Let the breath breathe itself in a softening belly.

Soften the belly to receive the breath,

to receive sensation, to experience life in the body.

Today is an ideal day to start birthing something new into the world: a concept, a philosophy, a project, a song. The birth process isn’t always easy, but it is beautiful.

During the last cycle, I wrote about each of the trecenas—including a summary of the energy of each day within them. Each trecena is ruled by the energy of one of the 20 nawales of the sacred Mayan calendar.

Kame represents death, rebirth and transformation and has a deep connection to the ancestors. It is considered an auspicious and positive energy. The energy of Kame encourages us to hold our loved ones on the other side of the veil in our hearts and memories and to let go of our grief.

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop.
Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.
Open the door, then close it behind you.
Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.
Give it back with gratitude.

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. According to renowned 19th-century American writer and philosopher Emerson (1 Aj), “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

Ajpu is the sun, the human being, the hero that each one of us is in our own lives, on our own journeys. We begin and end this life alone, but along the way, community, family and friendship is what sustains us. Our spiritual practice is what sustains us, in addition to air, water, food, shelter and love.

The next 13 days are imbued with the energy of Kej, which represents our connection to the wilderness, the four directions, spiritual leadership, humility, respect, power, and grace.