Zenith Sun - One of the most important Maya Cosmic Events

When we are observant and present, we become conscious. It is at that moment that we begin to understand the world around us and within us; we start to grasp the messages, wisdom, and tools that guide us through our journey in this existence.

The Ancestral Elders deeply understood this. They observed the Sun’s movements, the transit of planets, the cycles of the Moon, and the rhythms of Mother Earth to comprehend their influence on life. Through their contemplation, they developed a profound awareness that enabled them to create tools through which they could align their cycles with those of the Cosmos and the Earth. As their sons and daughters, we are heirs to this wisdom, and we are called to be attuned, observant, and present, allowing this knowledge to live and evolve through us. We are invited to observe the dance of the Sun across the sky, understand the Moon’s phases and their impact on our world, and continue to count the energies of each day to reconnect with our power. We have been bequeathed with the calendars, practices, and oral traditions that guide us on this path to awareness and help us remain present and mindful.

If we have been attentive to the Sun’s journey across the sky, we will notice that today it reaches its Zenith, shining its light directly above us and gifting us with its full strength and power. The Zenith passage of the Sun, which occurs twice in a Cholhaab' solar year (365 days), aligns with the 260 days of the Sacred Cholq’ij calendar. This is because the time that elapses between one Zenith and the other equals 260 days, marking the totality of a Cholq’ij cycle. In the interconnectedness weaved within the Maya cycles of time, the Zenith is also very significant for the Choltun, Long Count Calendar. This is a calendar composed of thousands of years that counts essential dates in history, marking its importance, and the first date recorded in it is marked by the Zenith on August 13, 2114 BCE. Through the eternal dance of Maya Calendars that is intertwined into the rhythms of life, the Ancestral Elders revealed the profound unity within all existence, showing us how we, too, form part of this cosmic dance, vibrating in harmonious synchrony with the tune of the Earth and Sky.

The Zenith Sun passages also hold deep significance for the cycles of Corn, which was the base of Maya wisdom. Today in Guatemala, as we celebrate the Zenith Sun, we also celebrate the "Day of Corn," when Corn begins to sprout, personifying its growth. As the People of Corn, we recognize the essential role that it plays in our existence, as its essence forms a part of us, and just as it begins its journey of growth and renewal, we too embrace our phase of expansion, nurtured by the powerful light of the Sun at its Zenith.

~Denise Barrios

Through these words, I wish to thank and honor Nan Yamanik Pablo for the conversations and teachings she has shared with me about the Zenith Sun.