THE 20 NOMINAL NAWALS
The nominal nawals, also know as day signs, day names, energies or archetypes of the Maya calendar, are the spiritual forces of nature that give all the beings a dynamic and oscillating personality.
B'atz
(Thread / Monkey)
Is the ‘Thread’, alluding to the ‘Interweaving’ of actions. the ‘Node of Work and Ideas’. like the connections we make in life, these threads are not simply straight cuts across, they can twist, ‘Entangle’ and change shape. B’atz is the weaver moving the threads which resembles a ‘Howler Monkey’ swinging from trees. It’s the spirit that ‘Puts Things in Action’, and is associated with arts and spirituality.
E
(Pathfinder)
Is the ‘Path of Life’, the spirit of the ‘Road’ Like taking a trip to explore somewhere new or taking a trip inside of ourselves for ‘Deep Insights’. It’s how we build purposes to ‘Keep Moving’ and how we create our ‘Meaning of Life’. It’s also seen as The Nawal of ‘Melancholy’, and it’s one of the 4 Mam (Grandfathers / Years)
Aj
(Transformation)
Is the ‘Transformation’. It’s the spirit of ‘Changes’ that come from the feeling of ‘Incompleteness’ or ‘Instability’. Like when it’s necessary to adapt to a new situation, whether or not from our choices. When we change ideas or behaviour to make it suitable for a new situation. It’s the unpleasant sensations that lead us to transform. Aj is also the ‘Home’.
I'x B'alam
(Jaguar)
Is the ‘Female Jaguar’. As the top hunter of the jungle that circles the territory and helps keep the environment and the food chain healthy and balanced. It’s the aggressive side of the Feminine nature of the Earth. It’s the spirit of ‘Development’ and ‘Fertility’, the ‘Gestation’, and it explains ‘Materials’ and financial abundance, like when we collect a ‘Savings’.
Tz'ikin
(Eagle)
Is the ‘Male Eagle’ and the ‘Mid-day Sun’. It follows the metaphor of the Eagle that flies high, sees everything over large distances, and when it finds it’s prey, goes ’Straightforward’. It’s the spirit of ‘Engendering’, and the masculine force of sky that gives rise. It’s also related to ‘Investments’ or ‘Spending’.
Ajmaq
(Complementarity)
Is is the process of ‘Matching’, what joins complementary opposites together. It can be a marriage, a partnership, or a business deal. It’s also the results of matching. Ajmaq means ‘Walking in Darkness’ referring to the ‘Blindness’ caused by the emotions of matching. For example: ‘Falling in Love’. It’s also the ‘Procreation’ cycle that connects parents, children, and grandparents.
Na'oj
(Thoughts)
Is the ‘Thought’, or the ‘Thinker’, the intelligence that absorbs all the information. The process of ‘Analysis and Synthesis’. It ‘Determines’ and makes ‘Decisions’. Similar to the human mind, Na’oj is the spirit that groups and compresses information into knowledge. It’s like when we study something deep to learn, to find the patterns to memorise. Or like when we make ‘Plans’. It’s also connected to ‘Obsession‘ and It’s one of the 4 Mam (Grandfathers/ Years).
Tijax
(Cut)
Is the ‘Cut’, or the ‘Incision’. It represents the Obsidian and Flint stones used as scalpels to perform ’Healings’, do Surgery, or to make weapons. Tijax means ‘Cutting and Separating’, like removing the “negative” or what doesn’t serve. The spirit of ‘Medicine’ and the gift of communication and miscommunication through language. It is words that can heal, or words that can ‘Hurt’, Tijax.
Kawuq
(Sheet Lightning)
Is the spirit of ‘Sheet Lightning’, the ‘Vision’ beyond the senses. It’s the instant knowing or access to an information without the processes of the mind. The ‘Deep Intuition’ that appears like sheet lightning. Lighting up an entire cloud base. Like when we can’t explain, but we can see clearly how to do things. It also refers to unloading information, like when we ‘Gossip’.
Junajpu
(Conqueror Sun)
Is the ‘Conqueror Sun’. The sun coming up from darkness and rising to ’Shine’ again. It’s the “saga” of the seed that rises up from the underground until it blooms into a ‘Flower’. It’s the spirit of the ‘Battle to overcome darkness’, like when we have face the inner battles we create, like overcoming a ‘Fear’ before starting something new. Something we do to ‘Attract Attention’ as flowers do.
Imox
(Water)
Is the spirit of ‘Water’. It makes things ‘Grow’, the ‘Injection of Force’ that can be hard to control. It’s also known as the ‘Left hand’, representing when we do things with the opposite hand, that may not have the same ‘Precision’. and it can ‘Lead to Madness’, The ‘Overflow’ that can destroy things. Like when we mess something up.
Iq'
(Wind)
Is the spirit of the ‘Wind’. It’s the ‘Breath of Life’. The wind working as an ‘Inhalation an Impulse’. It fills us with ‘Courage’ or ‘Enthusiasm’, and could lead us to see life in a more romanticised perspective. It’s an ‘Explosive’ Nawal, like an unstoppable child throwing the ’Temper Tantrum’ when things don’t go their way, look out! It’s also one of the 4 Mam (Grandfathers / Years).
Aq'ab'al
(Clarity)
Is the ‘Clarity’. The first rays of the sun that start lighting up what is in the dark, but It’s not day yet. It’s about shining a light onto what is in darkness, as a flashlight does. like when we do a ‘Research’ to learn about something specific to ’Clarify’ it more. It’s the spirit of the Jaguar hunting in the dark and that chooses what shall remain in the dark. It’s ‘The Power Obtained by Hiding Information’. The Nawal of ‘Control’.
K'at
(Burning into Ashes)
It’s the ‘Embers’ after ‘burning something to ashes’. The fire that already consumed most of the fuel and is burning low. It’s the ‘Sacrifices we do for Others’. The Burning of energy to help others or to keep our projects or business continue. It’s the ‘Effort’ or the ’Tasks’ that sometimes can leave us ‘Exhausted’. It’s also known as the ‘Net’ referring to the ones used to carry fish and other food, so others will eat as well. It can be the bag we carry our tools for work or that we use shopping for groceries.
Kan
(Stellar Serpent)
Is the ‘Stellar Serpent’, due to the shape of lightning bolts that looks like serpents in the sky. But actually it’s more connected to the sound of thunder announcing the rain. It’s the spirit of ‘Intervention’, or the ‘Fury’ in the sky. It’s like the feeling of ‘Annoyance’ that lead us to intervene in a situation, wether it’s on our own or in the behalf of someone else. For example as lawyers do. It can also express the ‘Enemy’.
Kame
(Ancestors)
Is the ‘Death’. It’s the spirit of the ‘Ancestors’ that still travels through the breezes of the wind. It’s the day used to honour our dead ancestors, to keep “feeding” them. It’s the most sensitive Nawal and it deals with emotional vulnerability, Like when we feel ‘A Broken Heart’ ‘Left Out’ or ‘Oppression and Sorrow’. It’s The really dark places inside of us that we are stuck in sometimes. But this realm of Kame is what can give birth to the most beautiful and touching melodies of life, and also deep authentic empathy and ‘Supportive’ attitudes.
Kej
(Deer)
Is the ‘Deer’ and the ‘Altar’. It’s the spirit of ‘Strength’ and ‘Stability’, and it is the symbol of the spiritual guides. The ones who are responsible to keep the community in ‘Balance’. Another representation of the deer is the 4 legged table used in the Maya altars. Kej can also be connected to a ‘Horse’ or a ‘Moose’ to express it’s wild, strong, ‘Protective’ and sometimes ’Reluctant’ nature that tends to ‘Dominate’ and ‘Ride’ to set the rules. It’s one of the 4 Mam (Grandfathers, Years).
Q'anil
(Seed)
Is the ‘Seed’, The ‘Potential to Germinate’ and the spirit of ‘Multiplication’. Like a seed that needs fertile soil, water, oxygen, proper temperature and amount of light and darkness to germinate, Q’anil refers to the ‘Proportions’ in which things are applied from the process of ’Sowing’ and ‘Growth’, to ‘Yellowing’ and ‘Harvesting’. It’s also related to the abuse of medicines, addictions. Like when a plant or seed gets ‘Rotten’ or ’Intoxicated’. Q’anil is also the Nawal of Venus.
Toj
(Fire)
Is the spirit of the ‘Fire’ ascending, going wild, growing, being fed as ‘Payment’. It’s related to the ‘Offerings’ made to the ceremonial fire as a ‘Taxation’ or a way to ‘Pay’. It’s also connected to the blood, in a sense of paying “blood, sweat and tears” to get something. The ‘Sacrifices We Do To Achieve Power’, like spending years paying a mortgage, or working hard to get a promotion, or the ‘Reward’ of seeing our business’ succeed. It can cost us everything, mental and physical health included, but at the end is ours. It’s about paying to ‘Rule’ and at the same time having to deal with the large amount of pressure that comes along with it. It also connected to ‘Pain’ and ’Sickness’.
Tz'i'
(Dog)
Is the ‘Mountain Dog’, the spirit associated with ‘Emotional Attachment’. It can be related to the bonds we create in life with others and how we express our ‘Loyalty’ and ’Friendship’, How we deal with the unstable nature of ‘Emotions’ that often brings ’Uncertainty’ and ‘Doubts’. It also is expressed as “To walk like a Dog behind someone” as a way to refer to ‘Sexual Attachment’, ‘Seduction’ or simply ‘Begging’ for affection. It also describes the ‘Chaos’ caused by emotional disorders that can lead Tz’i’ to be the ‘Authority that Bites’.
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Copyright © 2022 MayaDaykeeper Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
