Kia ora e te whānau,
It’s been a few months since I last wrote, and I’m resisting writing.
This resistance has been reoccurring a lot lately. So here’s my solution for today: just sit and write whatever comes to mind.
As I do this, I take a few deep breaths to connect with my higher power, and I consciously say in my mind, “I release any energy that doesn’t serve me and transmute it into aroha (love).” At least now, I’ve written something. I know that when I connect to hā (breath), I reach a place of calm and peace. My nervous system relaxes, allowing me to access the more creative side of my hinengaro (mind). Just writing these thoughts down makes me feel more accomplished.
Last month, I started writing about te kore (the nothingness or blank slate), but I didn’t finish. Something felt off, so I left it. Now this theme is coming back to me.
What do I know about te kore? It is where everything begins. I’ve read about te kore from a number of Māori authors, and here’s my interpretation at this stage of my life: Te kore is the nothingness from which Te Pō (the darkness) emerges. In Te Pō, Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) and Ranginui (Sky Father) had their children. Their tamariki (children) struggled over whether they should separate their parents to create room for growth. In the end, Tāne Mahuta & others supported pushing them apart. When this happened, Te Ao Mārama (the world of light) appeared. While there was much pain, grief, and turmoil, without the conflict and struggle in the darkness, the light wouldn’t have broken through. Without the separation of Rangi and Papa, Hineahuone—the first woman—would not have been born. It was the Atua (Gods) who helped create her, and Tāne Mahuta who breathed life into her. Each creation allowed for new potential. Te kore set the stage for Te Pō, and Te Pō set the stage for Te Ao Mārama. Growth came when the light emerged after the darkness. And so the cycle for growth continues.
Challenges signal that we are ready for growth. However, we often don’t recognise our discomfort and conflict as opportunities. Instead, we label them as “wrong” and believe they shouldn’t be happening to us. From a te ao Māori perspective, all experiences, elements, and Atua ( e.g Tu Matauenga, God of war & Rongomatane, God of Peace) are essential for growth. Lacking one or the other would limit our ability to learn. While it may not feel like it, the challenge you’re facing right now is not a disadvantage—it’s an opportunity.
As I sit here, I ask: How do these Māori concepts and hā, which I’m passionate about, apply to our everyday lives? How can we use them? Because without application, they lose their value.
As mentioned earlier, from a Māori worldview, we whakapapa (trace our lineage) to hā. Without hā, the unseen energy, there is no life. And hā, the foundation of all life, originates from IO, the divine. It connects us to everything around us. When we draw upon hā, it sends a signal to our body and mind to be calm. We tap into the intelligent part of ourselves as we make a focused effort to relax.
Recently, I’ve had moments where I feel sluggish and slow with my business. Some parts are going well, but others feel neglected, and I haven’t found the energy or solution to bring them to life yet. I’ve been judging how things should be, which has led to frustration, anxiety, and annoyance. The first step is becoming aware of these thoughts.
When I notice them, it’s my cue to breathe. To interrupt the unhelpful thoughts and enter te kore—the blank slate. Training ourselves to access this state helps conserve energy and neutralise emotions. We enter into the calm and creative realm. Once we master this, we can move to the next step: creating from te kore. For example, I’ll focus on specific areas of my business that I’d like to see come to fruition. I’ll visualise speaking events where people are inspired, learning, and growing; I’ll imagine transformations through our products and education, and I’ll see sales increasing and so on. The more I visualise and feel good about these outcomes, the easier it becomes to align with them and work toward them.
Te kore allows us to let go of the past and create from the present. Every breath is a cue to start anew. With each breath, we breathe life into a fresh vision for ourselves, and with each breath, we consciously tap into our divinity.
This is how I use these concepts in my everyday life. If you’re interested in learning more about hā practices, we offer a Transforming Stress and Anxiety e-book to help you develop hā habits. You can also grab a hā tool to assist you on your journey. Remember, it’s never too late. Now is the time to rewrite your life.
Arohanui,
Julia Wikeepa