The Macaw Bird: Totem and Symbol of the Maya
What did the macaws represent to the Mayans?
Macaws had enormous significance in Mesoamerican history. For more than two millennia the birds were bred and traded between tribes and their feathers were used in important tribal rituals. In Mayan, Inca and Aztec cultures, macaws were seen as being representatives of the sun gods.
The bird’s feathers were frequently used in headdresses, armour and other attire and decoration, they were even mimicked using other materials as a tribute to the birds.
To the Ancient Aztecs, Macaws were a central part of their creation myths even the Ancient God of life, lord of the winds and the day and guardian of the West, Quetzalcoatl was believed to share the features of macaws such as a feathered colourful plumage and a beaked face. The Ancient Aztecs believed that humanity was descended from Quetzalcoatl and paid tribute by decorating themselves with feathers. Today, Macaws are still revered in Mexico and many other South American countries being seen as signs of good fortune as some species have been hunted nearly to extinction over the past hundred years such as the Spix Macaw which is now extinct in the wild. It is only with recent conservation effort that many of the birds have returned back, this itself has been seen as quite symbolic to the people of the regions where this has happened such as Palenque when the Scarlet macaw being locally extinct for almost a century. Source: Formfluent.com
For many of the tribes of Central and South America, they believe the macaw brings healing through color and light.
It represents grace and ease. It is the guardian, the protector of the air element and of the winds, carrying prayers to the heavens. The Bororo Tribe of Brazil considers the macaw a messenger of the gods and ancestors. The macaw is often a symbol of sacred union and lasting relationships.
Source: The Magic of the Macaw – Volunteer Latin America
The Macaw showed up from an unrelated search for something else. I was drawn by the beauty to find out it’s meaning to the Maya. It was too beautiful a synchronicity not to pass along… especially since it relates to the Element of Air.
love, in lak’ech, Debra
THE TRECENA OF NIGHT/AKBAL: A Higher Dream we Know is Meant to come True
Visit the 13-Day Trecena Guide Page for the “Tzolk’in Field Guide: A Daily Practice for Personal Discernment.” My gift for the Tzolk’in round offers an overview for each 13-day trecena and the aspects of each day of the Tzolk’in round. The page also offers a link to resources for your own practice of counting the days to conceive your own discernment of the Meaning of Time.
NEW SEASON – VOLUME 2: Tzolk’in Seasons 3 and 4 (PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 20, 2020)
NOTE: You can also look at dates from a different direction. What is the Destiny Kin number of your day sign’s 3rd tone? You may have overlooked a life-changing day. Use the Kin Calculator offered on the Daykeeper’s Resource Page for a date six years before or after. If you are just starting to count the days and don’t have a journal from the last round, when something major happens in your life you can look to see if there was a major event on that same date before. You can also look for Signs in the “distance of time” – the number of days between one day and another, from the Time and Date Calculator linked on the resources page. Example – 33 days is a symbol of a day that you actualize the Truth from the beginning date.
4 Transformer/CIMI (Cherokee, Twins/ TAKATO’KA) – Day 4 of 13 of the 1 Night/AKBAL trecena.
Ian Xel Lungold, 12 Sun/AHAU – Serving among the legion of light above.
Descriptions by Ian Xel Lungold (12 Sun/AHAU) who’s wisdom is preserved on MayanMajix.com
Galactic Tone 4: Stability. Four is the cube the most stable of all forms, and the establishment of volume by definition. The four directions give orientation to any form as the height, length, depth and breadth give shape to any form. The energy of Four sets the parameters, which establish the freedoms and barriers needed to create a game, work, or relationship.
Transformer/CIMI: Cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Transformer persons achieve goals and emotional wealth. Transformer people can become highly respected business persons. They have the ability to help others through any and all transitions with tranquility due to their spiritual strength and guidance. Communities often benefit from Transformers discipline and organization skills. They strengthen the life of pregnant women and guide them through the transitions of maternity. Establishing contact with the ancestors activates innate psychic abilities, gifts to be used as tools to assist others. Transformers can have the ability to send evil intentions telepathically, this is their undoing. From these acts they lose power, easily fall into a victim role and begin to manipulate with a vengeance.
A GOOD DAY TO: Tie all loose ends.
Cherokee, Twins/ TAKATO’KA: Twins symbolize the Female Sun and Male Moon, whose union keeps the world going round. Cherokee myth has the Morning Star heralding the Sun, Venus, also being the Evening Star as representing the TWINS. The energy brings major changes all throughout life, riding the tsunamis of earthquake and upheaval, making their own waves wherever they go. They undergo powerful transformations, alternating like a flashing neon sign. The challenge is to master Balance while experiencing Chaos leading to re-birth and abundance through infinity.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
