Emergent Culture
Would the Real Mayan Calendar Please Stand Up
“For me as a philosopher, education is the art of showing others how to work out the truth for themselves”
John Peter Thompson
Someone who is investigating Maya Meso-American Calendrics (MMAC) asked me why a certain Tzolkin date converter generated an archetypal signature that differed from the Tzolkin date converter I use.
Those of you who have studied my writings in depth will know the answer to that question, but it is likely that most of my readers don’t clearly know why there are various interpretations of the Tzolkin Cycle or the core calendrical component of the entire MMAC system.
I could refer my readers to the articles treating that subject, but I am now starting to publish brief articles that treat singular aspects to facilitate understanding and encourage reader participation.
My reply to her question follows.
Yes I am familiar with Carl Johan Calleman. He tracks what is thought to be one of the traditional Tzolkin counts. That is why you get a different reading. And your question touches on the great dilemma within MMAC. There are least 4 to 6 different Tzolkin counts in use. There can be only one correct sequence just like there is only one lunar and solar cycle sequence that is valid for everyone. The question is which Tzolkin cycle sequence is the correct one?
To my knowledge nobody has bothered to empirically verify the Tzolkin cycle sequence they profess to follow. Instead they have relied on the assertion that they are following the “traditional count”, but the problem with that is that there is more than one camp who claims to be following the “correct unbroken traditional count”. How does one settle such a matter?
That nobody has bothered to empirically verify the Tzolkin sequence they follow means that they don’t truly understand what they are working with.
Most calendrical followers have assumed that they are following the correct Tzolkin because it’s claimed to be the “traditional one” and they have relied on questionable colonial era records to piece together the missing links. A very iffy procedure because it was the goal of the colonialists to confuse and destroy the heart, mind and backbone of the Meso-American cultures they were enslaving.
They are also relying on archeological evidence in which our ability to accurately interpret is at best approximations. Approximations do not offer the precision demanded by calendrics.
If the Tzolkin cycle is a feature of nature then we should be able to detect it by other means that don’t rely on hearsay, fallacies of logic such as appeal to authority (“it’s traditional”) and questionable written records left by parties (colonialists) whose intent was to obscure the memory of Meso America’s sacred knowledge. We also needn’t rely on scant and hard to interpret archeological data.
I am the only researcher offering methods of empirical validation for the Tzolkin Count I follow. The other camps have not devised a testable systems architecture and some use leap day to further complicate matters. The use of leap day is a Gregorian calendar invention that has nothing to do with MMAC. The use of leap day insures that you will not find any patterns in their systems. It’s like randomly inserting an extra character into a password—access not granted.
Leap day has its place within the unsophisticated realm of Gregorian calendrics. It is their way of adjusting their solar calendar so that it realigns with the actual length of solar year which is just 11 minutes shy of 365.25 days. This situation leads to an offset of approximately 1 day every four years, hence the use of leap day to realign.
The Gregorian Calendar is a civil calendar meaning it pertains to the realm of city life or the man made realm. Tzolkin calendrics purports to keeps track of subtler natural cycles with detectable manifestations all across the entire energy-matter spectrum. For more in depth information please see The Difference between Natural & Artificial Calendar Systems: One Enlightens; the Latter Enslaves.
Other camps following different Tzolkin sequences will for some ungodly reason include the leap day in their counting sequence. The result of that is then what I meant by the insertion of an extra character that will serve to “mislead” those who include leap day in their counting sequence. The Tzolkin’s codes won’t align due to the insertion of a random day.
Those who have not bothered to empirically verify are following the Tzolkin sequence they do out of sheer faith in the words of others and questionable historical records. The current Mayan Calendar landscape is no better than newspaper horoscope readings. Sad, but that is the sorry state of affairs in the popular arena.
That you find some resonance with another archetype from another system is not sufficient to validate it especially the archetype of earth. Every nature loving person is going to tell you that they have a deep resonance with the earth myself included.
There are various testing methodologies one can use to reveal anticipated patterns of recurrence. Patterns one could use to solidify the validity of a systems predictive capabilities. Patterns that do not rely on our fallible and biased subjective interpretations.
A system of ideas claiming to be some sort of valid representation of reality must make testable predictions. A battery of tests with repeated and consistent results repeatable by others is what it takse to validate a theory or system.
Click to enlarge. A Chart of the highly codified Tzolkin Cycle sequence. I use this chart in the learning area. I have written over 25 articles or almost 100, 000 words in my attempt to make Tzolkin Cosmology accessible, intelligible, relevant and verifiable. And there are many more articles to come to that effort.
I have three ongoing empirical studies that show a strong correlation between key Tzolkin cycle days and increases in seismic, volcanic and solar activity. I have devised other soon to be released methods that anybody can employ to reveal the patterns and predictions made by the Tzolkin count that I and many thousands of others around the world follow.
Nobody else offers that kind of testing because they don’t really know what the Tzolkin is and therefore can’t devise ways of validating. Tracking the Tzolkin day by day is the long and arduous way to validate, but one should see the evidence for themselves.
My work offers methods other than tracking because who has the time or interest to experientially validate one of the least understood bodies of knowledge there is? There are three well known MMAC researchers… Jose Arguelles, John MajorJenkins and Carl Calleman, but Arguelles is the only one to offer any depth on the intricacies of the Tzolkin.
The problem with the Arguellen account is his presentation. He was the first to publish on the deep nature of the Tzolkin, but his work has languished on the fringes of society because his presentation is cryptic and mystical.
I had to first decode what Arguelles was saying and then unscramble his layout. Arguelles did not offer empirical validation either, but he had the most to say about the Tzolkin and had devised a testable systems architecture. So I am took it upon myself to experientially and empirically validate his account of the Tzolkin.
After years of tracking I was finally convinced of the Tzolkin sequence put forth by Arguelles.
My works now seeks to offer a scientific footing and testable ways of verification so that others may more easily access what is for the most part in it’s current state of articulation a practically impenetrable and unintelligible body of knowledge. Something the mainstream intelligentsia dismisses as nothing more than another faddish astrological belief system and I don’t blame them given the way its been presented by so many writers.
The only other person I’ve heard say anything with clarity on Maya calendrics is John Major Jenkins, but he has little to say about the intricacies of Tzolkin mechanics. He too follows the same Tzolkin count that Calleman does out of faith in the questionable procedures used to “validate” the Tzolkin sequence they follow.
If those of you reading are interested in learning more about my work on the Tzolkin Cosmology please see the section on the Art and Science of Synchronicity. If you are new to all of this then please start with the article at the very top of the section and work your way down in sequential order.
If you would like more in depth information on the topics covered in this article then please refer to the three articles that follow.
The Mayan Calendar and Dec. 21, 2012: The Facts, the Fictions and the Marvels
Origins of Mayan Calendar Confusion and 2012 Mania–Separating Fact from Fantasy
On the Trail of the Super Organism, The Question of 2012 and the Marvel of Maya Calendrics
If you are on Twitter then I invite you to follow me on my @Cosmocycle account that is devoted entirely to the Art and Science of Synchronicity (ARTSOS) as based on the Arguellen Account (AA) of the MMAC Tzolkin.
Questions or comments anyone?
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16 Comments
Highphi
Ygraine
I completely agree with your comment on Arguelles' presentation style as been garbled and cryptic. What's that about? For someone who is presenting ideas he is inviting others to follow, he's like the fairy tale character with his trail of metaphorical bread crumbs. However, his Dreamspell resonates for me.
kiwiallegiance
any calendar of the planets timing frequency with labels without nasty connotations ie monday,tuesday jan,feb etc would be great Calendar Retorm Aotearoa New Zealand
@ Highphi,
Thanks for your comment and I appreciate your appreciation. Your comments highlight the issues I brought up in the article. Several camps claim the traditional linage. Who is right? The Arguellen account did not does not claim to be a traditional account. As far as I know Arguelles has not disclosed his sources or methodology for how he established the Tzolkin sequence he put forth.
Again I ask the question… how does one determine the correct sequence? The Tzolkin cycle is not a belief system, but a phenomena of nature, therefore it should be detectable to anyone who cares to tune in. My point is we don't need to rely on anybody's word for it. One does not validate electricity by theorizing about it or relying on second hand accounts by long dead ancestors or corrupt colonialist records. We can't take the word of living descendants because various living descendant groups claim the same as the Maya of Momostenago.
Electricity exists because you can flip a switch and the lights go on as predicted.
The same methodology must apply to any phenomena of nature and the Tzolkin is no exception. The question of which account is correct will be settled with empirical evidence. It's the only way. Tzolkin Dynamics, my term for the systems architecture put forth by Arguelles, makes predictions about the types of relationships that will preponderate in one circle of relations. I will soon publish a methodology that will enable anyone to verify the Arguellen account of the Tzolkin by simply decoding family members, friends, coworkers colleagues etc… anybody you want to decode. One then takes those decodings and matches them up against the predictions made by Tzolkin dynamics. The results will speak for themselves.
How would you explain my three studies that show that solar, seismic and volcanic activity are most pronounced on AA Tzolkin Cycle Hyper-Days? Over 70% of quakes over 7.0 happen during hyperdays. I would like to offer you a personal demonstration of what I am saying regarding the birthdate methodology. All I need are 20 birthdays. We can further discuss my offer by email is you are so inclined. http://emergent-culture.com/contact/
Peace and gratitude for your participation in this very important dialog.
Drew
Rohaan,
I really dig this post! Great stuff.
This piece jumps out:
"The use of leap day is a Gregorian calendar invention that has nothing to do with MMAC. The use of leap day insures that you will not find any patterns in their systems. It’s like randomly inserting an extra character into a password—access not granted."
It made me laugh out loud because it is so TRUE! The Gregorian calendar is such a farce; an abomination against the ebb and flow of nature and the universe.
I spend a lot of time in nature and with animals. THAT is how I remain attuned to "reality", so to speak.
Always good to hear from you Drew.
Re: Leap day. Leap day has its place within the unsophisticated realm of Gregorian calendrics. It is their way of adjusting their solar calendar so that it realigns with the actual length of solar year which is just 11 minutes shy of 365.25 days. This of course leads to an offset of approximately 1 day every four years, hence the use of leap day to realign. The Gregorian Calendar is a civil calendar meaning it pertains to the realm of city life or the man made realm. Tzolkin calendrics purports to keeps track of subtler natural cycles with detectable manifestations all across the energy-matter spectrum inclusive of the human domain. I delve in to much greater depth on this subject in the article entitled The Difference between Natural & Artificial Calendar Systems: One Enlightens; the Latter Enslaves
Other camps following different Tzolkin sequences will for some ungodly reason include the leap day in their counting sequence. The result of that is then what I meant by the insertion of an extra character that will serve to "mislead" those who include leap day in their counting sequence. The Tzolkin's codes won't align due to the insertion of a random day. The Tzolkin sequence is always 260 days not 261 every 4 years. I hope that was clearer. I should have taken more time to elaborate on that point within the article.
>>>There can be only one correct sequence just like there is only one lunar and solar cycle sequence that is valid for everyone. The question is which Tzolkin cycle sequence is the correct one?<<<
the above quote, as it appears to me, evokes a great stumbling block towards a full appreciation of the Mayan cycles of time. There is not only one lunar sequence "that is valid for everyone". There is the synodic lunar cycle, the sidereal lunar cycle, the apsidal lunar cycle, the draconic lunar cycle… If you were to put together an almanac such as the Eclipse table found in the Dresden Codex, it would be necessary to correlate and integrate these cycles together. Opting to dismiss consideration of all but one leaves you with a very narrow, antiseptic view of the truth. There are various solar cycles as well — tropical, sidereal, rotational, electromagnetic…
I don't disagree at all that Jose's Dreamspell count resonates on a very deep cosmic level, but in its unfolding it also highlights the majesty of the traditional count, which has its own undeniable power.
"The future spiritual-mental evolution depends on holding multiple views simultaneously, of seeing the inherent harmony in all forms of order whatsoever, and of experiencing non-dual unification of self and other." -Jose Arguelles
@Aaron In your reply you say “Mayan cycles of time”. The Maya discovered natural cycles. There is nothing Mayan about cycles of time other than they are to be credited with developing Meso-American calendrics to its highest degrees. In fact we don’t know who discovered the Tzolkin cycle. There is evidence of Tzolkin glyphs that predate the Maya culture. The Olmecs who predate Maya culture, were tracking the Tzolkin.
The cycles of time belong to everybody in the same way that electricity is a universal phenomena. An American discovered electricity, but electricity is not an American cultural invention. You misapply my example of the lunar cycle. I am speaking in the broadest sense. That is when the moon is full it’s full for everybody and when it’s a new moon its new for everybody as well. If the Tzolkin cycle is valid then it has a specific start and end point.
I have empirically verified that the Arguellen account is the correct sequence. Another sequence is not going to yield the same results. No one has provided empirical validation until now because the Tzolkin cycle-code is poorly understood. Arguelles laid out the nuts and bolts of the Tzolkin cycle but that was it. Most of what he said about the Tzolkin actually made it harder to understand. All of my work on the Tzolkin is original.
The only thing I’ve borrowed from Arguelles is the systems architecture he elucidated and the attributes he assigned to each tone, color and archetype. Its hard to say how much of his work is original. He was known to not give proper credit. At this point I have only released empirical studies on the Hyper-Day effect. But you and others may see brief examples of other ways to empirically verify on my google buzz page.
[...] researchers wish to be taken seriously by the world’s intelligentsia then they must work to translate it into an intelligible and testable format. Otherwise it will remain in the realm of the superstitious or worse yet, end up as just another [...]
susana
Thank so much Rohaan!
I actually agree with Calleman when he says that the 260-day Tzolkin is a mystical calendar and reflects the spiritual aspects of time. It reveals the Mayan belief that time is holy! And, “Events of a mystical nature probably have to guide everyone going into the study of the Maya.” This quote also reflects my interest in this enigmatic and mysterious civilization.
Being said that, my main interest in the Tzolkin is of a spiritual nature. I believe that, by working through this sacred calendar the potential for spiritual growth has no boundaries. Moreover, I believe that it’s a universal calendar of potential value for unifying all humanity and for bringing consciousness that there’s a greater purpose to our life. And,
But then, a problem arises regarding which count to follow?
I have NOTHING but respect and gratitude for the living Maya and the sacred beauty of their traditional culture and the calendar which upholds it.
However, regardless of all the linear logic, the honest reality for me is that as I focus on the Dreamspell the synchronicity and magic is simply undeniable! But, I have no scientific evidence other than my own experience. And that’s why, I appreciate so much all you’re doing, because you’re tracking the missing pieces to honor José Arguelles important work!!!
I believe the Dreamspell is activating an evolutionary phenomena, making conscious what was previously unconscious.
Bless you and your work Rohaan,
Love from Portugal,
Susana
@Susana, Thank you for sharing. If we wish to extend the wisdom of the tzolkin it is very important to consider how we frame, discuss and portray it. Words like mystical and spiritual are very vague and nebulous terms. And we don’t want to sound like we are promoting a new religion or worse as a cult as José’s following has been described . The “tzolkin cycle” is a self-existing deeply embedded cosmic process and its properties generate and structure our reality. It may in fact be responsible for the creation of the universe. The “tzolkin calendar” is a mapping of tzolkin cycle’s properties and attributes.
The tzolkin is best presented as a cosmology. Every culture has their cosmology of how the world was created, the nature of existence, the order of reality and of our place within the order. Many ancient ideas have been found to be false and some have stood the test of time. Should the tzolkin cycle and code be scientifically validated, that is recognized as a universal truth then it would form the basis of universally valid cosmology. In other words it fulfills all of the requirements of a cosmology so if anybody wants believe in something deep and cosmic about the way our world is ordered then why not believe in something that has the same standing as electricity?
People left Christianity to believe in the equally superstitious beliefs of other cultures and so they still hold equally delusional ideas about reality. The tzolkin says very profound things about the nature of our reality so if one is desiring to know and attune with the order of reality then it makes sense that people will come of their own accord to learn the tzolkin once it has been empirically validated. A few people like you and I have been guided to investigate it by an intuitive knowing of sorts, but as you can see we are an extreme minority. Arguelles wrote the Mayan Factor over 24 years ago and there are a few thousand people the world over who now follow his account of the tzolkin.
The reason so few people know about Arguelles and the tzolkin after so much time is due to the way he presented it and that was in a very mystical, spiritual and yet extremely technical kind of way. I agree with you when you say that the AA-tzolkin is activating an evolutionary phenomena, but we have to continue the work of universalization and user friendliness to give others access to it. I suggest this article for more on what I mean by a universally valid cosmology. Toward a Holistic Cosmology of the Planetary Culture
Joseph Campbell said that “Getting into tune with the universe and staying there is the principal function of myth” Myth means cosmology and there is no better candidate to fulfill such a function as the AA-tzolkin cycle and code.
susana
Rohaan,
Thank you so much for the answer!
Let me rephrase my opinion, I think we’re taking about the same thing but in different ways. What I meant to say is that the Tzolkin is a tool for spiritual growth and for unifying humanity regardless of religion, political ideas, gender or race! It’s not about religion. It’s about spirituality (an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being). And as you say in yor great article: “MMAC Calendric as Prime Candidate for Holistic Cosmology”, and I quote “Holistic Cosmology applies to everyone regardless of ones particulars or personal beliefs.”
Moreover, one of the most interesting aspects I found in Mayan civilization is their united vision of religion and science. The priests were also the astronomers and mathematicians, the spiritual guides who were in charge of keeping track of time. Based on their knowledge of the patterns of the sky, and of the mathematics, these “day keepers” worked with about 20 types of different calendars, which served different purposes and were connected to one another in a multitude of ways.
The Tzolkin which is 260-days in length, was Maya’s Sacred Calendar. As far as I know it as nothing to do with the physical aspects of time, and served as a guide to Mayan daily rituals and cultural events. And that’s also why I call it spiritual and mystical, but I completely agree with you when you say that we can present it as cosmology or even better as you a “Prime Candidate for Holistic Cosmology”.
There are several theories about the origins of this calendar, but still no explanation is generally accepted as how, where or why it began. According to Thompson (1950) this calendar came from mathematical operations based on the numbers thirteen and twenty, which were important numbers to the Maya. The number 20 was the basis of their counting system, and is related to the number of human fingers and toes. The number 13 was a sacred number to the Maya and symbolized the number of levels in the Upperworld where the gods lived. It also may be a reference to the number of joints in the human body.
According to Calleman (2004), Tzolkin may also be translated as “pieces of sun”. As the Maya identified the sun with God by inference it also means “pieces of divine creation”. I believe this may be the best translation regarding its true meaning: “Pieces of Divine Creation.”
As Albert Einstein wrote in his letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind, in response to his receiving the book “Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt (1954)
“Science without Religion Is Lame, Religion without Science Is Blind.”
So, I absolutely agree with you when you say that AA-Tzolkin is a Prime candidate for a Holistic Cosmology!
I really appreciate all your work!
Thank you 
Susana
Susana. Thank you for your very thoughtful replies. The question of spirituality is for me a very personal matter. In fact I don’t like to use the word because it’s a concept like God. Everybody who subscribes to the God concept is going to have their definition of it. It’s all very subjective. How does one define and give meaning to “an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being”? I believe that the least confusing thing we can do is to define the tzolkin in the most clear and universal of terms. Show what it is capable of, how it works, how it manifests itself and then let everybody use it the way they want to.
The reason I am extremely particular about this aspect is because I have seen people like Ariel Spillsbury and others attempt to reinterpret the tzolkin codes and what they accomplish is weakened, watered down version of the tzolkin that resembles the overgeneralized domain of Western astrology. I will do whatever I can to prevent the tzolkin from being reduced to that. Such attempts along the line of Spillsbury take the structure out of it and turn it to nothing but feel good mush. I find Kahil Gabrans definition of spirituality to be the simplest, most practical and holistic “Your daily life is your temple and your religion” ~ Kahlil Gibran.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein
That’s where I’m coming from, there is no separation for me between what is spiritual and what is life in general and I view existence as nothing less than miraculous. But the doesn’t mean we can’t understand the miracle of creation. Under such a definition you might understand why I resist the concept of spirituality. One of the things that Westerners have to contend with is that our language and inherited foundational worldview is based in separateness and concepts of other. Hell is here and heaven is there. God is here and you are there. Nature is here and God is out there. We are Christians and you are heathen. Even though many of us may no longer subscribe to Christian views its underlying assumptions and core reality constructs are transmitted in other ideas and in the structure of the language itself. If one was born in a Judeo-Christian culture then one’s worldview has been infected by their views of reality, its language structure and its concepts.
Our job then is to sort through our ideas and remove those concepts that prevent the most simplest, most integrated and most coherent view of reality. The Mesoamerican wordview on the other hand was fully integrated as you noted. As you know In lak’ech means “I am another yourself” This is not a nice sounding spiritual belief, but is rather the conclusion one reaches when one understands what the tzolkin or the study of evolution and genetics implies. We are all versions of singular human template and then we realize how closely related we are to bacteria and mice and a much more all encompassing wordview emerges.
Regarding the origin of the tzolkin. As mentioned the tzolkin is poorly understood and that’s why we have such weak theories about it. First of all the tzolkin cycle is self existing. It was a discovery, not an invention. The tzolkin is a very subtle process that some ancient person or group of person detected and mapped. Cycles of 4, 13 and 20 days and each day has its particular set of prominent qualities. To the trained and attuned mind every aspect of the day can be traced to some aspect of day’s themeplex. And certain others to the tone cycle function.
The difference between science and religion/spirituality is that science strives for precision and clarity in its description of reality.
Take for example Calleman’s “pieces of the sun” or “pieces of divine creation”. Obviously “pieces of the sun” is to be taken metaphorically, but even then it obscures or mystifies versus clarifies. What does a “piece of the sun look like”. And what isn’t divine. As if some parts of the universe were not divine and others divine. Again just another separatist notion. Whereas anybody can understand what a cycle is. The day cycle, the year cycle and the seasons. We can say that days are characterized by xyz and nights by abc and each season has its prominent qualities. But now we also know that each day has certain qualities that repeat every 4, 13 and 20 days. And wow look at the correspondences between the key numbers of the tzolkin and human biology, biology in general, planetary orbits, diverse number systems and the genetic code. Wow we might be on to something about how the universe is organized at the smallest scales and of how that order manifests itself at the level we are capable of observing.
I thank you for your participation in this all important discussion !
Rohaan
Mayan Experts Meet to Debunk 2012 Fears | Our Universe and Us
[...] “This a picture of the Aztec Stone Calendar (AST). Many confuse this image with the Mayan calendar. The Maya did not have an equivalent monument that encapsulated their calendar system which was the same as the Aztecs. The AST may be looked at as a pictorial codification of the Tzolkin chart further down. The Tzolkin chart however is a modern rendition. Once you gain an understanding of MMAC you will know why the Aztecs referred to the source of calendrical knowledge as The Great and Venerable Mechanism of the Universe. They were referring to the workings of the galaxy and our solar system.” Source:http://emergent-culture.com [...]
I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering problems with your website. It appears as though some of the written text on your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Kudos
Hello Stephanie. It’s a browser problem. Chances are you are using an old version of internet explorer. Solution is to either update or switch to Firefox. Firefox is hands down the best way to navigate the web.
I would like to mention that Jenkins has done extensive research on the Tzolkin count that he and 99% of academia follow as the "true count." His book "Tzolkin: Visionary Perspectives and Calendar Studies" is a fascinating read. I've checked his sources and researched the correlation pretty intensely as well. The Quiche (Ki'che) Maya of Momostenango still hold the original count. I am content to trust them with their calendar.
Just my 2cents. I enjoy your work, I just disagree on the count (which doesn't mean you'll find syncs) it's all one song anyways. Peace.