the nawales
The Meaning of the 20 Nawales (Day Signs) of the Mayan Sacred Calendar

B'atz
B’atz is the living thread of time—the beginning and the end, bridging the past and the unfolding of human destiny. It is the umbilical cord that joins us to life’s beginnings and the origin of time itself—carrying natural codes of renewal, the unrolling of cycles, and the celebration of life in motion.

I'x
I'x embodies the feminine, creative, and reproductive source of the universe, as well as the strength, vitality, and spirit of Mother Earth. Represented by the jaguar, I'x guards the natural balance of jungles, hills, plains, and mountains, capturing the totality and raw essence of the blossoming world.

Tz'ikin
Tz’ikin translates to “Bird”, the sacred messenger of the Sky, bearing celestial messages between Creator and humanity. Its flight carries vision, freedom, and the many faces of prosperity. Associated with totems like the eagle and quetzal, Tz’ikin gifts foresight, luck, and the power of omens, granting both a sharp, precise focus and a wide, panoramic gaze that reaches well beyond the known.

Ajmaq
Ajmaq embodies discord, reconciliation, and harmony. Its name—“Aj” (wisdom gained through lived experience) and “Maq” (the veil that obscures our sight of divine source)—defines its deep symbolism. As the living wisdom of Earth, ancestry, and evolution, Ajmaq draws us inward to reflect on our present contribution to this continuum and the traces of our choices.

Kawoq
Kawoq is the nawal of rain, lightning, and thunder, embodying nature’s voice and the staff of authority. As guardian of well-being, fertility, and versatility, Kawoq is linked to the feminine, new life, and the midwife, signifying the maternal love that unites, nourishes, and strengthens the home.

Imox
Imox is the spirit of rain and water, intrinsically linked with the collective unconscious and the hidden forces of the universe. This nawal represents the womb of creation, the origin from which all thought and life emerge. Imox incubates pure potential and nourishes existence with the vital, amniotic fluids of its boundless seas.

Iq'
Iq’ embodies the primal element of air—the breath of life itself. As the nawal of wind and moon, it moves through all things, stirring imagination, renewal, and purification. Its invigorating currents carry unseen messages that awaken transformation and inspire the will to breathe new realities into being.

Aq'ab'al
Aq’ab’al is the moment of twilight — the subtle turning between darkness and dawn, where night and day dissolve into one another. It holds the pulse of transition, awakening consciousness as the sun begins to illuminate the horizon. Within this gentle shift lies both mystery and revelation, the promise of what is coming and the wisdom of what has been.

Kan
Kan is the feathered serpent—Q’uq’umatz, Quetzalcoatl—an archetype of nature’s vital currents, bridging Earth and Sky as the bearer of movement, power, and eternal mystery. Known as Regent of the Sky and Keeper of Time, Kan embodies the dynamic force that animates creation and unites cycles of change, growth, and evolution.

Kame
Kame symbolizes the eternal present and the sacred cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Though its name means “death,” Kame represents the transformation of energy and is received as a beneficial nawal. Uniting closure with surrender to the unknown, Kame embodies the sacred balance between endings and new beginnings.

Toj
Toj is representative of the Sun and the essence of the sacred fire: purity, equilibrium, and the power to burn, cleanse, and transmute what is heavy back into balance. As a teacher of causality and equilibrium, Toj embodies the universal principle that every action carries consequence and that imbalance seeks restoration through conscious repayment, reciprocity, and offering.
Glyph Art by Teal McFarland
Nawales Written Works by Diana Paez
20 x 13 = 260
Each of these 20 nawales attach to one of the 13 numbers creating 260 unique combinations in the Cholq'ij's full cycle.
Subscribe to my Substack to receive free daily readings in your inbox. Following the ritual count will support you in discovering the mathemagical insights the Cholq’ij holds for you in your unique journey:
Free Subscription • Opt-in Field On Each Entry










