b’en – the staff of virtue and the corn’s surging growth

Laura LaBrie
Sep 9
3 min read

Series: Glyphs of the Maya – Drawing the Day Signs into Your Life

Key Words: Triumph • Harvest • Success • Growth • Divine Power

B’en is the staff of virtues, the living corn stalk that stands tall in the field, carrying the strength of divine power. It is a day of triumph — of harvest, success, and abundance. B’en is the surge of growth after rain, when the inner fire of life pushes upward so strongly you can almost see it moving.

It is a most fortunate day, charged with the energy of victory, completion, and the unlocking of hidden strength. B’en teaches that growth comes from deep roots and the right conditions — when heart, spirit, and effort align, success is unstoppable.

B’en days are ideal for:

Celebrating victories and accomplishments.
Launching new ventures.
Working toward harvest — literal or symbolic.
Unlocking hidden talents or powers.
Calling in abundance and good fortune.

drawing the b’en glyph

The B’en glyph represents the staff of life, the upright stalk of corn, and the surging energy of growth.

How to draw it:

Draw the inner square and the core or heart of the glyph.
Draw the outer square around it.
Draw the breath scrolls flowing outward — these are the life-force of the glyph. In Maya tradition, the breath scrolls show that the glyph is alive and breathing. Without them, it is only a static image; with them, it becomes a living, breathing presence that can work with you.

A note about these glyph images:The drawings you see here are from my personal grimoire. They are on lined paper because they were created during my own magical practice — each line a record of connection. These glyphs are not copied from printed sources; they were drawn by hand, holding the intention and energy of the day sign itself. Some are simplified slightly so you can draw them more easily, even if you’ve never worked with Maya glyphs before. The simplification does not take away their power — the act of drawing them with intention is what awakens their energy.

As you draw, imagine the corn stalk standing tall in the sun, dripping with rainwater, growing so quickly you can almost hear it.

using the glyph’s energy

in your home

Place it in kitchen or pantry spaces to bless the food and the harvest.
Keep it in your workspace when working toward success.
Hang it in garden areas to encourage strong plant growth.

on your body

Mark it on your hands when planting seeds or beginning a project.
Wear it as a pendant or charm when aiming for victory.
Draw it on your heart to call in strength and courage.

other ways

Carve it into candles for rituals of success and abundance.
Draw it on seed packets or garden tools to bless the harvest.
Write a goal or dream, then draw the glyph over it to charge it with B’en’s surging energy.

awakening the glyph

To call forth B’en’s energy:

Sit with the glyph before you.
Inhale deeply, feeling the inner fire that pushes growth upward.
Exhale with the words Ahaw B’en — “Lord B’en” — addressing the day god with respect and inviting the triumph of growth.
- In Yucatec Maya, Ahaw means “Lord” and is the proper form of address when speaking directly to the Day Gods.
Repeat three times.
Whisper: “Ahaw B’en — let my growth be strong, my harvest abundant, my path victorious.”

This unites the image of the glyph, the breath scrolls of life-force, and the sacred name of the day lord, activating B’en’s blessing of abundance and triumph.