Mayan calendar - Time is Art

The Mayan Calendar or "Mesoamerican Calendar" is formed by THREE main calendars:

THE LUNAR CALENDAR: Tzolk'in or "ritual almanac" of 260 days, comprised of 20 symbolic day signs and a series of 13 numbers (13x20=260)
THE SOLAR CALENDAR: Haab of 365 days used as an agricultural and tax calendar
LONG COUNT: The third calendar is a continuous record of days that starts over again every 5000 years or so. The current Long Count began in 3114 BC and it will end on the 21st of December 2012.

Tzolk'in and Haab calendars combine perfectly with one another like cogs in a wheel. Analyzing the wheels we find the same combination of numbered days in the Tzolk'in and in the Haab every 52 years. A cycle called 'Calendar Round'.

The Tzolk'in (lunar) and the Haab (solar) calendars were common to almost all peoples of Mesoamerica. They are still used today among traditional peoples (Ki'che' Maya of highland Guatemala), especially the Tzolk'in; the ancient solar calendar is more rarely found.
The Tzolk'in forms the fundamentals of Mayan magic and ritual; with a system of astrology and divination.
The daysigns of the Tzolk'in comprise the essential myths and archetypes of ancient Mexico.

<- 2012 Enlightened

How is the Long Count subdivided ?:
Although the Mesoamerican populations had a solar year of 365 days, the Long Count is based upon a "mathematical year" of 360 days:

K'IN (day in Mayan): 1 day
WINAL: 20 days

TUN (stone in Mayan): mathematical year of 360 days.
K'ATUN (twenty stones): 20 tuns (19,72 years or 7.200 days)
B'AK'TUN (a bundle of stones): 20 k'atuns or 400 tuns. (394,52 years or 144.000 days)
GREAT CYCLE: 13 bak'tuns, or 260 k'atuns, or 5200 tuns (5.125,36 years)
P'IKTUN: 8000 tuns or 20 bak'tuns (7.890,4 years or 2.880.000 days)
KALABTUN: 160,000 tuns (157.808,2 years or 57.600.000 days)
KINCHILTUN: 3,200,000 tuns (3.156.164,38 years or 1.152.000.000 days)
ALAUTUN: 20 kinchiltun (approx. 63 million years or 23,040,000,000 days)

The Great Cycle-That span of time which began in 3114 BCE and ends in December 21, 2012 is part of the Long Count. With the invention of the Great Cycle, the Maya were making an incredible effort to define and quantify the cycles of the world through maths.

Mayan mythology:
Each Long Count cycle is a world age in which the gods attempt to create pious and subservient creatures.
1-First Age: began with the creation of the Earth, and it had upon it vegetation and living beings. Unfortunately, because they lacked speech, the birds and animals were unable to pay homage to the gods and were eliminated.
2-Second Age: first version of humanity was made from mud, but these people could not move or speak, and they were annihilated.
3-Third Ages: the gods createde humans from wood, but these also failed to please and were wiped out.
4- Fourth Age: We are currently living in the Fourth and Final Age, the age of the modern human, made of flesh and consciousness.

First of all: "What's a Mayan sign or 'gliph'?"
The Tzolk'in (lunar) calendar combines a cycle of twenty named days with another cycle of thirteen numbers, to produce 260 days (20×13=260).
-Each of the 20 names have one unique GLYPH (symbol) which represents the CHARACTERISTICS of the day
-Each of the 13 numbers have one unique TONE (dots/lines) which represents the MANIFESTATION of the day

COMBINING the GLIPH and the TONE you get a KIN ('day' in the Mayan language) and as we have seen, we have 260 different KIN.

In the Tzolk'in calendar on the right you can see how this works. > > > > > > > > >

You read the Tzolk'in calendar starting from the first box on the left and going down vertically, once you get at the bottom (20th glyph) you go back on the top and you move one column on the right.

Mayans and numbers:
Maya numerals were a vigesimal (base-twenty) numeral system and it was represented with 3 different symbols:

DOT: represented the ONE

LINE: represented the FIVE

SHELL: represented the ZERO

Note:
The kin, tun, and katun are numbered from 0 to 19
The unial are numbered from 0 to 17
The baktun are numbered from 1 to 13

OLD SYSTEM TO CALCULATE YOUR KIN:

The old system is still used today to get the whole picture of ourselves and to understand where we come from. Click on the link and read the name and number in the Tzolk'in row.

CALCULATE YOUR OLD KIN HERE

NEW SYSTEM TO CALCULATE YOUR KIN OR DREAMSPELL:

The Dreamspell is an esoteric calendar based on a modern interpretation of the Maya calendar by Mexican-American author, educator, spiritualist and Mayanist philosopher, José Argüelles, in 1987.
In "The Mayan Factor" Argüelles devises a complicated numerological system by combining elements taken from the pre-Columbian Maya calendar with the oldest oriental divination method used in China, the I-Ching. According to Arguelles, the main purpose of the calendar is to synchronize human beings with our "galactic roots".
Many people are converting to this new method of calculation throughout the world as it seems to be perfectly harmonized with our time.

CALCULATE YOUR NEW KIN HERE

Now that you have calculated your glyph, have a look at the characteristics of GLIPHS and TONES.

(I'll be updating this part as I get more information about the characteristics.)

Imix, the Dragon is the primordial creature, it invites us to enter the energies of earth and go back to the Source, remembering our true origins are from the earth. Great Mother, it nurtures and takes care of all of us. Imix lives by [...READ MORE]
Element: EARTH
East: STARTS
Chackra: THROAT
Planet: NEPTUNE

~Tone Characteristics~

Ik, the Wind is the breath of life. It lives in the body and is very agile but it is also quite connected with the mind and then the breath of spirit. His vision of the world seems to be in terms of "I" rather than "we". Of course a great communicator, direct informer, refining information into an understandable code for everybody. Ik looks for [...READ MORE]
Element: AIR
North: REFINES
Chakra: HEART
Planet: URANUS

~Tone Characteristics~

Akbal, the Blue Night lives in the emotional realms and operates within the dream world. It can be mysterious and logical, powerful and/or conservative. Akbal can be [...READ MORE]
Element: WATER
West: TRANSFORMS
Chakra: SOLAR PLEXUS
Planet: SATURN

~Tone Characteristics~

Kan, the Yellow Seed lives by instinct and is related to the world on the basis of its five physical senses. Its individual consciousness is the formed in the "I". It is an informer planting a web and transmitting information. Kan is interested in leading and in good performance. Sexual, dynamic, active and influential, aims to reach high standards. For Kan to be a balanced individual, and to mature sexually, it has to be engaged in artistic or performance related activities to reach the fulfillment of its five physical senses.
Element: FIRE
Sud: DEVELOPS
Chakra: ROOT
Planet: JUPITER

~Tone Characteristics~

Chicchan, the Serpent lives by instinct. Moving through life he moves fluidly like a snake moving easily through problems finding a way out easily. Chicchan as all other signs ruled by east initiates/births ideas, creation. Chicchan remembers informations and receives knowledge. Chicchan has strong energy and will power. Chiccan should focus on trust and truth. Chicchan has strong emotions and feelings that affect others powerfully. It can be charismatic, powerful and even extremist. Its challenge is to consciously experience powerful transformations. For this reason Chicchan has to be kind to itself, accepting changes in life as a part of the learning process. Follow your instincts.
Element: EARTH
East: Starts
Chakra: Crown
Planet: Asteroid belt

~Tone Characteristics~

Cimi, the World Bridger lives in the realm of reason and mental activity. Cimi is the opportunity to let go and remember spirit. In Mayan tradition it was said to be linked with death. Probably due to this, Cimi looks for conscious security and materialism. It can sacrifice for the community, helping its concerns and has interest for politics and the community. Cimi can have issues in having faith in the universe, and evolving past victimizing itself. To solve this Cimi has to find its meaning in life making contributions to society. Follow your vision and start manifesting it.
Elemento: AIR
North: REFINES
Chakra: THROAT
Planet: MARS

~Tone Characteristics~

Manik, the Blue Hand lives in the world of reason, in the mental world. It remembers and transduces information to a more accessible form. Manik is peaceful, generous showing skills in cooperative initiativesand can inspire people. Manik can be individualistic, nomadic, outspoken, yet it needs companionship. It can be a real artist. Its challenge is to balance between the contradictory needs of personal freedom and relationship security. To be able to do this It has to learn to become comfortable with its own individuality, no matter how strange that may be.
Element: WATER
West: TRANSFORMS
Chakra: HEART
Planet: EARTH

~Tone Characteristics~

Lamat, the Yellow Star lives by reason and operates out of the mental world. Lamat thinks in terms of "we", as community consciousness. Lamat in essence remembers. Lamat is usually energetic, clever, busy, nervous and playful. It shows a lucid intellect, but can become paranoid. Lamat loves fighting, but is always reaching to operate out of love. Lamat's issues are based in controlling itself in order to finish things. Lamat needs to learn to express feelings and avoid excesses and extremes.
Element: FIRE
Sud: DEVELOPS
Chakra: SOLAR PLEXUS
Planet: VENUS

~Tone Characteristics~

Muluc, the Red Moon lives by reason and in the mind. It can be really mental. As all other east glyphs, it initiates and gives birth, but formulates and transmits the creative pulse as well. This makes it very emotional, imaginative and even psychic. It can be dominating by the projection of strong feelings. Muluc is romantic and fantasy inclined. Muluc is challenged to control itself and take responsibility for what it has started. Try to be persistent, consistent and cleverly responsive during Muluc days.
Element: EARTH
East: STARTS
Chackra: ROOT
Planet: MERCURY

~Tone Characteristics~

Oc, the White Dog lives in the reason and operates in the mental world. It can be quite aware of the community and links to the energies of love and the heart. Oc is very loyal to friends and family. Its ability is to refine information from spirit and transform it in an accessible form to other people. Oc is helpful, consistent, loyal and cooperative. A good team player and joiner, but a good leader as well. It needs variety in life. Oc can have authority issues, or it could be challenged for emotional maturity and father related healing. Solutions will be found in acceptance of leadership when needed. Healing the past means moving toward your destiny.
Elemento: AIR
North: REFINES
Chakra: CROWN
Planet: MERCURY

~Tone Characteristics~

Chuen, the Blue Monkey operates from the emotional and physical worlds. Chuen life tends to abundance, not exclusively of money. It can be a general positive abundance of energy or an abundance of success or even failure. Chuen is communicative, formulates information and transmits it. Chuen as the monkey, gets attention from people, one way or another, positive or negative. It can be clever, artistic and demonstrative. It usually has multiple interests, as curiosity makes it discover the world. It's challenge is to stay with one thing long enough to master it. The solution is having many creative outlets and an active social life.
Element: WATER
West: TRANSFORMS
Chakra: THROAT
Planet: VENUS

~Tone Characteristics~

Eb, the Yellow Human lives by physical emotions and works from within the physical world. Eb has a global consciousness. Eb processes within the essence. It transforms what it receives into a understandable form to people. Eb is relaxed, kind and useful. It can be careful and also sensitive, susceptible, and can be hurt easily. Eb is a hard-worker and ambitious. Eb's challenge is to avoid poisoning itself by suppressing anger. The solution for Eb is to be free to express feelings and to help purifying and in healing actions.
Element: FIRE
Sud: DEVELOPS
Chakra: HEART
Planet: EARTH

~Tone Characteristics~

Ben, the Red Skywalker lives within the physical and feels particularly strong emotions. It starts ideas and intentions as all east glyphs. Ben is very expressive and gets wisdom. It is usually popular, informed, accomplished and competent in everything it does. Ben is a fighter for principles, a crusader. Ben loves to take on challenges and is continuously challenged to restrain its stubborn nature, to loosen up its rigid attitudes. Ben can find a solution by smoothing out its fighting inclination,and when it acquires knowledge of the depth of human nature and develops good social skills.
Element: EARTH
East: STARTS
Chackra: SOLAR PLEXUS
Planet: MARS

~Tone Characteristics~

Ix, the White Wizard lives in the emotional realm and can be phsychic. Ix is globally conscious. It links to the energies of enchantment, timelessness and receptivity. It refines information from spirit, and expresses and transmits it to the world in a more usable form. Ix is a sun that is definitely connected with the Orion conflicts and has issues to heal in this area. Ix can be secretive, sensitive and intelligent. It is attracted by religion and spirituality. It can be aggressive but avoids direct confrontations. Ix has to manage complex and entangled human relationships. A good solution would be developing counseling skills and learning to release relationships that do not nourish it. It has to look for the complex relationships in its life and re-evaluate them. Let go of the ones that are not for your highest good.
Elemento: AIR
North: REFINES
Chakra: ROOT
Planet: MALDNEK (asteroid belt)

~Tone Characteristics~

Men, the Blue Eagle lives within the physical and emotional world. It expresses the informations that it gets. It is ambitious and independent. Its nature is to escape to cope with will-controlling situations. This glyph is scientific or technically inclined as it shows a exact and critical nature. It is challenged to accept its unusual relationship standards as it has a unique idea about life. Men solution is to cultivate friendship that understands the values of personal freedom.
Element: WATER
West: TRANSFORMS
Chakra: CROWN
Planet: JUPITER

~Tone Characteristics~

Cib, the Yellow Warrior lives as a warrior for the spirit and lives within the universal heart. It is universally conscious. Eb expresses itself in the essence. It's realistic, very wise, deep and pragmatic. This glyph can become hardened to life and lives in a conscious condition. Cib can allow to be dominated by others. Its challenge is to overcome self-consciousness and personal insecurities. The solution for it is excelling in its career and living out of its high standards, and can accept authority figures without giving up its personal power.
Element: FIRE
Sud: DEVELOPS
Chakra: THROAT
Planet: SATURN

~Tone Characteristics~

Caban, the Red Earth lives in the spiritual world. It lives within the heart that is central to it. Caban, as all the east glyphs, starts and gives birth to ideas but can self-regulate as well, and doesn't need much help from the outside. It's capable of transducing the information it gets into a more accessible form for the people. Caban follows reason and is very mentally active, it is clever and practical. It believes in liberalism and can be progressive or controversial. This glyph sticks to an idea when it has a strong belief in them. Its challenge is to hold one's life together according to a plan and to become more flexible and patient.
Element: EARTH
East: STARTS
Chackra: HEART
Planet: URANUS

~Tone Characteristics~

Etznab, the White Mirror lives in the realm of the spiritual world and operates with universal heart. It lives from the expanded perspective of universal consciousness. It links directly with the energies of reflection, endlessness and order. It refines spirit but here in the energy of Etznab it self-regulates, needing little help form the outside world to manifest its visions as it figures things out for itself. Its base energy is receiving. It believes in social values, but struggles in close relationships. Etznab is practical and good in mechanic works as it is well coordinated. It self-sacrifices and compromises, sometimes suppressing anger when it feels that the compromise is not in its best interest. The paradox of Etznab is to have a self-sacrificing versus self-interest vision. Etznab can solve this by developing cooperation skills and learning to share with others and doing so it can find a way where everybody wins.
Elemento: AIR
North: REFINES
Chakra: SOLAR PLEXUS
Planet: NEPTUNE

~Tone Characteristics~

Cauac, the Blue Storm lives within the spiritual world feeling the universal heart. It can regulate by itself and needs little help from the outside world to understand its own process. This glyph is a great transmitter of information that it has received several times from non-physical sources. Cauac has many faces, and being a great teacher and learner it can be a real helpful friend. It transimts the feeling of youthfulness and can be restless in what it does. This sign is interested in philosophy or religion showing concern to heal and purify. It is challenged in becoming a healer and gets great values by studying from a master.
Element: WATER
West: TRANSFORMS
Chakra: ROOT
Planet: PLUTO

~Tone Characteristics~

Ahau, the Yellow sun lives within the spirit and is the universal heart . It is universal consciousness, being enlightened. Ahau is the universal fire by itself. This glyph has no problem in self regulating as it receives directly from the source of itself. Ahau dreams and it is an artist. This sign can be awkward in society, but its intentions are good. It is loving, romantic and devoted in a god-like way. This glyph's idealistic nature can make it stubborn and uncompromising sometimes. It faces challenges when it handles disappointments due to unrealistic expectations. Ahau can solve this problem keeping life simple and being a good friend.
Element: FIRE
Sud: DEVELOPS
Chakra: CROWN
Planet: PLUTO

~Tone Characteristics~