Ngā ara wairua: Spiritual pathways

Wairua

He Whakamārama

Wairua has many different aspects. It’s not just about a god or gods. It’s a way of being, understanding, and connecting that’s very important in te ao Māori (the Māori world). It reflects Māori beliefs and practices connected to ira atua (the spiritual realm) and ira tangata (the physical realm), understanding tapu (sacred), and noa (safe). There are many ways of being part of wairua. For some, wairua is being connected to those who have passed away – they may receive messages, signs, and guides within dreams, or visions. This could be part of intuition – just having a feeling about something.

Spiritual or wairua practices can be formal cultural ceremonies on the marae like during a tangi, however they can also be informal and very personal, like saying a karakia, greeting the manu or rākau in the ngahere, or splashing water on your face from your awa as a way to connect with tūpuna, ngā atua, and cleanse your concerns.

Whakataukī

Ka oho te wairua, ka matāra te tinana, he aroha ki te aroha,
ka kā te maramatanga

When your spirit awakens, when your body is alive, when love is unconditional, enlightenment flows.

This whakataukī lets us know that when our wairua is awakened, our body is vigorous and alive, our love is unconditional, and then we are enlightened. This occurs on all levels and between and within the two realms of ira atua (the spiritual realm) and ira tangata (the physical realm), working in unison and creating balance.

Ngā hua - Benefits

Wairua practices can help us to whakawātea – clear the heavy feeling from events, concerns, and signs or intuitive feelings from te ira atua.
Karakia can help connect us to atua and tūpuna that we can draw on for strength.
Waiata and karakia can be used to soothe emotions, our kare-a-roto, calm the body and to invigorate and energize.
Beliefs and connection with spirituality can assist in people making meaning out of adversity – an important resilience attribute.
Beliefs and connection with spirituality can also facilitate healthy reciprocal relationships with taiao and people in our community.
Singing, composing, playing, and cooking are all activities that keep us connected through our senses, and our senses connect to wairua.
Being outside in the environment to feel what Papatūānuku, Ranginui and all the atua are doing today (this is a way of being mauri tau). It’s a circuit breaker to bring us back to balance.

Ngā Ara - Pathways

Learn about karakia, ruruku, and inoi:
Learn techniques for calming your body, mind, and wairua: Hikitia te hā.
Learn about ngā whetu and Matariki.
Write your own karakia or īnoi (in English or te reo Māori).
Write and use simple affirmation (e.g. I am supported by my tūpuna).
Start and finish your day/routine with karakia or inoi to open and close. This can be used to set the intentions for the day and reflect at the end of the day.
Learn a waiata that is meaningful to you that you can do with karakia (himene, a song you like, or an iwi anthem). Here’s a discussion and rendition with kupu (words) of a verse that is used as an opening karakia and also a waiata.
Learn a waiata that has some Māori kupu, or Māori worldviews. Here’s a link to Wairua Tapu with kupu and a sign language guide.
Learn stories about atua that inspire you and your whānau. Explore the similarities in their stories to yours (like maybe living in close confinement, darkness, uncertainty). Also explore their strengths and limitations to understand what you can learn to help you and your whānau.