A Time to Be with Ourselves

As we prepare to cross the threshold into a new Haab’ cycle, we can turn to the wisdom of the great ancestral elders, who spoke of the importance of pausing, observing the rhythm of our lives, reconnecting with our essence, clearing the path of what weighs us down, and setting intentions for what we seek to manifest. The Haab’, the calendar that marks the Solar Cycle, gifts us its final five-day month, Tz’apiq’ij (Wayeb’ in Yucatec Maya), as a space for this purpose.

This 365-day calendar, composed of eighteen months of twenty days each plus the five-day month of Tz’apiq’ij, not only offers us this time for reflection but also reveals the Mam—Year Bearer—, the guiding energy that holds the Haab’ cycle.

The Maya count of time is so precise that the first day of Tz’apiq’ij begins under the star of the Ch’umil that has carried the Haab’ cycle to its completion. This time, Ajaw No’j, the Mam who has held this cycle and will soon pass its purpose to Ajaw Iq’, the new guide and carrier of the year, also opens this sacred five-day period, inviting us to reflect on the lessons that the year and Mam No’j have gifted us with.

These days of Ta’zpiq’ij offer a moment to turn inward, to engage in practices that lead us to reflection, stillness, and contemplation, bringing clarity. It is a time to recognize our path, see how far we have come, and align our intentions with what we seek to manifest. It is not just about asking ourselves what we wish to achieve but about tracing the path we want to walk in this new year.

This is also a time to give thanks for the experiences we have had, the lessons we have received, and the growth we have undergone. It is a moment to release and forgive what no longer serves us while also honoring and holding onto what strengthens us. During this Tz’apiq’ij, let us pay attention to dreams, to the messages that flow, and to the guidance of the energies as we close one cycle with awareness and step with a light heart into the next.

This period of inner cleansing can also extend to our surroundings—clearing our spaces and letting go of what we no longer need. It is a time to be fully conscious of what we consume in every sense—what we eat, what we take in, and what we allow to surround us. May this time help us recognize what truly nourishes us.