“Look at this life of ours”…”counting blessings at breakfast!”
Gratitude for Whāingaroa (Raglan): a womb, at the feet of mother Karioi, that has held me, all of us, inside herself and birthed such love… what fertile land for loving connection.
Whāingaroa – “the long pursuit”, refering to the Tainui waka’s search for a final landing place (initially landing in Kāwhia Harbour further south). Was this place also the final landing place of my journey? And can it be that again?
Mt Karioi – “sleeping lady” and guardian of the forest. A powerful symbol in Māori culture embodying love, loss and spiritual connection to land. I have felt all of these things so deeply here.
Deep, deep love between lovers, friends (dating our friends as a concept), chosen new family, extended community, a new country and ancient ethereal culture.
Loss of shackles, shoulds, expectations I had previously been to attached to (of self, stage of life, the meaning of success…). Loss of connection too at times, which was hard but in itself inspired such an explosive adventure of love and connection – that has allowed me to come back here and melt into love for this place, this land, these people, this energy. Mt Karioi, the sleeping lady, she is a great teacher – teaching by stimulating growth and experiential learning in me. Thank you!
And spiritual connection to land: wow! Re-entering this land… eyes blasted by the bluest blues of the waters. Soul caressed by nourishing greens with golden tints ignited by the sun! Golden sun kissing my skin. The ocean sending in deep blue corduroy lines toward the rocky breaks… of course she gifted me mind blowing surf on my return. She always does that! Even and especially when I think I’m not ready for it.
Sinking into the belly of the ocean, entering her depths… she tumbled me, cleansed me, washed me, stripped me and mirrored the vipassana process I had just sat back at me. Egoless, blank mind, no thoughts, empty… but full of love. So much space. No where to go, no where to stay, nothing to do… all there is, is being. Being… as it is!
The sun descends in the sky on fire… Oranges, pinks, purples and golds splatter across the horizon and reflect in the big walls that move towards me. Masses of water “kallapas” moving towards me, under me, past me, away from me and towards the shore. “Arising to pass away”. Such is the nature of the truth: transient, impermanent, “anicca”.
And at the same time, the full full moon shines bright, big, bold, beautiful. Reminding me I too am bright, big, bold, beautiful. I am never too much; I do not take up too much space. I do not need to dim my light or hide myself and my flaws. “If I’m going to love you completely, we’ve got to let it all show”… and “No secret has the power to diminish your worth” come to mind.
This land, this place, these people, this life… SO MUCH LOVE. My heart is exploding out of my chest and the ocean is pouring out of my eyes. Wow. I am so grateful for this gift I have been so generously given here in Raglan. And I actively and humbly allow myself to receive it!
“”Paying attention acknowledges that we have something to learn from intelligences other than pur own. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop.” – Braiding sweetgrass
Thank you!