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Aztec and Maya Calendar

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In the tonalpohualli, the sacred Aztec calendar, Tuesday August 24, 1529 is:

Tonalli: − +

day

Chicunahui Tecpatl

9 - Tecpatl (flint knife)

Trecena: − +

13-day period

Ce Itzcuintli

Itzcuintli (dog)

Xihuitl: − +

solar year

Mahtlactli-once Calli

11 - Calli (house)


Yoaltecuhtli:

Lord of the Night

Tlazolteotl

Long Count:

Mayan calendar

11.15.9.11.18

Xiuhpohualli:

365-day calendar

15 - Xocolhuetzi (XI)

(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-Itzcuintli (Dog) is ruled by Xipe Totec, Lord of Shedding, god of seedtime. These are 13 days of devotion, companionship, self-sacrifice and love. This trecena points to the eternal conflict that tears at every human being: suspended between two great communions, love and mysticism, each of us strives to survive being swallowed whole by either. On the one hand, the painful shedding of illusions, and on the other, the pleasurable creation of illusions. What ever your decision during this time, you will find favor and advancement. These are good days for commemorating the dead; bad days for clinging to the living.

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