The Trecena of 1 Men / Tz'ikin

1 Men / Tz'ikin — The Trecena of Vision

Men, or Tz’ikin in K’iche’ Maya, is the far-seeing Eagle, the great bird that soars far above the highest peaks of mountains and pyramids, high above the din of mankind, where only sacred silence and the breath of winds reign.  Sweeping across vast stretches of sky on broad powerful wings, Men enters the dreams of men and women to impart important messages and revelations.  Made of legend, his breadth and acuity of vision surpasses that of any other living thing, and that is why this daysign embodies vision, clarity, perception, and profound understanding.  Men is the Guardian of the Sun and cosmic space, and the eloquent mediator between the opposing viewpoints of Uk’ux Kaj and Uk’ux Ulew (Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth).  As the nagual of good fortune and economic well-being, Men embodies wealth, financial health and business affairs and negotiations.  Men’s animal totems are the eagle and maq’uq’, the sacred quetzal bird.  In the Classical Maya tradition, it is associated with the cardinal direction West and the color black.

On Men days, the Maya give their thanks and gratitude for whatever prosperity and material well-being they enjoy, and sincerely express the intention that more may come into their lives.  Men is, in fact, the day to dedicate the Xukulem Chuwach Ri Qajaw, a sacred Mayan ceremony to ask for good luck.  It is also the best day in the Tzolk’in for love, friendship, and abundance, for each person as well as for the community.  We may also ask for protection for our businesses.

Come along for a 36,000-foot view of your life as you soar far above the routine, the day-to-day that keeps you from seeing your golden horizon and connecting with your destiny.  Men the Eagle will sweep you off your feet and show you the path your life is carving through time, so that you may see where it’s going and decide how to guide its future progress.  Only Tz’ikin can give you this view—the very name of this daysign derives from Tz’i, the sign of Authority we have already read about, and the Maya word for the Sun, k’in.

In our fast-paced, stressed society where being busy and having a top flight career is prized far above health and family, where success is defined by material wealth and personal status, there is little room for what truly matters.  Modern society is built upon control and influence—the media, the economy, the political system, organized religion, even the workplace and our own families can be extremely limiting.  But we can change that.  We can re-arrange our schedules, redefine and re-establish our priorities, and insist on them for every aspect of our lives.  Each one of us really does have a choice, regardless of what our bosses, our colleagues, our peers—and yes, even our own families—may say.  The only things keeping us from making the choices we want to make, at the end of the day, are fear, uncertainty, and the force of habit.  This is what Men helps us clear away, by taking us far out and above the grinding tasks and mental patterns that rule our daily lives. 

Unfetter the shackles of belief, fear, and uncertainty that hold you down.  Break down the walls of what others tell you.  This is a time for you to explore who you really are: your higher self, your dreams and ambitions, your ultimate potential.

Careful, though, not to act too quickly or impulsively, for these soaring heights can be intoxicating.  When you witness pure potential, when you feel the exhilaration of freedom, it’s like a drug.  The air is purer, you can see farther, you can fly faster and stronger.  But this trecena is about vision, not action. So take these thirteen days to clear your sight and your perspective, work through where you want your life’s path to take you, or where it is already taking you, and prepare to take action in due time.

Remember, flight at these heights takes experience, planning, and skill. So take your time to learn to navigate the great Eagle’s wings, and don’t forget to enjoy the view.

 

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(Original text by Birgitte Rasine.  If you'd like to repost the Trecena texts, please copy the above text in its entirety and credit Birgitte Rasine/The Mayan Calendar Portal with a link to www.maya-portal.net, and email us with a link to your site so we can reciprocate.)

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