After the historic swearing in of Justin Trudeau as Canada’s new Prime Minister two days ago, and the appointment of his new cabinet, a whole new “ball game” begins in terms of the governance of this country, and the revamping of Canada’s role on the world stage. As this work begins what are the energies that will help this administration to forge its way as the first steps are taken along this new path?

Intriguingly, we find the Ok (Dog) trecena coming into place. Associated with Love, Loyality, Warmth, Guidance, and so much more, these are the very qualities that seem to be swirling around this amazing shift in the leadership of this nation.

Significantly, One Ok was seen originally as an ancient Feast Day of Renewal, oriented around the idea of guidance, justice, and the restoration of life. Traditionally thought of as being under the influence of Xipe Tótec, the Lord of Renewal, and Quetzalcóatl, Lord of Life,  this is a time when a new sense of direction in conjunction with the energies of renewal come into play. To emphasize this concept of emergence, Xipe Tótec was generally depicted wearing a flayed skin, symbolic of the “sloughing off” of the old and the bursting forth of the new.

One of the key symbols associated with this time frame is a dog holding a torch, bringing light into the darkness and showing the way. It is a symbol of comfort and direction, which, at many times in the past, has been greatly needed in the context of the trecena’s events.

There have been times when this trecena has been in place at the time of extreme weather, as in the Big Freeze winter of 1962-1963, one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record to the United Kingdom. An echo of that was felt in North America on the last appearance of this trecena, with a deep freeze from coast to coast in the U.S. At such times the warmth of a roaring fire is both sought after and appreciated.

As Remembrance Day comes in this time near the middle of this trecena, on the day 6 Men, we can recall that this falls on an anniversary of the energies in place 75 years ago when a “miracle of deliverance” was unfolding from the fifth to the thirteenth day of this time frame. During that nine-day period over 800 boats of all shapes and sizes embarked on the extraordinary rescue of nearly 340,000 allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France when they were trapped by the German army.

Two cycles ago commemorative events associated with the 70th anniversary of D-Day were also held during this trecena. A monumental event in world history, D-Day was the greatest amphibious assault ever staged, marking the beginning of European liberation, and at last year’s commemoration of this event on this trecena’s third day (3 Eb’) some 200,000 visitors and 19 heads of state were in attendance.

In so many places mid November can seem bleak, with the days getting shorter and colder, and strong memories of significant events creeping back for  review. Some of those November-oriented memories relate to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. In 1961 the eighth day of this trecena brought forth his inauguration, which brought hope to many.

But tragically, just under three years later this trecena sent shock waves around the globe at the time of his horrific assassination. As that dreadful event took place 52 years ago this year marks the Calendar Round return of the 4 B’en 1 Keh energy that was in place at that time. Although most will be unaware of the significance of this day (which coincides with Nov. 9th at this time), THAT would also be an important day of remembrance.

So with winter fast approaching, many remembrances to observe, and many new paths to forge to clear the road ahead, it is fortunate that, at this present time there seems to be an emphasis on bringing in light, with one of the most wide-spread events being the Hindu Festival of Lights known as Diwali, associated with the lifting of spiritual darkness. This is a time when festival lanterns and lights are set out to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of happiness, prosperity, and good fortune, into homes and other areas.

Other significant light related festivals that coincide with the mid-point of this trecena include Lumiere in Durham, UK, the UK’s largest outdoor light festival, and the opening of the Guangzhou International Festival of Light in China, which runs for six months.

So how shall we embrace the Ok trecena? Let there be light! Get out those lanterns and light the road ahead. Work with Xipe Tótec, the Lord of Renewal, and Quetzalcóatl, the great embodiment of Life.

This would be an opportune time to reflect on things that might need to be “sloughed off” so that renewal can take place. Are there any thoughts, feelings or actions that are no longer working for you? Find ways to break through to the “new possibilities” that are waiting to burst through. As this “sloughed off”/renewal process takes place these are the energies that will come into play:

1 Ok (Nov. 6th) – the “initiation of love, warmth, guidance” – an energy that can be seen as having an ability to shine light on things previously unseen; an ancient Maya Feast Day of Renewal

2 Chuwen (Nov. 7th) – a dynamic type of energy traditionally aligned with creativity, and often involving some kind of “intense heat”. As this is a solar force within a fire-oriented time frame, this energy can trigger intense action.

3 Eb’ (Nov. 8th) – the activation of “animated vitality”, a pathfinding/stream-of-consciousness type of force, this time in conjunction with National Aboriginal Veterans Day (Can.)

4 B’en (Nov. 9th) – a “defining” energy associated with personal authority; a highly consequential force in world history, as this was the energy in place at the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. At this time in 2015 this day marks the Calendar Round return (or New Fire anniversary) of the 4 B’en 1 Keh energy that was in place on that day (Nov. 22, 1963). On this day President Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House to discuss the strategic relationship between the two nations with regard to military support and other issues and challenges relating to the Middle East. This day is also the 101st Gregorian birthday of the glamorous actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr who was honoured with a Google Doodle on this day.

5 Ix (Nov. 10th) – a “blessing” or “precision” type of energy associated with mystery and transformation, as was in place at the opening of the Paris Peace Conference for negotiation of treaty settlements after World War I. Maya Calendar anniversary of the energy in place when the Dunkirk evacuation began during World War II. At this present time this energy correlates with World Science Day for Peace and Development

6 Men (Nov. 11th) – an “everywhere” type of energy associated with the high vision of the eagle, this time in conjunction with the New Moon, Remembrance Day (Canada), Veterans Day (U.S.), and Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights associated with the lifting of spiritual darkness. This is a time when festival lanterns and lights are set out to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of happiness, prosperity, and good fortune into homes and other buildings.

7 Kib’ (Nov. 12th) – a self-generating type of energy, often associated with an effort to restore order; at this time in conjunction with Lumiere in Durham, UK (the UK’s largest outdoor light festival) and Guinness World Record Day 2015 (the 11th annual).

8 Kab’an (Nov. 13th) – a “resurrection” type of energy associated with “evolutionary” movement, occurring at the time of the U.S. release of “The 33” (Los 33), the motion picture that retells the story of the 33 miners who were trapped underground for 69 days in Chile. Intriguingly this is being released 7 Tzolk’in cycles + 33 days after their rescue. My article titled “How Pope John Paul II, the Maya Calendar, and Dec. 21, 2012 connect with the rescue of the Chilean miners“, published just after the rescue in 2010, provides  a deeper discussion of many intriguing “coincidences” associated with this amazing saga.  This is also a Tzolk’in anniversary of the energy in place at the time of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961

9 Etz’nab’ (Nov. 14th) – representative of “outwardly-projecting” flint, a “spark-oriented” (and even knife-edged) type of energy that can be quite dramatic and consequential, this time coinciding with the opening of the spectacular Guangzhou International Festival of Light. Sadly, its last appearance saw the death of Leonard Nimoy and the assassination of Russian activist Boris Nemtsov.

At the current time the world is reacting with shock and horror as details of the  tragic attacks in Paris the evening before are being revealed. The massacres took place just as yesterday’s energy was transforming into this current energy. A national state of emergency has been declared across France.

10 Kawak (Nov. 15th) – “foundational storm” – an energy associated with intense catalyzation that can manifest in strong weather systems, in place this time as the G20 summit gets underway in Turkey. Maya birth energy of Grammy award-winner Sam Smith who sings the theme song for the new James Bond film Spectre that opens in the U.S. on the first day of this trecena.

11 Ajaw (Nov. 16th) – an “inspirational sun” or “inspirational enlightenment” Burner Day, correlating this time with the 2nd day of the G20 summit in Turkey. In 2011 this was the energy in place when the price of gold rose to an unprecedented $1743/oz. on the same day as the sun emitted an Earth-directed X6.9 solar flare.

12 Imix (Nov. 17th) – a “gathering together” type of force oriented around new beginnings (often “cosmic”)

13 Ik’ (Nov. 18th) – transformational wind, breath, and spirit – at the time of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit meeting (for Pacific Rim countries) in Manila. Maya anniversary of the energy in place during the final day of the enormous Dunkirk rescue operation during World War II.

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[Please note that the brief descriptions of the days provided above are only “thumbnail sketches”. Much greater detail can be found in Manual for the Soul: A Guide to the Energies of Life.]