There are two decoder charts to use to find a day sign. The first one is for finding the Dreamspell interpretation of the Tzolkin. The second one is for finding a date in the traditional Mayan count. The method of reading the charts is the same.

• Write down the birthday or date to be converted.

• Find the month number from Table 8-1, the Month Decoder Table.

• Find the year number. To find a Dreamspell date, use Table 8-2, the Year Decoder Table. To find a Traditional Maya date use Table 8-3, the Traditional Maya Year Decoder Table.

• Add to these two numbers the number of the day of the month that is being converted.

• If the total of these three numbers is more than 260, deduct 260 from the total.

• The result should be a number between one and 260. Look up that number on the Tzolkin chart on p. 98. This is the tzolkin day for the birthday or date to be converted.

• Each square of the Tzolkin also has a number, from one to thirteen, written in it in Mayan bar/dot notation. This is the corresponding number or tone of the date.

• Read across to the left-hand column. This symbol is the corresponding one from the twenty day signs or glyphs.

• Look up the meanings of the thirteen numbers and the twenty day signs in the following section. The Tzolkin signature of the date is a combination of both.

Note that when using the traditional Mayan chart, if the year is a leap year, add 1 if the date is after February 29. If you know that a person was born after sunset on the day of their birth, use the following day sign in the traditional Mayan chart.

TABLE 8-1 MONTH DECODER TABLE

TABLE 8-2 DREAMSPELL YEAR DECODER TABLE

TABLE 8-3 TRADITIONAL MAYA YEAR DECODER TABLE

The Dreamspell or traditional Mayan dates for a particular day can be put together to form a name. With the traditional Mayan calendar, this would include both the Yucatec Mayan form and its translation.

Tzolkin Chart