling.