becoming self aware, through whakapapa
That’s what this whole blog, this entire thing has been about; leaning into whakapapa, to tupuna mātauranga, Māori ancestral knowledge to become more self aware. To learn more about myself with whakapapa as the plot of whenua, the seeds, the tools, the plan and the weather conditions as well.
Like I’ve mentioned many times, whakapapa is everything.
Experiencing the world through this worldview just makes sense. You see how everything is connected, how you come into it and even gives you a sense of place and responsibility.
If you’re reconnecting or reclaiming te reo Māori, the art forms, the kawa, tikanga, stories, pūrākau, kōrero, tātai whakapapa (genealogical links and lines) — which I believe we all are in one way or another, at different points along the journey — can I ask you to please, in your own way in whatever feels right for you,
Grieve for the compassionate world
you were born deserving,
but did not get.”
- Emily Nagoski PhD, Come As You Are.
Firstly, ‘Come As You Are’ is an incredible book so please make the time to read or listen to it - and this quote is referring to beliefs about the body and sex and pleasure and other things of that nature. But secondly, doesn’t this quote apply to pretty much everything?! Let’s tie it into our wānanga with the blog and becoming self aware through whakapapa.
Grieve for the whenua, waterways and taiao — the tupuna you were born to know intimately and for them to know you, but did not. Grieve for the language you were born to speak and hear, but did not. Grieve for the teachings you were born to inherit from your whānau and pass on to your own some day, but did not. Grieve for the songs and stories you were born deserving, but did not get to sing or hear.
Grieve.
This is part of the whakapapa that I think any journey of becoming more self-aware, unpacking or reconnecting or remembering to self, to identity, to cultures etc. that is overlooked or not emphasised enough.
Yes, our whakapapa has contributed to who, where and what we are today - the stuff we love and feel proud about as well as the stuff we’d rather not talk about. It all contributes to who we are,
but our whakapapa doesn’t define us!
When we allow ourselves the space and the time to grieve, we also allow ourselves to let go and release. Consequently, creating space for something new to flow in and flourish, hey maybe even replenish the whenua left behind.
So wherever you are on your journey to wherever destination that might be, as you meet new layers or new parts of yourself you’ve never met before, be kind and compassionate. And also, when necessary — grieve.
Tēnā tātou,
Hana.