knowing when enough is enough
These smaller scale, iwi/regional pūrākau (stories) are challenging, in a fun way. They’re closer to home because they’re only a couple of generations ago and the figures in them aren’t inter-changeable with the natural environment (te ira atua, the gods, elemental forces) — so I feel there’s less wriggle room, less space to let the mind wander and imagine what wisdom is available to us to help make sense of the world and our place in it. but fun nonetheless!
What principles can we extract from the story to adopt and embody in our own lives?
What scenarios can we relate to and expand our understanding of ourselves with?
When Ruaeo arrived in Aotearoa, he sought one last act of vengeance against Tamatekapua (rangatira, leader and chief of the Te Arawa waka and people) — he fought Tamatekapua and beat him up. Really bad.
He could’ve killed him! but to do so would render serious repercussions that even in his grief and mamae, Ruaeo knew was too much. i.e. to sever an entire whakapapa (genealogical) line, a chiefly one at that, would be too great of a burden to bear. As I mentioned in the previous post, our tupuna (ancestors) lived and operated in a spiritual way. Everything was spiritual and lathered with karakia (incantations) and ceremony — even warfare and combat. I mean, especially warfare and combat.
“Darkness is part of our whakapapa too,
it’s an essential phase of creation.
what we enjoy in te ao mārama comes from the darkness
from moments where the depths of our character is tested,
our resilience is challenged
and our courage, required.”
How do we ensure that in the darkness of our own feels, when we’re upset, angry and hurting that we can look after ourselves and navigate those waters safely and not drop too deep to where we may not return from… where the repercussions may be too steep of a price to pay…
Perhaps our tupuna didn’t leave us pūrākau, waiata, karakia and other art forms just to keep record of events and preserve our history — but contained within them are the blueprints and guides to help keep us safe in the darkness to thrive when we come into the light.
Perhaps…
Tēnā tātou,
Hana.