1 CHICCHAN (Serpent/Snake) Red/East

Moon in Aquarius. Mercury Rx moves back into Aries (until May 16).

This is the first day of the time-pulse of Chicchan (cheek'-chan), the Mayan Celestial Serpent. These 13 days are about awakening the body of the earth within and then transcending it. To understand the path to the stars we must move through the senses. It is here in the energy of Chicchan where we hold the keys to fully awaken. When considering the meaning of the serpent or snake, it is interesting that it is one of the few creatures where nearly every inch of their body is connected to the earth. Indigenous people of the Americas, and the world over, have used the snake in their rituals for healing and transformation. The Feathered Serpent deity of Quetzacoatl was one of the most important Gods of Meso-America. To the Mayans his name was Kulkalkan, the great sky serpent. Kulkalkan is similar to the Mayan word kultanlilni, which relates to the Hindu concept of kundalini. In his book Mayan Science and Religion, Elder Hunbatz Men breaks down the meaning of this Mayan word. K'ul -- K'u is "sacred" and "God" with "L" or "lil" meaning vibration -- together this is "The sacred place where solar energy is deposited at the base of the spine." This life force energy, "coyopa" or "body lightning," that is stored in the root chakra is the correspondence that Chicchan has to the human body. Chicchan is the lightning strike that wakes us out of our earthly sleep. It is the molten lava that spews from a volcano. All we need to do is to unravel the code to break the serpent free. By using the power of this glyph we can begin to understand and connect to the symbolism of Chicchan as a way to master our own serpentine energies.

Another important aspect of this time-pulse is the ten days in a row that open up to what are called "portals." In the Tzolkin calendar there are a total of 52 of these days that make up a pattern similar to the triangular patches on a diamond back rattlesnake. They look like upside down and right side up pyramids or the double helix of DNA. They are the weaving of an in-breath and out-breath in this living, breathing matrix of time. These particular ten activation points are about the past and help bring through information and knowledge that will help us in the upcoming cycle(s). This is ancient primal knowledge, an "in-breath" of cosmic information that we probably could only feel during the last cycle, a cycle which began on September 6, 2003 and went through the end of last year. This time around the information will be felt and understood with more clarity and we will be open to it. During this time it is wise to watch how the dreamtime and other dimensional information seeps through. There will be information coming through. It might be obvious, and there may be things that come up that we ignore. Connect the dots. The idea here is to pay attention to everything, as if every new encounter were your intuition knocking down your door. These "Serpent Days" fall on 3 CIMI to 11 MEN (April 13 - April 22). This is a powerful time to go deep into the consciousness of our bodies, to access our very DNA and uncoil our ancient wisdom. We have all that we need to awaken the wisdom of the serpent and bring though the divinity of ourselves. Watch the cycles, use the power of the glyphs and let the presence of Chicchan show you the way.

TUESDAY APRIL 13

2 CIMI (Death/Rebirth) White/North

Moon in Aquarius

The second day of the cycle is the day when we will begin to see what challenges us about this period. What comes up on these days will tell us how to navigate the cycle. Retrograde Mercury and Mars are not so happy together and we may feel a push to move forward, to speak our mind. What we really need to look at is both sides of the story and find the balance. This is the first day of the series of ten that will be like an opening of the veils of time and illusion and we will see our way clear into what may have seemed hidden or obscured from our view. It is a time to pay attention and get clear about what we want before we make any moves. Cimi (k'ee-mee) is the glyph meaning death. Death not only being the end of life but the beginning of something new. It carries us through an incubation or chrysalis stage. It is a separation from the life that we knew and the ability see things in a new focus. Two is the number of duality, it takes us through to the other side if we are willing to take that trip. Cimi will give us a peek into the underworld and if that creates fear then this is a day to get clear on what it is we fear and find out what it will take to let that fear go. Cimi is also about surrendering to the things we cannot change. The Aquarius moon is detached, not really wanting to be involved with the physical nature of people or things. But with some excellent aspects between the moon, Venus, Mars and Neptune we will find ourselves with the understanding and awareness to release our fears and reach a state of being unconditional, creating boundaries out of love and not out of fear.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14

3 MANIK (Deer/Hand) Black/West

Moon in Aquarius/Pisces

The third day is a goddess and creatrix energy. It creates our cauldron and space in which our work will become known and understood. It is the beginning of our cosmic stew. Manik (Man-eek) is the deer. Deer is one of the most unconditional creatures on the planet. Deer are here to serve, to nourish and support the beings of the planet and this third day of creation is also one of service. Manik is also about the hand that heals and this day will open a gateway of healing energies. The Venus square to Jupiter is exact on this day, which is not a bad sign as long as you don't spend all your money and your time on somebody else. Be clear on what it is you can afford to give away and set some limits. As the moon moves from Aquarius to Pisces we will have a tendency to sacrifice rather than serve. This may make us lean toward idealism and compassion without much thought for the larger scheme of things. Remember that when we surrender to the highest potential then we need to have something left over for ourselves. Giving too much burns us out and in the end serves no one. Bask in today's loving energies and share your gifts with someone who truly cares.

THURSDAY APRIL 15

4 LAMAT (Rabbit/Star) Yellow/South

Balsamic Moon, 12 degrees Pisces (Sabian Symbol: " In the sanctuary of an occult brotherhood, newly initiated members are being examined and their character tested.")

The glyph for this day is Lamat (La-mat'). Lamat is the rabbit and the fourth day of the time-pulse. This day is a time of anchoring the four directions and the four elements. It is about FORM and the formation of our creative thoughts and desires into matter. Four is a foundation. It is the moment when all that has been pulled together for the last few days becomes real. Today is the day of the balsamic moon, which is the moon in a transition stage prior to the new/dark moon. We are feeling a sense of foundation and anchoring and yet with this cycle of the Piscean moon we may find ourselves navigating uncharted waters. Feet are not very likely to feel firmly planted on the earth. Rabbit is about separation and growth. Its purpose is to separate and multiply. Rabbit is a kind of trickster energy and inherent in the need for growth is some element of conflict. We need a spark to get us moving. These days often have some kind of twist to them, an event, external or internal, some kind of conflict that will need to be brought back into balance. With the Sun squaring Chiron today this should be just the kind of friction to fuel the energy needed to follow that white rabbit into the unknown. We may find ourselves needing to deal with a core issue in terms of who we think we are, one that may not be in harmony with how we think we should be treated by others. Our desires, no matter how altruistic, must be in harmony with the whole of things. The forces of nature must be our guide. No matter how much we build, create, or lay down a foundation, we will never know the real comfort of "home" until we have looked into the eyes of the abyss and still find comfort there.

FRIDAY APRIL 16

5 MULUC (Moon/River) Red/East

Moon in Pisces

The fifth day is the day we move forward with our desires based on the energy of the pulse of Chicchan. Five is the number that relates to Venus, it is the center of four, and the fifth element. This is a day of clarity of intention and it creates a shift in perspective. Muluc (moo'-look) is the Mayan Glyph for the moon and relates to karmic waters and purification. In the Cherokee calendar it is the river of stars that is the Milky Way Galaxy. This river is also known as the Path of Souls and we will find ourselves very much connected to other worlds at this time. Deep and powerful emotions will be felt. On this day the Sun meets retrograde Mercury and the moon squares Pluto before it moves into Aries. Being the fifth day we will be asked to form some new plans, to take action. The powerful emotions of the day will show us how to see our way clear to a new strategy. We will want things to go our way, but these ways simply are not working any more. The best bet would be to look at what we can do to change the situation before getting anyone else involved. Some quiet moments and inner processing will open up invaluable resources to help prepare us for the days ahead.

SATURDAY APRIL 17

6 OC (Wolf/Dog) White/North

Moon in Aries

Oc (oak) is the dog, the wolf, and the community level of consciousness. These days are about being with those companions of destiny that help us in our capacity to serve others. This is loyalty to a higher goal. The sixth day is about equilibrium in motion. Oc relates to the fixed "Dog" star Sirius which is several degrees away from transiting Saturn and square the moon tonight. Sirius is the brightest star, second only to our sun. It was known to the Egyptians as the "Shinning one." Some Mayan calendars are in sync with the rising of Sirius, which is in July. The star Sirius has to do with making the mundane sacred. Oc is the glyph that relates to this process. As the wolf or dog we see how small actions can lead to large consequences. The dog is one of the great heroic metaphors and friends to humankind. But living with this kind of energy may ask us to sacrifice ourselves to the collective. This does not need to be a sacrifice of our principles. Currently the newly discovered Kuiper belt object, Varuna, is transiting close to the fixed star Sirius. Varuna was named after a Hindu deity who ruled the waters, this can make it a powerful guide in learning mastery over our emotions. Oc is a day sign that can also give hints to a darker emotional nature. Dogs will be dogs. The lesson here is learning the ability to serve the community without anger, resentment or competition. Later tonight when the moon is square to Sirius/Varuna we will see just how best to move through what challenges us in this regard.

SUNDAY APRIL 18

7 CHUEN (Monkey) Black/West

Moon in Aries

Chuen (chu' wen) is the Monkey and primary trickster energy of the Mayan day signs. Chuen relates to the twin brothers who in the mythic Mayan creation story of the Popal Vuh, were turned into chattering monkeys. Monkeys are creative, inventive and fast in their motion. But they can be troublemakers. This kind of energy along with Mercury retrograde may make for magic and mischief. The seventh day of the pulse is at the center and lies between the first and the thirteenth day. This spiraling geometry of time in the Mayan system is about learning to merge our beginnings and endings. To be centered and/or to be able to spin in both directions without getting dizzy. The Mayan people had ways of understanding language that could be heard both forwards and backwards. In this way the underlying message would be revealed, and one could always hear the truth. Indigenous wisdom teaches that when we walk forward we are stepping into our past because this is what we see. The future is what lies behind us, it is what is not already clear to us. Carlos Castenada taught his initiates to learn to walk backwards, to see into the future, and feel their way towards what can only be seen in the mind's eye. As Mercury backtracks through Aries over the next month let the glyph of Chuen help us through the illusion with a smile.

Copyright (c) 2004 by C. McCloud Burkhart, all rights reserved.
Mayan Glyphs copyright Carol.