The Maya calendar is a 260-day almanac first used by the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. According to the Tzolk'in (translated as count of days), as the calendar was called by the Mayas, each day has a patron spirit who influences events. The calendar consists of twenty naguals which can be thought of as archetypes similar in significance to the twelve zodiac signs. The twenty naguals carry a numerical coefficient from 1 to 13 which modifies the underlying meaning of the nagual. The shaman, or priest, reads the calendar to determine the answers to questions one may have about health, wealth, and family. The calendar is also used choose to the most positive dates for rituals involving family, lineage, religion, or the community. Similar to the natal chart in astrology, the Maya calendar can be used for divination purposes. When a child is born, for example, the shaman can interpret the calendar to determine the baby’s character. A person’s character and destiny are determined by which of the twenty naguals, as modified by its numerical coefficient, rules the day the person is born.

Every shaman carries sacred coral seeds and other items in a small bag, and uses them during the divination ritual. During Pre-Columbian times, the shaman would cast the seeds upon a calendar to determine the good and bad days for the year. The seeds are used to this day and manipulated for divination purposes. A total of 260 red bean seeds are manipulated to obtain a nagual and coefficient which give the answer to the question being asked. This divination method differs from the astrological way in that it isn’t based upon planetary positions. During the divination process, Mayan spirits are invoked through a series of prayers and rituals.

The Maya calendar is not only used to obtain specific answers and a better understanding of personality, but also to develop personal intuition and provide reassurance. It helps clients get past social conditioning and gain a better understanding of their true feelings and purpose.