People of the Corn: The Aj Trecena
Aj is the cornstalk. It is one of the most masculine of the nawales, literally meaning “man of” and representing leadership in the realm of home, family and community.
The renowned 19th-century American transcendentalist writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson was 1 Aj. Here are a few of his timeless wisdom quotes:
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
Like a corn stalk, sugar cane, or bamboo, Aj is strong yet flexible, as well as hollow and open to receive. As the Buddhist Heart Sutra says, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.”
According to Mark Elmy of The Four Pillars, the trecena of the highly fortunate and noble yet gentle and humble nawal Aj “can be seen as a time to bring harmony to home and community through wise counsel.”
In the realm of yoga, I think of Aj as tadasana, or mountain pose, as it is also associated with the spinal column.
Aj inspires us to “stand tall, with a straight spine, and draw on the energies of the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of the Earth, to bring peace and prosperity” to our own heart, our home and the wider community around us.
Here are the energies of the next 13 days in the sacred Mayan calendar:
1 Aj (January 26) – A new beginning of leadership. Plant seeds of intention for your home, family and community.
2 Ix (January 27) – See and embrace the magic in your relationships and in Mother Earth. Make a decision about anything: will you say yes or no?
3 Tz’ikin (January 28) – Inner vision. Meditation. Visualization. Notice the fruitful abundance of your inner world.
4 Ajmak (January 29) – Grounded forgiveness. Ask for pardon. Enjoy the sweetness of life. A day to forgive others and be forgiven by yourself.
5 No’j (January 30) – Great day for idea generation, conceptualizing and problem solving.
6 Tijax (January 31) – Find physical healing through stability and devoted practice. In Spanish, curar and sanar both translate to “to heal.” Today is a day for both.
7 Kawok (February 1) – The storm is passing. Be patient as you weigh your options. Avoid rushing into things.
8 Ajpu (February 2) – Return to the hero’s journey. Celebrate the divine aspects of yourself and the world we live in.
9 Imox (February 3) – Celebrate feminine power. Connect with collective consciousness and the whole of life.
10 Iq (February 4) – Create change through clear communication. Manifest your words in the social realm. Write a letter, publish a blog post, or pen an essay.
11 Aq’ab’al (February 5) – Be on the lookout for new concepts. Be open to creative distractions and meandering through in-between spaces.
12 K’at (February 6) – Bundle your life experiences to cultivate wisdom and clarity.
13 Kan (February 7) – Touch the strength and wisdom of the Spirit world and the ancestors.
