February 22, 2009; Haab New Year's Day 10 Iq'
On February 22 a new year began in the Mayan Haab calendar, and a new Time Lord, or Bearer of Time, picked up the Year to carry us for the next 365 days. The Nahual Iq' governs the wind, the breath that gives life to men, animals and minerals. It is the spirit, the heart of heaven. Iq' gives us life, and the strength needed to endure suffering.
Iq' drives the weather and thrives on change, both change in the environment and change within the person.
For an essay on the Time Bearers go to Time Lords and Sky Bearers
Priests from the K'iche, Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi and Mam communities met at a sacred mountain in San José Poaquil, in the western highlands of Guatemala, to welcome the new year with a fire ceremony for Nahual Iq'.
13 altars have been found on the sacred mountain, and we continue to look for more.
Copal bearer, bringing discs of copal incense wrapped in corn husks.
Musicians setting up their drums and marimba
Before the ceremony, patterns are drawn in sugar on the altar as a foundation for the fire
Copal, candles and offerings
The Nahual communicates through smoke and vortices inside the fire
The gifts of God are returned in thanks, including the gift if life and blood
All ages come to the fire
The new Nahual Iq' is the breath, a wind that gives life
The first day of the year 10 Iq', the new Haab Year, was Feb 22, 2009