The Orbital Calendar’s Mayan Cosmology & References:
The Mayan traditional glyphs representing each day are displayed in their 13-day cyclic stair-step pattern, never quite repeating itself (GMS correlation).
All astronomic data have been reviewed by Guy Ottewell, Author of The ; the Mayan calendrics have been researched using GMT (Goodman -Martinez-Thompson) Correlation confirmed by John Major Jenkins, an independent archeologist and highly original decoder of the remarkable work of the Mayans on the Nature of TIME. Further tested by Richard Crutchfield, PhD, geomancer-dowser for sacred accuracy – it dowses out 5 miles!
Richard Crutchfield, Phd. , researcher of the geomantic nature of sacred sites says of the poster,
“The Orbital Calendar Time-Space Poster is associated with a kind of subtle but powerful energy field that…displays a certain energy configuration that appears to be characteristic of places, objects and activities long considered to be sacred and powerful. The origin of this sacred energy seems to be beyond our galaxy (Hunab Ku) and the Orbital Calendar serves as a channel for this energy.”
On the Legend of the poster, I have created a graphic representation of the intricate time keeping system of the Mayans of Central America which referenced extremely large scales of time. This Proportional Harmonics of Mayan Time-Keeping Cycles graphic complements other charts and comparisons found in the Orbital Calendar Guidebook which I created simply so I could understand in my very visual nature exactly how fabulous and detailed and interwoven their understanding of the sacred geometry of living numbers and ratios related to not only solar system planets but galactic processes was. (A separate article will be forthcoming on how I developed this unique graphic to explicate the sense of time-distance.)
The symbols, meaning and corresponding color-coding for the 20 DAY-glyphs have been well determined by modern researchers; the corresponding color-coding for the 18 MONTH glyphs are much less well reconstructed. I have followed Thompsons’ work as best as he was able to determine at the time and have interpolated the rest as best I thought, recognizing that variations of the color green and blue-green had very high significance in the lives of the Mayan. These 18 months (plus 5 days extra) had once been related to the agricultural year representing the cycle of growth and harvest in a semi-tropical country where the wet and dry seasons of growth in an earth based year where intertwined.
Main references used to create the Mayan calendrics for this map:
John Major Jenkins (1994), The Tzolkin.
Jenkins work is by far and away the most groundbreaking, and established and reconfirmed the most reliable correlation between the dating system of the Mayans and our own Gregorian calendar system. The Quiche Mayans of the highlands of Guatemala have had a continuous calendar, uninterrupted by the Spanish inquisition. Many articles may be found at Jenkin’s website: http://alignment2012.com/
Eric Thompson (1952), Mayan Hieroglyphics
This archeologist did original field research and interpretation of the Mayan system of writing. The glyphs used in the Orbital Calendar are adaptations of the plates found in Thompson’s book. The Mayans had various stylistic variations. The glyphs from the Dresden Codex, I thought are the most visually appealing forms and the most accessible for interpretation by our own culture.
It is Eric Thompson whose work confirmed earlier work of Goodman and Martinez to correlate the stone stelae dates of the ancient Mayans to the current Gregorian calendar (name for Pope Gregory) used world-wide. Called the GMT correlation for Goodman-Martinez-Thompson. This GMT correlation date was further exhaustively researched using new data by John Major Jenkins and reconfirmed.
Kenneth Johnson (1997), Jaguar Wisdom: Mayan Calendar Magic
Johnson is a mythologist and author of 5 books on various shamanic traditions. As a student of comparative religions, he is able here to give us insight into Mayan spiritual traditions alongside other western traditions for a fully rounded understanding. He also utilizes the traditional count (same as GMT) that the living Quiche Mayans of the highlands have been using unbroken since before the Spanish inquisition.
I have used much of Johnson’s work for interpretation and meaning. He honors both the old world definitions and gives latitude for our current civilization without losing the original flavor. Where Jenkins has indicated some refinement through archaeological knowledge I have added that knowledge base for the translations I have used. Unlike Johnson however, I prefer to use the Quiche Mayan names as they stand, not only to honor the Mayan tradition, but because in translating it is impossible to fully feel the intended meaning. What does a modern 21st century person feel when they hear the word “Jaguar” for instance? wild, ripping claws, spots is what my mind sees. But the intent of the symbol had so much more depth.
I recommend using Johnson’s book in association with the Orbital Calendar for those who are truly interested in reviving the spirit of the Mayan calendar in their lives. And another wonderfully intuitive interpretation of the Mayan spiritual tradition that can work together to give the student of Mayan astronology a good insight into the inner world of Maya.