DREAMSPELL / LAW OF TIME (Argüelles' Lunar-Solar Matrix)

Dreamspell ("The Enchantment of the Dream") is a system developed by American artist and mystic Jose Arguelles (1939–2011) together with Lloydine Arguelles and published in 1992.

Built on the Tzolk'in. Arguelles took the structure of the Mayan Tzolk'in — 20 signs and 13 tones — as a foundation, but created his own interpretive system that differs fundamentally from how the Tzolk'in is used in traditional Mayan communities.

The Law of Time — the Central Idea

The erroneous 12:60 rhythm. The assertion that modern civilization lives in an erroneous 12:60 rhythm: a 12-month year with a 60-minute hour, which destroys harmony with nature and the galaxy.

The true rhythm of 13:20. The true rhythm is 13:20 (13 lunar months of 28 days), and returning to it through the 260-day Tzolk'in is said to be capable of transforming human consciousness.

The kin of the day. Each day in Dreamspell receives a "kin" — a combination of sign and tone — and people are encouraged to orient their lives by this rhythm.

The Birth Kin — Calculated Differently

Does not match tradition. The birth "kin" in Dreamspell is calculated differently from the traditional Tzolk'in: the starting points differ, which means that most people will receive a different "sign" in the two systems.

Distance from the tradition. Traditional Mayan practitioners (ajq'ijab') clearly distinguish their practice from Dreamspell and do not consider it a continuation of their tradition.

An international following. Nevertheless, Arguelles's system has gained an international following and continues to be actively practiced.

Place in Errarium

Separate from Mayan astrology. In Errarium, Dreamspell (#48) is presented separately from traditional Mayan astrology (#22) — a principled distinction reflecting the real difference between the two systems.

Closer to 20th-century authorial systems. Dreamspell is closer to authorial synthetic systems — Human Design (#13) and other new 20th-century systems — than to the living traditional practices of Mayan peoples.