Posted

December 27, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

Whenever I’m asked “when are you going  to______next?”, my reply is always the same. “When I receive the message.” Boy does that confound people! Then often comes the question, “But when will you know?”  Reply : “When Spirit give me the message” (aka The Green Light).

 

The other day I received the message that it was time to organise an Ho’oponopono Talk Story Day. Ok Den!                Now, to simply wait for further information to be presented.

On Boxing Day I was holding a somewhat challenging, one-legged pose in yoga class when I started to receive some layers.

Something that really fascinates and interests me, are interconnections, symbology and layers of meanings in words. This is particularly so with Hawaiian words.

Whilst holding my focus to stay upright on one leg in yoga class,  the word ho’opono kept coming in to my mana’o,    with the emphasis being placed on the po and the no.

Ahhhh, ok, got it. 💡😊 💡

Ho’oponopono means to make right more right.

Ho’opono pono ke ala means to make right more right the path.

This is often seen as being related with external relationships or events. People often forget or choose to omit themselves in that process.

So, back to the Po and the No.

I will preface this part by saying the sharing of the po and no in relation to the word ho’opono is the message I received to share and is not from traditional Hawaiian teachings per se. The rest of the information however is from Hawaiian teachings.

NO is an amplifying, expansive word. By this I mean it amplifies the word it is utilised with.

The Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui/ Elbert relates PO as:

Night, darkness, obscurity; the realm of the gods; pertaining to or of the gods, chaos, or hell; dark, obscure, benighted; formerly the period of 24 hours beginning with nightfall (the Hawaiian “day” began at nightfall, cf. ao 1.

I was also taught of PO  as the Spirit world, represented by night, the inner dream, the unseen realities which give birth to our outer dream, the creative process which started at sundown.

Then there is AO explained in the Hawaiian Dictionary as: AO 1. nvi. Light, day, daylight, dawn; to dawn, grow light; enlightened; to regain consciousness.

In some of the teachings I received, this was also explained as the outer expression comes at dawn. Dawn is the manifestation of all creativity that has taken place during the night.                                                                                Sunset is the beginning of a new day with the creative process starting at sunset.

Hence PO is a very powerful, profound time and place for healing/clearing. A powerful time for entering the PO within us to explore and kala (release) all that no longer serves us. All the old mea mea mea that has been held on to. The old outmoded beliefs, ways of thinking, behaving, speaking.

The outer expression comes at dawn, therefore the inside or inner world can change our outside or outer world with AO, the light.

 

The other word that kept entering my awareness as I was writing this was EPHEMERAL. The Google dictionary meaning: lasting for a very short time, transitory, transient, fleeting, passing, shortlived, momentary, brief, short, cursory, temporary, impermanent, short-term; fading

“fashions are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old”.

Relating this to Ho’opono –  negative emotions, issues, energies that cause limitations, persist simply by choice and the focus on them. In truth they are ephemeral……if we allow them to be.

Soooo, embrace your inner Taylor Swift and “Shake It Off’, your inner Queen Elsa from Frozen and ‘Let It Go’ and your Maddern Brothers to say to that plilika ‘We Are Done’!

 

As we transition from the energies of one year in to the new fresh energies of the new year, choose your focus. Personally, I’m a focus on ALOHA kinda wahine.

Remember too the value and importance of ritual with release and transition.                                          IMG_5137                   Hawaiian traditions and practices of Pule(prayer), Hana (action) either literally or symbolically,
Wai Huikala (water purification), Kapu Kai ( ceremonial bathing in the sea) and Pi Kai (sprinkling of salt water), all support and strengthen the release, clearing, cleansing, manifesting intentions.

Whenever I write a blog, I will often seek an appropriate image from Kai Markell. He is an extraordinary photographer and shining example of aloha who freely shares his mana-filled photos.

This photo titled  Haunted Forest, along with Kai’s beautiful words, leapt out at me.

“High above Sleeping Honolulu…                                                         Haunted forest

In the Hills of Kapālama…

Exists a Legendary Haunted Magical Forest…


Where my Soul entered as a Lost  Frightened Child…

And Emerged as a Powerful Compassionate Man…

With Eternal Life…

Saved by the Love of a Princess…

The End…”

 

I invite you to enter that forest within, enter PO, find yourself, cleanse and emerge afresh into AO  Huaka'iPono by Kai Markell
to continue the Huaka’i Pono. (Pono Journey) .

 

Mahalo Pau!

 

 

 

photo titled Huaka’iPono by Kai Markell

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Posted

August 27, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

A few weeks ago I saw this photo on Facebook with a title ‘The Weight of Grief’,risingcairn_1 (1)

My eyes widened with my immediate thought of “Wow, what a powerful image of the crippling, debilitating impact of holding on to ‘old mental/emotional stuff’, and the Stones analogy of The Bowl of Light”.

Whilst I didn’t read the article, the image was the prompt for this blog.

 

(The sculpture is actually titled  “Rising Cairn” and is a 4,000 lb stone sculpture by artist Celeste Roberge.)

 

Traditionally, Hawaiians, as all ‘indigenous’ cultures view all aspects of the body as one and believe that the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are all interconnected and part of the ‘whole’ self . When there is dis-harmony on one level it impacts on all levels. Thankfully this is now understood and accepted in the Western mindset within most Wellness professions. I often use the analogy with clients and haumana in regard to the physical manifestation of dis-harmony. Simply treating the physical is like putting a BandAid on a shark bite. It ain’t gonna hold. You can seek all the physical support, whether it me through massage, chiropractic, change of diet, medication, fitness plan and a plethora of other undertakings, however if the underlying mental/emotional/spiritual root cause is not addressed none of these will be effective or sustaining long term.

As shared in Tales From the Night Rainbow (Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee 1987) and in Ho’opono (Pali Jae Lee 2006),   one of the earliest concepts taught to them was :                                                                                                                 “Each child born has at birth, a Bowl of perfect Light. If he tends his Light it will grow in strength and he can do all things – swim with the shark, fly with the birds, know and understand all things. If, however he becomes envious or jealous he drops a stone into his Bowl of Light and some of the Light goes out. Light and the stone cannot hold the same space. If he continues to put stones in the Bowl of Light, the Light will go out and he will become a stone. A stone does not grow, nor does it move. If at any time he tires of being a stone, all he needs to do is turn the bowl upside down and the stones will fall away and the Light will grow once more”

A traditional greeting in Hawaii was Pehea Ko Piko?                                                                                                         This translates to: How are your relationships to these parts of your body and the relationships they represent?        Piko refers to crown of the head, the navel as well as the genitals. What’s that got to do with relationships you ask? In this context, the crown refers to the ancestors, the navel to currant relationships (including yourself), and the genitals refers to descendants.                                                                                   Which Side of the line (1)
In other words, are these relationships pono (right, good, harmonious)🌹
or is there any pilikia (trauma, drama, dis-harmonious)💨  ie Are You Carrying Any Stones?

Which Side of the Line are You On?

Is it timely to Ho’oponopono (make right more right) and             Ho’opono pono ke ala (make right more right the path)? 

As a practitioner and teacher of over 25 years, I have witnessed countless times, what detrimental, damaging, unhealthy hindrance to a happy, productive journey of life these ’stones’ are.

Over the years I have had numerous clients and haumana who choose to stay stuck in their continual sharing of their very detailed pilikia (trauma, drama, blame, victim) filled story. When I don’t enable the pilikia, their anger is often then directed at me.  It’s that human tendency of projecting outward rather than having the willingness to look within.

I have become very adept over the decades of ducking people’s stones as they endeavour to hurl them outwards 😉

I had a recent instance of that with a client, whom I hadn’t seen for a few years, who had come for a lomilomi. When I asked her how she was, she replied with 45 minutes of all the intricacies, finger-pointing, blame and victim-ness, drama-filled pilikia nui ( Big  trauma, drama, victim) story. I let her keep speaking, without interruption til her story was told, as it was important to ‘get it out’. I then asked her again, ‘And how are YOU in all this’.  It wasn’t overt, however when you work with energy and have been a practitioner for 25+ years, you know what’s going on. That was when the shift came and she snapped “that’s what I’ve been telling you!”. My reply: “That was the story, that wasn’t what I asked. I’m asking how YOU are”.

She returned for her next appointment the following week and had the grace to pono-up and share about that anger she’d had at me, for a couple of days. It lasted until she wrote it all down and then rang a friend who has also been a client. When she was raging to the friend about me and the stuff that had come up in the session, her friend stated simply “Tracey gave you what you went there for. She gave you what you needed’.

I had simply been the one to support in opening a crack in the shell to allow the stones to begin to stream out.                 The BandAids came well and truly off the shark bite!                                                                                                            ( I gotta tell you, sometimes being ‘the messenger’ requires many deep HA breaths!!)

The reason I share this, is by the time she came for her second appointment a week later, she had taken ownership of her stuff, had done much self-reflection, had numerous epiphanies, had numerous ‘shifts’ and was making changes. We even joked about the previous week as she shared her insights.

She had released bucket loads of metaphorical stones.The SHIFTS and TRANSFORMATION in her physical body as well as her energy when I was lomi-ing her was PROFOUND .

The analogy I used in regard to the difference from the previous week to this week was a shift from pahoeaacontrast (1)                               ʻaʻā lava (spiky and sharp) to pāhoehoe lava (smooth).

She had released many, many stones, smoothed out many of the sharp edges, and is in the process of continuing to cull more.

What are you energising? What stories are you telling repeatedly? Are your Thoughts, Words And Actions ALOHA and PONO or PILIKIA ?

Remember, Thoughts Have Wings, Words Have Wings💫They will fly off to manifest, to create that which has been energised. Are you creating joyful aloha rainbows filled journey or are you filling your Bowl and Being with Stones ?

A helpful practice is doing an Aloha Pono Check daily. Ask yourself such questions as:                                                 🌟Are my relationships in harmony? 🌟Am I living a motivated, stimulated, inspired and purposeful life?  🌟Am I being the best ….. fill in the many blanks…., that I could be? Whether that be parent, partner, practitoner, teacher, role model of health….. the whole array of all apsects of your life. 🌟 Am I living my purpose and am I using my skills, abilities, gifts and talents to serve the planet? 🌟Am I allowing myself to be the Shining Being of Light that I truly am? Am I allowing my Aloha Shininess to Radiate Fully 🌟 🌈⭐️🌞🐥

ANYTIME is appropriate and valuable to ho’oponopono  and ho’opono pono ke ala right and to release those old stones. Often this can be enhanced by particular ritual, with the moon cycles also being symbolic.                          There is a New Moon appearing soon. A New Moon represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of another new cycle. This is an excellent time for making a fresh start, questioning and releasing old habits, behaviours, beliefs and ways of thinking, turning over a new leaf, or starting a new project.. ie a MANA-FULL AND PONO NUI time to  re-write the story, clear out those stones and be the full shininess of YOUR BOWL of LIGHT.

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Posted

June 29, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

There is no APP for spiritual growth. There is no quick fix or fast track to enlightenment.

Over my 30 years of working with clients, I have seen it all. I have had to help ‘undo’ complications, afflictions, disorders and problems that people have experienced by trying to fast-track their path to spiritual enlightenment.                       (I will leave my Ayahuasca rant for another time 😱)

THERE IS NO FAST TRACK.

Evolving takes daily awareness and hana.

 

There are many reasons why ancient esoterics, mystics, masters and indigenous cultures involved YEARS of study and ‘apprenticeship’.

One had to commit to earning their Spiritual Pedigree.

 

Walking the path of a Spiritual Being involves not only a gaining of knowledge and information, crucially it also involves such important fundamentals as humility, modesty, being of service and unpretentiousness.                                                   There-in lies the potential to Wisdom.

Having knowledge does not guarantee having wisdom.

 

HA’AHA’A

humble, unpretentious, modest, unassuming, unobtrusive, humility.

Whether one is aware of their spiritual ‘gift’ from an early age or develop and hone your gifts through years of diligent learning, training, preparation and practice, the EGO cannot travel with you on this path. I’m distinguishing here between lower case ego, which we all have and the EGO of arrogance, superiority, condescension, self-importance, domination, belittlement, misuse of energy, thinking one is above spiritual/universal laws.

Ho’oha’aha’a aku : to condescend. 

 E ho’oha’aha’a ‘ia ho’i ka mana’o ki’eki’e o ke kanaka,

the haughtiness of men shall be made low.

Promoting and marketing myself has never been my strong point. I simply do what I do, in gratitude, and am often  deeply humbled by what others share of their experiences. When people would ask me “are you any good at what you do?” I would smile, shrug and jokingly reply along the lines of “People keep coming back, so I guess so” or “I’ve never had a session from myself so I can’t really say”.

Believing your own marketing hype, advertising, media and press releases can be fraught.

Over my many decades of studying and working in the spiritual and wellbeing field, I have witnessed and experienced many who have stepped into Ego and/or thought they could get ahead both financially and spiritually up the metaphoric mountain by endeavouring to leap-frog over others or completely ignore the basic Universal Laws and think they don’t apply to them. ie they embody Spiritual Arrogance. Suffice to say that through their choices their bumpy slide back to reality provided many learning opportunities. Sometimes that has involved their ‘gifts’ being taken away. They may have started start out with altruistic and positive intent, however somewhere along their journey they lose any sense of ethics and integrity and take a digression from the Pono Path.

 

If someone keeps telling you how good they are at what they do, that they can heal you or bang on about their celebrity status, smile, politely decline and walk away….FAST.                                                                                   They often espouse Spirituality and Universal Laws and are often excellent teachers as they can regurgitate the text book word for word. However look behind the words and ask yourself “do they live and breathe what they teach?”,”do they walk their talk, are they ethical, integral and  pono in their actions?”

Whether it be Yoga, Reiki, Shamanic or any healing practices of any indigenous culture………there is no magic wand.  Being and stepping up into your ‘UHANE NUI (Spirit Greatness) involves commitment,diligence, dedication and work. There is no way of expediting that.

It’s a DAILY PRACTICE of LIVING ALOHA and PONO.

I have been actively seeking and journeying spiritual practices since my teens and have explored many spiritual and metaphysical practices. Many I still utilise today, some simply caused a raised eyebrow and eye-rolling from me.

Be Discerning.

Listen to your na’au, your gut. That will be your guide to pono Beings.

 

I only write blogs when I receive the nudge from Spirit. This one was prompted by a recent event where I had to hold my mana and pono and be a voice to provide someone, who is currently choosing the path of Spiritual Arrogance, with opportunities to step back on to the Pono Path. They have chosen not to. It’s now for me to hand the rest up to Higher Beings.

In the end, my wisdom understands that it’s always Higher Beings than me that we are all accountable to.

pono path photo

 

 

                                    

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted

May 27, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

This week last year I was on Moku O Keawe (Big Island), in Puna, preparing the way for the start of the Cultural Immersion Retreat. How different the landscape is 12 months on.

IMG_E4394

I have had numerous significant, momentous, impactful and ‘chicken skin’ moments during my many Hawaiian sojourns. Those involving the Goddess Pele being particularly profound.

Presenting protocols and offering ho’okupu of Hula and Oli with Kumu Neaulani Kuamo’o- Peck at Kalapana and the crater at Halema’uma’u (Pele’s home), standing on the very rim with Kumu Kanoelani Davis delivering ho’okupu of oli written by her. There are many others, however these stay powerfully preserved in my visual and kinaesthetic memories.

🌋There are many perspectives on the currant events with Pele.

You will often hear the Kanaka Maoli speak of ‘Pele is dancing’. There are lineages who are believed to be direct descendants. They know Na Akua, the Gods and Goddesses, are ancestors who inspire; who live in and are extensions of them, who take many kinolau (forms) and present as various elements. They honour and respect all life very deeply.

Known by various names: Ka Wahine Ai Honua, “the woman who devours the land” and Pelehonuamea, “She who shapes the sacred land”, she is an everpresent energy on Moku O Keawe.  She is renowned for her passionate and fiery temperament. She is both destroyer and creator. She transforms.

Again, perception and perspective are important. Her destruction can be seen as negative and fear-based or it can be viewed that her upheaval is clearing the way for something new and better to be created.

(Let me be clear, I am in no way diminishing the physical, emotional and life-changing ramifications her movement has had on people. That is incredibly profound and devastating to many.)

Many believe Pele is offended when we disrespect the earth and/or Hawaiian culture. If we look at some of the currant concerns on Big Island, perhaps things can be viewed a little differently with eyes of a deeper perspective and perception.

For example :

🌋 The sacred ohia tree and its lehua blossoms have deep roots in Hawaiian culture. There is deep symbology shared through mo’olelo as well as it’s importance in maintaining ecosystem of flora and fauna. These forests have been decimated by Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) via a virulent fungus. However the hardy native ohia lehua is one of the first plants to recolonize otherwise barren lands blanketed in lava. It will grow afresh now without the fungus.

🌋There has been much controversy about the Geothermal Plant – is Pele saying ‘enough!’

🌋 Is she also re-locating those who are in fear and not honouring the stewardship of the land?

🌋 Are things that are not healthy being removed?

🌋 Is she looking for Ai La’au as some mo’olelo suggest, or as others suggest Ai Lau’au is facing off with Pele?

The truth is I’m not sure there is any human who can answer that for sure. Perhaps it’s all of the above and so much more.

I would however encourage everyone to take this opportunity to deepen their knowledge both form a current event standpoint as well as Kanaka Maoli sacred and spiritual belief understanding.

This radio interview with Kekuhi Keliʻikanakaʻole certainly assists in deepening layers of understanding. http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/kekuhi-keli-ikanaka-ole-pele-today

 

Over the years I have heard many people flippantly ‘bandy about’ the name of Pele in assorted situations. Very often these are used completely inappropriately with lack of respect, knowledge and with ignorance or arrogance. (Such as the person who was teaching lomilomi students to invoke Pele during EVERY massage session. Yes, this was my face 😳 along with a deep intake of HA. I explained to the person who shared that with me, why it was not pono and that there were tens of thousands of other Goddesses that may be appropriate and wanting to present themselves!)

If you are going to ‘invoke’ Pele, be very, very mindful and aware of potential consequences and ramifications.

If we look at the symbology of Pele and what she represents: action, movement, upheaval, clearing the path, death, birth, renewal, transformation, is timely perhaps to utilise the analogy of that within our own lives         and ask :

🔥 Are you fuelling your passion?

🔥 How is your landscape? Are there old beliefs, emotions, ways of thinking, objects, items, people, places or situations that are impacting the wellness and harmony of your landscape?

🔥 Are there actions it would be pono to take or that you have been avoiding.

When we are not choosing to take the steps to kala (release), oki (cut, finish, end) and move forward ourselves, a major upheaval will likely present itself to ensure we address those beliefs and behaviours.

Pele’s appearance can occur when it’s time to change course, time to take action, to move forward, time to IMUA. Her presence signals signs to change…… which of course you can choose to ignore or resist…..😳😁

I had written most of this blog when I went to Zumba and for coffee to clear my mana’o and clear the way for any more input from Nā Kūpuna, when I bumped into and old work colleague. I do so love the way the ancestors orchestrate these ‘set-ups’. He is someone I worked with over 30 years ago and he shared with me a little of his 30 year journey of destruction with drugs, heavy drugs. Action was taken to change that and he is now journeying a fresh path. He acknowledges with gratitude the blessings of his journey and what is unfolding for him now. Perception and perspective. Such a reflection of the aspects of Pele : upheaval, action, transformation, clearing the path, death of the old and new growth.

Ke Akua Wahine O Ka Pōhaku ‘Ena ‘Ena, ‘Eli ‘Eli Kau Mai!  

Oh Goddess of the Burning Stones, may wonder and awe possess me!

Hawaiian Chant

Screen Shot 2018-05-27 at 6.21.24 am (1)

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted

April 15, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

… was the opening line from an haumana to me some months ago.

Although my brain was going “HUH?  WHAT, SERIOUSLY??”, 😳 I maintained my alohapono ʻpoker faceʻ, along with a not- so-obvious deep intake of the HA and replied in an indirect fashion while my brain caught up with this curious perception.

 

It’s interesting how people place limitations around things from their perception and assumptions. Just because I’ve followed the clear guidance of Na Kūpuna and stepped back from teaching lomilomi at the moment it doesnʻt mean I have “stopped teaching.”

The teaching and opportunities of learning still continues, simply in different forms.

Sometimes, however, because of the limitations of those perceptions, assumtions or through the various filters such as “Iʻve done that course” or “ Iʻve read that book” or “Iʻve heard him/her speak before” or “I donʻt have the time” and so on, opportunites are missed.

 

A great learning for me came in 2006 when I was sponsoring and hosting Serge Kahili King to present a workshop in Melbourne. Serge has authored many wonderful books, with ʻUrban Shamanʻ being very well known. I had a phone call from someone expressing interest in attending the workshop, however wanted to know “Iʻve read the book, so tell me what Iʻll learn.”  Iʻm sure I sat there doing an excellent fish impersonation wondering how on earth to respond to such a statement.

Ok, so I wanted to say “are you ʻexpletiveʻ kidding me!”, however I maintained my calm and pono and responded with gentle aloha.

When I spoke with Serge about it, his response was “Nothing. She will learn nothing because that is the mindset she would be coming in with.”

He then reassured me that was to be my answer if anyone else asked the same thing. What an insight that was!  It has always stayed with me and been a paʻa foundation with my own teaching as well as ongoing study, reading and re-reading of books, re-visiting documentaries and films. Iʻm a sponge and love it 😀

 

At one of the workshops where I was sponsoring and hosting Anakeʻ Mahealani Kuamoʻo-Henry, one of the participants asked me “donʻt you get bored sitting in the same workshops all the time?” Again, my fish impersonation and brain being gobsmacked! It doesnʻt matter how many times I hear knowledge and wisdom shared from someone who has journeyed long on that path, there are always new things to hear, things they may not have shared before, or that they speak something that you know, yet need to hear it right at that moment in your life and have an ʻahaʻ moment. Iʻm also humble and grounded enough to know that although I do know a lot, it is a mere pin-head of knowledge in the greater scheme of things.

 

You can cling to what you know, or think you know…..

or be open to what you donʻt know or deeper layers of understanding.

Being in the presence of, and spending time in any format,

with any Kupuna or Kumu is a learning opportunity.

The Hawaiians have 5 Steps of Learning which are relevant in all aspects of life :

LOOK WITH THE EYES :NANA KA MAKA

      LISTEN  :  HO’OLOHE                                                 

CLOSE THE MOUTH:  PA’A KA WAHA

MIMIC/COPY:  HO’OPILI

QUESTIONS : NINAU

These steps are powerful reminders of still the mind, be present, listen and hear what is said, hear and see what is not said. Do the hana: take the action. Make it a priority if itʻs important enough to you.

 

Our ukulele group – The Aloha UkeStars, is certainly a forum for teaching and sharing, as are the Daily Aloha Delights on the Aloha Rainbows FB page  and Instagram; Lomilomi, Hoʻoponopono and Kua Lua sessions; Lomilomi practice days; Ribbon Lei Workshop: ʻIke Sharing Sessions; Blog; Sharings on the Halau FB Page  or simply pick up the phone.

 

The teaching, learning and sharing opportunities abound and have always been there.

Simply be in the present moment, take the action and say yes!

Ho’omau I ka imi na’auao

Persist in the search for knowledge

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Posted

February 28, 2018
by & filed under Uncategorised.

I have been gifted two Hawaiian inoa (names). As with all Hawaiian names there is the ʻsurfaceʻ meaning and then the many layers of kaona (hidden meaning).

HaʻaoLakaināpali : Laka dances on the cliffs

This can be seen simply as Laka: Goddess of love, hula and forest plants, dances on the cliffs.

Namakanaokalani: one who brings the gifts from heaven(joyfully). This can be seen surface level simply as that.

Iʻm not going to go in to the multitude of kaona in each here. Suffice to say that having the kuleana of the kiakahi (purpose) and huakaʻi (journey) of both together is not for the faint hearted, I can assure you 😳

Utilising Hawaiian words and being given an Hawaiian name comes with a very deep kuleana (responsibility). It must be embodied. There is no wiggle room on that. It is an honour and a privilege.

Again, if you think living that name part–time is do-able, be prepared again for that whack with the pono paddle.

Be prepared to hele ka ʻolelo: walk the talk and embody the many layers of meaning and responsibility that go with that full time, or be prepared for any pono-up learning opportunities that will come your way.

“Ask permission and give thanks”

is Hawaiian protocol extended to all aspects of living and nature.

Letʻs look at two words that are often used by non-Hawaiians for business purposes. ALOHA and ʻOHANA

ALOHA: as most will know can mean hello, goodbye and love. However there are many deeper layers such as ALO~ the presence of spirit + HA ~ the breath of life. Aloha is greeting & acknowledging the spirit & the life of who/what you are addressing. I recognize you as life spirit. The joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)     de1b25b5aaf62f5e5d39bdb9da4edd62

When one says ALOHA to another, it must be said sincerely.
To speak it with indifference or flippantly is inappropriate and profoundly disrespectful.

Aloha is more than a word, it is a way of life.

It is a concept that is profound and distinguishes the Hawaiian culture.    

 

x354-q80Many will be familiar with the phrase from ʻLilo and Stitchʻ-  ‘Ohana means family.                                                                 Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.ʻ

‘OHANA: Literally means  family, one’s blood relatives or kin, however commonly understood in a much wider sense, to include, friends, colleagues, classmates etc. It literally means “all from the shoots”. Deeper understanding comes from oha from the sacred Kalo (taro) plant, ‘Oha means the shoots growing form the corm of the kalo plant and it signifies that all ‘ohana come from the same root. No matter how distantly ancient Hawaiians were related, they recognized that they all came from the same root and therefore were all part of the same family.

A Basic foundation principle is that of INCLUSION.

As a practitioner and teacher of Hawaiian healing, spiritual and cultural practices I provide many opportunities of Aloha for ʻOhana

If someone wants to pick up a paddle and step into the waʻa of my teachings, I must include them. It is not aloha nor pono to refuse.

Being a Kumu is a tricky path to navigate at times.  People in group saying ʻthey shouldnʻt be allowed here” “you should kick them outʻ  mea mea mea (blah blah blah)

Trust me, if I had a dollar for every deep HA breath Iʻve taken over the years when haumana have brought their personal pilikia to groups, I would be a multi-millionaire. The thing is, itʻs always such a gift for others to look within at their own stuff and why their buttons are being pressed. However, it often results in a complete tossing out the door of all the ALOHA and PONO spiritual and healing practices they have learnt, and spiraling in to their own pilikia sludge. More deep HA breaths and ahonui from Kumu and Alakaʻi.

When you hele ka ʻolelo and work with the ancestors all the time, you donʻt get to make that mental judgement or call.

There is a ʻhoweverʻ. When someone who I ʻknowʻ & my naʻau tells me would not be an aloha contribution to a group, yet expresses interest, what do I do? I explain about a Lomilomi Training or Cultural Immersion Retreat and what is expected of all participants. I then hand it up to Spirit to take care of. I Ka Pono Mea : everything is in perfection, in excellence. People then come to their own place of attending or not.

People will show up for many reasons. Sometimes the learning is for them, sometimes for others in the group and sometimes for the teacher to see if they will waiver from what they know to be aloha and pono.

If you make choices and decisions based on judgements or personal agenda, you WILL get a big learning opportunity along with a firm whack from the pono paddle.

If opportunities of inclusion are presented and not actioned, the opportunities may no longer be presented or be available.

If someone takes actions that are not pono, but are instead Hala, Hewa, Ino and Pilikia, then the opportunities will not be made available until hoʻoponopono  and hoʻopono pono ke ala are actioned.

Many years ago I was contacted excitedly by an haumana who had changed her email address to Pele : pele@something.com.au 😳 I took a couple of deep Ha breaths before suggesting that she re-think that. She wasnʻt ʻhearingʻ me explain why that was not pono so I had to step into firm aloha and explain the potential consequences and learning opportunities that would be afforded her by using that name and email address. She finally ʻheardʻ and changed the name.

There is deep kuleana when we utilise Hawaiian words in names, business names, email addresses, Facebook Pages, Instagram and other social media.

Be prepared to hele ka ʻolelo: walk the talk and embody the many layers of meaning and responsibility that go with that, or be prepared for any pono-up learning opportunities that will come your way.

   LIVE ALOHA and PONO.

In EVERY moment.

SO, Mālama pono : take care of/nurture the pono. Mālama means to take care of, care for, protect, beware, preserve, maintain, support, and serve.

Pono means righteous(ly), upright(ly), proper(ly), good/well, excellent(ly), correct(ly), careful(ly), moral(ly), just(ly), fair(ly), honest(ly),

This quote from Edward Kanahele in the book ‘Ancient Sites of Molokai, Maui & Lana’iʻ, for me articulates profoundly the kuleana of embodying the Hawaiian words we utilise and the inoa we are gifted. :

“One of the ho’okupu (gift, offering) of highest value in the native Hawaiian culture is not an offering of fruit or vegetable or foliage; neither is it an offering of a fish( or a stone wrapped in a ti leaf) or a whale’s tooth or a family heirloom ; rather it’s ones word! One’s commitment! One’s promise! One’s sincere oath to pay deference to & uphold the physical & spiritual values of the culture! 

One’s word is the ho’okupu of choice!”

 

 

 

 

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Posted

February 15, 2018
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26113763_10212921836098970_226593705718777329_nIn traditional voyaging, it is said a navigator has ‘pulled an island from the sea’ when he or she guides the canoe to land beyond the horizon. Navigators of the traditional, ancient ways are able to see further and in ways that others cannot – thus inspiring their crew to find courage and venture into the unknown.

 

What does this have to do with our journey in life, I hear you ask.

Most will be aware of many spiritual philosophies, with the same messages such as: You create what you focus on, energy flows where attention goes, if you build it they will come (Field of Dreams moment there 😀 ), visualise and affirm what you want to manifest etc etc.

 

In this modern, quick, ʻI want it nowʻ, ʻdownload an APPʻ world, there can be a focus so heavily on the destination, that the signs on the journey are missed. We can get so focused on the outcome, that we lose the joy of what is the present moment. There can also be a tendency to forget that Spirit’s wise timing is often very different for ours, and for good reason which is often very obvious in hindsight.

 

Many of you know I have had a strong desire to move to Hawaii. This has been a desire since about 2003. At that time I had Murphy the Wonder Dog, so did all my due diligence regarding the process of him being able to also make that journey and applied for the Green Card Lottery each year for a few years. I wasn’t ‘successful’, however also understood that I had a purpose and unfinished business here. My kiakahi (purpose) was to keep bringing more and more of authentic Hawaii and the Aloha Spirit here. And I did, in canoe loads! Lomilomi and Ho’oponopono classes, Talk Story days, sponsoring and hosting a number of Hawaiian Kumu to come to do classes here, taking retreat groups to Hawaii and happily continuing seeing clients in my Lomilomi, Hoʻoponopono and Kua Lua practice.

 

Fast forward a few years – I met Kaleo at a class I was teaching at the CAE, (another reason I needed to be in Melbourne😉 ) and over the last few years we have been energising our desired experience to live in Hawaii. It is a ‘soul calling’ and desire so strong, yet with all the focus of not only ourselves but numerous Hawaiian friends and Kumu, visualisation, taking many actions : Green Card Lottery three times, receiving daily houses for sale listings, having 2 appointments with a lovely immigration attorney in Honolulu, nothing was tangibly happening in 3D land. We explored every possibility to navigate through the waters, however kept coming up against big waves that kept washing us back on to the shores of Australia. Whilst my human-ness was experiencing some frustration and disappointment, I live as always in I Ka Pono Mea.     Everything is in perfection, in excellence, right place, right time, right Being!

 

So, I began to focus on and truly appreciate what is around us and what we have created here.                                              Our lovely hale, assorted ʻohana of the 2-legged and 4-legged variety, community, my wonderful clients.

 

A couple of weeks ago I chuckled when I was looking at my compost pots and noticed a little plant growing. I thought it was another avocado, which often shoot up. However, when I scooped it out to plant in the ground, lo and behold it was a mango tree, along with a second one under it. Those of you who have been in Anakeʻ Mahealaniʻs classes will perhaps understand why I chuckled at the hoʻailona and symbology. At that moment I received a very clear insight and message. I have Ti and pineapple plants, plumeria( frangipani), hibiscus, avocado and mango trees, giant bird of paradise palms that hang over our fence from the neighbours, live near the beach, a home thatʻs filled with Hawaiian decorations, furniture and items, our joyful Aloha UkeStars practices, finding authentic Hula classes with Nuholani along with the Aloha way I naturally dress every day 😎

      I HAVE pulled the island from the sea and am living it here in Melbourne!

 

Whilst the desire and vision is at some point to live on the ʻaina that is Hawaii and I continue to ʻseeʻ that island,                     I have the 22780721_10212384845834549_7984401885270937437_ndeepest APONO (acceptance) and ALOHA for the Island that has manifested right here.

I currently happily sing and dance around the house to the song

“We Know the Way” from Moana,

We set a course to find
A brand new island everywhere we roam
Aue, aue
We keep our island in our mind
And when it’s time to find home
We know the way

In the book ‘HAWAIKI RISING’ by Sam Low, master navigator Mau Piailug, asks Nainoa Thompson “Can you see the island?” The question puzzled Nainoa. “I could not literally see the island,” he recalls. “it was twenty-four hundred miles away. But it was a serious question. I had to consider it carefully. Finally, I said “I cannot see the island but I can see an image of the island in my mind,”

“Good,” said Mau. “Don’t ever lose that image or you will be lost.”22281601_10212254684860606_2303755850004643838_n

 

Mau also shares “When I ask him where is Tahiti, he know where it is inside of him. A navigator knows where the land is inside of him, even when he canʻt see it”

 

Nainoa recalls “Mau was telling me that I had to trust myself. I had to have a vision of where Tahiti was and that if I held on to it, I would get there. When he said ‘If you lose the image you are lostʻ. He was saying I had to see through my own eyes, feel my own feelings and understand the ocean in my own way…”

 

There are many literal, metaphoric and spiritual layers of depth in this exchange between Mau and Nainoa that can be applied to any manifestation of any desired experience. Hold your focus, follow your guidance with the shifting tides, look for the signs, still the mind chatter, hear the whispers of messages, be present in the NOW. Release the desire to control or micromanage how that journey will be or how that ʻislandʻ will exactly look. Trust Na Kūpuna (the ancestors) and Spirit. Be paʻa within yourself, having done the hana on all levels to Hoʻopono pono  ke ala- make right, more right the path, live pono- be in the excellence, Hele Ka ʻOlelo ( walk the talk),  and bring the literal or metaphoric Island out of the sea to you.

 

E Hoe Waʻa Me Ka Akahele : Paddle your canoe carefully

Hiki Ke Hoʻea Palekana : one can arrive safely

I Ka Pono Mea! All Is In Perfection, All Is In Excellence, Right Time, Right Place, Right Being!

                   🐳 Mahalo nui to the very gracious and aloha Kai Markell for the use of his extraordinary photograhs 🐬

 

 

 

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December 27, 2017
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As we head toward the completion of each year, we are provided with an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been,  as well as the energies of the new year to come.

 

It’s a time of KOHO  ( CHOICES ).

 

What people, places, situations, ways of behaving, thinking, speaking, patterns, old beliefs, habits no longer serve you for a harmonious, healthful journey?

You are provided opportunities to step up or step into your Mana ‘Iho (Self Empowerment) & your ‘Uhane Nui ( Spirit Greatness) daily. You have a choice.

 

Do you listen to our old stories with the Many Excuses, keep eating those old mouldy dishes and trying to land your wa’a on the rocks?

Or do you choose MINDFUL SELF-REFLECTION, recognise only YOU can toss those old, unhealthy dishes in the trash can, jam the lid on it hard, find a new healthy abundant metaphorical supermarket with rows of healthy choices to put in your shopping trolley and aim &  guide that wa’a to the soft landing of the sand.

 

It really is that simple. CHOICES……..EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

 

IMG_3040 (1)RITUAL is an invaluable tool to support kala & oki ( release) of the old, of cleansing & clearing as well as providing the INTENT for creating & manifesting Magical Experiences.
A ritual can be as simple as throwing out old clothes or items that reflect the ‘old you’ or ‘used to be, you’, having a soak in the bath, swimming in the ocean or meditating.

Remember, the INTENT of the ritual is important to articulate as well as the words used. Gratitude for the learnings that have been. Positive, respectful, aloha & pono words are fundamental essentials in creating the desired experiences of the new.

 

Here are a couple of simple rituals that you may find useful in supporting this next phase of your journey

 

  1. If you have a literal Bowl of Light that has Stones in it : TIP THEM OUT. Return them to nature or to the ocean. Once the stones & all they represent are released, let them go for good. PAU –done!                                                                                                                                                   Remember now, no throwing them at anyone!!!!

 

  1. Visualise yourself at the ocean.

Draped over your shoulders is an open ended lei of Limu Kala (seaweed used for release). Allow yourself to speak what you wish in regard to your letting go & releasing, pule (prayer), oli (chant), whatever blessing ritual is pono.

Then visualise yourself walking in to the ocean. As you do, the limu kala is gently lifted from your shoulders by the ocean & gently taken away.

Then allow yourself to float there or do whatever else you are guided to do before you leave the water.                     Remember it is YOUR visualisation, so be creative & bring in all your senses 😃🌅

 

Enjoy creating a multitude of TASTY, HEALTHFUL, ALOHA & PONO NEW DISHES for 2018!

 

Ua Ola Loko I Ke Aloha

Healing Comes From Within by Means of Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted

December 19, 2017
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So you have found your voice……………. but have you read the instruction manual and learnt how to operate it skillfully?

Over the last few of months a phrase that has been shared frequently is “I have found my voice.”

Ok, so what does that mean?

Finding one’s voice and learning to Communicate with aloha and in pono can be two very different things.

 

When we learn to drive a car, we also recognise there certain road rules that need to be adhered to, to ensure we navigate safely on our journey, both for ourselves and others. Whilst our vehicle may be capable of driving at warp speed, doing that constantly is dangerous. We learn that sometimes we need to put our foot on the brake, to slow down or even stop . To look around with awareness.

When I buy a new car, I ask the expert in the car yard to show me all the gadgets as to ‘how to’. I then do my due diligence and read the manual to learn as much as I can about all the aspects of this new vehicle. It’s my responsibility to then drive this vehicle in a pono fashion.

 

Remembering the basic spiritual law of You Create Your Own Reality by words, thoughts and the stories you tell yourself, which also means you create your Perception of Reality.

 

Finding your voice and utilising this powerful tool probably should come with a warning- Handle With Care.

We have a kuleana (responsibility) to use that voice with aloha and pono.

Those of you who know me, know that I choose my words vey mindfully and with care.

 

IMG_3519The Hawaiian ‘olelo no’eau of :   I ka ‘ōlelo no ke ola, I ka ‘ōlelo nō ka make –  In the language is life. In the language is death.  Words can heal ,words can destroy,  is understood to pertain to the words we verbalise and send out to the universe and others,  as well as those we speak to ourselves.

Is the purpose of you speaking and sharing your thoughts and feelings to simply blame, point the finger and  vent or is it  being accountable and communicating.  Communication is a skill that takes practice.

(Practice – Just like my currant endeavour to master ukulele!)

 

So, who is doing the  driving ???

Is it the ego which likes to talk about needs, wants, insecurities, anxieties and stresses. The part that often  thinks of the worst possible and pilikia scenario and be quick to judge and discriminate. The ego voice which always likes to be right, hates being questioned, is full of ‘oh but’s’, many excuses and loves to feel victimised?

Or is it the Higher Self and Spirit ?

An awakened voice speaks with ethics and integrity, however it also Listens and Hears.

As you speak with ethics and integrity, the depth of integrity in which you can listen and hear also expands.

Knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing whether or not to say it.

Many times the pono course is take a step back, become the observer and hold your own counsel.

 

We speak in Hawaiian of our Bowl of Light, of releasing those stones that have been diminishing our light. This means doing the hana of self-reflection, accountability and choices, then removing and releasing those stones.

Hurling those stones at someone else in blame however, is neither pono nor effective.

Remember the spiritual laws of what we send out comes back 10fold ( and some!)

 

Morrnah Simeona – highly respected Hawaiian kupuna , kumu and ho’oponopono practitioner has been quoted :

‘Look to yourself if you’re looking to find the cause of your problems.’

When we understand this, we cannot be in the pilikia of blaming others for our stones.

http://aloharainbows.earth/hooponopono-hoopono-pono-ke-ala/

 

On a side note here – nor is communicating your pilikia perception through social media.

 

Twice in the last week Lomilomi clients have shared that after I had left the room and they opened their eyes, they had been sure that they had been facing the other way and were a little disoriented for a moment. In both cases they understood that the  message was to look at things from a different perspective, change your perception.

 

This piece from the book  Managing With Aloha by Rosa Say,

articulates  so adeptly many of the important aspects of communicating in ALOHA and PONO

http://www.managingwithaloha.com/19-values-of-aloha/

 

I trust you will find it a useful addition to your toolkit for driving that vehicle of your voice in Aloha and Pono.

     Ua ola loko I ke aloha –  he’ealiika la’I, he ha ku’ulani na

         Life is an echo, what you give out comes back

images (1)

 

 

 

 

 

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July 24, 2017
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19046977_10154778744903022_1400117604_n   18921911_10154768608073022_7681489796491837429_n  18870956_10154762908453022_796214144_n

Organising Cultural Immersion Retreats is a hana aloha, labour of love always for me.

There are the obvious aspects of accommodation and transport. There’s the months of connecting with, building and ho’omalama (nurturing) aloha and pono relationships with various Kumu and Kupuna.
There’s the hilina’I (trust) that the schedule and the people will come together in perfection with the guidance of Na Kupuna. There’s the happy dancing, deep HA breaths out and a fist pump or two when it all comes together I ka pono mea 😉

No two retreats are ever the same and no experiences can ever be repeated.

This trip kept unfolding with extraordinary opportunities, even whilst we were there. Those who chose to pick up a paddle and stayed in the wa’a for this trip, have certainly had life-changing experiences. And what an extraordinary crew of paddlers they were!

With that being said, I find it deeply profound, thought-provoking and insightful for the experiences and reflections of the Cultural Immersion to be shared through their eyes, hearts and voices. Following are the varied sharings of the ‘paddling crew’ of the Cultural Immersion Retreat 2017. I trust their words and mana will have some ‘aha’ moments, insights, learnings, deeper layers of understanding and connections for you as you read. Perhaps they will ignite a spark within you for your journey.. ….enjoy 🙂

Cultural ImmersionI testimonials 2017

Cultural Immersion Photo’s

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