Maya Sacred Calendar
The Cholq'ij
The 260-day sacred calendar still kept by K'iche' day-keepers around Lake Atitlán. Twenty day-signs (nawales) braided with thirteen numbers, a living tradition documented here through published scholarship.
Find your nawal and number →The 20 nawales
Each day-sign is a distinct energy. Tap any to read its meaning, strengths, shadow, and the documented teaching behind it.
Imox Crocodile / Water Iq' Wind / Breath Aq'ab'al Dawn / Night K'at Net / Lizard Kan Serpent Kame Death / Transition Kej Deer Q'anil Seed / Star Toj Offering / Water Tz'i' Dog B'atz' Thread / Monkey E Road / Path Aj Cane / Reed I'x Jaguar Tz'ikin Bird / Eagle Ajmaq Vulture / Wisdom No'j Earth / Thought Tijax Flint / Knife Kawoq Storm / Rain Ajpu Sun / Lord
The 13 numbers
Every nawal is carried by a number from 1 to 13 that shifts its intensity and timing.
Go deeper: how the calendar works
How the Tzolk'in Date Is Calculated A plain-language explanation of how scholars convert any Gregorian date into its Traditional Maya sacred calendar position using the GMT correlation. The 13 Numbers of the Tzolk'in An explanation of how the numbers 1 through 13 function as coefficients in the Traditional Maya sacred calendar, and why they differ from the Dreamspell system. The 20 Day Names of the Tzolk'in An introduction to the twenty named days of the Maya sacred calendar, their multiple names across traditions, and why accurate mapping matters. The Four Directions and Their Colors in Maya Cosmology An introduction to the four cardinal directions and their associated colors in Traditional Maya cosmology, and why these are cultural facts rather than design choices. Nawal, Wayob, and the Spirit Companion: Understanding the Terms The words nawal, wayob, and spirit companion each carry distinct histories and meanings that deserve careful distinction rather than casual interchanging. Two Distinct Streams: The Traditional Cholq'ij and the Dreamspell The Traditional Cholq'ij is a living Maya sacred calendar kept by highland communities; the Dreamspell is a separate modern system created in the 1980s and 1990s. The Dreamspell: A Modern Calendar System The Dreamspell is a late-twentieth-century calendar created by Jose Arguelles, inspired by but distinct from the Traditional Maya Cholq'ij. How We Source This: Our Approach to Tzolk'in Information This site draws on documented academic and ethnographic scholarship about the Tzolk'in, not on insider day-keeper authority, and we are transparent about confidence levels.
Looking for the simple list? See the 20 nawales index or read about Maya heritage at Lake Atitlán.