Since 2012, Xol Original has worked alongside Indigenous and traditional artisans to preserve craft, protect culture, and provide pathways for thriving creative economies. At the heart of this work is the kinship circle — a community of monthly supporters whose contributions go directly toward this mission.

The Kinship Circle is rooted in relationship, reciprocity, and meaning - not just financial support. To help explain our monthly contribution levels, it helps to understand a little about the Mayan number system, which inspired this structure.

🌟 Base-20: A Different Way of Counting

The ancient Maya used a base-20 (vigesimal) number system, unlike our base-10 system. This likely came from counting both fingers and toes — 20 in total — and allowed them to represent numbers with just a few symbols. 

Instead of writing numbers with ten digits like we do (0–9), the Maya wrote numbers using dots and bars:

A • dot = 1

A — bar = 5

A stack of dots and bars could create all numbers from 0–19. 

Everything from 20 and up was written using powers of 20 (just like our numbers use powers of 10). 

☀️ Dot and Bar Symbols - What They Mean

Here’s how simple symbols build meaning:

• 1 : Presence, beginning

— 5 : Strength, foundation

Dot + Bar combinations | 2–19 : Growth and balances within cycles

So:

1 = one dot (1)

5 = one bar

10 = two bars

15 = three bars

20 = one dot in the next level (first power of 20) 

🌀 Why $5, $10, $15, and $20?

In our Kinship Circle, each tier reflects a meaningful “step” within this symbolic system:

𝋥 $5 - Lending a Hand

Symbolically like a single bar (5) — not a large number, but a solid contribution.

You’re helping sustain the work and presence of artisans monthly — one steady gesture keeps the circle moving.

𝋪 $10 - Giving a Gift

Equivalent to two bars (10) — a doubling of support.

This reflects intentional giving that strengthens roots and deepens connection.

𝋯 $15 - Taking a Step

Equals three bars (15) — a number that shows momentum and growth.

This is symbolic of stepping into relationship more deeply, moving beyond basics into active support.

𝋠 $20 - Becoming a Twenty

In the Mayan system, 20 is a complete cycle — the full count of fingers and toes, and the foundation for the next level of numbers. 

Choosing $20 reflects wholeness and commitment — not just giving, but joining a full cycle of support and care.

🌿 What This Means for You & Us

All contributions — whether $5 or $20 — are part of a larger rhythm of support.

 • Your monthly gift becomes a seed.

 • Together, the seeds build community, continuity, and craft sustainability.

 • Like Mayan numbers, each piece (dot or bar) has meaning, but the whole system — the cycle — is what shapes real impact.