Men Trecena
by Kenneth Johnson
The Eagle is one of the most powerful of all day-signs, for in it the symbolism of the sun and moon, yin and yang, are united in an archetype of wholeness. Flying high above the world, the eagle sees all things clearly. (In the human body, this day sign corresponds to the eyes.) Seeing, he cries out for that which he desires. So do we members of the human tribe. We may cry out for love, for a vision, or for prosperity.
Most mortals cry out for prosperity first and foremost. Thus Men is the nagual or “guardian spirit” of economic well-being and good fortune. Unlike some spiritual traditions, Mayan spirituality does not regard material prosperity as essentially undesirable or “non-spiritual.” Economic well-being is a valuable tool that helps us to manifest our dreams, our visions, and to bring our highest aspirations into reality. At this time, we may thank the universe for whatever prosperity we currently enjoy while honestly expressing the intention that more abundance may enter our lives. This is the best of all possible times to begin a business venture, or to bring one to completion and fruition.
The K’iche’ word for this day-sign, Tz’ikin, clearly embodies the meaning behind the symbol. While the word may simply mean “bird,” one may also etymologize the word tz’i’ as “authority,” while q’in means Father Sun, hence Tz’ikin is the Authority of the Sun. Don Rigoberto Itzep Chanchavac, one of my teachers calls this day-sign the guardian of the sun and of cosmic space, for it is the great intermediary between the worlds; the joyful cry of the bird as it flies through cosmic space nurtures the power of the sun and preserves its purity. The sunflower is the botanical correspondence for this day-sign.
Those born upon the day Men are most likely to be successful when they are their own bosses. They are fiercely independent and don’t take orders well from others. They don’t do well with rules and regulations and get very frustrated if forced to punch a time clock and answer to other people. If they are allowed to make their own way in life, they are capable of developing any number of talents which will bring them success and prosperity. They are often gifted in a variety of arts, and usually in mercantile enterprises as well. They are clever, accurate, honest and truthful; many of them are eloquent as well, and their gift for words helps to make them good intermediaries between opposing points of view. Let us remember that one of the essential meanings of this day-sign has to do with the position that birds occupy, midway between heaven and earth, between the gods and the mortals. Natives of Men can be natural mediators.
There were two orders of knighthood among the Aztecs. Eagle Knights were the champions of the sun in his brightness, in his daytime shining. Jaguar Knights were the champions of the midnight sun. The Eagle fights boldly by day; the Jaguar spies in the darkness of night. These Eagle Knights must have derived from some older order in Toltec times, one wherein the members of the order were seen as genuine spiritual warriors, fighting for the strong directive power of truth symbolized by the sun.
Both the eagle and the quetzal may be taken as the totem animals of this day-sign, which, in any case, represents the cry of joy and wonder at the beauty of the world and the precious light of day. Many Daykeepers think of this day-sign simply as “the bird” without distinguishing between species. (This is what the K’iche’ word tz’ikin actually means.)
Birds live in the sky; the eagle flies high above the world. Thus this sign mediates between the human world and the divine world of Tz’aqol B’itol, the Maker and Modeler. It represents space, sky, light, clouds, and the purity of the cold air above us.
The day-sign Men is both warm and cold. It is the polarity of yin and yang, sky and earth. It is the warmth of Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth, and some would say that it is the mediating principle between these two polarities as well.
This day is as fortunate for love as it is for money; it is appropriate to pay attention to relationship issues during the trecena governed by Men.
Pay attention to dreams as well, for this is a time when one may experience powerful and important revelations through dreams. Sometimes our visions are worldly ones, tied in to our desire for prosperity. Sometimes our visions partake more of the Otherworld than of this one. The day-sign Men, like the eagle flying above us, can see into both worlds. In this day-sign, we encounter visions that encompass both heaven and earth.
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