Matariki

Matariki (Known as Makahiki in Hawaii) appeared this week in my pre – dawn sky.
Rising on the North Eastern Horizon, on the same spot as the rising sun.

Here in New Zealand, Aotearoa: Matariki heralds the beginning of a
New Year.
The shortest day being 21st June, (tomorrow), I have only the lengthening day light hours to look forward to.

Matariki, also known as The Pleiades marks the beginning and end of the Maori New Year. In Maori traditions this is the time to release any unfinished tasks from the year and to set new goals. Prophets will sit in the darkness of the pre dawn and predict what to expect in the forth coming year. When the stars are clear and bright it is thought that the year ahead will be warm and the harvest plentiful. When the stars appear blurred and hazy a cold and lean year was expected.

Celebration for Matariki varies from tribe to tribe, but the most important is the meditating and then the hakari or shared meal. This meal is very symbolic as it contains the last food of the year.

Margaret Orbell (1995) The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Maori Myth and Legend wrote that ‘Traditionally when Matariki first appeared she (Matariki) was greeted with songs of lament for the loss of those who had died in the previous year. But the singer’s tears were joyful too, because the New Year had begun.

In the Hawaiian tradition Makahiki appears at harvest time and traditionally celebrated by the banning of all war at this time.

The Japanese call Matariki Subaru, which has become well known due to its use by the car maker. The meaning of Subaru is generally thought to be united or getting together.

Exercise:
If there is something you have been working on that seems to be taking forever, now is the time to ask Matariki to show you how to begin manifesting your efforts. Listen to your intuition, pray or meditate and look out for opportunities to bring about what you have been working on for so long.

To encourage peacefulness in your life at this time carry 7 stars in your pocket or bag. These can simply be 7 asterisks or 7 stars hand drawn on a piece of paper.

If you want to be more creative, think about star shaped foods that you can eat at this time, to really bring peace and harmony into your life and your family’s life at this time.

May we all live in Peace
May we all live in Harmony
May we all live a free and enlightened life

Namaste
Jillian Taylor
www.qualitytime4u.com
Matakana
New Zealand