Week 5
Kōhine Oranga-tiratanga
Ngā taonga tuku iho
Knowledge Heritage
We were hosted this week at Hine Rei, a rongoā Māori clinic that supports wāhine and their whānau to remember and activate their inherent mana. Led by Whaea Tracey, Pou Tokomanawa of Hine Rei, the girls were treated to a range of learning and activities to remind them of the ancestral wisdom of wāhine. Centred on the pou: Ngā taonga tuku iho, the day was about understanding how to access different knoweldges that have been passed down. Whether through ritual practice, mirimiri, or maramataka, the girls would learn that knowledge can reside in us and in our practices, in many ways.
Several of Hine Rei's kaimahi were present to support the kaupapa, guiding the girls through their own mirimiri journey. Through mirimiri, they would learn how emotions or imbalances can show up in their tinana but also their hinengaro, wairua, or manawa. The girls noted this as one of their favourite parts of the day.
Ngā taonga tuku iho teaches us the importance of learning, teaching, and sharing knowledge. This pou is a reminder of the diverse ways that we learn and communicate what we know. It informed why we chose to bring the group to Hine Rei, getting them out of a conventional learning space and into a place that honours "ancient wisdom with modern action". Our own team of facilitators have a range of lived experience of neurodiversity. With that in mind, we strive to offer opportunities to engage in knowledge that engages the body, mind, and spirit--so that kōhine can learn in ways that resonate with them.
Several of Hine Rei's kaimahi were present to support the kaupapa, guiding the girls through their own mirimiri journey. Through mirimiri, they would learn how emotions or imbalances can show up in their tinana but also their hinengaro, wairua, or manawa. The girls noted this as one of their favourite parts of the day.
Ngā taonga tuku iho teaches us the importance of learning, teaching, and sharing knowledge. This pou is a reminder of the diverse ways that we learn and communicate what we know. It informed why we chose to bring the group to Hine Rei, getting them out of a conventional learning space and into a place that honours "ancient wisdom with modern action". Our own team of facilitators have a range of lived experience of neurodiversity. With that in mind, we strive to offer opportunities to engage in knowledge that engages the body, mind, and spirit--so that kōhine can learn in ways that resonate with them.
E koekoe te tūī,
e ketekete te kākā,
e kūkū te kererū
The Tūī chatters,
the Kākā gabbles,
the wood pigeon coos
Our ways of communicating and learning are as diverse as the birdsong
ORANGA-TIRATANGA IN PRACTICE
Enacting ritual and creating a collective incense
As a part of our whakawhanaungatanga, each of us introduced ourselves and imbued a scoop of rongoā with our mauri--adding it to the base of a collective incense.
Later, the girls would learn a little about each of the rongoā and create their own, bespoke incense blend to go home with an individually decorated ipu. Creating incense was one way to learn about practicing ritual--whether to release something that no longer served you or to help heal a specific physical ailment.
We hope that they took away more than just a vessel full of sweet-smelling incense. We hope they also took with them some new knowledge that resides within that rongoā practice. Knowledge about healing. Knowledge about their own sacred wisdom. Knowledge that they might one day share with others.
We hope that they took away more than just a vessel full of sweet-smelling incense. We hope they also took with them some new knowledge that resides within that rongoā practice. Knowledge about healing. Knowledge about their own sacred wisdom. Knowledge that they might one day share with others.
"I learnt a lot about my body and how it's sacred"
Maramataka
The girls used an app called "Phases of the Moon" and cut-out maramataka dials, to help map their own connection to the moon.
They learnt that the moon phase from the day of their birth represents their own personal Whiro or new moon phase--often associated with lower or more reflective energy. Counting 14 days ahead, they could map their own Rākaunui (full moon associated with higher energy).
Some of the girls were really excited to hear about the different characteristics of moon phases, reflecting on how they relate to specific behaviours or personality traits. They now have a maramataka dial to use at home.
They learnt that the moon phase from the day of their birth represents their own personal Whiro or new moon phase--often associated with lower or more reflective energy. Counting 14 days ahead, they could map their own Rākaunui (full moon associated with higher energy).
Some of the girls were really excited to hear about the different characteristics of moon phases, reflecting on how they relate to specific behaviours or personality traits. They now have a maramataka dial to use at home.
"Learning about maramataka and about how the moon affects me each day, was really interesting"
Sometimes, releasing knowledge is just as important as searching for it. At the end of the day, each of us released something we knew we needed to let go of. We wrote on post-it notes an emotion, a challenge, or an issue we were dealing with. One by one, we dropped those post-it notes into the fire, releasing them into the flames of Mahuika.
We look forward to seeing the girls next week, back school, to explore flourishing as kōhine. Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai.
We look forward to seeing the girls next week, back school, to explore flourishing as kōhine. Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai.
Nā Māhuika i huna te ahi ki te rākau; nā Māui i rapu, i whakakā anō.
Māhuika concealed the fire within the trees; Māui sought it out and kindled it anew.
Knowledge requires the search
Māhuika concealed the fire within the trees; Māui sought it out and kindled it anew.
Knowledge requires the search