Aztec and Maya Calendar
In the tonalpohualli, the sacred Aztec calendar, Saturday September 14, 1996 is:
Xihuitl:
solar year
10 - Tecpatl (flint knife)
Long Count:
Mayan calendar
12.19.3.8.18
Xiuhpohualli:
365-day calendar
20 - Atemoztli (XVII)
(Correlation: Alfonso Caso [adjust])
The significance of this day
Aztec facts
The Aztecs did not use a leap year correction but they knew the length of a solar year is neither 365 nor 365.25 days. Presumably they kept some count of days to register astronomical events but no evidence of an Aztec Long Count exists.
Day Tecpatl (Stone Knife) is governed by Chalchihuihtotolin, the Jewelled Fowl, as its provider of tonalli (Shadow Soul) life energy. Tecpatl is a day of grave ordeals, a day of trials and tribulations. It is a good day to test one's character, a bad day to rest on one's past accomplishments or reputation. Tecpatl warns that the mind, the spirit, must be sharpened like the glass blade which cuts to the marrow of truth
The thirteen day period (trecena) that starts with day 1-Cozcacuauhtli (Vulture) is ruled by Xolotl. This trecena signifies the wisdom and freedom of old age; it represents the path of the setting sun. While the way of the warriorpoints to the relationship between predator and prey, this sign points to to the Third Way, which is neither: these are 13 days set aside to perfect the Way of the Scavenger. While the young heart must strategize between offense and defense, the old heart float like the clouds, stooping to earth only to take what no one else wants. These are good days for disengaging; bad days for participating.