We came home to Gisborne today. It’s so nice to be home and grounded for the next few weeks before heading off again! I often think about home and where I consider home is. Home for me is in my tribal area of Te Arawa where I was born, where I grew up and where [...]

On our way through Waverley today, we stopped off at a glass studio. It was outside this studio that I painted this rock. And yes there was a glass studio in Waverley! Here we met a couple who are both artists working in a variety of mediums including glass, clay and sculpture. So there was [...]

Tūngia te ururua kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke… Cutting back the harakeke at Puniho over the past two days reminded me of an internal detox, not just physical but an emotional and spiritual detox too…an emptying out and letting go of things that are no longer needed, making room for growth and [...]

I’m looking out the window at the harakeke and tī-rākau swaying in the wind and am reminded of the whakatauki, “whatu ngaro ngaro te tangata, toi tū te whenua – people may perish but the land still remains.” Power lines are down, road signs have been blown over but the land remains… I’ve always known [...]

Hokia ki tō maunga kia purea ai koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea Return to your mountain to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea Wow!! Kei te tino pupuhi te hau i te kainga nei! Arrived home in Taranaki last night (Sun) and wow – there’s a storm blowing through…Now staying at the marae [...]

Today in Aotearoa it is ANZAC day – a day to remember all those brave soldiers who went to war to fight for our country. Me mihi atu ki a rātou mā, rātou i tū kaha i te pakanga, ko rātou kāore i hoki mai… I think about war, the war that my tūpuna fought [...]

I’ve never really been one to celebrate Easter. When I was going to a Catholic school, we celebrated this time of year because its what you did at a Catholic school so it became a part of our lives. I vaguely remember having easter eggs when we were young, but I don’t remember any big [...]

I never know how these rocks are going to turn out until I’ve finished painting them, and they are never finished until I feel they are. Sometimes, they don’t come out like I thought they would, in fact I’ve been surprised quite a few times! There are some that resonate with me more than others, [...]

I’m still on the theme of breath today…I spent a good hour this morning trying to play a kōauau that Todd made me – not as easy as it seems! It’s all in how you use your breath, a bit like a normal flute…but once you get it, the sound is stunning… As I was [...]

I had a wonderful conversation with a good friend in Oz today. We always have wonderful conversations that are profound and timely. She reminded me of my connection to the earth, the sensitivity I have to the land, my connection to water and my understanding of water as life, who we are and where we [...]

It’s a funny title for a post but have you sat and watched ants in action? As I was painting this rock today, an ant walked by (literally!) carrying a piece of chocolate in it’s arms (or legs) I saw it carrying this massive thing that was twice its size and after a closer look [...]

Doesn’t it feel great to finish something? You know when you are doing something that needs to be done and you focus on it, you wanna throw it at the wall at times and then yay, it’s finished! Or even nearly finished is good too because you know you’re on the home straight – yus! [...]

I’m in one of those breathe in breathe out moods where my wick is a bit shorter than normal lol – you know when things just really annoy you and you find it hard to be tolerant… I find that the underlying beliefs, past experiences and habits that make up who I am, dictate to [...]

I remember as a child listening to the sea inside a shell. I thought it was the most amazing thing being able to hear the sea even when I wasn’t there…I never grew up by the sea but our visits to Maketu and Taranaki were always times of anticipation and excitement. To smell the fresh [...]

Am sending Papatūānuku peace and calm right now just after hearing of a severe aftershock in Christchurch, earthquake in North Queensland and tornadoes in the US… I don’t know what to say other than it’s at times like this that you just want to send Papatuanuku and the world lots of aroha thoughts! Geez…hang in [...]

This is the third time that I’ve painted black on to a rock and I must say I’m warming to it more and more! Black has always been a dark and gloomy colour for me, one that you see lots of at tangi! I always make a point of not wearing black to tangi because [...]

I love uku and the works of art that are fashioned from Papatūānuku. There is something about clay – natural and of the earth, grounding… We went to an exhibition opening tonight and although some of these students were first year art students, I was amazed at the work they had created and could see [...]

I believe in collective consciousness. I believe that as a global collective we can make a difference. We can bring about change, change that will affect all our lives here on earth, change that will affect the earth. I believe that what is affecting me here in Aotearoa is also affecting you in your part [...]

It was a real challenge to paint this rock today. Layer upon layer upon layer and finally after the fourth layer – something that I felt happy with! It reminds me of my first big painting on canvas – my life mandala. There are at least 10 layers on that painting and I even stripped [...]

It’s been one of those days where I’ve just felt like curling up with a book. One project has ended and a few others are waiting on the horizon but I’m just wanting to catch my breath for a little bit… I’m in that in between space again; reflecting, resting and re-energising… Purple. It’s one [...]

Six Pixels of Separation – It’s the title of a book I’ve read at least five times by Mitch Joel and it speaks about how we are all connected. So if I don’t know you then I will probably know someone who knows you who knows someone you know that I know too…I think you [...]

I was inspired today by a kōrero from an Irish woman who had been blind from birth but didn’t realise she was blind until she was 17 years old. Her parents instilled in her from three years old, a belief that she could see and so she went about her life – physically blind but [...]

We have some lovely Māori kupu and pāua is one of them! pāua – A delicious seafood eaten by Māori especially yummy fried with onions, garlic and did I say creamed? pāua – A clingy child (or an adult) in some cases. Can also be a close friend. pāua – The name of the purple [...]

This is the first day that I’ve really felt the cold! I’m sitting with a blanket wrapped around me as I post this – not wanting to accept that winter is coming! Although I think I’ve softened a bit since living in the East. When I was living up the mountain in Taranaki – now [...]

I don’t think we play enough! We take life too seriously sometimes – I know I do! There are days where I wish I was a child again, with no responsibility, free to play whenever and wherever and not have to worry about the world and what is happening in it. Oh to be a [...]

Yesterday’s new moon has prompted me into another ‘getting organised’ mood. So today I’ve been doing exactly that! Getting myself organised for the months ahead, planning for new projects, revisiting ideas and turning them into action plans! I’ve also been doing tax for what feels like forever but am feeling good about being in control [...]

I have no words today and will let my rock speak for me… Arohanui, Jo x

GDP = Gross Domestic Product Why are we so concerned about gross domestic product? Why do we value our economy more than we value community? Why do we value the tangible things and fail to acknowledge the intangible? I studied economics in school because I thought it would be useful. I never really got it, [...]

We went to a traditional dyeing wananga today and saw the most beautiful thing…PARU! For those who don’t know what paru is, it is an amazing black mud, high in iron salts that is used by Māori as a natural dye, especially in weaving and for the dyeing of natural fibres and materials. This paru [...]