13 tones
The thirteen tones of the Tzolkin are not themes but stages. The tone shows which phase the day's energy is in: intention, acceleration, midpoint, limit. The same image works differently with the first tone and with the thirteenth.
Table of tones
| Tone | Dreamspell name | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnetic | Intention, the pull of the goal |
| 2 | Lunar | Obstacle, challenge |
| 3 | Electric | Movement, service |
| 4 | Self-Existing | Form, definition |
| 5 | Overtone | Power, resources |
| 6 | Rhythmic | Balance, organization |
| 7 | Resonant | Midpoint, attunement |
| 8 | Galactic | Integrity |
| 9 | Solar | Intention, commitment |
| 10 | Planetary | Manifestation, result |
| 11 | Spectral | Dissolution, letting go |
| 12 | Crystal | Cooperation, clarity |
| 13 | Cosmic | Limit, completion |
Where the names come from
The tones themselves are part of the classic Tzolkin: in Maya inscriptions they were written with dots and bars. But names such as “Magnetic” or “Spectral” appeared only at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, in José Argüelles's Dreamspell, and have nothing to do with the pre-Columbian tradition.
We include them because Russian-language sources almost always describe the Tzolkin in exactly these words. But it is worth remembering that they are a modern layer on top of an ancient count.
How to read the tone together with the day sign
The day sign answers the question “what is the day about,” the tone answers “what stage is it at.” The Serpent with the first tone and the Serpent with the thirteenth describe the same force at its beginning and at its limit.
A practical rule: tones 1 to 4 are about the setup, 5 to 9 about work and commitment, 10 to 13 about the result and completion.