Many of you know that I have moved to Waimangaroa, on the West Coast of Te Wai Pounamu in Aotearoa. According to Wikipedia, there were 231 people living here in 2018 so it is substantially smaller than Rangiora with its population of 19,000 people! Having only been here for 3 weeks I am still settling in and adjusting to the rhythms of life here. What I am discovering with this being a new home without fixed routines in place, is that I notice and respond to what is arising in the moment more easily. I am blessed to be living 2 minutes from the beach and after dinner last night I felt the desire to go for a stroll along the beach. Feeling the sand on the soles of my feet and noticing how the texture of sand changed as I wandered along was an enjoyable and grounding experience. By the end of my walk my head was clear and my heart open. I felt grateful, refreshed and alive.

For some time now I have known in the depths of my heart that my Soul needed to leave the hustle and bustle of Rangiora and find a quieter place to call home. A place where I could effortlessly connect with nature, be present and ultimately connect with myself, my True Nature on a deeper level. Although this calling in my heart has been present since returning to New Zealand from Pitt Island back in 2018, it has taken this time and an encouraging hand through the recent governmental mandates to allow me to take this step.

In our Monday morning classes last term we began diving into Yoga Philosophy and in particular the 8 Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali. These Yoga Sutras by Patanjali are a guide for us all in our practice of Yoga. Yoga was developed centuries ago as a way for people to uncover their full potential. Yoga is a way of living and being that makes real happiness possible. Its power lies in its ability to bring us into the present moment. By focusing and feeling into what is happening in the present moment, the sensations in the body, our breathing, we can begin to connect with and discover a deep sense of stillness, of peacefulness, of joy and all-encompassing love. This is our True Nature and Yoga, ultimately, is a practice that allows us to realise our True Nature.

In class we began with the yamas, the first branch of the Yoga tree, which includes:

• Ahimsa – compassion for all living things
• Satya – commitment to the Truth
• Asteya – not stealing
• Brahmacharya – merging with the One
• Aparigraha – not grasping

Sanskrit is similar to Te Reo Māori in that it can be interpreted in many ways as words have larger meanings rather than a simple translation to one English word that explains it in its entirety. The above translations of the yamas are taken from Donna Farhi’s book, Yoga Mind Body and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness, a wonderful text that I would encourage you to engage with to support your Yoga practice. Donna mentions to keep in mind that the “Yamas are not so much a list of dos and don’ts, as a reminder of how we are when we are connected to our True Nature.”

Satya reminds us of the importance of honest communication and it allows us to create healthy relationships. This honest, truthful communication can be applied to ourselves, to our friends and family, and to our communities. Part of this practice of Satya involves being true to our heart’s deepest desire and longing. This is not always easy as it may involve leaving an unhealthy relationship or job, and moving away from the security of what you currently know and are doing. And this takes strength, as many of us have experienced when we have followed the callings of our hearts.

I am deeply saddened by the separation that has occurred through Covid and the governmental mandates that have been enforced. I am all for freedom of choice and human rights, and although I have chosen not to have the jab, I do believe there is a place for safe vaccinations. I knew in my heart with the jab being in its trial phase that it was not right for me and this was clear from the beginning. And of course, I questioned this and researched and listened and watched and waited, and as time went on the feeling became stronger. It definitely has been the harder option to choose but the one that feels right for me. The silver lining in this whole situation is that it has allowed me to finally make that step and find a quieter tranquil place to call home. It has encouraged me to step away from my life in Rangiora and as I let go of parts of my identity, I question:

Who am I when I am not a teacher?

Who am I when I am not a healer?

Who am I when my days are no longer fully scheduled?

This is the first year that I have not set any New Year’s resolutions, which is a big change for me! I am the queen of to-do lists, and naturally a very focused, goal orientated, achieving, organised type of person. I resonate strongly with my masculine energies of “doing” but I know in my heart that it is time to allow spontaneity, fluidity, flow, intuition and the feminine energy of “being” in. Moving here, to Waimangaroa, where the energy is amazing, the pace naturally slower and without every moment of every day spoken for, I am intrigued to see what will unfold and be birthed out of this new space…

Namaste my dear friends.
I wish you well in your journey through 2022.
Melissa
xx

“I honour the place in you that is the same in me.
I honour the place in you where the universe resides.
I honour the place in you of love, of light, of peace and of truth.
I honour the place in you that is the same in me.
There is but one.
Namaste.”
Author unknown.