Chicanaui Yeyan
Tlaltekyoliztli
Nine Earth Life-creating positions
On
June 21 Earth entered an astronomical position called solstice, the
first day of summer. Thirteen days on July 3 Earth is farthest from the Sun.
This is called an aphelion. Between the solstice and aphelion is when
the Tlalocs are honored.
Summer
ends and Fall begins with a position called equinox, when day and night
are of equal length. Thirteen days later Earth enters an equihelion
position, when the distance between Earth and Sun is the same as it will be 13
days after the Spring equinox.
Fall
ends with the Winter solstice, the birth of Huitzilopochtli. Thirteen
days later Earth enters her closest position to the Sun. This called a perihelion.
Spring begins with the next equinox. Thirteen days later Earth
enters her next equihelion, when the distance between Earth and Sun is
the same as it was 13 days after the first day of Fall.
Earth’s
ninth special position occurs only between the Tropic of Capricorn and the
Tropic of Cancer. It is the solar zenith, when the Sun is directly above
at noon and objects do not cast a shadow. At Chalchihuites (Zacatecas, Mexico)
the zenith and summer solstice happen on the same day.
Carlos
Aceves Yolohuitzcalotl
