The Significance of 13 and 20

The number 13 corresponds to the major joints in the human body. The number 20 is linked to 10 telluric (Earth-bound) energies and 10 celestial, or cosmic (sky-bound) energies, both of which influence human beings. In Mayan understanding, humans act as antennas, receiving, connecting, and balancing these cosmic and earthly forces. Additionally, 20 is reflected in our fingers and toes—ten facing the sky, channeling celestial energy to Earth, and ten connected to the ground, drawing Earth’s telluric energy upwards. This profound connection between numbers, nature, and human existence is at the heart of the Mayan sacred calendar, guiding the rhythm of life and evolution.

In Mayan tradition, the Ajq’ij—or daykeepers—carry a sacred responsibility. They track and record the passage of time, measuring its cyclical flow as it moves forward and returns. With each turn of this eternal cycle, the history of the world is preserved.

With every revolution or fold in the infinite spiral of the Great Kan, there is an eternal return, bringing forth a resemblance of past events. In this way, we can understand destiny—just as we know the path of the Sun and Grandmother Moon, who come and go each day, so too do human beings move through cycles of existence.

It is through this understanding that we can cast the lots and foresee events, recognizing the rhythms of time and the unfolding of fate. (from the Book of Destiny by Carlos Barrios). 

With love and respect for the Mayan lineages,

Nan Vivian Cruz de Baak