Wawata - Moon Dreaming

1. The Māori Moon Cycle: A Guide to Personal Growth and Connection

This is a book of stories for us, seen through Hina's luminescent gaze. Each day's face with its own precious name.

Ancient wisdom for modern times. The Māori lunar calendar, with its 30 distinct moon phases, offers a unique framework for personal growth and connection. Each phase, named after various deities and natural phenomena, provides specific energies and lessons to guide us through life's challenges and joys.

Practical applications:

• Daily reflection on the moon's energy
• Aligning personal goals with lunar phases
• Reconnecting with nature's rhythms
• Exploring cultural wisdom for personal growth

By following this lunar cycle, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the natural world. It serves as a tool for mindfulness, emotional regulation, and spiritual connection in an increasingly disconnected modern world.

2. Whakaeke: Entering the Lunar Journey with Purpose

Whiro signals beginnings and endings. Birth and death. Spring tide. The great washing away. A giant reset.

Setting intentions for renewal. The Whakaeke phase, encompassing the first five days of the lunar cycle, represents our entrance onto the moon's stage. It's a time for renewal, setting intentions, and establishing a foundation for the month ahead.

Key aspects of Whakaeke:

• Whiro: Embracing darkness and new beginnings
• Tirea: Opening to new learnings and perspectives
• Ohata: Celebrating menstrual flow and female power
• Ōuenuku: Considering different points of view
• Okoro: Reflecting on connections and ancestral ties

This phase encourages us to shed old patterns, embrace new possibilities, and connect with our deepest truths. It's an opportunity to align ourselves with the energy of fresh starts and to set the tone for personal growth in the coming lunar cycle.

3. Mōteatea: Confronting Challenges and Emotional Depths

Tamatea moons across four days are a serious chunk of time to dive deep into what I call our mōteatea bracket every month.

Diving into emotional depths. The Mōteatea phase, spanning four days, invites us to confront our challenges, fears, and deep-seated emotions. It's a time for introspection, caution, and preparation for future growth.

Mōteatea phases and their focuses:

• Tamatea kai-ariki: Awareness of destructive energies
• Tamatea wananga: Standing up to threats and challenges
• Tamatea ā-āio: Seeking tranquility and acceptance
• Tamatea whakapau: Reviewing and challenging assumptions

This phase teaches us to face our shadows, build resilience, and find strength in vulnerability. By acknowledging and working through our emotional challenges, we prepare ourselves for personal transformation and growth in the coming lunar phases.

4. Waiata ā-ringa: Embracing Body Wisdom and Sensuality

This week is a time to feel the sinuous flow of our wawata, our dreams joining in as our bodies' musical autobiographies take centre stage.

Honoring bodily wisdom. The Waiata ā-ringa phase focuses on embracing our physical selves, celebrating sensuality, and listening to the wisdom of our bodies. This seven-day period encourages us to connect with our senses and explore our relationship with our physical form.

Key themes of Waiata ā-ringa:

• Huna: Awareness of breath and life force
• Ariroa: The power of eye contact and connection
• Hotu: Exploring heart's desires and passions
• Māwharu: Embracing female sexual energy
• Atua whakahaehae: Confronting past wounds
• Ōhua: Celebrating fertility and abundance
• Ōturu: Embracing female humor and joy

By tuning into our bodies and honoring our physical experiences, we can deepen our self-understanding, improve our relationships, and cultivate a more holistic sense of well-being. This phase reminds us that our bodies carry their own wisdom and stories, worthy of celebration and exploration.

5. Poi: Celebrating Full Moon Energy and Renewal

These two nights are a special time to bathe in these poi headlights on full beam. Birth stories and tales of renewal come to the fore.

Embracing fullness and clarity. The Poi phase, consisting of two nights (Rākaunui and Rākaumatohi), represents the full moon and its powerful energies. This time is ideal for celebration, clarity, and embracing the fullness of life.

Significance of the Poi phase:

• Rākaunui: Full illumination, revealing truths and commitments
• Rākaumatohi: Vibrant preparation and renewal

During this phase, we are encouraged to:

• Reflect on our progress and achievements
• Make important decisions or commitments
• Celebrate our connections and relationships
• Prepare for new beginnings and opportunities

The Poi phase serves as a climax in the lunar cycle, offering a time of heightened energy, clarity, and potential for transformation. It's an opportunity to bask in the fullness of life and prepare for the waning phases to come.

6. Haka: Channeling Powerful Energies for Transformation

Hina's next five days and nights invite haka into our wawata, our dreams. Themes are repeated. Drilled into us. It is a time to welcome powerful creative solutions.

Embodying transformative power. The Haka phase, spanning five days, invites us to channel powerful energies for personal and collective transformation. This period encourages bold action, creative problem-solving, and facing challenges head-on.

Key aspects of the Haka phase:

• Takirau: Embracing energy shifts and transitions
• Oike: Caring for Mother Earth and our connections
• Korekore: Honoring losses and generational shifts
• Korekore tuarua: Focusing on personal health and well-being
• Korekore piri ki Tangaroa: Finding new ways to move forward

During this phase, we are called to:

• Confront and transform personal and societal challenges
• Embrace change and transition with courage
• Deepen our connection to the earth and our ancestors
• Take bold action towards our goals and dreams

The Haka phase teaches us to harness our inner strength, face our fears, and create positive change in our lives and communities. It's a time for powerful self-expression and transformative action.

7. Whakawātea: Closing the Lunar Cycle with Gratitude and Reflection

This whakawātea is the final stage in our Hina journey home, our kete wawata, our baskets of dreams, being filled with new insights from these distinguished deities.

Completing the cycle with wisdom. The Whakawātea phase marks the closing of the lunar cycle, offering a time for gratitude, reflection, and integration of the month's lessons. This phase encourages us to honor our growth, release what no longer serves us, and prepare for the next cycle.

Key elements of Whakawātea:

• Tangaroa moons: Connecting with deep emotions and intuition
• Ōtāne: Finding space for growth and new perspectives
• Ōrongonui: Cultivating intergenerational peace and harmony
• Maurea/Mauri: Reflecting on priorities and essence
• Mutuwhenua: Embracing completion and transition

During this phase, we are invited to:

• Express gratitude for the month's experiences and lessons
• Reflect on our growth and challenges
• Release any lingering negativity or outdated patterns
• Set intentions for the upcoming lunar cycle

Whakawātea teaches us the importance of closure, reflection, and preparation. By consciously completing each lunar cycle, we create space for new beginnings and continuous growth in our lives.

Last updated: August 8, 2024