The Wind (iq')

Iq' is considered the sacred breath to the K'iche' Maya. If you visit the ruins at Palenque you will find that the Classic Mayan architects built the windows of the pyramid hallways in the shape of Ts. That is because T is the shape of the glyph for iq'. It looks like a T or like a person sticking out her tongue. In English, the word is translated as wind. However, Wind is symbolic of the vital spirit that gives life and animates us all (think of the force in Star Wars). Wind people have large quantities of this power flowing through them. This is a good thing in small doses, but often Wind natives get so filled with this sacred breath flowing through them that they believe it all to be their ego, that they are the source of all power and inspiration. Perceiving all this power as ego often causes a misuse of it (think Anakin Skywalker), so many daykeepers associate this sign with dictators and military despots.

Those born on the day of the Wind must realize that the power fueling them is not their ego but the sacred breath. If they don't they are like an unmanned steamroller smashing everything in its course. Their past sign is Jaguar which can keep them aware of their debt to the spiritual world. These natives of the wind will have to learn to control their outbursts or they will blow like human hurricanes. Think of Elizabeth Taylor's (9 Wind) notorious fits. Another wind native, Hillary Clinton (9 Wind) seems to have herself under more control.

Traditional daykeepers often tell parents to punish their Wind children with the leaves of the xibirib plant (bashful ones, similar to this)-- a plant that contracts when stimulated by a touch. The soft essence of the leaves will tame the fiery nature of the Wind child. The right and left hand signs of Wind are Rabbit and Vulture, which are both calm and quiet signs. Vulture is good natured although lazy, while Rabbit is sensual and in love with the good things of the world. Wind people should draw on these characteristics to balance out the anger and ego. Their future sign is Dog, which is a mixed blessing. On one hand the Dog can enjoy simple daily activities. On the other hand, the Dog can embody sexual over-gratification and quarreling.

If Wind people can learn to control their passions their inner hurricane will transform into a gentle breeze on a bright sunny day.

Notable Wind Natives:
Derek Jeter (12)
Roger Federer (12)

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The Storm (Kawak)

"The sesitivty of these natives tends to leave them thin-skinned." Kenneth Johnson, author of Jaguar Wisdom

The sign for this day is the gathering of rainclouds. Storm natives may thusly feel as if there is always a tempest surrounding them. The left and right powers are the serpent and corn, respectively, so they can learn to lead emotionally balanced lives. Daykeepers say that Storm babies come into life with a great deal of karmic debt that they have to work through. So it is assumed they will have their fare share of harassment and sorrow. Princess Diana (1 Storm) and Yoko Ono (2 Storm) are good examples of the turbulence that surrounds this sign. Diana was killed in a highly controversial car crash and Yoko Ono is widely held responsible for the break up of the Beatles. This predilection for being at the center of trouble is a shame because Storm natives are often incredibly compassionate and sensitive to others. In fact, this sensitivity is often their undoing. They may find themselves too thin-skinned to handle many situations that are easy for other people. When talking to a Storm native, some people feel they are one big button waiting to be pressed. This may not be initially apparent as their left-hand power, the Serpent, may mask it. Their future sign is the deeply empowered deer and their right hand sign is Corn, a symbol of wisdom and leadership. When committed to a focused and higher cause, Storm natives are dedicated a helpful members of society with a deep empathy for other human beings. As long as they commit themselves to a higher purpose, they can avoid the sadness and despair caused by the emotional storms around them.

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The Night

A sensual and mysterious sign. A sign of poets and philosophers, of thinking and feeling. Of expression. It is the day of the legendary king of Palenque, Pacal Votan. There is a feminine softness to this sign, whether the person born on this sign is male or female. These people speak and write well, they have an incredible verbal talent.

Shimmering verbal talent comes from the fact that Night people have one foot in the otherworld. This can be a positive or negative quality. Night people can spin webs of lies as easily as they can unleash the floodgates of their wisdom and insight. Also, there is a kind of manic-depressive quality to them, moving from joy to tears in the blink of an eye. Monkey, their future sign, gives them a flare for trickery and they may often sink into addictions to gambling. Behind the Night person is the loud Eagle who cries out powerfully for whatever it wants. In this way, all the personality of the Night person combines to help her get what she wants. According to the K'iche' Maya, Night people are endowed with body lightning and make excellent diviners or daykeepers. People of the night are likely to have excellent artistic talents.

The sign is an ambiguous form that most Mayanists believe is the symbol of Pacal's underground treasure-house.

Notable Night Native:
Uma Thurman (1)



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The Eagle

This is called tzik'in in K'iche' which means literally authority of the sun or bird. It is often represented in the glyphs as an eagle or a face, thereby the English translation. This sign is endowed with body lightening -- what the Mayab call coyopa. Daykeepers say the Eagle is one of the most powerful of all day-signs. It is ofen depicted as a face which has been associated with the moon; in this way it is both yin and yang -- sun and moon -- and it is an archetype of wholeness. The Yucatec word for Eagle is men which literally means "the wise one". Among the Aztecs are there were two kinds of elite soldiers: Marines and Seals, if you will. They were the Eagle Knights and the Jaguar Knights. The Eagle is said to "cry out" for whatever it desires. In that way it is the sign of the directed warrior energy and the sacred purpose. The Eagle is powerful in both the material and spiritual realms. John F. Kennedy (4 Eagle) was a symbol of strong spirit and focused motivation.

The Eagle is a sign of passion and desire. These people expect to sore above the crowd and be able to swoop down for what it wants with lightening-quick reflexes. For this reason, they are likely to become wealthy. Because of Eagle's connection with the Sun, Eagle natives are said to shine as religious professionals.

It's important for the Eagle people to remain balanced in the very center of their beings. The past and future signs are deer and night, which both possess large quantities of body lightening. Water and Crocodile are the right and left hand powers, respectively. This means if they lose balance they will suffer from the wild pull of the crocodile or the dangerous pull of water, which has a penchant for illness. Eagles must navigate their turbulent emotions and be guided by the light of the sun into conscious awareness.

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Serpent | Kan - K'iche' | Chikchan - Maya | Sacred Calendar

The serpent is a bringer of rain and a symbol of fertility. Sometimes this sign is called seed. It's the seed of life, a fertile, reproductive concept. There is a Hopi Indian dance of the serpent that encourages the gods to bring rain. The Aztecs relate this sign to the Goddess of the Jade Skirt. She's a force of love, beauty, and life-giving water. The K'iche' Maya, who I studied under the most, believe that the Serpent people are extremely powerful. They have a lot of coyopa or body lighting. This is similar to the Asian concept of chi (기), an energy that goes through the body, except the amount that people have varies wildly in Mayan thinking. Some people don't have any. Serpent is one of the days on which a Calendar shaman is likely to be born. In fact, the natives of this sign often become "spiritualists" or mediums, the most powerful and deeply feared specialists among the practicioners of the Sacred Calender. This means the power is strong but the amount of control varies from person to person. Also, the number before serpent shows how centered the Serpent power is in you. A low number means you have other influence (see below for past, future, right, and left powers) a high number means you are dominantly Serpent. 7 is the highest number. 1 and 13 are the lowest. The closer the number to 7 the higher it is. It's a kind of pyramidal thinking. So, for example, 7 Serpent has the most serpent in her. All are a mix of Serpent and your surrounding signs.

The Serpent underscores ambivalence. Serpents possess a power that is both highly magical and intensely sexual--Clint Eastwood (9 Serpent) and Marilyn Monroe (5 Serpent) both constitute good examples, one becoming a model of responsible Hollywood life and the other falling victim to her passions. Natives of this day-sign see beneath the surface of things, into the dark nebulae of reality, into a world of other senses--think the "force" from Star Wars. They have a connection with what many cultures have aptly termed the "wisdom of the serpent." Incense is Serpent's past sign and symbolizes intense cognitive powers and metaphysical thinking. Monkey is the left hand power which has a knowing, amoral quality that is neither good nor evil. On the right side is Storm a sign of turbulence and trouble (think Monroe). So without spiritual development the serpent may twist toward its sinister side. In other words, the rage of the Serpent is fierce. So Serpents are both respected for their wisdom and feared for their innate magic. This vital power is ultimately intimately connected with sexuality, and Serpents may easily become slaves to their passions, motivated wholly by their desires.

Therefore, those born under the Serpent must learn to harnass and tame their inner powers. The "body lightening" must be brought under conscious control. If so, they can live a spiritual, wise, and balanced life. The future sign of the Serpent is Corn--a symbol of life and community, a totally positive sign. If Serpents walk the straight path they are a wise asset to the community.

Notable Serpent Natives:
Osama Bin Laden (13)
Italo Calvino (7)
John Steinbeck (11)

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The Sacred Calendar | The Cholq'ij | Mystic Mayan Energy | Wisdom | The Tzolkin | Daysigns | Aj Q'ij

About my Interest in the Cholq'ij Sacred Calendar

Many of you know that I spent a lot of time in Mexico & Guatemala when I was younger. During that time I had a chance to learn to speak Spanish. What many of you probably do not know is that I also learned a bit of some other languages like Triqui, Chinanteco (which has one of the most beautiful words I've ever heard in any language to date -- "la" with a rising and falling pitch -- it means Earth), and most importantly K'iche'.

Why is K'iche' so important and what is it? 

The K'iche' Maya have, in my opinion, the greatest cultural heritage of the Maya. See more about K'iche' here. While I lived in Xelaju Noj (aka Quetzaltenango) I studied with a Mayan Daykeeper named Roberto Poz. Recently, three of my students in Hankook University of Foreign Studies in Seoul asked me about it -- I don't even know how they heard that I'd studied to be a daykeeper. They wanted to know their signs (there are twenty of them, and they offer insight into the personality and tendencies of a person). I gave them a write up about their sign (all of them came out to be Serpent). It occurred to me that other people might be interested in knowing their sign and the meaning behind it. I searched online and found a Mayan date calculator which will tell you your mayan daysign if you type in your birthday. Then you can follow the daysign links below to know more about each sign. I am completing the list slowly. If I don't have your sign, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll get to it.

My Book about the Cholq'ij Sacred Calendar

Also, all the twenty daysigns are defined and have poems written about them and in honor to them in my book The Sacred Calendar (available at Amazon: Cholq'ij Sacred Calendar and Smashwords: Cholq'ij Sacred Calendar). Check out all the free information on this site and if you like what you see, have a look at my book. It's available in paperback and eBook forms (with eBooks available in just about every format).

How this site works:

Below are the twenty signs of the Sacred Mayan Calendar. Click on any (or all of them) to get detailed information about each one. If you don't know your sign, please try the Mayan date calculator to find what you are and learn more about yourself and your sign. Enjoy!

The Daysigns:

Crocodile
Wind
Night
Lizard
Serpent
Death
Deer
Rabbit
Water
Dog
Monkey
Road
Corn
Jaguar
Eagle
Vulture
Incense
Flint
Storm
Ancestors



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Discover More Now

If you need anything else, please ask. Leave a comment or email me at the link above. If you want to know someone's daysign just ask. I was recently asked about Steve Jobs and added him in (he was born Ancestors, if you're curious). Thanks for your interest.

Discover more about the Cholq'ij with Twenty Poems for the Twenty Sacred Calendar Days. Much of this information is secret knowledge reserved for daykeepers and shaman in Mexico--Yucatan, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca--Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Discover some of these secrets revealed in poetry.

External Links and some photos:

Check out some photos of the Maya.

What is Magic? (a site devoted to Mayan ceremonies)

Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl on the Calendar Round

Mayan girl with baby

Palenque (in the heart of the Lacandon Forest)

Aura

I have uploaded some videos of my kitten, Aura, to this blog. You can see all of them on youtube.com. Here's one embedded below for you to enjoy. She has just gotten back from the vet after getting spayed. She's drugged and doesn't yet realize she's wearing a cone. 

                

Aura's in the underwear drawer!

My Poems have been translated into Spanish

Those of you who know me well know that I put a lot of time and effort in litchaos.com -- my website. In the last six months the site has grown past my expectations. We now are able to publish in print, conduct audio interviews, make videos and more. This issue has some really interesting stuff. Also, poet Andy Riverbed has done the awesome task of translating two of my poems from English into Spanish. Check out him out reading translations of my poetry (Spanish and English). Also, don't forget to click the newest issue of litchaos.com where you'll find an interview with Andy that explains such mysteries as to why Andy was once called 1910. Click his blog to see his translations in print. 

You can pre-order Damaged, Riverbed's book, at the Coatlism Bookstore. It's due out January 1st, 2009 but we hope they'll be available earlier than that. They make a great xmas present!

Pool

Those of you around me recently know that I have become very into pool. After receiving a pool stick for my birthday from Soo Jin I am more committed to actually learning how to play. One problem I have is I cannot hit good backspin enough to make a shot really roll. The second clip shows the greatest backspin that I have ever seen. The first clip shows simply one of the greatest clips I've ever seen. 

Henry and Mary's daughter, Lillian

John McCain is energy illiterate

Oil illiteracy

"John McCain is energy illiterate," Matt Simmons is saying. "He's just witless about this stuff. As a lifelong Republican, I'm supporting Obama." A dozen oil and gas men sitting around a conference table in Lafayette, La., chuckle nervously as he continues. "McCain says, 'Oh, we're going to wean ourselves off foreign oil in four years and build 45 nuclear plants by 2030.' He doesn't have a clue."

more... (from the original article by Brian O'Keefe on Fortune online)

Check this out!

Vote For the MILF. Ha ha. That url connects to the John McCain webpage.

Clint Cabanero

My First Book!! Published. Out on Amazon. Or buy this experimental little chicken nugget directly from me | Signed copies available

Ralph-Michael Chiaia's Ten Poems & Ampersands: Buy Now!

This is my first book, released in 2007. It's two chapbooks combined. The first one is haiku-like little poems about cities in Asia. The second one is long rants and experimental poems with codes, mixed forms, and other zany effects.

Click the link and discover some very cool reviews of my first book of bizarre experimental poems. 

Once again the p-funk get slighted!

Those of you who know me know that I love Parliament/Funkadelic and George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars and varous other side bands and reincarnations. Recently I saw a top ten list of the best album covers of all time and noticed that no p-funk was present. Here are some links to their art. Tell me there isn't one cover that should be mentioned? 

http://www.fastnbulbous.com/funkadel.htm

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/parliamentfunkadelic/music.html

Here's another good P-Funk Resource:

http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/pfunk.html

Inside a P-funk album cover:

http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/pics/PFCOM3.GIF

Some great parliament videos, courtesty of For Monks Only (my writing and art blog):

http://formonksonly.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-kind-of-music-do-i-like.html

Star Light

Please visit the Vietnamese Sejong University Student page. My good friend Jung Hyo (Trong Hieu) made the star light at the bottom of the page.

This was a chuseok festival, a kind of harvest day in Korea, that the students celebrated. Jung Hyo and I were busy drinking because it was his birthday but this is an awesome piece that he left for the party.

Two Videos for Henry and Dale, respectively

One of my friends, Henry, really likes this kind of thing. I have some great, cute pictures of his gorgeous daughter, Lillian, which I'll upload later. For now though, it's car flipping time. Click the thumbnail to watch the video straight from revver.com.






And for Dale, I know you're always terrified of elephants when they're walking around the streets between the bars in Thailand. I used to think you were a big softy, but maybe you've simply got common sense:

Print Issue #1 of litchaos.com

Many of you know I'm an editor at litchaos.com. We have produced a book--a print issue with poems, artwork, and stories from our writers and the winners of the poetry and fiction awards, 2008. Check out the book trailer in this entry and buy a copy.

Wimbledon Prediction

She stomped her left foot, straightened out her arms, and puffed her chest out. She was an angry child. Then she relaxed and went back to playing. You knew that Ana Ivanovic, the prettiest tennis player with a five o'clock shadow, was in for a rough day. Miss Jie Zheng, the delicate powerhouse with tree trunk thighs that let her plant her feet and bulldoze old tenement housing and pave the road for new Chinese megastructures, was playing well as she has been all tournament long.

I could see this miss Zheng going to the finals. They've said a Chinese woman would dominate one day. This may be the day. This may be the woman. This may be the prediction. As for Ivanovic, she nearly went out in the second round. At least she spared herself that.

And, Miss Zheng, it looks like you may be doing a lot more English interviews. If you ever need an English tutor with a sharp kick serve, get in touch.