A Book Of Tongues

BOOK TWO: SKULL FLOWER

California, Arizona, New Mexico — Beginning April 9, 1865

Month Three, Day Seven Reed

Festival: Xochimanaloya, or Presentation of Flowers

Today’s Lord of Night (Number Six) is Chalchiuhtlicue, “She of the Jade Serpent-Skirt” or “She whose Night-robe of Jewel-stars Whirls Above.” Chalchiuhtlicue was the ruler over the Fourth Sun, the world immediately previous to our own. That world was destroyed by flooding.

The Aztec trecena Mazatl (“Deer”) is ruled by Tepeyollotl — Heart of the Mountain, the Jaguar of Night, lord of darkened caves. Tepeyollotl is Tezcatlipoaca disguised in a jaguar hide, whose voice is the echo in the wilderness and whose word is the darkness itself.

By the Mayan Long Count calendar, the protector of day Acatl (“Reed”) is also Tezcatlipoaca, who provides the days’ shadow soul. Acatl is the sceptre of authority which is, paradoxically, hollow.

Today is a day when the arrows of fate fall from the sky like lightning bolts. A good day to seek justice, a bad day to act against others.