Mayan astrology

Mayan astrology draws on the Tzolk'in, the 260-day ritual calendar of the Maya: twenty signs, or glyphs, combined with thirteen numbers.

The versions practised today are modern reconstructions: they borrow its symbols rather than continuing an unbroken tradition.

Where it comes from

The 260-day count is not unique to the Maya: it was shared by many peoples of Mesoamerica, including the Aztecs, who called it the tonalpohualli. The Maya used it alongside other calendars, notably the 365-day Haab' and the Long Count, which counted days from a mythical starting date. The Tzolk'in set the rhythm of rites, festivals and, depending on the sources, people's lives.

After the Spanish conquest, many codices were destroyed, but the day count did not disappear everywhere. In the highlands of Guatemala, Maya communities, notably K'iche', continue to follow the 260-day cycle. Spiritual guides called ajq'ij, "day keepers", use it for ceremonies, advice and choosing dates.

The version most widespread in the West is different. At the end of the 20th century, the American author José Argüelles proposed a system inspired by the Tzolk'in, with new vocabulary (kin, galactic tones, wavespell). This count does not coincide with the one kept by Maya communities, and the craze around the year 2012 helped it to spread.

What it is based on

The Tzolk'in combines two wheels: a series of twenty named days and a series of thirteen numbers. Both advance together, so the same combination only returns after 260 days. Each day has a name, such as Imix, Ik' or Ak'bal in their Yucatec form, with equivalents in present-day Maya languages, and each number gives it a particular intensity or colour.

In the highland tradition, each day has a nawal, an associated energy or spirit, which is interpreted as a character, a calling or a favourable moment for certain requests. Modern versions often add colours, directions and "supporting" or "challenging" signs around the main sign. These additions vary from one author to another, and not all of them come from ancient sources.

How it is practised

Your glyph and number are worked out from your date of birth, and their associations are then read.

A reading starts from the date of birth, converted into a Tzolk'in day using a table or a calculator. It is useful to know which count the practitioner uses, that of the Maya communities or Argüelles's, as the resulting sign may differ. People often come to know themselves better or to reflect on a direction in life. A session generally lasts between thirty minutes and an hour.

Readings take place in person, by telephone or online, and some practitioners offer follow-up over the course of the 260-day cycle. In Guatemala, consulting an ajq'ij is part of a religious and community practice, with ceremonies and offerings, which has little in common with an online profile. In personal practice, many people simply follow the current day as a theme for meditation.

What to expect

This astrology can serve as a poetic aid for reflecting on one's character and rhythms, and an opportunity to discover a culture that is often poorly understood. It cannot predict the future, and the living tradition of the Maya peoples, which belongs to them, must be distinguished from modern systems inspired by their symbols. It does not replace medical, legal or financial advice, nor psychological support.

Be wary of claims announcing an imminent catastrophe based on the Maya calendar: the predictions linked to 2012 did not come true, and specialists had pointed out that the Maya did not see it as an end of the world. An offer that sells costly ceremonies as essential, or claims secret knowledge without saying where it comes from, also calls for caution.

Glossary

Tzolk'in

Ritual count of 260 days, made up of twenty day names and thirteen numbers. The name is a modern reconstruction, as the ancient term remains uncertain.

Haab'

A 365-day calendar, made up of eighteen months of twenty days and a short period of five days. It is combined with the Tzolk'in.

Calendar Round

A cycle of about fifty-two years after which the same combination of the Tzolk'in and the Haab' comes round again.

Nawal

In the tradition of the Guatemalan highlands, the energy or spirit associated with each of the twenty days.

Ajq'ij

A Maya spiritual guide who keeps the count of the days and leads ceremonies. The word is often translated as "day keeper".

Kin

A Maya word meaning day and sun. In Argüelles's system, it also refers to each of the 260 combinations.