What is Matariki?
Matariki is a time for new beginnings and reflecting on the past year, a time to honor our ancestors and set intentions for the future.
When the stars of the Pleiades, known as Matariki, light up the winter skies, it's a celestial invitation to celebrate the Māori New Year with whanau (family) and friends 🥰
Matariki is known locally (in Manawatu and other Lower North Island areas) as Puanga - the bright star above the Pleiades cluster that can be seen across the country in areas where Matariki is less visible. Puanga's visibility and alignment with other celestial bodies during the Māori New Year are thought to create a powerful energy that can be harnessed for spiritual growth, reflection, and transformation. It's celebrated with a range of community gatherings, kai, performances, storytelling and stargazing.
Puanga and Matariki offer an opportunity to connect with Māori cosmology, understand the seasonal changes, and appreciate the significance of stars in navigation, storytelling, and the cultural traditions of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Let's honor our past, dream big for the future, and fill winter with joy, connection, and a whole lot of starry wonder!
Blessings
Kat
Kat
- Tags: world spirituality
