Heartbeat of the Galaxy

[Ray Mardyks]

Firstly I'd like to acknowledge Michael and Astrophysical Directions. After working with this book for a number of years in the 1980's, I began using the galaxy as an astrological frame of reference, in addition to the zodiac(s). The zodiacs are solar system based and the galaxy is of the stars. Galactic astrology offers a map of a bigger "picture". When I seriously looked into the Maya calendar, I recognized it's galactic potential. Here I'll offer my introduction to this approach to astrology.

I see astrology operating on three distinct, but interrelated levels: solar system, stellar and galactic. There are archetypes on each level. There are the planetary archetypes (12) for within the solar system (ego). There are the constellational/stellar archetypes (72/88) (soul - beyond ego by definition) and there are galactic archetypes. It's a bit tricky understanding galactic archetypes until you've experienced the stellar ones consciously. For now, let's say they are the constellational/stellar archetypes viewed from the Higher Self (Galactic Center) perspective rather than from the ego's (Sun).

The twenty archetypal Daykeepers represented by the twenty day-signs in the Maya calendar are "GALACTIC" archetypes. This means they are of the stars. This means working with them properly will shift your consciousness. They are more akin to "light" patterns that inform the "planetary" patterns. Similar to how outer planets set up the energy for the inner planets to carry out, the stars and galaxy set up the energy that the planets of the solar system bring into manifestation. Following the calendar can be a "spiritual" practice to become more open and attuned to these "galactic light" energies.

These twenty archetypes appear one each day for a twenty day cycle that repeats endlessly. There is also a 13-day cycle that combines each of the numbers from 1 - 13 with each of the twenty Daykeepers for 260 possible "day-signs". A day-sign is composed of a Daykeeper and a number. This is the galactic heartbeat of the Maya calendar. A day-sign is ALWAYS included in Maya dates because everything is referenced to the GALAXY!

Becoming conscious of these 20 Daykeepers is essential before moving deeper into the calendar. It's similar to needing to know the planets or signs before doing astrology. Since the Maya calendar is galactic, it connects to larger cycles than are usually worked with in other astrology systems. Another essential rhythm of the Maya calendar is the long-term cycles of Venus. These are rather esoteric and still very secret. Any questions?

[Kenneth_Johnson]

I agree that a knowledge of the twenty day-signs is the foundation stone of any attempt to master Mesoamerican astrology. These are the archetypes.

In the old days (i.e. the 1980s and early 90s) it was quite frustrating to compare a list of day-sign interpretations from (for example) Fray Diego Duran with a more contemporary list from (another example) Barbara Tedlock. There often seemed to be few if any points in common.

Since the Guatemalan Peace Accords of 1996, the Maya themselves have been rectifying this situation. In earlier times, communication between different Mayan communities was tenuous and difficult. In the 1930s, it would have been an adventurous and dangerous proposition for a campesino to travel from Chichicastenango to (for example) Todos Santos. Since important Calendar ceremonies involving planting, harvesting, spiritual initiation and so on were typically decided upon by local groups of elders, many diverse viewpoints developed over time. Currently, there are many Maya who live in urban settings and have acccess to computers, universities, and so on, as well as to the tribal knowledge of their elders in the villages. This has greatly helped to facilitate a general agreement among native Mayan astrologers as to the archetypal meanings of the day-signs. Unfortunately, very little of this material is thus far available in English, though I hope to be able to so very soon.

The Maya have returned to their original sources in their agreement to rely upon the Popol Vuh (also spelled Pop Wuj), their ancient creation epic, as a primary "guide to the archetypes." Most of the archetypes for the day-signs can be found in this text; not to know it would be equivalent to studying the planets of Western astrology with a complete and total ignorance of Greek myth. There are numerous English translations of the Popol Vuh; the one most helpful to astrologers is the one by Dennis Tedlock. Himself an initiated Daykeeper, he has devoted a great deal of space in his lengthy commentaries to the archetypes of the day-signs and their meanings in sacred astronomy. His own source was his personal teacher, the late Andres Xiloj, a Daykeeper of Momostenango. Tedlock deals with many nuances and valences relating to the cycles of Venus. For example, the initiatory journey of the Hero Twins through the archetypal day-signs is correlated with the heliacal risings and settings of Venus which are so greatly important in the surviving codices. There is still a great deal left unsaid; as Mr. Mardyks remarks, some of the long-term cycles of Venus as understood by the Maya remain esoteric -- including the eight-year cycle. Nevertheless, any attempt to understand the rudiments of Mesoamerican astrology must begin with a careful study of the archetypes of the day-signs, to which a knowledge of the Popol Vuh is likewise essential.